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A magazine featuring classic custom rides, and the world of music, art, fashion and lifestyle that surround them. Think fun, fresh, exciting, bold, innovative, stylish, bizarre and engaging. A magazine unlike any that you have seen before. A magazine that involves and inspires, informs and stimulates. A uniquely South African view on building, owning, driving and sharing the in passion that these vehicles ignite in enthusiasts who appreciate the hand-made over the mass produced.
Citation preview
September 2011 iSSue 01 classic custom culture
Makingthe mark
GoodWhen bad thingsturn
r30.00 incl vat
‘Vettevoyaging
making notes – sincerely
getting dirty doWn south
Peek-under-
the-hood issue
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Garage_Magazine_11AW_MS_Ducati_image3_297x420.pdf 1 2011/07/22 1:19 PM
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Garage_Magazine_11AW_MS_Ducati_image3_297x420.pdf 1 2011/07/22 1:19 PM
RegularsEditor’s Letter
The Schoonraad Diaries Playing in traffic
Mala Lex * Dawie on Speed
Design Lab * Concepts & Styling
Black & White Gray * Matt tells it like it is
Review DVD with muscle
Stuff It’s what you need
Projects Out there in Garage-land
Directory Products & Services
Back Page The lovely Katerina!
Classic Look out! Sting Ray!Alex’ Split-window
Hudson Hauler * The same, but different
Custom
Living Low *He builds, he rides
Sticker ‘em Up * Groundscraping Ghia
Hillbilly Gene *Real bikes built tough
Mesmeric Merc * Yes, it’s a ’49!
Culture
Grease and Goodwill Grand Slam Open Day
Sideways Scramble Get down & dirty
Getting your kicks * Seth sees sights
Tagging 2 Tattoos Think Ink
Jet Black Camaro * Tyre smoking tunes
Grassroots Sincerity * Underground sound
contentsGARAGe ∙ Issue 1 ∙ septembeR 2011
*[READ THE FULL STORY IN THE PRINT EDITION ON SALE NOW]
peek-undeR-the-hood Issue
WWW.GARAGemAGAZIne.co.ZA
Green Mamba garage Ad 7/20/11 11:45 AM Page 1
Composite
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K
it’s got bite
See all thiS & more
Aristo-rods“Ennobling” EArly Fords - dAwiE CoEtzEE AppliEs his mind And pEnCil in A sEriEs oF studiEs thAt trAnsForm hEnry’s humblE oFFErings to A morE EminEnt lEvEl oF sophisiCAtion.
thE sChoonrAAd diAriEsmitChEll’s plAin -born And -FlEd mAniC ComEdiAn, rEAl south AFriCAn boytjiE, And sErious hotrod AFFiCiAnAdo, Kurt sChoonrAAd shArEs his uniquE obsErvAtions oF loCAl pEtrolhEAdnEss...
hillbilly gEnEhE is not From AlAbAmA, And thErE is not A bAnjo in sight. whAt is in sight is A lot oF biKEs. rEAl biKEs. hAndbuilt, mAn-biKEs. nonE oF thAt ponCy ordEr-From-A-CAtAloguE stuFF. And hE put on A niCE nEw whitE t-shirt For your viEwing plEAsurE. this is thE rEAl dEAl, And hE tElls thE story bEttEr thAn wE CAn.
mAtthEw grAy into oldEr CArs And tElling why
See all thiS & more
See all thiS & morein the print edition of GaraGe maGazine
grAssroots sinCErityunliKE mAinstrEAm musiC, prE-pACKAgEd, oFtEn stErilE, And sErvEd up As muCh For rECord CompAny proFits As For thE Artist’s intEgrity, A thriving loCAl undErground sCEnE Exists thAt tElls it’s story with vigour. CAmillA Coutts’ photos And words rElAtE A ChAptEr oF onE Artist’s liFE in this world.
jEt blACK CAmArosinuous, brAwny And rEFinEd, this swEltEring jo’burg 5-piECE hAs bEEn smoKing thE tyrEs Around town For About A yEAr now. dEdiCAtEd FAn tiAAn löttEr wAxEs lyriCAl.
gEtting your KiCKssAnE pEoplE might thinK thAt owning And rEstoring A CouplE oF FiFtiEs And sixtiEs AmEriCAn ClAssiCs would bE Enough to sAtisFy EvEn thE thirstiEst pEtrol hEAd. thEy would oF CoursE bE wrong.
See all thiS & morein the print edition of GaraGe maGazine
Well here we are: The first issue of Garage. It’s been quite a ride
getting this far, and were only getting warmed up. We’ve been tinkering and fabricating, designing and composing, tuning and adjusting. And now we are ready to hit the road. So who are we? Just a bunch of regular guys and girls. People just like you. People who love cars. Mostly older cars. We love bikes too. And music. Art. In fact almost anything that carries within it passion, skill and commitment of the person who created it.
