SUID-AFRIKAANSE MOTORSPORTKLUB
SOUTH AFRICAN MOTORSPORT CLUB
POSBUS / PO BOX 2062, PRETORIA, 0001
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Greetings to all SAM Members

NRC: BP ULTIMATE RALLY (SWARTLAND) 18-19 SEPTEMEBER 2009

BP Volkswagen team prepared for dynamite event at BP Ultimate Rally

THE pressure cooker of the SA National Rally Championship builds with the penultimate round of the 2009 season. The BP Ultimate Rally in the Western Cape will see the championship leaders, Hergen Fekken and Pierre Arries embroiled in a battle of wits and skill with their second-placed challengers.

Fekken and Arries will have the hammer down in their S2000 BP Ultimate Volkswagen Polo, fighting for every available second to create more breathing room between them and the Toyota entry of Johnny Gemmell and Peter Marsh. At the start of the event, just four points separate these national rally rivals.

With the BP Ultimate-powered duo from Volkswagen working hard for a consecutive national title this season, a first-rate rally performance is the only item on their rally agenda.

What awaits in the Western Cape is two days and nine stages of high speed rallying on both gravel and tar. Preparation, both physical and mechanical, will have to work hand-in-hand with proper mental attitude to ensure a good result. For the leading pair, this should present no problems – they are not known as Flying Fekken and Iceman Arries for nothing.

While the leading pair are hard at work for a rally victory, they are not the only BP Volkswagen team who will be hard at work in the Western Cape. Jan Habig and his navigator, Douglas Judd, are the third-placed entry on the national scoreboard. They trail the leaders by 19 points – and a national rally holds a haul of 25 points for the victors.

This means the duo are far from out of contention for overall honours this season. A good outing in Cape Town has the potential to bolster their chances of more than third-place this season – and they will undoubtedly be aiming for a result that makes this possible.

The third of the BP Volkswagen S2000 Polo entries is that of Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson. From a bad start to the season, posting a DNF (did not finish) in Kwa-Zulu Natal, they have fought back to post two podium finishes, a second and a third at the last two events.

This placed Kuun and Hodgson in sixth-place overall with two rounds to go. More podium finishes for the pair mean they can improve on this before the end of the season.

In the A5 class, the battle will continue between, Gugu Zulu and Carl Peskin, and their teammates, André Cleenwerck and Des de Fortier. They are level on points and the battle for supremacy will continue at the BP Ultimate Rally.

Cleenwerck will be hoping for a convincing victory on his home turf – a place where he is known for driving hard. The home knowledge he will be hoping is a real advantage and Zulu and Peskin will have to work hard to keep up with their teammates Cleenwerck and De Fortier.

The BP Volkswagen Rally team will also be driving hard to fly the flag high for their headline sponsor at the very first BP Ultimate Rally. Spectators will be treated to a hard-charging outing from the team as they tackle every stage head-on and race hard for the finish line.

Castrol Toyota's Johnny Gemmell and Peter Marsh going for the gap

Johnny Gemmell and Peter Marsh head to Cape Town for the BP Ultimate Rally, the 7th round of the Sasol South African Rally Championship determined to eliminate the three point gap to the championship leaders. The Castrol Toyota Auris pair knows that this is make or break time for their title aspirations after storming back into contention after dominating the recent Osram Rally.

Johnny and Peter, with three wins this year, are well within striking distance of Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries’ VW Polo, who also have three wins to their credit. Johnny puts the tight title fight into perspective. “The points gap is less than the difference between first and second, so it’s imperative that we have a good run and beat Hergen so we can go into the last round one point ahead”.

“The unpredictable Cape weather could play a role”, Johnny warns. “Last year there was a lot of standing water after heavy rains in the week before the rally and two years ago it never stopped raining for the two days we were there, so it’s a very real possibility at this time of the year. It would be a shame if the championship is unduly influenced by conditions outside of our control”.

