Thanks to CAR Magazine, I had the pleasure of attending the Franschhoek Motor Museum Concours & Time Trial event last weekend. If you’re not entirely certain what I mean by this, it’s a show dedicated to special vehicles featured on the day which stand in the Franschhoek Motor Museum.

The setting was the beautiful L’Ormarins Wine Farm, the same farm that sponsors the annual L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Race. Once again a big problem, the heat. It was 38 Degrees out and not a breeze in sight surrounded by a cloudless blue sky but it was worth it. The area where I was had dedicated parking, a great lunch and an assortment of drinks. One of the most welcomed feelings aside from the beautiful cars, which I’ll get onto in a moment was the air-conditioner which definitely helped on such a scorcher.

After enjoying a great lunch, thankfully there were shuttles which transported the public up and down around the grounds, which in the heat, was welcomed. At arrival in the pit area I was greeted with selection of beautiful vehicles. All ticket holders could freely view the cars on display in the pit area. All the cars parked in the pit area were taking part of took part in the time trial around the track. Cars on display included a number of classic and modern cars including Mercedes CLK DTM, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Ferrari 308, Shelby GT500, BMW 3.0 CSL, Ford GT40, Porsche 912, Porsche 911 GT3RS, Datsun 240Z as well as some new cars from dealerships on display which included the Ferrari California and the Maserati Gran Turismo. Drivers of these vehicles were also on hand to discuss specifications, cars and share some interesting stories.

Just after thinking that was it, after the pits, I made my way to the museum. The Franschhoek Motor Museum has a collection of over 200 cars but only normally disaplays 80 at a specific time. Inside the museum buildings are a range of cars, ranging from the early days of the penny farthing right up to the modern sights and sounds of racing cars, Ferrari’s and the Mclaren F1.

Some of the highlights at the Museum were an astounding collection of Ferraris, MGs, Aston Martins and perhaps the biggest highlight of all for me was the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing. This is the vehicle that spawned the new Mercedes SLS AMG and this is one vehicle you’ve got to see in person. It is beauty and class personified. Inside the grounds in between the buildings there was a Porsche display boasting some of the latest Porsche releases including the full range: Boxster, Cayman as well as the face-lift models of the 911’s including the Turbo, Carrera S, GT3 and the newest Porsche model: The Panamera.

After taking a shuttle back to the VIP air conditioned marquee, the real business began on the track with the cars tearing down the road. The track starts off with a long straight before taking a sharp 90 degree bend heading past a spectator area and under the bridge past the VIP area before taking slight bends and ending off with a straight before turning around at the halfway point and heading back. There were some close calls for some of the cars and one particular Shelby bowed out in a not so spectacular fashion on Day 1 of the event. Regardless though, it was fun for all but what an event.

If you’re into cars, good wine, sophistication as well as good social company, be sure to check this even out when it happens again. In the mean time you can go and visit the Franschhoek Motor Museum and maybe go on a tour.

http://www.fmm.co.za/
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