Garage is here to share these stories. Stories about the talent that is to be found hard at work in garages, workshops and studios across South Africa. About people who have an irregular way of looking at things. People who believe that the most valuable things in the life are those that come from the heart. Call it old school; call it vintage, retro, traditional, it is about doing things in a way that remembers an age when small details mattered. A time when putting something mechanically beautiful into the world was important.
Things don’t come a lot more mechanically beautiful than a 1963 Splitwindow Corvette. Turn to page 16 for our jaw dropping feature on Alex Kramer’s beautiful Tuxedo Black Stingray - our first cover car could not have been more fitting. On page 50 Faheem Benjamin gives a totally fresh take on old school dub-style – this is most assuredly not your grandma’s Karmann Ghia.
And if you weren’t having enough fun yet, we show you that boys are never too old to play in the mud – the first Garage Magazine Sideways Scramble is on page 28. We still haven’t got the mud out of our hair, or the smiles off of our faces! This is a magazine not only about the things we love so much, but also about the reasons that we love them. It is about getting your hands greasy and your imagination oiled. The grittily real experience of making something from nothing, the sheer ecstasy of driving a car you built yourself.
In an era where everything happens faster, where gratification is instant, we are going to find a place to slow it down a little. And a place to rev it up. This is your Garage, hop in and let’s go for a spin, you’re going to enjoy this!
Barry AshmoleEditor
Editor’s
LEttEr
Publishing Editor: Barry [email protected]
Creative Co-ordinator: Roxanne [email protected]
Design: Ronel van [email protected]
Advertising: Tarryn [email protected]
Events & PR: Roxanne [email protected]
Contributors:Principle Photographer: Martin van [email protected]
Kurt Schoonraad; Dawie Coetzee; Matthew Gray; Camilla Coutts; Tiaan Lotter; Casey Bertie; Hennie Lategan; Dennis Bronner; Ruan van Jaarsveld; Pieter Vosloo
Printer : CTP PrintersTel: +27 +21 929 6200
Distribution & Subscriptions:[email protected]
Garage MagazinePO Box 1604 Somerset West 7129Tel: 021 880 0325Fax: 086 616 [email protected]
All rights reserved. Material published in Garage is copyright and no part may be reproduced without consent. Views and opinions of contributors are their own and are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy; however the publisher, editor and their staff, printers, distributors and/or any other related parties accept no responsibility or warranty for any omissions or inaccuracies, or for any eventuality arising therefrom.
MAGAZiNE
MITCHELL’S PLAIN -BORN AND -FLED MANIC COMEDIAN, REAL SOUTH AFRICAN BOYTJIE, AND SERIOUS HOTROD AFFICIANADO, KURT SCHOONRAAD SHARES HIS UNIQUE OBSERVATIONS OF LOCAL PETROLHEADNESS...
Iam lucky. As a professional performer I do not
have to be anywhere at eight in the morning,
so I do not have to spend a lot of time in
traffi c. To most of us, traffi c is irritating, but
rather benign. It’s like doing the dishes – you don’t
really smaak like doing it. But I read a stat the
other day that got me thinking. Apparently most
of us spend between 12- 15 percent of our waking
hours in traffi c. Some days, that’s more time than
you spend with your kids.
SO! I’d want to make it as comfy as possible. You
know: p/s; e/w; a/c; c/c; ABS and throw in some
other letters of the alphabet for effect!! And a crap
load of mp3’s on your iPod. Let’s do a check list,
shall we? OK, we have a good car... Check! All the
creature comforts known to man ...Check! Tunes...
Check. Now this can’t be sooo bad, can it?
What you may have forgotten is that we share
the roads with all manner of men and women.
Some of these people scare me more than the
guys you’d meet in a Hillbrow alley at 4am.
The one I fear the most is the soccer mom: the
BMW X 5 driving variety. The one with four kids
on a sugar rush in the back all screaming their
heads off, while she is trying to negotiate her way
through traffi c while chatting to her mom on the
phone. She crosses six lanes at a time without any
indication that she is planning to do so. She’s the
kind of goose that gets more upset than you are,
when you question her multi tasking abilities.
Then there is the “Vin Diesel” from the suburbs.
This is the ou who intentionally painted his Nissan
Sentra neon green because he saw it in an
instalment of the “Fast and the Furious”. He also
has every carbon fi bre accessory in the known
universe attached to his ride. He has more fi ns,
scoops, fl aps and spoilers than a 747. His car only
has two speeds. Stop and LankFAST - nothing
in between. He reminds me of Tim the Toolman
Taylor’s neighbour: You never see the guy’s face,
only eyeballs and spiky hair. His favourite place
in the world is about three centimetres from your
back bumper at 100km/h. Sometimes he is so
close that I can smell his aftershave!