Of the rally itself, Johnny said: “I’m really looking forward to it and doing again what we did last month. I have a plan but the S2000 cars are so evenly matched that it is not possible to predict the outcome. One little problem can cost you a couple of minutes which is impossible to make up again unless your rivals also have a problem. It’s flat out racing from start to finish – the spectators are in for a real treat”.

The second Castrol Toyota Auris, in the hands of Mark Cronje and Robert Paisley have a substantial role to play in Johnny’s championship bid, a role they fulfilled perfectly in the mountains last month. They must slot in behind the lead Auris to deny Fekken and title outsiders Jan Habig/Douglas Judd’s VW any chance of 2nd place points.

“I’m planning on going flat out to support Johnny’s and Toyota’s championship bid”, said the Roodepoort-based driver. “The Toyota Auris package is getting stronger with every outing and it seems as if the team has resolved the misfire we had mid-season”.

“The championship is very important to Toyota and I would love to help deliver it to them. I’m not too scared of the others although I must admit Hergen is very quick. I am looking forward to the tar stages though!”

Toyota has a healthy 271 point lead in the all-important Manufacturer’s Championship, ably assisted by a fleet of privateer teams in all the major classes. Toyota has 18 Rally manufacturer’s trophies in their cabinet and a 19th will further entrench the marque as the most successful manufacturer in the sport.

Heading the privateer S2000 entry is Japie van Niekerk and Robin Houghton in their New Africa Developments Toyota RunX, fresh from their best outing of the season last month. The Pretoria property developer can be expected to mix it with the major players and with a bit of extra effort and luck, keep one or two Volkswagens lower down the finishing order.

Jean-Pierre Damseaux/Andre Vermeulen (Team Total Toyota RunX) won this event last year, his maiden win but has endured a hellish season with just two finishes from six starts. His luck is long overdue a change and his home event could be the turning point. Another Capetonian looking for a change in fortune is Fernando Rueda/Cobus Vrey in a second Team Total Toyota RunX. The Spaniard’s best result of the year is 6th place back in the opening round in KwaZulu Natal.


IRC: Kopecky takes victory on Rally Principe de Asturias

Skoda Motorsport’s Czech star Jan Kopecky took victory with a measured performance on the Rally Principe de Asturias, his second consecutive win on the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge trail. In a fast and furious two days on the roads around host city Oviedo, Kopecky maintained a consistent pace while other leading contenders endured drama upon drama to claim a hugely popular win and close to within one point of championship leader Kris Meeke.

Peugeot UK ace Meeke suffered a puncture on the first day which, in a hugely competitive field, plunged him down to 16th place overall. Despite fighting back into the points positions, it took similar misfortunes to befall several rivals to get him back into contention. Finally, Peugeot Benelux driver and defending IRC champion Nicolas Vouilloz incurred a time penalty after the final stage – allowing Meeke through to claim second place and thereby retain his series lead by a single point.

Vouilloz, one of the star performers of the rally, won six of the 15 stages across the two days of the event, but was another driver whose push for victory was blunted by a puncture. Similarly afflicted was the home town hero Alberto Hevia, returning to top-flight competition after an enforced break through lack of funds, who led the opening stages of the event at the wheel of his privately-entered Skoda Fabia.

There was disappointment for Abarth on the IRC's Spanish outing. Local man Miguel Fuster, drafted in to the squad for this event, crashed out on SS4 while the first day’s action the field was led by the Grande Punto of team leader Giandomenico Basso.

Basso, who won the event in 2008, held a commanding lead until SS12 when he spun off the road and his reverse gear failed. With no spectators in that section of the stage to help him, the Italian dropped out of contention and surrendered any mathematical chance of a shot at the IRC title.

Thus the championship battle rests between Meeke and Kopecky, who head towards the final two events separated by just one point. On the basis of their performances this weekend it would in fact be Kopecky leading the way towards the Rally Sanremo later this month, as Meeke finished the final stage in Asturias in third place on the road.

Nevertheless when second-place driver Vouilloz was hit with a time penalty for leaving the final service after his allotted time, Meeke was elevated to the runner-up position, claiming two extra points with the result that he keeps his place at the top of the points table.

