FORD & FRIENDS — THE BATTLE RETURNS TO GQEBERHA
The engines are warming, the trailers are being loaded, and the countdown is on. Ford & Friends is back — and this time the historic racing fraternity heads once again to the friendly city of Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha, where competitors from across South Africa will converge for what promises to be one of the most eagerly anticipated gatherings on the historic racing calendar.
Hosted by the Algoa Motor Sport Club under its new management, the event promises competitors the warm hospitality, relaxed atmosphere and camaraderie that have become synonymous with Ford & Friends. But make no mistake: once the helmets go on and the lights go out, friendship takes a back seat.
With an impressive 52 competitors listed across Streams A and B, there is plenty of machinery — and plenty of rivalry — heading for the circuit.
STREAM A — THE BIG GUNS ARE COMING
Stream A delivers a formidable collection of machinery, with Ford domination facing serious opposition from BMW, Chevrolet, Shelby, Lotus and Corvette.
Leading the charge is Oliver Broome in a Ford Sierra XR8, joined by Robert Rowe and his BMW 325, while Michael Stephen brings the unmistakable Ford Capri to the fight.
The Ford contingent continues with Martin Bensch — Ford Capri, Fred Ballinger — Ford Escort Mk 1, and Nick Davidson — Ford Escort Mk 1. Adding American muscle to the mix will be Matthew Gudmanz in a Chevrolet Canam, alongside Rudolf De Vos, also campaigning a Chevrolet Can Am.
Franco Donadio will bring a Chevrolet Canam, while James Temple heads into battle with a Shelby Daytona Coupe — a car guaranteed to command attention both on and off the circuit.
Then comes another Sierra XR8 in the hands of Aldo Scribante, with Michael Hitchcock and Ferdi Mouton bringing their Ford Mustangs to the grid.
Darron Gudmanz will campaign a Ford Capri Perana, while Vance Kearney brings another Ford Capri.
The Ford ranks are strengthened further by Paige Lindenberg in a Ford Fairlane and Djurk Venter in a Ford Escort, while Alwyn Kretzmann flies the flag for Lotus with an RM Lotus.
Mark Uytenbogaardt returns in a Ford Fairlane, while Robin Forbes adds a Corvette Stingray to the Stream A arsenal.
The remaining Stream A entries ensure there will be no shortage of Ford machinery, with Andre Diedericks — Ford Capri, Wayne Botha — Ford Escort, Jarryd Evans — Ford Capri Mk 1, and Brian Evans — Ford Escort Mk1.
With Sierra XR8s, Mustangs, Capris, Escorts, Fairlanes, a Capri Perana, American Can-Am machinery, a Daytona Coupe, BMW, Lotus and Corvette all in the mix, Stream A promises to be anything but predictable.
STREAM B — CLOSE RACING AND PLENTY OF ATTITUDE
If Stream A brings the heavy artillery, Stream B brings an equally entertaining mix of machinery and drivers who will have absolutely no intention of giving way.
Angelique Griffin leads the Alfa Romeo charge in a Sud Sprint, while Joel Steenkamp arrives with an Opel Kadett 2.0L.
The Opel contingent continues with Johan Barnard — Opel Kadett, and Johan Marais — Opel Rekord, while Darryn Vice brings a Ford Anglia.
There is plenty of variety further down the field, with Pat Fourie in a Nissan Maxima, Ferdi van Niekerk in an Alfa Romeo GTAm, and Zane Schonknecht in a VW Beetle.
Johann Coetzer returns in a Ford Escort, joined by Brent Watts, also in a Ford Escort.
The Nissan challenge continues with Tom Hugo in a Nissan Skyline 2.8 GTX, while Brendan Smith campaigns another Ford Escort.
BMW fans will have something to cheer about too, with Steven Phillips bringing a BMW E36 328i, while Anton Ehlers attacks the circuit in a Ford Escort.
Sydney Lippstreu arrives in a Toyota Celica, while Winston Marais brings a Ford Capri V6.
The Opel ranks are represented again by Neil Stephen in a Manta, while Deon Conradie brings a Toyota 1986 Conquest Rsi and Rane Berry a Nissan Skyline GLX.
The Toyota challenge continues with Jaco Oosthuizen in a Toyota Conquest, while Daniel Lotter brings yet another Ford Escort MK1.
Then there are Dave Rowley — Volkswagen Beetle and Carl Fantham — Ford Escort MK2, before Louis Powell adds another Ford Escort MK1 to the field.
The Stream B battle will also feature Ernst Viljoen in a Ford Cortina, while Andrew Honeywill and Charles Honeywill bring Porsche 944 Turbo machinery to the fight.
FRIENDS OFF THE TRACK — RIVALS ON IT
That is perhaps what makes Ford & Friends such a special event.
It is more than simply a race meeting. It is an opportunity for old friends to meet again, for rivalries to be renewed, stories to be shared and memories to be made. There will be plenty of socialising, plenty of laughter and no doubt more than a few discussions about whose car is the fastest.
But when the drivers strap themselves into their cars, visor down and engines roaring, the friendly banter will quickly disappear.
The track is where reputations are made.
A Ford Capri will have no sympathy for a BMW.
A Mustang won’t care about a Corvette.
An Escort won’t move aside for an Opel.
A Porsche 944 Turbo certainly won’t be handing out favours.
And somewhere between the first braking zone and the chequered flag, 52 competitors will become 52 determined racers.
GQEBERHA, GET READY!
The stage is set. The cars are prepared. The competitors are coming from all corners of South Africa, and the new management of the Algoa Motor Sport Club has the opportunity to showcase the renowned Eastern Cape hospitality to a field of competitors hungry for racing.
Expect noise, speed, close competition, spectacular machinery and plenty of old-fashioned racing rivalry.
Because at Ford & Friends, the friendships may last a lifetime…
but on race day, nobody gives an inch.