Then there is another type of driver that made
this list completely by default! The senior citizen.
He or she is always driving an older car in perfect
nick. Stereotypically, a beige ‘86 Toyota Corolla.
They are usually seated about two centimetres
from the windscreen. This gives them the illusion
that they are closer to what’s happening on the
road. The problem is that they are doing this at
about 50 km/h in the fast lane. This is the driver
who is constantly wondering why everybody is in
such a big rush!
Of course my favourite is the goefball
Noordhoek driver. I guess you could say he is
indigenous to the Western Cape, but occasionally
found elsewhere. Usually driving a ‘73 VW beetle
painted in psychedelic colours, and clearly
on one of his “trips” to the edges of his mind.
The kind of china who smokes whatever grows
in the backyard - any variety of fynbos will do!
Occasionally he heads to the mountain to “fi nd
himself”, and if you are unfortunate enough to
fi nd yourself behind this guy, yours could be a
very long frustrating journey.
His ‘73 VW is unable to get past 2nd gear going
up the mountain. 20km/h is the best you will see
all day, making the senior citizen look like Michael
Schumacher. And like the Monaco F1 circuit, Ou
Kaapse Weg offers few overtaking opportunities.
Picture the scene: up front is the” Goefball-
mobile-man”, chakras aligned and feeling his chi
in balance, followed by about four kilometres of
very frustrated Capetonians. He also has a secret
weapon straight out of a James Bond movie: A
smoke screen produced by the lack of oil rings,
leaving you feeling very light headed on the other
side of the pass.
And some still wonder why we have some of the
highest incidence of road rage in the world!
SCHOONRAAD DIARIES
COLUMN
THE
In a world ofmass-production
and machines,there are stillsome thingsthat are best
crecreated by hand.
Shop 480Canal Walk
Century City021 5515722
www.tattoos.co.za
SINCE 1994TATTOOS
WILDFIRE
ClassiC
Look out– Sting Ray
A lex Kramer did not grow up around cars. His
childhood in Houtbay exposed him to some
of his other great loves, but cars weren’t
one of them. He did learn to appreciate
the nuances of good design though, an eye for a
line that curves just so. The subtle interplay of small
details that combine to form a shapes and patterns
that, although we may not be able to explain their
allure in words, we know tacitly to be things of beauty.
Studying advertising, art direction and design, lead
quite logically to working in comic book illustration. A
fun project became a good business, and somewhere
between 160 and 200 million comics published
worldwide can certainly be described as good. Hard
work or lucky break (one often begets the other) aside
the success allowed Alex to develop and indulge a
passion for machinery from a former era.
“This car was not a logical choice for me, I never
anticipated myself being drawn to American muscle”
he relates. Owning a superb E-type Jaguar prior to
the Sting Ray had whetted his appetite for the svelte
and sexy shapes drafted by designers in the fifties
and sixties.
“It really was a prime time for fun and exciting
cars” he continues, “Back then cars were made with
love, they got people excited, there was a passion
to it, making something well and making it appealing
was important.”
Alex had been lucky enough to participate in the
Gumball 3000, and the exposure to some fine examples
of rare and exotic automotive heritage unleashed in
anger, had kindled his love for history. Soon he came
across an account of Bill Mitchell’s Mako Shark.
The XP-755 concept was designed by Larry Shinoda
in 1961, under the direction of Mitchell, then GM’s
head of Styling and Design. Tracing its history back
through previous XP incarnations, to the Corvette SS
Racer which Fangio had so enjoyed after testing it at
Sebring in 1957. Bill Mitchell’s fondness for fishing
was well documented, and undoubtedly the midyear
‘Vettes have certain piscatorial cues in their design.
Not lost on Alex was the fact that Mitchell himself
drove an E-type Jaguar.
It didn’t take long for Alex to decide that he wanted
to own a Sting Ray, and the single year split-window
variant was the one he found most appealing. Coming
across a photograph taken from a high three quarter
rear angle (which incidentally was the inspiration for
our cover image) the pact was sealed, and the search
began in earnest.
A call was put out to Ash Waldorf at American
Connection imports in Florida. Alex has being finding
cars for discerning collectors for twenty five years, and
certainly knows his stuff. A couple of cars turned up,
but as is so often the case, many had endured the
attentions of backyard “restorers” and were somewhat
worse off for it.
One lead seemed interesting, and although the
pictures showed a car in the later model Torch Red
paint, everything else seemed to check out. It is from
here that the story became, shall we say, interesting:
In 1999 In & Out Burger, a large West Coast fast
food chain were looking for a gimmick for a giveaway
competition. Not content with a brand new Corvette,
a 1963 Coupe was found and repainted in the same
colour as the modern car.