“At the start of Day 2 we were in seventh and, with everyone running at the same pace, it looked like that would be the maximum we could score,” Meeke said. “But today’s been incredible – so many of the guys have had the same sort of problem that we had and in the end we’ve come through.”

Rally winner Kopecky clearly took all the goings-on in his stride, and counted his blessings not to have suffered any of the incidents that befell so many of his rivals. “Winning last time on the Barum Czech Rally Zlin was important because it was my home event, but winning here on my first visit is just as special,” he said.

“I always planned to take it steady on this event, to get to the finish without a problem, because it’s really hard to make the time back if you get a puncture or anything. We didn’t make any mistakes and that’s got a lot to do with the quality of the pacenotes.”

Peugeot claims third sucessive IRC manufacturers' title

Peugeot has completed its 100 per cent record of manufacturers´ championship wins on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Its total of 109 points after the Rally Principe Asturias puts the French giant out of reach of its rivals with two rounds remaining.

Peugeot has claimed both the drivers' and the manufacturers' titles every year since 2007. Despite increased competition from new cars such as the Skoda Fabia S2000 and Proton Satria Neo S2000 - as well as the pace of longtime rivals Abarth and Ralliart - the 207 S2000 cars have triumphed once again.

“It’s fantastic for Peugeot Sport to be rewarded again for its commitment,” said IRC drivers' championship leader, Peugeot UK driver Kris Meeke. “It’s doubly important from my perspective because with the manufacturers’ championship in the bag we can focus everything on winning the drivers’ title.”


Peugeot has triumphed again in the IRC manufacturers' standings

Rally Principe de Asturias - facts and figures

Overall Positions

1 Jan Kopecky (CZ) – Skoda Fabia S2000 – 2hrs 41m 51.3s
2 Kris Meeke (UK) – Peugeot 207 S2000 - +2m 46.9s
3 Nicolas Vouilloz (F) – Peugeot 207 S2000 - +2m 49.5s*
4 Freddy Loix (B) – Peugeot 207 S2000 - +2m 58.9s
5 Corrado Fontana (I) – Peugeot 207 S2000 - +3m 45.0s
6 Alberto Hevia (E) – Skoda Fabia S2000 –+4m 27.2s
7 Michal Solowow (PL) – Peugeot 207 S2000 - +5m 58.0s
8 Giandomenico Basso (I) – Abarth Grande Punto S2000 – +7m 3.8s

*40s penalty incurred

Stage Winners:

SS1: Hevia, SS2: Vouilloz, SS3: Kopecky, SS4: Vouilloz, SS5: Hevia, SS6-7: Basso, SS8: Cancelled, SS9: Kopecky, SS10: Meeke, SS11: Vouilloz, SS12-14: Vouilloz, SS15: Basso

IRC Drivers’ standings after 9 of 11 rounds

1 Meeke 50 points
2 Kopecky 49
3 Loix 32
4 Basso 28
5 Vouilloz 25
6 Hanninen 20
etc...

IRC Manufacturers’ standings after 9 of 11 rounds

1 Peugeot 109 points *
2 Skoda 72
3 Ralliart 42
4 Abarth 34
5 Proton 5
6 Honda 1
*Peugeot is the 2009 manufacturers’ champion

Remaining Events:

Rally Sanremo (Italy) September 24-26
RAC MSA Rally of Scotland (UK) November 19-21


NR: SCC East Rand Delmas Rally results

The results for the above rally is attached.


2009 Rallyesport Classic Rally Results

Please find attached the results of today’s rally. Congratulations to Andy and the Rallyesport team with an excellent event.

Something really extraordinary about the Rallyesport Events is that everyday members that do not normally marshal work as marshals and do an excellent job


JOKES

Wat my ma my geleer het

Ma het my geleer hoe om te bid:
"Jy moet bid dat daardie kol op die mat uit is as ek vanaand by die huis kom"

Sy het my geleer van "time travel":
Ek sal jou tot in volgende week in klap!

