FMM takes the Mostert Gordini to Simola

07 May FMM takes the Mostert Gordini to Simola

Posted at 19:58h in Aston Martin, Museum by fmmadmin

For the third year in a row, FMM participated in Knysna’s Simola Hillclimb but rather than doing demonstration runs with one of the museum’s classics, this year we actually took part in the Classic Car Friday event in the weekend’s proceedings. And appropriately, the competing car was the 1967 Renault R8 Gordini that the late Hennie Mostert used to dominate the Paarl Hillclimb in the late-1960s/early-’70s. FMM Workshop Manager Lorenzo Farella was the Simola driver with support from technicians Donnie Tarentaal and Wenstley Wicomb together with Curator Sian Theron.

This car is the very first 1300 cc Renault R8 Gordini to reach South Africa. Hennie then took part in this car in every climb from 1968 until 1973 when the international fuel crisis brought South African motorsport to a complete standstill. In both 1968 and 1969, Hennie was fastest overall, each time setting a new record for the climb. It was the same in 1971, albeit after setting a new class record Hennie slid off the mountainside, fortunately without causing too much damage. In 1972 he once again won his class and set a new fastest time. The car has never been rebuilt or restored and still has its original registration number.

Held over April 30-May 3, the 16^th Simola Hillclimb’s proceedings got under way on the Thursday with scrutineering and a parade along the town’s Waterfront Drive. The car was cleared to race and Lorenzo was placed in Class H5 along with a 1969 Opel Kadett 2,0, a 1968 Ford Escort 2,0, a 1967 Volvo 122S 2,1, a 1974 Datsun 1,2, a 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV 2,0, a 1966 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 2,0, a 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta ti 2,0, a 1963 Ford Anglia 105E 1,5 and a 1968 Ford Escort 2,0.

The 1,9-kilometre hill leading up to the Simola Golf and Country Estate is officially the world’s fastest hillclimb. During Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions, Lorenzo steadily got quicker up the challenging hill with each of the six runs he completed in practice and qualifying. He posted a best time of 1min 12,867 secs, an average speed of 93,870 km/h. But power-wise, the Gordini was clearly at a disadvantage for class honours and he just failed to make it into the Top 3 Shootout, but the car was a crowd pleaser with commentary telling people of the car’s proud history. Knowledgeable SA motor sport personality Colin Hastie did a live broadcast interview with Lorenzo that was enjoyed by everyone.

“The Simola hill climb has evolved into a truly international and professional motoring event with 66 entries for the Classic Car Friday. Marketing it as the world’s fastest hillclimb with an average speed of over 200 km/h from a standing start is daunting to anyone who enters,” said Lorenzo afterwards.

“Upon receiving the car as a donation from the Mostert family, we noticed the tyres were really old and cracking, so we fitted a fresh set of tyres, had the brakes overhauled and gave the car a complete service including many very worn out rubber bushes.

“The day gets away from you as you soak up the atmosphere of what is around you and all to see. I was at the start line with some old friends from up the East coast when I suddenly realised the cars we were watching were 4 or 5 cars before mine in the racing order, so I had to run down the pit lane to find the FMM crew frantically looking for me. I hopped into the car and took up my position to start…

“When you exit your allocated pit box and slowly make your way up to the dummy start line with your mind running through the never-ending check list, you realise when you get to the front of the queue it is just you and the hill waiting in front of you. Check the brakes one last time. Proceed to the start line. Check the clutch where it will bite and await the MSA flag to drop before you give it all and realise you are strapped in and there is no turning back or getting out now, no matter how much your nerves are playing with your brains. With a puff of smoke and a screech of the tyres we are off the line as the clock starts ticking away.

“First to fifth gear shift by in seconds while you hope you remember to breathe. The concrete edges of the track and the vast crowds are a blur as you ascend and congratulate yourself for getting the launch and each gear change spot on. Being so light and small I did not have to touch the brakes or gear down at all making my way up the hill, which is deceptively steep when you walk a section of it. Holding the accelerator pegged against the floor board, you hear the engine revs wanting to drop as you search for the unsighted finish line. You force yourself not to turn the steering wheel for the corners, so as to not scrub off any vital speed as you position the car for each corner’s apex. The Gordini, being the hillclimb champion that it is, felt better after each run and I could not wait to go again. Everyone thought my initials were PB as every time I went up the hill I was doing a Personal Best time…

“The Simola Hillclimb has become a well-oiled machine thanks to its many staff and volunteers and it was a great experience to actually take part in this year’s event,” Lorenzo concluded.