The pair of ‘Vettes garnered the desired attention,
the promotion was judged a success, and the grand
prize went to a beaming guy in his early twenties.
Unable to come up with the taxes on his windfall, he
had to sell one of the cars. Keeping the C5 is not the
choice we’d have made, but we are kind of glad that
he did.
Coastal Corvette in Anaheim picked up the ’63 and
it wasn’t on their floor for long before catching the
attention of a judge who happened to be in town visiting
family. He was impressed enough with the car to nullify
any concerns he may have had about getting it back
home. The Corvette was duly serviced, rechecked, and
loaded into a container to set sail west.
Alex Kramer in a jovial mood
Original competition entry form and keyring. Letter confirming the winner of the car
1963 Vette owner’s manual
Saipan is the largest of the islands in the Northern
Marianas archipelago. Known as the place where America’s
day starts – it is on that side of the International Date Line
– the Commonwealth of North Mariana Islands joined the
United States in 1986, although it was exempt from certain
federal labour and immigration laws. This allowed many US
manufacturers to set up shop taking advantage of cheap
labour while still maintaining their “Made in the USA” status.
After a number of sweatshop scandals most have now left
the island. Socio-political issues aside, the physical size of
Saipan (it is only 19 miles long) meant that the sage lawman
was unable to clock up vast distances in the 8 or so years
that he owned the car.
A property developer in nearby Guam bought the car
about two years ago. This island has long been the site
of major US military installations, and servicemen stationed
there have contributed to quite a number of interesting
vehicles on the island. The new owner’s relationship with
this car was however short lived.
Needing to raise funds for a new hotel project, the car
was once again on the market. Having checked out all he
could by studying photographs, Ash duly made the trip
via Japan to check the car out in person. As anyone who
has ever bought a car sight unseen (and been burnt doing
so) will attest to it adds a tremendous amount of value
and peace of mind to the service he offers. Having spent
the previous decade parked and only being driven short
distances, some of the niggles that develop when a car
stands were apparent. Aside from a few minor (and totally
expected) issues the car checked out and arrangements
were made to ship it back to mainland America.
A few weeks later Ash was in Long Beach, California to
personally oversee the unloading, and deal with the customs
and import bureaucracy involved in releasing the car. From
there arrangements were made to truck the ‘Vette back to
American Connection’s home base in Orlando. With more
time to go through things, another interesting discovery
was made. GM had originally mooted making the car a
four seater, and these early 1963 models were delivered
with a compartment behind the rear seats that would have
formed the rear footwell. The storage space is covered by
carpet, and was deleted in cars from about the middle of
the model year onwards.
The original RC 250HP motor checked out in all respects
and all the original build numbers tallied. The car was
revealed to have been delivered in Tuxedo Black, and
although Alex swayed strongly towards Sebring Silver, the
decision was made to go ahead and return the car to its
original hue.
Besides requiring some exhaust repair and some general
clean-up the car was in fine fettle and pretty soon was
ready to ship home to South Africa.
At the previous owner’s house above Tumon Bay, Guam. Ash Waldorf with the car in Hagåtña.
Parked at War in the Pacific Park in Agat, Guam.
Besides the tatty steering wheel and grubby mats the interior was in good shape.
After unloading at Long Beach
Ash in Santa Monica
Prepping for paint The process continues
Topcoat on and ready for reassembly Back in Black
Loading the container
...the decision was made to go ahead
and return the car to its
original hue. Photographs courtesy of Ash Waldorf, American Connection
GARAGE | AUGUST 2011 | 20
GARAGE | AUGUST 2011 | 21
Some eight months after the search began, Alex
was chomping at the bit to get to see the car in person
when it was unloaded. When the customs seal was
broken and the container doors open, he was not
disappointed. As the car rolled out onto the ramp to
be warmed by the African sun for the first time, he fell
in love. With a few formalities out of the way he got to
experience what he had been dreaming of for months.
“With all the time spent studying details about the
car, the adventure and excitement in finding such a
good example, and the anticipation of waiting, quite
a level of expectation had built up” Alex recalls , “at
the end it is quite a simple car, which is part of the
appeal for me. What I didn’t expect was for it to be
such a brute!”
“Given how perfectly original the car is, as well as
the amazing travels it has been on, it seems a shame
to make any changes to it”, he tells us. “I drive the
car a couple of times per week, and cannot wait for
weekends to get out into the countryside. This car is
just so enjoyable on an open blast through the Karoo,
or winding its way through the winelands”
Alex intends to fit a disc brake kit to replace the 11”
drums. “It is more about peace of mind. In modern
traffic one can forget about the limitations of drum
brakes! It is all bolt on though, so if I ever wanted to
I could return it to original spec without any issues”
he relates. He is equally circumspect about fitting the
vintage air-conditioner he managed to track down. “It
isn’t so much about originality as they were offered as a
factory fitted extra” he beams, “it is more about working
up the nerve to actually cut into the perfect body!”
