Part of London’s Mayfair district came to a standstill yesterday as South African motor racing legend and former F1 World Champion Jody Schecter took his Excellency Dr Zola Skweyiya, the South African High Commissioner, on a high speed run to launch a major new motoring event.

The ‘Lormarins 1200′ is to be staged in South Africa in October this year and is ultimately set to rival the Italian Mille Miglia.

Celebrities from the world of cars and sport gathered at the Home of Alfred Dunhill in Mayfair to witness in excess of £10 million worth of historic cars promoting the new non-competitive road rally, which is to take place right here in the Western Cape.

The cars, including a 1932 Alfa 8c Monza, a 1957 Ferrari Tour de France – one of only seven made – and a 1952 Jaguar -C type, took members of the press and television on a series of high speed runs. Event organiser Chris Routledge said: “We want this new event to rival the Mille Miglia and the Tour Auto. Initial plans are for five years and already we have received prospective entries from all over the World.”

Between 40 and 50 cars are due to take part in this years Lormarins 1200 which has been born of the passion for both historic motor cars and the Western Cape wine region, long fostered by Mr Johann Rupert. The event will afford enthusiasts of historic motoring the opportunity of taking part in the very first running of a meticulously planned, and well executed week of top-notch experiences.

The event is designed to showcase the rich variety of South Africa’s world-renowned wine region, the breathtaking beauty of the Western Cape flora and fauna and the warmth and hospitality of its people. Centred around the Franschhoek Motor Museum the event will be a 5-day “experience” for all those taking part.

Highlights will include opportunities for whale watching off the spectacular coast; driving through the world famous Franschhoek Pass; a variety of routes taking in Betty’s Bay, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Cape Town, Chapman’s Peak and Du Toitskloof – the very best of the peninsula’s scenery and most challenging of its roads.

The participants will also be treated to an exclusive “race day” at the historic Killarney race circuit with an exclusive hospitality area dedicated to Lormarins 1200 participants and invited VIP Guests. In addition, demonstration runs by cars from the Franschhoek Motor Museum – including such iconic marques as Tyrell, Maserati and Bugatti – will also take place.

The Lormarins 1200 rally entrants are restricted to motor vehicles built between 1940 and 1970. The event this year is restricted to a maximum of 50 entrants.

The Franschhoek Motor Museum (FMM), at L’Ormarins estate in the Western Cape, played host to a spectacular time trial and concours event this past weekend. Held over two days, the event featured a multitude of rare and exotic cars battling for top honours in their respective events. Apart from the attraction of the cars themselves, the museum is situated on the beautiful L’Ormarins estate, nestled below the peaks of the Groot Drakenstein mountains.

The event kicked off with the time trial runs on Saturday morning. The competitors were divided into three classes of cars, according to their speeds, and completed four runs of the specially-designed circuit. The drivers list read like a who’s-who of local and international motorsport legends, with the likes of Sarel van der Merwe, who piloted the museum’s Porsche Carrera GT, a Le Mans D Type Jaguar and a wild Chevelle SS; Ian Scheckter, who got behind the wheel of the museum’s Tyrell and March F1 cars; as well as Serge Damseaux, 10 times SA Rally Champion, who was reunited with his 1988 Class A Championship winning Toyota Conquest. Other well known personalities attacking the course, included young Schalk Burger in his modified BMW 135i and a Shelby Mustang 350, as well as L’Ormarins’ owner, Mr Johann Rupert, whose weapons of choice were a ’63 Ferrari Lusso GT and Mercedes CLK DTM AMG.

Despite temperatures being well into the 30′s, spectators were well looked after with ample food and beverage available. The pit area was open to spectators and allowed the chance for close-up inspection of the competing cars. Various manufacturers also had their latest models on display, including Maserati with a GranTursimo S, Ferrari with their California and Porsche with a 911 GT3, 911 Turbo and a few Panameras.

Of course the museum itself opened its doors for the weekend. With over 220 cars in the collection, the museum boasts 2 700 m² of floor space with some 80 cars on display at any one time. An added bonus for those in attendance was being able to see the exhibits come to life when the Ferrari F50, McLaren F1 and Porsche Carrera GT took to the course – carrying the three winners of the lucky draw, who each won the ride of their lives.

