23 Oct Oily Rag Run 2018

This year’s Crankhandle Club Oily Rag Run for unrestored pre-1968 vehicles took place on Sunday 21 October. Sponsored by Crossley & Webb, The Franschhoek Motor Museum and RockStar Cars, competitors met at C&W’s showrooms in the Gardens, Cape Town for coffee and croissants before the first vehicles set off at 09h30. Twenty-one vehicles entered the event but sadly Peter Truter’s Armstrong Siddeley, that was to be driven by a C&W crew, was hors de combat and was replaced at the last minute by Peter Lamand with his 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190 Ponton. Malcolm Stuart-Findlay’s 1961 DKW Junior was less fortunate, an incessant misfire precluding risking taking part.

FMM curator Wane Harley was first away with the oldest machine on the run, a 1922 AJS. The rest of the entry comprised Viv James’ 1929 Ford Model A, Dave Alexander’s 1932 Lagonda, Craig Browne’s 1946 Ford Deluxe, Alex Stewart’s 1947 MG TC, Etienne Long’s 1948 Dodge, Harvey Metcalf’s 1948 Chevrolet, Jeremy Schaffner’s 1948 Chev Fleetmaster, Tim Reddell’s 1951 Bentley, Toy De Meillon’s 1958 VW Karmann Ghia, Jason Furness’ 1958 VW Kombi, Jean Viljoen’s 1958 VW Kombi Samba, Pat Coyne’s 1960 Wolseley 1500, Susanne Ruether’s Porsche 356, Michael Solomon’s 1966 Austin1100, Di Dugmore’s Ford F250 and Adrian Morris’ 1967 Sunbeam  Alpine. In addition, FMM’s Donny Tarentaal and Michael van Graan were paired in the museum’s 1961 Ford Anglia and Wenstley Wicomb and Elton Botha shared the 1965 Jeep Wagoneer.

The 109 km route took competitors along Marine Drive (stopping off at Lagoon Beach Hotel car park to collect rolls from the Austin 7 bread van) through Paarden Eiland to Milnerton before heading onto Koeberg Road then through Richwood, over Durbanville Hills and out into the countryside along the R302 towards Klipheuwel. From there the crews crossed the N1 before turning towards Klapmuts and a stop at the Pot Belly restaurant and deli to collect picnic vouchers. Then it was back under the N1 before turning into Suid Agter Paarl Road, eventually picking up the R304 towards Franschhoek and the finish at FMM on the L’Ormarins estate. Once arrived, cars assembled at the quadrant  and crews and supporters enjoyed their picnic hampers on the lawns in the 30-degree heat. Wine and refreshments were provided by FMM. Sadly, the Metcalf Chev did not make it, the FMM Anglia succumbed to a misfire and Alexander’s Lagonda suffered two punctures but only had one spare…

Oily Rag judges Dickon Daggitt and Derek Hulse followed the route in Dickon’s Lancia Lambda, and when the points for vehicle condition and participation were added up, Wayne Harley was declared the winner with Craig Browne second and Viv James third. The C&W Skorokoro Trophy awarded to the ‘most oily rag car’ (ie, the tattiest…), as voted for by the competing crews, went to Etienne Long’s Dodge.