In the short time that he has had this car (it arrived
one week before the Streetrod Nationals in Cape Town)
as well as with the Jaguar before it, Alex has come
into contact with quite a number of interesting people.
“I love roadtrips, the memories of some of these
encounters is quite unique. I don’t profess to know
very much about cars, though I am learning all the
time. What has struck me in this time though has been
the people”, he says. “I have had a few breakdowns,
and have been awed by people’s generosity and
willingness to assist.”
Enthusing about his experiences he continues,
“Just the way that people from varied backgrounds
but with the same passion can interact in ways that
one wouldn’t otherwise expect is great”
“I doubt that I will ever have a big collection of cars,”
Alex tells us. “I think that more than two may start to
become a bit of a handful. I would just like to have
them in good condition and be able to enjoy driving
them as often as possible”. A fine sentiment!
In the accompanying photographs we have tried to
do justice to the beauty of this amazing car. We would
like to believe that we have done pretty well. But no
photograph will ever do justice to the way the hairs on
one’s arm stand up as the engine turns over and barks
into life, as the sleek black silhouette slips through
quiet city streets. Pictures could never capture the
pure emotion of being alone on the road, man and
machine. Enjoy it Alex!
Although quite rare to these shores, GM managed to sell just shy of 22 000 of these babies in 1963, with the ratio barely favouring the convertible over the coupe. This was due in no small way to the insistence of Zora Arkus-Duntov that an independent rear suspension be used on the all new car. The Belgian born “Father of the Corvette” convinced the top brass that they would sell 30 000 units of the car if they had it, and they got more than two thirds of that in the first year.Combining the five cross-membered ladder frame chassis, instead of the previous X-frame, with the passenger compartment pushed back, 3.5 inches lower centre of gravity, and the hard-won IRS, a desirable combination of handling prowess and superb ride was achieved. With the entire drivetrain behind the front wheels and as low as possible, near perfect weight distribution added to the car’s road manners.
This model of Corvette was one of the first cars to benefit from extensive attention in the wind tunnel. Numerous full scale mock-ups were made, fettled and tweaked to gain the most aerodynamic advantage. The quad headlights from the previous five years were retained, but were now hidden under covers which yielded a seamless front profile when not in use. Perhaps the most controversial part of the car was the spine that split the rear window. Nobody seemed to like it at the time, and with concerns about visibility it was
dropped in ’64. It has of course come to define the model and make it perhaps the most desirable of all the Corvettes.
Other bodywork details included the tops of the doors being cut into the roof allowing easier and dare we say more decorous, entry and exit from the low slung car in an era when short skirts were becoming all the rage.
Mechanically most of the cars left the factory with the 250HP 327ci mill and four speed Borg Warner box. 300, 340 and fuel-injected 360HP versions were available. Capable of 0-60mph times of 5.6 seconds and 14 seconds dead in the quarter mile, the car could certainly claim its place as a true sports car. Those are figures that are still respectable nearly 50 years later.
Duntov’s pet Grand Sport project was even more impressive. Conceived to take on the Cobra it weighed in at about 1800 pounds, and was equipped with a 377ci all aluminium V8 that was reputedly good for 550HP. All three that ran at Daytona in 1963 were lapping ten seconds faster than the Cobras, and Roger Penske won the Nassau race in one. If GM had decided to build the 100 units required for production car homologation, the car would certainly have been a world beater. As it was, only five were ever made before the powers that be shut down the program, although these did make it into private hands and were campaigned with Zora’s unofficial backing.
the split story...
SOMe Of THe fAcTOry OPTiOnS And PricinG AVAiLABLe in 1963:Base model Coupe $4,038.00
Base model Convertible $4,037.00
Leather Seats $80.70
Power Windows $59.20
Air Conditioning $421.80
Positraction Rear Axle $43.05
327ci, 300hp Engine $53.80
327ci 340hp Engine $107.60
327ci, 360hp Engine - Fuel Injection $430.40
4-speed Manual Transmission $188.30
Powerglide Automatic Transmission $199.10
Power Steering $75.35
Cast Aluminum Knock-Off Wheels $322.80
AM Radio $137.75
AM/FM Radio $174.35
We can’t help noticing that optioning 90HP more than the stock smallblock would have cost about the same as having an AM radio fitted. Hopefully some modern manufacturers are paying attention!
reSOurceSImporting of vehicles from USA:Ash Waldorf at American Connectione-mail: [email protected]: +321 733 0508
Model: Katerina Phillips - ICE Model ManagementStylist: Emilia Marais; Hair: Adrianne Hartmann
Make-up Charyke Coetzee
classic custom culture
Grand Slam air Cooled ServiCeS’ open houSe eventS have developed SomethinG of a Cult-followinG in the flat-four vw Community.
