Motor racing enthusiasts in for a treat

Ngqabutho Moyo Sports Reporter
MOTORING and motorcycle racing enthusiasts are in for a treat when the Bulawayo Motoring Club hosts its first national event, the second leg of the John Love Trophy at the Victoria Falls Road Circuit on Saturday.

BMC spokesperson Zane Shah said the meeting marks the beginning of the season.

“The John Love Trophy is the first national event that we will be hosting this weekend,” he said.

Shah said the event comprises seven rounds with four of the rounds already completed in the Harare event.

“The race will feature an hour and a half-long practice session. All drivers and bikers are required to go through the format. A qualifying session will be held and this helps time-keepers in placing fast and slow competitors strategically. The actual race will then take up most of the day,” he said.

Participants are set to battle it out in four different classes which include the saloon races, sports cars, Megelli’s series and super bikes. The race will also feature the on-going national superbike competition which was introduced last year. The event is likely to attract top riders from Harare and Bulawayo.

Last year, the event featured drivers such as Darren Pragji in a Datsun, Julian Van Vuuren (Honda), Shah in a Toyota Conquest and Stuart Young competing in a sports car. Harare was represented by Ian Howden in a Corolla, Kevin Steenkemp (Sierra), Kevin Allmark (Ford), Lorraine Randall (Mini Cooper) and Christy Laing in a Startlet. Seasoned competitors such as Phil Archenoul, Fuzzy Walker, Ian Gutherless, Dave Marsberg, Tim Schultz, Bianca Schultz and Mathew Schultz are expected to feature in the competition.

The first leg of the race, held annually in memory of the late legendary Zimbabwe driver John Love, was staged in Harare last month. The trophy is a tribute to Love who was a six-time South Africa Formula One champion in the 1960s. Love was born in Bulawayo on December 7 1924 and died in April 2005.

Meanwhile, top Zimbabwean driver Darren Winterboer had a nightmarish outing in South Africa at the weekend when he failed to complete races in Pretoria because of car trouble.

He had previously won on two visits to set the lead in the series in his BMW 335.