The Concours d’Elegance took place on Sunday afternoon. Entries included, among others, a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, BMW M1, Aston Martin DBR, Ferrari Dino, Ferrari Daytona and Toyota 2000GT.

As with the Knysna Hillclimb we attended last year, we hope the FMM Time Trial & Concours event continues to grow from strength to strength. South Africa offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and successfully combining these scenes with rare and exotic machinery is certainly a trend we hope will catch on. With more events like these, spectators are given the opportunity to view motorsport in environments other than the racetrack, which adds variety to their motorsport calendar.

Time Trial Top 10 Fastest Times:

If you couldn’t make it to the Knysna Hillclimb held towards the end of last year, then here’s your chance to attend another unique against-the-clock motorsport event.

Recapturing the allure and romance of a bygone era, the Franschhoek Motor Museum has unveiled their plans to host the FMM Concours and Time Trial, a glamorous celebration of classic cars and the undisputed golden age of motorsport, to be held on the L’Ormarins wine farm on 27 & 28 February 2010.

A revival of authentic motorsport and the prestige which surrounds luxury and vintage cars, the Concours and Time Trial will see celebrated period vehicles put through their paces as they travel around a specially-designed circuit, weaving their way through the unique corners and chicanes of the time trial.

The weekend will also see the nostalgia of classic vehicles reignited with an unparalleled showcase of the globe’s greatest cars. Whether you’re partial to a vintage Porsche or more interested in the original Ford Model T, the Concours exhibition will acknowledge the feats of the world’s leading car manufacturers as never-before-seen vehicles shed their dust jackets and emerge from their private collections for a display of motoring excellence.

The 2010 FMM Concours and Time Trial will also play host to some of the country’s legends of motorsport with Giniel de Villiers and Sarel van der Merwe performing special runs around the circuit, as part of the weekend’s entertainment. With various marquees, musical acts and special guest appearances planned, the weekend will provide fun for the entire family. More modern car fanatics will also be pleased to hear that the Museum’s recently acquired Ferrari Enzo will also be put through its paces, with four lucky spectators chosen to witness its fierce power from the passenger’s seat.

Whether you’re a staunch motoring enthusiast or simply looking for a phenomenal family outing, the FMM Concours and Time Trial will provide an entertaining blend of speed, drama, prestige and exceptional machinery.

Tickets are available exclusively through Computicket and will only be sold in advance. For more information visit www.fmm.co.za or call 021 874 9000.

This Sunday, 15 November, is set to be the biggest day yet for classic car fans when the Cape Multi Car Club hosts the Cape Classic Car Show at the Jan Burger Sports complex Parow, Cape Town.

Featuring close to a 1000 vehicles exhibited by no fewer than 40 motor clubs, the event will include Street Rods, racing cars, vintage motorcycles, military vehicles, radio controlled models and a miniature car show display taking place in the venues executive hall.

Other forms of entertainment shall be provided by the Cape Heritage Society who shall perform a mock battle, the Cape 4×4 Club displaying their vehicle capabilities, a Highland pipe band, an Alsatian Dog show and some live Cliff Richard and the Shadows music to keep the spectators toes tapping.

The Franschhoek Motor Museum shall be exhibiting some of the finest classic cars in South Africa alongside marque clubs such as MG, Triumph, Alfa-Romeo, Borgward, GSM, Morris Minor, Jaguar, Sunbeam and many more.

In addition, stalwarts of the Early Ford Car Club and Crankhandle Club will boast a turn out of some 100 cars of yesteryear, plus many more vehicles coming from as far a field as George, Gauteng and the West Coast. Included amongst these vehicles are some of the oldest Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Mercedes-Benz automobiles of an elegant era long gone.

The public will also be able to meet and be photographed with Motor Racing Legends of the past, as well as have caricatures of their favourite drivers sketched by a prominent artist.

Show time for the Cape Classic Car Show is from 10.00am – 4.00pm with a R30 entrance fee for Adults and R10 for Children.