EVENTS
Spreading
greaSe and
goodwill
So when the word went out that Jürgen Kirsch
and his trusty crew were to be opening their
doors for another of their legendary technical
days, the Cape air-cooled faithful made a big
old red cross on their calendars.
Stanley, Esme and the rest of the staff had a busy
week getting the workshop emptied and tidied up to
make space for the crowds. People started sliding in
early, and in true Slaapstad-style, more continued to
trickle in for most of the day.
The technical side of these open days is a pretty
informal and relaxed affair, but you’d do well to shut
up and listen up when The German gets down to
imparting those little gems of knowledge. Far from
the often prevailing idea of keeping information
to oneself, Jürgen believes that it is in sharing our
knowledge that we can allow this hobby to not only
survive, but prosper.
The focus on this occasion was on the finer points
of suspension service and lubrication. Simple enough
stuff perhaps, but judging by the oohs and aahs from
the assembled bunch as Jürgen shared some vital
tips, there’d be some happier grease nipples in town
by evening.
Of course if grease wasn’t your thing, then some
of the best bratwurst this side of Wolfsburg was
guaranteed to hold your interest. As would catching up
on the latest changes to friend’s ride. Or just the usual
quips and banter, and bench racing with old mates.
Any way, the day extended till late, and you can be
sure that when word goes out for the next one, the red
crosses will be appearing like magic again on walls all
over Cape Town.
Jürgen Kirsch is a VW guy. An air-cooled VW guy. Rumour has it that his best friend once turned up at his house in an Alfa, and the guy hasn’t been seen to this day….He is that serious.
Being born in East Germany and defecting with your mother at the age of six to live in Wolfsburg, will do that to you. So will finishing school and apprenticing at the Volkswagen factory down the road. Throw in the stint in Edinburgh, learning English, and qualifying as a master mechanic by the age of 19, and you have the makings of a life long devotion to horizontally opposed fours.
Transferred to Lindsay Saker in Johannesburg 1968, Jürgen worked his way up to become workshop manager, before getting involved in his own independent VW specialist workshop. During this time he kicked some ass in off-road racing, as well as running his Formula Vee race team.
He spent a few years back in Germany, but in 2002 he returned to South Africa, and set up Grand Slam in The Strand. There are two aspects to the business: the brake and clutch operation which provides the bread and butter and the Volkswagen service and restoration arm, which provides the outlet to his passion.
Anyone requiring the services of an air-cooled Volkswagen specialist would have to go a long way to find one this good. A very long way. Perhaps all the way to Wolfsburg. And possibly not even then…Serious.
“Of cOurse if grease wasn’t yOur thing, then sOme Of the best bratwurst this side Of wOlfsburg was guaranteed tO hOld yOur interest.”
grand slam Vw air cOOled serVices: 021 845 6702
It seems that no matter how grown up some guys may appear to be, show
them a patch of dIrt and somethIng wIth an engIne, and the regressIon to a
far more Innocent age Is Instant.
EvEnts
This was a time of our lives when every
waking moment was about playing, enjoying
ourselves and living in the now. It is a time we
should all be trying to go back to a little more
often. When it comes to down-home-fun-drive-the-
hell-outta-your-hotrod-and-smile-till-the-top-of-your-
head-falls-off style events, it seems that people in
other parts of the world are spoiled for choice. The UK
has the Hotrod Hayride, the US can pick and choose
between any number including Vintage Torquefest
and Jalopy Showdown. Sweden’s A-Bombers’ Old
Style Weekend attracts punters from across the globe.
Even New Zealand has the Jalopy Dust-up to get the
mud-a- flyin’ and the boys-a-tryin’.
Down here in South Africa we seem to have been
content with static car events on school rugby fields
for way too long, so when Simon Hartmann and
JP van Zyl got to talking with the guys from Garage
Magazine about getting some dirt track action going,
it didn’t take long to hatch a plan. JP lost no time in
finding a willing landowner to clear some space and
lay out a dirt oval. Within days they were trying out the
venue and the plumes of dust kicked up by a couple
of old school cars were visible from almost as far off as
the grins on the driver’s faces. These guys were clearly
onto something!
A few lessons learned and some changes to the
track, and pretty soon they were back out there. This
time some damp weather had made things a little
slick and everyone was getting into the action. Grown
men were giggling like school girls, revelling in the joy
of getting down and dirty. Soon though, a short rain
shower separated the men from the boys – all the
men went home, while the boys just kept on playing
in the mud! As the track got wetter, so the greasiness
increased. To a point where it just became silly, with
steering inputs having little or no effect. That didn’t
stop these guys from trying though, and the size of
the grins seemed to increase at the same rate as the
layers of mud built up on the cars.
