This year we didn’t just visit the Simola Hillclimb as spectators – this year, we took part…
Chapter1 – Getting to the Hillclimb
It’s Thursday morning. My bags are packed, I’m dressed and all the podcasting equipment is ready to go and everything is neatly stacked in the middle of my garage. We want to be on the road as soon as possible, so I’ve been up early to make sure the boys don’t have to wait for me…
Well, they didn’t have to wait for me. On the other side of the boerewors curtain, Nico and Niel are struggling to get the tow vehicle and trailer’s electrics to talk to each other. We were planning to hit the road by 9am from my house, but if we’re a little behind schedule that’s not the end of the world.
It is now just after 3PM and the Jeep rumbles its way up my quiet residential street. The Supra looks incredible with its TRD inspired livery. This is the first time I’ve seen the car with all the stickers and lines on it. Nico has really done an incredible job on this car, considering where it was just 6 months ago.
Nico hops out of the driver’s seat (on the left side of the car) and without even saying hello walks straight to the bonnet of the Jeep muttering that it’s overheating. Turns out, my house sits on a fairly steep hill, and the Jeep doesn’t like towing uphill. Luckily, the Western Cape is known for being perfectly flat…
As it turns out, our worry was unnecessary. Bar the odd ‘death rattle’ – a violent shaking from the drivetrain of unknown origin – the Jeep was faultless all the way to Knysna. Best get some sleep before scrutineering tomorrow…
Chapter 2 – Getting Legal
Building a racecar is fun. Towing it to Knysna to compete in the Simola Hillclimb is exciting. Having scrutineers check over your work to make sure your creation complies with all their safety requirements is heart-stoppingly terrifying. The Supra has been getting so much positive attention everywhere we go, the stakes are higher now than ever! Nico nervously pulls into the scrutineering bay and climbs out over the self-made roll cage. What if they don’t like the welds? What if the belts aren’t fitted correctly? What if the hastily repaired brake lights give up the ghost? “All good, here’s your sticker pack, see you tomorrow”. Huh? We passed? WE F*&^ING PASSED!!!!
Andre’s Alfa is basically a road car, so no stress there – passed with flying colours! We’re going racing!!!
Chapter 3 – Getting Classical
Classic Friday at Simola is possibly the best sounding motorsport event on the calendar. Old V8’s, Carbs and straight cut gears – classic racers just sound better! Well that certainly is my opinion, until one suddenly does a cold start backfire 6 inches from your ear!
During the classic parade, Nico noticed that the steering in the Supra lacked feel. The rack was recently rebuilt and all fluids were replaced, but it still felt really numb. Having spent the night before searching high and low on Google – he found a bleeding procedure that was supposed to help. Jack the car up, turn the car from lock to lock several times – then start the engine so the power steering pump is working and turn from lock to lock again several times. Whilst positioning the jack for this procedure, Niel was crouched under the front bumper of the Supra when the full racing spec Porsche directly in front of us fired up and caused Niel a sonic concussion!
All the cars in the pit area were starting their engines, trying to get their fluids up to temperature before they take on the hillclimb. Being closed on the back and sides, those pits fill with fumes and a simply biblical amount of engine noise. With the ground shaking and our eyes watering from the exhaust gasses, we choked, coughed and bled the power steering system as per the prescribed procedure. With no time for testing – we hope it works…
The only one of us who HAS done the hillclimb at this point is Niel – check out his run HERE!
To read more about our Supra build, Click HERE!
THANKS:
Special thanks to all the following people who had a hand in our success at this year’s Hillclimb.
Steve – the workshop, the help, the jeep, the trailer – the list goes on – the Induction Noise MVP!
Janus and the entire Stelantis/ Alfa Romeo team – Getting Andre’s car back on the road and up the hill!
EVERYONE involved in the decision making process at the Simola Hillclimb, for putting on a fantastic event, and allowing a group of nobodies with a cheap JDM car we dug out of a barn to be part of such an incredible event.
Pizza Perfect – you can’t race hungry!