When we reported on the Knysna Motor Show earlier this year, we thought the next time we’d be hearing news from the little town would be for their motor show in 2010. Well thankfully we were wrong, because from 30 October to 1 November, Knysna will be hosting their first motoring hill climb event, The Knysna Hillclimb.

The Knysna Hillclimb was due to be a one-day event, however, the local classic car club wanted to combine the event with a car show. Consequently the event is now being run over two days and will include not only modern cars in the hill climb challenge, but classic cars will be in the running too.

The competition will take place on a 1.85 km section of road winding up to the acclaimed Simola Estate and Golf Course. Entries include some exotic machinery such as a 1939 Lagonda Le Mans racer, Ford GT40′s, Chevron B19, Lotus 23, Jaguar E-Type, Lotus 7′s, and a variety of Ferraris and Porsches.

The hill climb weekend will officially kick off on Friday 30 October with a public viewing of the cars at the Premier Hotel Knysna / The Moorings Resort for the afternoon.

The competition itself will be held on Saturday and Sunday, with practice and qualifying taking place each morning, before the finals on Sunday afternoon. Track activity will be from 10am – 4pm on Saturday and 10am – 2:45pm on Sunday.

Entires are limited to 75 cars, which will be grouped in four classes competing for the top honours as follows.

• Classic cars (1600cc; 1600 – 2000cc; 2000cc +)
• Road cars (4, 6 and 8+ cylinders)
• Race cars (Up to 1600cc, 1601 – 2000 cc, 2001 – 4000cc, 4001cc +)
• Forced-induction cars (Up to 1600cc, 1601 – 2000cc, 2001cc +)

The event has been sanctioned by Motorsport South Africa (MSA), the Knysna Municipality and Traffic Department and, in the interest of safety, marshals and medical services will be on duty throughout. Spectators will have easy access to the event allowing them to come and go throughout the day. Designated spectator areas along the course should provide a great view of the action from the embankments lining the road. Entry to the hill climb is R20 per adult and R10 for children, with all profits going to local charities.

We don’t need a second invitation to take a long weekend! If you’d like to become involved or find out more information, you should send an email to Ian – ian[at]gopp[dot]biz.

By the way, if you’ve read this far and aren’t sure what a hill climb is – we admire your level of focus – but to give you an idea, take a look at this video from the infamous Pikes Peak Internationl Hill Climb.

UPDATE
The organisers have just sent us a video preview of the course. Watch in-car footage from an Audi S5 coupe and a Lotus 7 – which sounds like it’s got a Suzuki Hayabusa motor under the hood.

The sixth round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship takes the drivers and teams to the famous Circuit de Monaco. Run since 1929, it’s considered to be one of the most important and prestigious motor races in the world, alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The circuit carves its way through the streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine, around the harbour of the principality of Monaco. The building of the circuit takes six weeks, and the removal after the race another three weeks. The circuit has many elevation shifts, tight corners, and a narrow course that make it perhaps the most demanding track in Formula One racing.

To celebrate what is arguably the highlight of the 2009 Formula 1 calendar, Cubana Table View (Cape Town) is hosting their Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix Charity Event.

The day starts at 12 o’clock on Sunday 24 May. Guests will receive welcome drinks on arrival and be treated to a hearty South African spitbraai. At 2pm it’s “Go Go Go” for the start of the Monaco GP when you can sit back, relax and enjoy the racing with felow F1 fans. Stick around after the race for the some serious post-race analysis with friends before the winners of the raffle draw are announced by a mystery celebrity.

All guests receive a complimentary copy of Car Magazine and a Ferrari Fragrance sample – so lets hope you’ll be smelling of victory!

Tickets are R99 per person and all proceeds go to the Holy Cross Convent Orphanage, for which R50 000 was raised last year.

To book your Sunday afternoon of F1 passion and excitement, contact Angelique on 021 913 1300 or marketing[at]cubana[dot]co[dot]za.

SACarFan is giving away 4 tickets to the Monaco F1 Charity Event at Cubana Table View in Cape Town on 24 May 2009. To claim your ticket, all you have to do is be one of the first four readers to give us your prediction for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners at the ’09 Monaco F1 GP.