The whole point of something like this is just to have
fun – nobody is racing, or trying to go fast. Getting it
sideways and keeping it there is what it is all about!
There may not be as many traditional style hotrods
running as we have seen at overseas events, but that
is more than made up for in the sheer enjoyment of
the action.
What started out as a couple of friends having fun in
the dirt, has already become something more. Clearly
the appetite exists for events that allow enthusiasts to
have some fun behind the wheel. Garage will be doing
all we can to grow this phenomenon: While it may take
days to scrape all the mud off, there is no doubting the
appeal of good clean fun!
Watch our Website for details of upcoming events.WWW.garagemagazine.co.za
...all the men Went home, While the boys
just kept on playing in the mud!
classic
Fine lines, old Friends, and an unconventional approach, this seventy year old beauty strikes a chord and pays tribute in Fitting style. [read the Full story in the print edition]
Hudson Hauler
“Here was tHis old toppie driving tHis beautiful old pick-up, witH His ’41 Harley on tHe back”
custom
Exactly what makEs a thirtEEn yEar-old ramp his Bmx into a rivEr? rEpEatEdly? and thEn do it again? pErhaps thE samE thing that would havE him jump his skatEBoard into a full swimming pool. pErhaps simply thE fact that hE is thirtEEn yEars old. [rEad thE full story in thE print Edition]
GARAGE | sEptEmbER 2011 | 56
CULTURE
PhotograPher Casey Bertie followed CaPe town’s riCo swanePoel’s work on two very different PieCes: a sPrayed entranCe at our own studios, and a tattoo of one of his own drawings.
Tagging 2Tattoos
GARAGE | sEptEmbER 2011 | 58
Rico is an artist. His chosen media
reflects his interests. And his
story. Like everyone’s his is ever
changing. Having grown up in
Port Elizabeth, he began studying graphic
design after school. A logical fit with his
already developing skills with a spray can.
Moving to Cape Town in 2000 he
continued his studies in various aspects
of visual arts. Working as an illustrator, he
began hanging out at a top local tattoo
shop. Fascinated by the process, Rico had
found another outlet for his visual creativity.
Impressed by his raw skill and zeal, the
owners offered him an apprenticeship.
Two and a half years later he qualified, and
is currently working out of Wildfire’s Long
Street location.
Rico still enjoys getting the chance to
spray a piece and will take commissions
– he sees all aspects of his art as different
facets of his expression. He is also a man
of few words, preferring to allow his eye
and hands to do the talking for him. Have
a listen to what he and his characters are
telling you in the next few pages.
Small graffiti photos: Rico
GARAGE | sEptEmbER 2011 | 59
GARAGE | sEptEmbER 2011 | 60ContaCt RiCo 021 424 0877
he sees all aspects of his
art as different facets of his
expression.
custom
Sticker ‘em up
So what exactly doeS it take to get a car featured in a magazine? a fair queStion and it SeemS Some people will go to greater lengthS than otherS to find out. quite how far one Should go may be a matter of perSonal choice, but we may draw the line at craSh damage.[read the full Story in the print edition]
CUSTOM
A mild flAt blAck version of A customising icon. metoikos cAdmus clicked the shutter on this cAduceus monikered beAuty. strAnge sounding words Aside, the cAr is A winner All the wAy. [reAd the full story in the Print edition]
Mesmeric Merc
Review
Acelebration of some of the icons of musclecardom, this
DVD brings the sound and looks of these brutes right
into your living room.
Following on from the success of Vol. 1, which is now
five years old and released just as the whole muscle car scene
burst back into favour, the new disc is pretty damn awesome! A
lot has happened in five years, with Detroit finally waking up and
starting to build cars that people actually want again.
This DVD captures new generation muscle like the Corvette
ZR1, Cadillac XLR, and of course stalwarts like the Mustang and
Charger. It does so with the quality and attention to detail that
we have come to expect from this leader in motoring and power-
sports titles.
There is a happy blend of close up details and more than enough
to keep the anoraks happy, as well as some glorious footage of
what happens when the brain in your right foot takes over! If we are
allowed one criticism, it is that the 52 minutes running time is a little
too short. Happily this is a DVD that can be watched over and over
without losing its appeal. Just keep the volume cranked up!
Order directly from Moto Movies 083 408 1611 at R229.95, or
pick it up at one of their outlets.
AmericAn muscle cArsDVD reView
products
stuff: kit, gear, tackle, groceries, swag – call it what you want, as long as you call it yours:
Have some tHis-and-tHat groovy enougH to sHow Here? mail us.
