Kyalami (ZA)
Killarney (ZA)

Lourenço Marques, Mozambique

Roy Hesketh (Pietermaritzburg, ZA)
1968 Springbok part 2
1966 Endurance Racing
1967 Endurance Racing is still under construction

INTRODUCTION - The Springbok Series for sportscars originated not earlier than in 1966. Before the Series existed for F1 cars. In the colonies such as Angola, Rhodesia, Mozambique and South-Africa a tradition of races with sportscars existed already since the 1950s. Best known were the Angolan 300-kms Grand Prix organised since 1959 and especially the Rand Daily Nine Hours Endurance of Kyalami, organised the first time in 1958. During the four first years this race was contested on the old Grand Central track, and overseas entries were scarce. Three of the four first editions were won by Porsches: in 1958 by the Porsche Carrera GS of Ian Fraser-Jones (ZA) and Tony Ferguson (ZA), in 1960 and 1961 by the Porsche 550 Spyder of John Love (RSR) and Dawie Gous (ZA). The 1959 edition, without overseas entries, was won by the Dart-Climax of Hugh Carrington (ZA)/Chris Ferguson (ZA). Things changed thoroughly when in 1961 the South African Motor Racing Club and its dynamic secretary Alex Blignaut decided to build a complete new track to replace the obsolete Grand Central circuit. At once Kyalami (is Zulu for "my home") became the home of African racing. Already in 1962, at the first 9-hours on the new track, there was a large entry of mainly British racers. The fifth edition was won by David Piper (GB)/Bruce Johnstone (ZA) in the new green 3.0 Ferrari 250GTO of the Briton. Earlier that year he finished already third at the Angolan Grand Prix. In 1963 Piper crashed the car at the Daytona Continental, entered it at the Sebring 12-hours, the Spa Grand Prix and the Nürburgring 1,000-kms, where he finished 6th. On June 7 of the same year Piper bought a new Ferrari 250 GTO, again in bright green. In November he came back to the Kyalami 9-hours to win it a second time, now with Tony Maggs (ZA) as team mate.
Mean time things had thoroughly changed in sportscars racing. Indeed, in 1962 a former winner of the Le Mans 24-hours (1957), the Texan Carroll Shelby, decides to develop a competitive American sportscar, able to beat such cars as the 3.8 Jaguar E Type, the 3.8 Aston Martin DB4 GTZ or the new 3.0 Ferrari 250 GO, trusting all victories in sportscars racing. So he puts a 4.2-litre Ford engine in the chassis of the British 2.0 AC Bristol roadster, a two-seater having been raced not without success during the late 1950s. His project - leading to the later Shelby Cobra Roadster - receives full support from Henry Ford II at Dearborn. It will be the start of the legendary Ford-Ferrari combat (1963-1967). Coming from the school of John Wyer - race director at Aston Martin when Shelby won Le Mans - the Texan refuses to do in competition what Enzo Ferrari does with his 250 GTO, nl. to let them drive in competition by gentleman-racers. Shelby works, just as Wyer at Aston Martin, with factory racers.  His first season, in 1963, with a brand new car is certainly not easy, but the Cobra Roadster shows a high potential, and will be followed early 1964 by a closed version, known as the Shelby Cobra Daytona GT.

TWO GSM-DARTS as the one which won the 2nd Kyalami 9-hours in 1959

With this Ferrari 250 GTO (chassis 3767 GT) Piper won his first Kyalami Nine Hours in 1962 - the first race on the new track.

TOP: The Willment Racing Cobra Daytona GT after its restoration. BOTTOM: The same car in the pits before the start of the 1964B Kyalami 9-H.

