Clubmans Racing

9 August: Zwartkops Raceway – Race Report

Hello Race fans it’s August and you guessed it a lot of pink going around this post pink tutu’s, hats, ties, bandanas and pink bows on the cars, as well as pink duct tape. First and foremost, Happy Women’s Day and Women’s Month to all women in motorsport form Clubmans and NSCC, where you are the driver, the racing-Mom’s the Wife’s and Girlfriends, Aunts or Daughters of a racing driver we celebrate you all!

Let’s get into the reporting back from the 9th of August round at Zwartkops.

From the pen of Marlene van Niekerk “What a fun race weekend! We dressed Zwartkops and Clubmans NSCC in pink – the energy in the club was high. And how cool is it that we have so many lady drivers on track. At the business end of race weekend- my qualifying time was a bit slower than I had hoped it to be. Race one started disastrously! I spun out in turn 2 in the first lap just after the we got the green flag and had to wait for all the cars behind me to pass before I could go again. I was far behind the grid and had to put foot to catch up with the pack. After hitting oil, turn 5 took me for another spin and I became a sitting duck when I couldn’t get my car started. The race leaders were fast approaching so I had to sit and wait and hope that everyone would see the yellow and change of surface flags in time. The front pack came flying past me and I was still waiting to rejoin the race. Vic in his Honda also hit the oil and his car turned sideways and aimed directly at mine so I got a death grip on my steering wheel, closed my eyes, said a little prayer and braced for impact… In that moment everything went silent. I was waiting anxiously to feel the hit… I was still waiting… and waiting… Eventually I opened my eyes when I realized that the inevitable hit was taking too long to happen. To my surprise (and relief) Vic managed very well to hold his sideways drift and safely (but very closely) passed me and was on his way down to turn 8 – both of us in one piece. Out came the red flags and the race was stopped for oil cleanup and for me to safely return to the grid – a saving grace because that means full race restart and I had a do-over. We sat on the grid for a while waiting for the cleanup, this gave me time to reflect on the 2 costly mistakes before the red flag and calm my nerves after my near-death experience (wildly exaggerated) in turn 5. We restarted the race and this time I made it safely through turn 2 and turn 5, just for turn 8 to bring chaos again. Esme spun out on turn 8 right in front of me, Hussain and Ruan who were racing bumper to bumper, so we all had to spatter to avoid Esme and each other. After that my race settled into a calm rhythm. I had a good battle for about 2 laps with JJ behind me, where I had to defend quite a bit, as I’m faster on the straights and he is later on the brakes in the corners, but I think he missed a gear or pushed too hard because he fell back and left me to my own virtues for the closing laps. Race 2 was also jam-packed with excitement. Garren, Ruan, Hussein, Esme and I were lined up next to each other, all of us in the same class fighting for the same honours. The lights went off and immediately the cat-and-mouse game was on between me and Hussein – I Pass him in turn 3, he passes me in 4, I go past again in 6 and he passes me in 2. All this while trying to stay on Ruan and defend off Esme and her turbo. We had close, door-to-door racing between the 4 of us before the inevitable happened and Esme came past us one by one. The 4-way battle turned into a 3-way battle and eventually a 2-way battle when Ruan was driven off track before turn 8 and was left with a lot of catching up to do. Hussein and I were still going at it and for a moment I had to attack and defend at the same time when Henry and his Alfa also picked a fight from the back. Luckily for me that was short lived when he dropped behind. Hussein and I started catching back markers which put space between us, and he got away from me just as the checkered flag came out. All things considered, it was a successful race weekend – I had a lot of fun, my pace was consistent and competitive, the cars all came back in one piece, everyone embraced the pink day spirit and we all got out of our cars with smiles on our faces.”

Jasmin gave Kay a bit of a scare in pre-race checks when she was a bit under the weather turned out she just needed the racetrack as much as we did. Qualifying for Kay went fine with no major dramas but race 1 was red flagged, that made for some interesting lines and strange manoeuvres around the oil patch in turn 8. There were more fellow racers that have seen better times from Kay and Jasmin and with some encouragement and guidance set the scene for some magic a whole 3 seconds of magic from a 1:31 to 1:27! “It was incredible to face fears on track and just stay committed to the line, to the apex and stay on the gas pedal. It was my personal best time on Zwartkops!” We are happy that some encouragement can go a far way and are definitely looking for another 3 seconds at our next event the 20 September Go Kay well done Jasmin.

Lerine Wentzel is a new name you can get yourselves familiar with just as she is getting use to race day pressure and the track she was thrown a curve ball – oil and lots of it, she did a stellar job to stay on track and not have an off into the kitty litter. “Finishing my first race was emotional and important. Now
was not the time to give up… The oil was on my mind all the time on 5,6,7 and 8, however, I kept my times within 2 seconds of my qualifying time. I finished and that was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life. I started planning my next race while driving to the cool down lap. I was very relieved that I finished my first race and was emotional while reflecting on everything and everyone who took part in making a live long
dream, not only a reality, but also a memorable experience.”
Lerine also said: “There were tears in line up as this was very meaningful, to me and the support I had was overwhelming. Once I hit the tar the adrenaline displaced all other emotions, and it became about tires on the road and apex speeds I needed to be consistent while overcoming my fears of other cars on the track with me. The goal was to finish qualifying without incident, with consistency. I focused on maintaining good race lines and especially in keeping race lines while faster cars overtook me. I realized that I don’t like being
overtaken, but that will be addressed in the future. Clubmans and NSCC were very supportive. Dirk, Kay and other members, especially the racing girls, were very accommodating and supportive. I received plenty of advice and comfort from the interaction. We had a few laughs at my expense due to being a new uninformed member, taking wrong tests etc. ready and willing to give it my all. It was very impressive that Clubmans went to the full extend to make all the members, especially the female members very welcome and assisted immensely making my first race, being a woman, very special on women’s day.