Custom pewter designs – send your own photo and Pewter-It will make you a one-of-a-kind hip flask so you can bin that half jack. From R250-00. Call Kyle 083 762 8915
All the cool kids are wearing them. Serious. Well OK, Zach Galifianakis hasn’t worn his yet but he will soon. R550-00. Get your Garage Magazine Jacket straight from us.
No, not the plumber, we mean that hideous sun-wizened dashboard in your Type-3 VW. Made in grain-finish 3mm UV-stable ABS, these are just what you need if you are getting tired of smearing Nugget on your dash every weekend. Call Herman on 082 431 5722 or mail to: [email protected] And yes he will look at making them for other vehicles too. Call him already.
Cape Select makes these perfectly weighted bossing mallets – just what you need to start shaping that sweet Duesenberg replica. R320-00 each in Oak. Call 083 321 2861
Say NO to CraCk
Low BLow
ShOOt frOm the hip
eye caNdy Show offIf you only ever buy one Hotrod and Custom
magazine, The Rodder’s Journal is it. Unsurpassed photography, writing and history, this is the standard that every other publication looks to. Subscribe at www.roddersjournal.com
Be the envy of all your mates, just don’t short fill them. Gas pump drink dispenser from Motown Auto (021) 949 3793
anotherround!
1. Before
projects
Alan Paterson and Max Lange are having fun with this 1981 BMW R100CS. Plans are to build a mild cafe racer. Keeping it simple and not letting it become a money pit. On receiving the donor bike it was first checked out, some minor rust and corrosion sorted, and prepared for roadworthy. A good idea on any project to get it licensed in your name at the start. From there the fun with angle grinders started, with modifications to the rear of the frame and various factory bracketry. As far as possible everything is being done themselves, only farming out essential professional parts. Can’t wait to drop a coin in the juke and see how this one does.
What’s in your
Have a project or ride you would like to see Here? send 2 HigH-res images and a brief description to: [email protected] please keep it under 4mb – we are old scHool and tHe dial-up gets a little cranky....
?The lowdown on whaT is Being BuilT, worked on and driven, all over souTh africa.
bmw cafÉ racer
2. stripping gets underway 3. changing rear frame
4. further stripping 5. welding new section 6. foam ready to shape 7. Bum-box complete
Out on the East Rand, Gavin During’s 72 V6 Capri is undergoing a complete restoration, and will get updated front and rear suspension, 15” wheels and Sierra brakes. Outside it will remain stock.
1972 capri
Warren Fryer recently found this 1948 Chev Pick-up, which will get underway as soon as he finishes his ’33 Roadster. This one is going to be for his wife, and we are hoping they keep it old school!
1948 cHev pick-up
Albertus Saunders from Midrand has been playing with this sweet little MkI since his dad gave it to him in high school. Currently running a turbo’d Toyota 4AGZE with a Cressida box. With 1 bar boost things can get lively!
toyford
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GautenGOJ Autobody 011 477 8100 Fabrication & paint
DNA Paints 082 452 1014Custom paint products
Jeppe Tyre 011 614 0462 Specialist tyres
RS Performance 011 334 4342/6 V8 spares
Supreme Bumpers 011 626 2304 Electroplating
Volkspares 011 397 4760 Volkswagen spares
African Electroplating
011 474 8767 Plating specialists
Pro Auto Rubber 011 823 5541Rubber extrusions & mouldings
Rally Sport Motors 011 477 6037 American Musclecars
Vee Motors 011 615 6110 VW parts & repairs
GoTech 011 824 5395Fuel management computers
AK Components 011 708 7234Alfa car parts specialists
Mr Magman 0861 624 626Fitment Centre & accessories
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011 453 0924 Performance batteries
Alfa Spring Works 011 900 2238 Custom made springs
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Probe Auto Batteries
051 430 8722 Performance batteries
KZnThundersport 031 701 6304 American car parts
Speed Shop 031 263 2001 Volkswagen spares
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Precision Wheel Alignment
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Spraytech 021 946 2872Precision Nozzles for spray systems
Stealth Engineering 021 556 9339Motor Engineering & Balancing
Geoff's Motor Bike Silencers
021 531 8429 Motor Bike Silencers
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021 447 4977 Motor engineering
Triangle Transmission
021 939 6611Automatic transmissions
SA Mastersleeve 021 761 6962 Brake overhauling
Carburettor Repair 021 447 4615Specialises in carburettor repair
Interspares 021 930 1041 Gearbox spares
Filter Man 021 949 1940 Oil, air, fuel filters
Frost Brothers 044 382 6074 Classic British & Mercedes SL
Car Radio Systems 021 939 6141 Custom interiors
Glitterama 021 447 8051 Electroplating, Galvanising
Pretty Polishing 021 448 9384 Aluminium Parts Polished
Mobi Skim 021 939 6107 Brake Specialists
R & V Bearings 021 930 5200 Bearing imports & distribution
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Mod
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