1964: 7TH KYALAMI NINE HOURS - In the States Shelby lets race his new closed Cobra exclusively by works drivers. However, some of his Cobra Roadsters, have been sold to gentleman racers. During the after-season those racers go with their cars to the Nassau Speedweek, not to the South-African races. However specific circumstances will contribute to a new era in South-African sportscars racing. In England John Willment Racing co-operates closely with Carroll Shelby in the preparation of the Shelby Cobras. One of Willment's racers, since years familiar with South-African racing is Bob Olthoff. He's called the South-African Richard Petty, since he's a famous winner. In 1964 he ships one of the red Willment Cobra Daytonas to South-Africa for the Kyalami Nine Hours.
At once the Ford-Ferrari combat, earlier seen at Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans, with factory cars, and in England, with gentleman drivers, is exported to Africa. At once the Kyalami Nine Hours has grown to quite a race in its seven short years of existence. Informed that John Willment Racing will send two of its top racers, Jack Sears and Bob Olthoff, to Kyalami, David Piper decides to race no longer his 3.0 Ferrari 250GT0, having won the two first editions on the new Kyalami track, but his new 3.3 Ferrari 250LM. Indeed, on August 29, all GTO Ferraris were seriously beaten at the 29th R.A.C. Tourist Trophy by the Shelby Cobras: Innes Ireland was only sixth, Richie Ginther ninth and Tony Maggs tenth. They were headed by Dan Gurney (Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe), Jack Sears (Willment Cobra 289 Roadster) and Bob Olthoff (Willment Cobra 289 Roadster), finishing res. third, fourth and fifth. Only by using his new green Ferrari 250LM Piper could finish ahead of the three Cobras, taking the second spot behind the winning Ferrari 330P prototype of Graham Hill.
The Ferrari LM, intended to beat Ford's Cobra Coupe in FIA's World Championship for Grand Touring Manufacturers, was refused by the FIA as a Grand Touring car, since it was the all-winning Ferrari 275P prototype with just a roof on. In 1964 the new car won already the Rheims 12-hours, the Coppa Inter Europa and the Road America 500-miles, proving that it was a famous endurance car. At Kyalami opposition comes not only from the Sears/ Olthoff Cobra Daytona GT, but also from the 3.8 Jaguar XKE shared by Peter Sutcliffe and Dickie Stoop, and even from the 3.3 Ferrari 250GTO of Rhodesia's John Love and South-Africa's Peter de Klerk.
The race starts as a gruelling combat between the Piper/Maggs Ferrari 250LM and the Sears/Olthoff Cobra Coupe. Until mid-race both cars are found in nose-to-tail racing. Technical problems on the Willment Cobra, however, will make the red car loosing some 40 laps in the pits, enough for Piper and Maggs to pull away from the rest of the field and to win their third consecutive Kyalami Nine Hours. By finishing second in their 3.0 Ferrari GTO, Love/de Klerk win the GT class ahead of Sutcliffe/Stoop (Jaguar XKE) and the Willment Cobra, finishing fifth. In 14 direct confrontations between the Ferrari GTO and the Shelby Cobra it's already Ferrari's ninth win. Contrary to the previous year, where Piper/Maggs won both the race and the index-classification, this year the index goes to the BMC Mini-Cooper of Armstrong/Sonnenschein.
Result - 1. David Piper/Tony Maggs (3.3 Ferrari 250LM), 2. John Love/Peter de Klerk (3.0 Ferrari 250GTO), 3. John Sutcliffe/Dickie Stoop (3.8 Jaguar XKE), 4. Armstrong/Sonnenschein (1.3 BMC Cooper S), 5. Bob Olthoff/Jack Sears (4.7 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe), etc.

6TH ANGOLAN GRAND PRIX 1964 - One month after the Kyalami Nine Hours we find several European racers at the start of the Angolan Grand Prix in Luanda for a 300-kms race - the last major one of the season before the start of the Nassau Speedweek. Belgium is present with the yellow Ferraris 250LM of Willy Mairesse and Lucien Bianchi (who won earlier the 1964 Tour de France at the wheel of a Ferrari 250GTO, despite the presence of three works Cobras Coupe), also with the Ferrari 250GTO of Annie de Soisbault/Gerald Langlois van Ophem and with the Porsche of "Remordu". Germany is here with the Porsches of Herbert Müller and Gerhard Koch, France with the Porsche of Jo Schlesser, Portugal with the Ferrari GTO of Antonio Peixihno. Tony Maggs starts in the Piper Ferrari GTO, Piper himself in his 250LM. The last one has to retire in a race dominated by the two Belgian Ferraris and won by Willy Mairesse.
Result - 1. Willy Mairesse (3.3 Ferrari 250LM), 2. Lucien Bianchi (3.3 Ferrari 250LM), 3. Gerard Koch (2.0 Porsche 904GTS), 4. Jo Schlesser (2.0 Porsche 904GTS), 5. Antonio Peixihno (3.0 Ferrari 250GT0), 6. Tony Maggs (Ferrari 250GTO), 7. Herbert Müller (Porsche 718 RSK), 8. Annie de Soisbault/Gerald Langlois van Ophem (3.0 Ferrari 250GTO/64), 9. "Remordu" (2.0 Porsche 904 GTS), etc.