Another newcomer to the field Sonja had just as an eventful time getting ready for the races Wednesday practice was completely overwhelming with so many cars on track, she could only manage a 1:30 around the track and only one session. They booked Zwartkops for a few hours on Thursday, it turned out to be as wet as can be. it was wet, “Just before heading back to the pits, I lost control of my car in turn 1 and crashed into the tire barrier, causing damage to both the front and back of my car. We spent the rest of the afternoon, until around 7 o’clock, repairing the car for Friday’s practice. We had to replace the steering rack and oil cooler and attempted to fix the structural damage.”

During Sonja’s first session (P1), she was still a bit shaken from Thursday’s incident but managed to complete it with a lap time of 1.42. Gerhardt took the car out for P2 to ensure it was drivable, and there were no issues, her qualifying went well, although some drivers were a bit inconsiderate and drove recklessly while passing me. Other than that, it was a good qualifying session. Unfortunately after lining up for the restart in race one battery issues required the marshals to push the car off track.
Race 2 went smoothly, with no incidents or issues with her car, and she completed the race with a time a significant drop in lap times down to a 1.32. “It was a nerve-racking weekend, but I enjoyed every moment on the track.”

For Kobus Brits the 2025 season started with several technical issues including electrical faults, fuel pressure drops, gearbox problems, and engine misfiring. The team worked hard to diagnose and fix these problems.

Ahead of the recent Clubmans race at Zwartkops, the car was finally sorted and performed reliably. Qualified 3rd on the grid behind Adrian Dalton’s turbo M3 CSL and Dirk Lawrence’s fast Honda.

Both races finished in the same order with no mechanical issues. The Polo ran smoothly throughout the weekend.

Thanks to Ernst Vermeulen (Verlen Racing), Louis Cloete (Spintronics), and Braam Muller (Muller Developments) for their technical support. Also, thanks to Marie Brits and PRAGMA for their continued backing.

Gerhardt had al focus on his wife’s car and featured in the Mazda Rotary for the first time after Pro Shop did the race preparation, changing carburettor to fuel injection. Practice was not at all bad just the fan belt that kept popping off. He qualified on a 1min18 (11th place) while battling with a fan belt that kept coming off.
After sorting the belt out, in the first race – the oil pressure sensor unit came out and spilled oil in turn 8 which resulted in a DNF Race 2 the fuel pressure rail came loose and he had no fuel pressure and another DNF for the day. A horrid day at the track but knowing Gerhard he will be back stronger and fast next time round.

Tjaart Visser missed Friday qualifying due to work commitments (don’t we just hate when work interfere with our race time?!?}

Race day was quite simple with Race 1 = 5th in class D. Race 2 = 5th in class D
Overall = 5th in class D

“I had a good time racing the class E BMWs, a huge catch in turn 1 and avoided a huge crash – but part form that nothing really exciting to report otherwise”

The #33 Honda Ballade from Garren Jacobs race day started Friday as a routine practice and qualifying session. No issues and car felt good. “I qualified P2 in class which is what I was hoping for. Then Saturday comes and all chaos breaks loose. Lap 1 of Race 1 and I find myself going into turn 8 sideways on oil, 3 abreast and about to hit the Capella facing the wrong way. By some grace of God nobody crashes, and I find myself in P1 of class at the red flag. The restart was equally chaotic. Swopping positions but managed to take P1 in class. Some gear linkage issues in Race 2 meant I only had 2nd and 3rd gear, and I had to make the most of it and managed a P2 in class finished 0,4 of a second ahead of 3rd across the line. Definitely, by far, my most memorable race day!

Our current Clubmans champion had his first race back from surgery and thoroughly enjoyed the time behind the steering wheel. With the overall championship out of reach he might still manage to clinch the Index championship, and he set that as his coal to score as many points as possible for the weekend. A personal best of 1:11:8 was set as his benchmark qualified on pole with teammate Vic in the other Honda behind him, finishing race one in 1st and 2nd . The second race Rodney could stay with Kobus for 5 or so laps and Vic also closing in to Rodney and staying with him made for fantastic close racing. With another 1st and 2nd for teammates and two fastest laps in class, the class win and some solid points that was needed for the weekend.

Vic also enjoyed Zwartkops and still finding his limits and the fist heat excursion with oil and missing Marlene’s car my inches and in race two coming in a little to hot in turn 4 all makes for memorable moments and great stories to tell.

Chairman Dirk Lawrence had a awesome weekend, a smelted brake pipe issue on Friday was sorted, with a nice return of Adrian Dalton, he and Dirk had a nice dice until the BMW decided no more playing lets just race and stayed a good bit in front of the overall pack. For both races the AZOIC panel beater car and driver secured 2nd overall on track and 1st in class with Kobus not too far behind him.

Herewith a look at the points thus far with only 3 more rounds to battle things out:

Sprint Championship

1st Garren Jacobs 99

2nd Dirk Lawrence 98

3rd Rodney Kruis 85

Class B

1st Giulio Airaga 19

2nd Adrian Dalton 18

Class C

1st Dirk Lawrence 98

2nd Kobus Brits 28

Class D