05 Nov Ewold van bergen RIP
Patrick Vermaak pays tribute to a local motorsport pioneer…
Ewold Leonard van Bergen, one of South Africa’s motorsport legends, passed away peacefully on October 18. He was 95.
Sixty-four years ago, Ewold and Alan van Niekerk became the first official South African Rally Champions in an Austin A40. In 1964 and 1965, Ewold and Rex Wakely-Smith were champions in their 1200cc 3-speed Datsun 310. Then in 1970, a fourth title went to Ewold and his wife, Minota-Ann, in the now legendary TK-registered (‘Toyota Killer’) Datsun P510 1600 SSS.
But prior to this, the then 30-year-old Ewold shipped his self-modified Datsun to Monaco for the 1963 Monte Carlo Rally, where the Nissan technicians found his development of the car impressive enough to later employ him as Technical Advisor. (He was the first Westerner to be employed by the Japanese manufacturer.) Ewold contested the Monte Carlo Rally in 1963, ’65 and ’66 driving Bluebird variants, and in 1971 in a 240Z.
He would also contest the Shell 4000 Rally in Canada with a Datsun Cedric, finishing fourth. After winning the Volta a Portugal Rally in 1970, Ewold and Minota earned hero status in the country that has endured to this day. Although having actually retired from active competition in August 1971, the pair took part in the 1971 TAP Rally of Portugal against the likes of international stars including Björn Waldegard, Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Stig Blomqvist.
The father of the P510 Datsun and first to experiment with Dunlop Mud and Snow tyres and shockabsorber development in South African conditions, Ewold’s retirement from active driving benefitted Nissan South Africa as he would lead the manufacturer to five South African Rally Manufacturer Championships as Nissan Motorsport Team Manager.
FMM has the great privilege of housing Ewold and Minota’s massive trophy collection from their lengthy and successful rallying career. The museum staff joins in with expressing sincere condolences to Minota and her immediate family Alan, Lynette, Barry and Claire together with grandchildren Genevieve, Jacques, Jared, Georgina, Louise, Jean, Mila and Sebastian.
Since Ewold’s passing, Minota has been inundated with kind messages and phone calls including many from overseas as widespread as Western Australia, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, Germany, Portugal and Zimbabwe.
On October 29 the family held a celebration of Ewold’s life in Langebaan, Western Cape. Around 70 guests attended the function including many of the extended Van Bergen family. Motorsport memories were shared by SA rallying aficionado Patrick Vermaak, racing and rallying legend Sarel van der Merwe, SA rallying guru Ralph Behm and racing/power boating hero Peter Lindenberg, while Minota and children Claire, Barry and Lynette each added family reminiscences.