§1. THE LAST PRE-SPRINGBOK SEASON (1965)

November 6, 1965 - The third year in the Ford-Ferrari combat runs to its end. Just as in 1964, where Ferrari won all endurance races except for the Targa Florio (lost from a Porsche 904GTS), 1965 endurance racing is again completely dominated by the Prancing Horse: the Monza 1,000-kms, 49th Targa Florio, Nürburgring 1,000-kms and Rheims 12-hours were won by the new Ferrari P2; the Spa 500-kms, Circuito del Mugello, Le Mans 24-hours, Coppa di Citta d'Enna and Austrian Grand Prix were won by the Ferrari LM. Only the Daytona Continental (won by a Ford MkII) and Sebring (won by a Chaparral 2A) were non-Ferrari wins.
Entry
This year's Kyalami Nine Hours is the umpteenth fight in the 1965 Ford-Ferrari combat, now with gentleman drivers as protagonists. David Piper, already three times winner, is here with a 4.4 Ferrari 365P2. It is the car which won this year's Monza 1,000-kms, having been sold to the Swiss Scuderia Filipinetti as a 275P2, and resold to Piper as a 365P2. He transformed it in a Group 7 "big banger" and finished on September 19 even second behind John Surtees (5.9 Lola-Chevy T70Mk1) at the Play-ers Quebec at Mount-Tremblant in Canada, ahead of the most hairy American "big bangers". Team mate this year is Dick Attwood.  Two other Ferraris at the start are 250LM entries by Jackie Epstein and by Mike Spence. Main attraction is the Ford GT40 of Peter Sutcliffe, shared with Innes Ireland. Outsiders for victory are Mike de Udy/Peter de Klerk with their Porsche 904GTS, having no problems with the withering heights of the circuit.
The race
Already at practice it is obvious that the bright green Piper Ferrari has problems to find all its horse power at the 6000 feet above sea level circuit. That is confirmed in the race when Sutcliffe/Ireland have no problems to pull away from the Ferrari trio: Piper/Attwood (365P2), Epstein/Hawkins (250LM) and Spence/Love (250LM). After five hours of racing the Ford GT40 has a comfortable three-lap lead over the Piper/Attwood Ferrari P2, having lapped both LM Ferraris already four times. For the Ford-boys victory seems totally acquired when Attwood looses 5 laps in the pits with vapour-lock problems. Unfortunately for Sutcliffe oil pressure is falling down on the Ford GT40. Although Piper and Attwood are now rocketing like devils around the circuit, nobody believes that they are able to catch the Ford. However, once the Ford looses a wheel, advance falls down to four laps. Totally freed from their vapour-lock problem Piper/Attwood are now seriously faster than the Ford. With one hour to go arrears are down to three laps, with thirty minutes to two laps, with ten minutes to go to less than one lap. Eventually they can pass the Ford with five minutes left. Index victory goes to the Volvo 122S of Wingels/Ettema.
Result - 1. David Piper/Dick Attwood (4.4 Ferrari 365P2), 2. Peter Sutcliffe/Innes Ireland (4.7 Ford GT40) at 1 lap, 3. Jackie Epstein/Paul Hawkins (3.3 Ferrari 250LM) at 6 laps, 4. Mike de Udy/Peter de Klerk (2.0 Porsche 904GTS), 5. John Love/Brian Wheble (1.6 Lotus Elan S2) at 12 laps, 6. Mike Spence/John Love (3.3 Ferrari 250LM), 7. John Trutter/ Neville Smith (1.6 GSM Dart-Ford), 8. Frank Wingels/Jan Hettema (1.8 Volvo 122S), 9. Geoff Mortimer/N. Hooper (1.3 Renault R8 Gordini), 10. D. Joubert/P. Gough (1.6 GSM Dart-Ford), 11. Chris Swaenepoel/D. van Zyl (1.8 Volvo 544 Sport), 12. Scamp Porter/Colin Burford (1.3 Renault R8 Gordini), etc.

RAND GP TO PAUL HAWKINS (LOLA T70 Mk1)

