Racing Sports Cars

[Railway]

I dunno, but when it comes to classics such as these especially a recovered original, would it not be the thing to do restore it authentically? Then if you want a flashy one make a replica of it or something and hotrod it too. It's just that in a way a reminder of the exact era it once raced by it's driver. That piece of history happened, it can;t be changed. Adiran Pheifer is Adrian Pheifer in the APM which in itself is a good reason to keep such a car authentic.

I think this is where we are a little behind with this sort of thing. You get original cars that rightfully so as the present guy owns it, "personalise's" the car which effectively in my opinion hides the character of the car plus the era.

But anyway it still looks nice and all that in South Africa. We got to be gratefull for what's left here still I suppose.

[Hi-Fi]

The funny thing with Uncle Bob was that I don't ever recall him sharing an international car with the drivers when they came out for the endurance races. Here was a man man with immense talent. I only ever remember him sharing an old Peugeot 404 with Bob Van Niekerk in the Cape Three hours.

Has anyone got info on this?

He certainly proved himself in his Mclaren Elva, racing it on the tracks, attempting the SA landspeed record and stripping the car down to do the Krugersdorp hillclimb. Pity I don't have any pictures of the last two events.

I've come across a gentleman who lives in Cape Town who brought a replica of this Mclaren from overseas but it still needs to be built. When he showed me this car in pieces, my eyes nearly fell out of my head. I urged him to do something with and get it on the track. Next to it was the Oldsmobile V8 engine that hopefully will be fitted one day.

It's the same old story.

[Railway]

I've come across a gentleman who lives in Cape Town who brought a replica of this Mclaren from overseas but it still needs to be built. When he showed me this car in pieces, my eyes nearly fell out of my head. I urged him to do something with and get it on the track. Next to it was the Oldsmobile V8 engine that hopefully will be fitted one day.

It's the same old story.

If it's the same project I have heard of then it's a Rover V8 motor which was an CM/Oldsmobile patent which GM sold back then. But was some time ago I'd heard the project was as far as the motor being able to be started be it in the chasis I don;t know.

[Hi-Fi]

I wouldn't know. I can't believe there are two people with kits of the McLaren. Do you know where this guy lives, North or South?

[Railway]

Northern as far as I know more larney area side.

[Killarney Racer]

He certainly proved himself in his Mclaren Elva, racing it on the tracks, attempting the SA landspeed record and stripping the car down to do the Krugersdorp hillclimb. Pity I don't have any pictures of the last two events.

[henryk]

The guy building the McLaren is Dereck Thessenaar.

As far as I know he lives in the Northern suburbs. Could be Durbanville.

[Hi-Fi]

Yep, your're right Henry. I spent a very informative evening with him. He's quite a character. Was best pals with Olthoff and many others. I caught him having a good snort with Koos Swanepoel at the club recently. They are buddies, of course.

[Railway]

That's where I'd heard about it too from Oom Koos who some time ago was on his way there as they were going to start the motor.

Wonder how far is the project is now ?

[Hi-Fi]

When I was there in about November the project was sitting in the garage doing nothing. I asked when we could see the finished product on the track and Derek smiled and said he hasn't got the time right now.