Sy het my geleer pa's is slimmer en ryker as ma's:
Gaan vra jou pa!

Sy het my geleer oor fotosintese:
Lyk dit vir jou of geld op my rug groei?

Sy het my geleer om altyd nederig en klein te wees:
Mannetjie !!!

Sy het my van die weer geleer:
Dit lyk of 'n dekselse orkaan jou kamer getref het

Sy het my geleer van fauna en flora:
Moenie vir my vertel perredrolle is vye nie!

Sy het my geleer om myself te ontdek:
Hou op om jou soos jou pa te gedra!

Sy het my die wetenskap van osmose geleer:
Hou jou mond en eet jou kos!

Sy het my geleer van uithouvermoe
Jy sal by daardie tafel sit totdat jy jou spinasie opgeeet het!

Sy het my geleer van sintuie:
Kinners word gesien en nie gehoor nie!

Sy het my geleer van humor:
Hou aan lag, dan gee ek jou iets om oor te huil ook!

Sy het my van jaloesie geleer:
Daar is duisende arm kinnertjies wat ouers soos joune begeer!

Sy het geleer dat daar 'n plek en 'n tyd vir alles is:
As julle mekaar wil vermoor, gaan doen dit buite! Ek't nounet hier skoongemaak!

Sy het my wiskunde geleer:
Sit jy alweer en tanne tel!

Sy het my logika geleer:
Want ek se so, dis hoekom!

Sy het my geleer dat wonderwerke nog kan gebeur:
Ek sal jou klap dat jy jou antie vir 'n eendvoel aansien as jy my weer terug antwoord!

Why men should not write advice columns

Dear John:
I hope you can help me. The other day, I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching TV.
My car started stalling and then it broke down about a mile down the road and I had to walk back to get my husband's help. When I got home, I couldn't believe my eyes. He was in our bedroom with the neighbour's daughter!
I am 32, my husband is 34, and the neighbour's daughter is 19. We have been married for ten years. When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted that they had been having an affair for the past six months. He won't go to counseling and I'm afraid I am a wreck and need advice urgently. Can you please help?
Sincerely, Sheila

Dear Sheila:
A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine.
Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the vacuum pipes and hoses on the intake manifold and also check all grounding wires. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the injectors.
I hope this helps,
John

Woman Drivers by Nataniel

Vanoggend terwyl ek (minding my own business-as men normally do) op die snelweg ry, kyk ek oor my skouer en sien 'n vrou hier langs my ... In 'n splinternuwe Polo, met haar gesig tot teenaan die tru-spieëltjie gedruk, besig om maskara aan te sit.

Kan jy dit glo?

Ek het net vir 'n paar sekondes weggekyk, maar toe ek my weer kon kry, is sy halfpad oor in my baan, nog steeds besig met haar blerrie maskara.

Nou kyk, as 'n man skrik ek normaalweg nie maklik nie. Maar die vroumens het my so die horries gegee dat ek my elektriese skeermes uit my hand laat Val het, wat op sy beurt die "Steak & Kidney pie" uit my ander hand laat glip het en 'n gemors op die "gearlever" laat Los het.
In die hele deurmekaarspul - terwyl ek die kar probeer stuur met my knieë -glip die selfoon toe weg van my oor, drop in die vuurwarm Wimpy koffie tussen my bene, verbrand vir grootseun en die tweeling dat ek gil van pyn en natuurlik my sigaret voor in my hemp laat Val.

Die gevolg: my selfoon in sy moer, my broek papnat, my nasaat masjien uit aksie vir wie weet hoe lank, my beste hemp vol gate gebrand en ek het boonop 'n belangrike oorsese oproep verloor.

Blerrie vroumens-bestuurders.....................


VERJAARSDAE / BIRTHDAYS

The following members celebrate birthdays this week – CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!
• Niel Fourie – 13 September
• Erno Fekken – 16 September


SAM Groete

SAM P.R.O
Hergen Fekken
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