“It was an immense honour and privilege for the museum to return the Renault to its natural environment,” said Sian after the event. Born in 1939, as a Paarl Motor Club member Hennie Mostert was club champion from 1958 winning numerous gymkhanas and rallies and even held the outright lap record at the old Paarl Oval Track. A devoted Renault fan, Hennie also took part in circuit racing and endurance events in a motorsport career that ran from 1954 to 2014. Hennie passed away in 2022 aged 82 and the family then donated the car to FMM where it is generally on view on a dedicated display stand. The Mostert family watched proceedings on the Simola live stream and found it very emotional but enjoyable.

Classic Car Friday delivered plenty of action and close competition that kept fans enthralled. Ian Schofield emerged victorious in his 1977 March 77B Formula Atlantic single-seater in the Classic Conqueror Top 10 Shootout, handing him his second title after scoring his first win in 2022. His time was 40,881 seconds, achieving an average speed from the standing start of 167,315 km/h. Franco Scribante was second in his 1970 Chevron B19 and 2023 champion Andre Bezuidenhout third in his 1976 Lola T460.

The class winners were:

H1 (handicap formula): Greig Smith – 1926 Austin 7 SS Special (1 min 31,134 sec/ 104,75%)

H2: Peter Macpherson – 1964 Ford GT40 (54,855 sec)

H3: Jandre Bezuidenhout – 1985 Porsche 944 Turbo Cup (56,445 sec)

H4: Enzo Kuun – 1989 Ferrari 348 (51,237 sec)

H5: Silvio Scribante – 1968 Ford Escort Mk1 (54,223 sec)

H6: James Temple – 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe (46,396 sec)

H7: Dawie Joubert – 1999 Lotus Elise (48,512 sec)

H8: Mike Mcloughlin – 2005 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (46,011 sec)

H9: Ian Schofield – 1977 March 77B (41,886 sec)

H10: Franco Scribante – 1970 Chevron B19 (41,590 sec)

King of the Hill

Held over the Saturday and Sunday, the prestigious King of the Hill competition followed the same format as the classics. Robert Wolk was the class of the Single Seater, Sports Car and Sports Prototypes field, scoring his second King of the Hill title with his best run of the weekend in the all-or-nothing Top 10 Shootout of 35,024 seconds. He recorded an average speed of 195,295 km/h in his 2005 Gould GR55. Ian Schofield completed a successful weekend by finishing second in his 2014 Mygale Formula Ford (40,967 sec), ahead of Connor Kilbride (41,766 sec) driving a 2015 Ligier JS53 Evo2.

In the highly anticipated KotH battle for Modified Saloon Cars, Pieter Zeelie secured his status as one of the Simola Hillclimb legends with his third win – and his second in a row – in his mighty 2002 Toyota MR2. In the Road Cars and Race Cars category, Clint Weston dominated every session he competed in throughout this year’s event, driving a 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT63 SE Performance. Powering his way to a second consecutive victory, he set an exceptional new overall class record in the process during the Class Finals of 42,527 seconds, achieving a standing start average speed of 160,839 km/h.

Road Cars and Supercars

A1: Rory Atkinson – 2026 Volkswagen Golf GTI (50,296 sec)

A3: Leyton Fourie – 2026 BMW M2 (45,931 sec)

A4: Cristiano Verolini – 2026 BMW M4 (44,505 sec)

A6: Gordon Nicholson – 2017 Audi R18 V10 Plus (47,258 sec)

A7: Garth Mackintosh – 2017 McLaren 720s (47,704 sec)

A8: Clint Weston – 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT63 S E Performance (42,527 sec)

Modified Saloon Cars

B2: Graeme Nathan – 2020 Volkswagen Polo GTI SupaCup (44,618 sec)

B4: Pieter Zeelie – 2002 Toyota MR2 (38,270 sec)

B5: Silvio Scribante – 2006 Audi RS3 (38,103 sec)

B7: Ricardo Giannoccaro – 2016 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 (43,833 sec)