PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA, 2 May 2024 – The iconic, performance-focused Shelby brand is gearing up for another action-packed Simola Hillclimb, where they will attempt to win their respective categories with an array of vehicles steeped in motorsport heritage.
Shelby South Africa and Lindenberg Racing have been stalwarts of the Knysna Simola Hillclimb for over a decade, demonstrating their commitment to this prestigious, annual event. Their track record of success in previous years sets high expectations for their performance in 2024, with eight cars entered over the weekend’s events.
Classic Car Friday will feature a lineup of formidable competitors, including Paige Lindenberg in her 1968 Ford Fairlane V8, Djurk Venter in his 1972 Ford Capri Perana, and James Temple in his 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe which boasts a potent 5.8-litre Ford V8 engine producing 390kW.
These legendary cars, crafted at Hi-Tec Automotive in Gqeberha, are highly coveted by collectors worldwide. These drivers will be vying for top honours in their respective classes, showcasing the timeless appeal and performance of these classic vehicles.
The excitement continues on Saturday morning through to Sunday with the King of the Hill challenge, where a diverse lineup of five Shelby vehicles will tackle the demanding Hillclimb course.
James Temple will be behind the wheel of the rare Shelby Terlingua, one of only five in the country and 75 in the world. This famous derivative features a supercharged V8 producing 595kW, complemented by Brembo brakes, stiffer sway bars, adjustable coilover suspension and upgraded cooling.
Paige Lindenberg will pilot the equally exclusive Shelby Speedster – one of just two in South Africa. The unique Speedster Edition transforms a Mustang Convertible into a two-seat roadster with a hard top tonneau system, accompanied by unique striping. Between its widebody appearance is Ford’s 5.0-litre V8 engine which has been fitted with additional performance parts and tuning for a total of 540kW, with power delivery sticking to tradition by sending it to the rear wheels.
Deon Smit and Anton Pommersheim in a pair of Shelby Super Snakes as well as Joshua O’Callaghan, who is piloting the latest Super Snake rendition, are likely to receive the crowd’s support as they tame these extra ponies up the narrow and unforgiving course.
Paige Lindenberg, GM Marketing of Shelby South Africa, expresses pride in participating in the Hillclimb, stating, “we are proud to race what we sell, and we are so pleased that our Shelby clients get to take part in the Hillclimb and live the Shelby lifestyle with us.”
The 14th edition of the Simola Hillclimb is scheduled to take place from 2 to 5 May 2024.
Gothic Gucci
Sport Trivia: Who beat South Africa twice in the 1992 Cricket World Cup? Answer: England. South Africa played against England in the group stage on 12 March 1992 in Melbourne, and England won by 3 wickets. They then faced each other again in the semi-finals on the 22 March in Sydney, and England won by 19 runs.
Spoiler
None Knows What Happened to Hansie Cronje: People who have been following South African sports for a long time must know that Hansie Cronje was behind match-fixing in 2000. Soon after the dark secret got revealed, he died in a plane crash in 2002. Many experts say it was a planned murder by the criminals behind the scandal. But due to lack of evidence, none can prove the actual cause of death, and it still lingers in the history of South African sports as one of the biggest mysteries.