Father’s day happenings

This year’s Fathers’ Day celebration at FMM was another rip-roaring success. Thankfully, the weather stayed dry throughout until rain started to drizzle with just 10 minutes to go, so the day’s proceedings went according to plan. For both morning and afternoon sessions, the gates had to be opened 30 minutes early because of the queue, and in all 631 people attended the event – fathers being admitted free. Cars on display in Halls B, C and D were shown with bonnets up, while outside a string of 45 cars took it in turns for five-minute demonstration runs around the quadrant in each session. This included a surprise ‘back to the future’ appearance of Dr Emmett Brown in a DeLorean. A handful of motorcycles also joined in the parades.

The museum’s Deli together with the various food and beverage stands set up in Hall A kept all the Dads and their families suitably nourished, and the wine sales table was also full of activity.

A total of 156 visitors bought tickets for a ride around the L’Ormarins grounds aboard the ex-Heidelberg Merryweather fire engine, complete with its wailing ‘dee-dah, dee-dah’ siren, while 188 people, mainly youngsters, raced on the slot car circuit.

The day’s action was thoroughly enjoyed by all, borne out by the many compliments received directly by FMM and comments posted on the various social network sites.

For the record, apart from the fire truck, the cars demonstrated around the quadrant were an Alfa Romeo 6C Ammendola, Alfa Romeo Montreal, Alfa Romeo RZ and SZ, Austin-Healey 100M, Bristol 403, Buick Century, Buick Phaeton, two Cadillac Series 62 Convertibles, Chevrolet Bel Air, Chevrolet Brut, Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Tourer, Dart, Chrysler Airflow, Ferrari 250 swb, Ferrari 275 GTB 6C, Ferrari 288 GTO, Ferrari Barchetta, Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari F50, Ferrari Nembo, Ford Capri Perana, Ford Mustero, Ford Roadster, Honda NSX, Le Zebra, Maserati 150S, Maserati 250F, Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, Mercedes-Benz 540K, a pair of Mercedes-Benz 6×6 AMGs, Mercedes-Benz Brabus, Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM coupe and convertible, MG A, Protea, Rolls-Royce 20/25, Rolls-Royce Phantom 2 and the two Toyota Mega Cruisers. Drivers were Lorenzo Farella, Deon de Waal, Derek Hulse, Donny Tarentaal, Wentsley Wicomb and Mike Monk, and Michael van Graan was the Commer-based fire truck’s chauffeur.

Motorcycles joining in the mix ridden by Wayne Harley included a Triumph Model H, a BSA 500, an AJS that won the D-J Run, and an ‘Electraglide in Blue’ Harley-Davidson. A Sasol Jordan Yamaha FZR1000 fuel development machine was ridden by Casey Walters.