December 4, 1965 - On Saturday the first 3-litre F1 race in history is contested at Kyalami. Winner of that 124-mi race is Jack Brabham, ahead of local Peter de Klerk and Paul Hawkins. Final event on the program is a 20-lap sprint for sportscars over 51 miles. Several of the protagonists of the Kyalami Nine Hours are absent where, the same week-end, the 7th Angolan Grand Prix is contested. Among them David Piper. So no revenge for Peter Sutcliffe, present with his Ford GT40.
Fastest starter is Australian Paul Hawkins, driving David Good's 4.7 Lola-Ford T70 "big banger", followed by Bob Olthoff's Willment Cobra 289 Roadster, Sutcliffe's Ford GT40 and David Prophet's McLaren-Elva-Ford M1A. Jackie Epstein in his Ferrari 250LM has to let a gap. After five laps he is fifth, even preceded by the 1.6 Lotus-Alfa 23B of Keith Berrington-Smith. When he finally succeeds in passing the diminutive Lotus 23, both Fords - Olthoff's and Sutcliffe's - have already a 15 seconds advance. When on lap 7 Sutcliffe attacks Prophet's McLaren, having overhauled him - wheel disaster overtakes him - as he had at the Nine Hours. As a cure the car has now been fitted with magnesium wheels, with huge triple-eared knock-ons. However, one of those knock-ons came off as the car entered Clubhouse Bend.
With Sutcliffe out Ford-Ferrari battle goes among Olthoff's Cobra and Epstein's Ferrari 250LM. Towards the end Prophet can pass the Willment Cobra, but cannot make up much leeway on Hawkins' flying Lola. The race runs to its end as a procession, with Hawkins winning easily from Prophet. Olthoff is nearly lapped by the leader on the 4.261 km circuit, but beats easily Epstein, finishing fourth.
Result - 1. Paul Hawkins (4.7 Lola-Ford T70 Mk1), 2. David Prophet (4.7 McLaren-Elva-Ford M1A), 3. Bob Olthoff (4.7 A.C. Cobra 289 Roadster), 4. Jackie Epstein (3.3 Ferrari 250LM) at 1 lap, 5. Keith Berrington-Smith (1.6 Lotus-Alfa 23B), 6. Mike de Udy (2.0 Porsche 904GTS), etc.

ANGOLAN GP TO PIPER (FERRARI 365P2)

  
EVEN UNDER THE AFRICAN PALM TREES the Ford-Ferrari combat is raging. Here, at the start of the 7th Angolan Grand Prix, Jo Schlesser (F) is first away in a 7-litre A.C. Cobra 427 Roadster. Herbert Müller (D, Ferrari 250LM), Denis Hulme (NZ, Brabham-Climax BT8) and pole-setter David Piper (GB, Ferrari 365P2) complete the first row. PHOTO: AUTOSPORT, December 10, 1965, p. 959.

December 4-5, 1965 - At the Angolan Grand Prix venue is this year excellent. Jo Schlesser is here with Ford France's 7.0 A.C. Cobra 427 Roadster. The only other Cobra, a more conventional 289 Roadster, will be driven by the local Keith Schellenberg. Opposition has to come from no less than seven Ferraris. David Piper is present in the ex-works, ex-Filipinetti 4.4 Ferrari 365P2 in Group 7 configuration. Herbert Müller starts in the Scuderia Filipinetti 3.3 Ferrari 250LM. Jacques Swaeters of the Écurie Nationale Belge has two LMs for Le Mans hero Pierre Dumay (he finished second behind Rindt/Gregory) and for Gerald Langlois van Ophem. Vic Willson has the Team Chamaco 250LM and Peter Clarke is here with his own LM. There is also the LM of Alvaro Lopez and a pure street 3.3 Ferrari 275GTB entered by Aquiles de Brito.
The 1960-61 Kyalami Nine Hours winner, Dawie Simon Gous, shows with a two year old but well prepared 2.0 Elva-Porsche Mk7 with Denis Hulme (NZ) in the Sid Taylor entered Brabham-Climax BT8, Rolf Stommelen  and "Eldé" - Belgium's Léon Dernier - in their Porsches 904GTS as direct competitors for the 2-litre honours.
Practice goes from ... 5 a.m. until 7.30 a.m. since the circuit uses some main streets of Luanda. Pole position goes to David Piper (Ferrari 365P2), ahead of Denis Hulme's Brabham-Climax BT8, earlier this year already winner of the 30th Tourist Trophy. Herbert Müller (Ferrari LM) and Jo Schlesser (Cobra 427) complete the first row, followed by three other LMs.
In the early stages of the race we find three cars together, rocketing absolutely wheel-to-wheel over the rough track: Piper (Ferrari P2), Schlesser (Cobra) and Hulme (Brabham). The little Brabham-Climax BT8, dwarfed by the Ferrari and the Cobra, is beginning to emerge as the crowd's favourite.

On lap 34, after 68 miles, the rear suspension of the Cobra 427 caves in, and the unhappy Jo the Furious (Schlesser) has to retire. Shortly after the Sid Taylor owned Brabham pulls into the pits, Hulme complaining of lacking front brakes. The balance is adjusted, and the Brabham comes back on the circuit in fifth position, headed by Piper, Müller (Filipinetti Ferrari LM), Dumay (Francorchamps' LM) and Wilson (Chamaco LM). On lap 70, on two thirds of the race, when Hulme is already third, a rear wishbone breaks on the Brabham BT8. He has to retire. He's followed by Stommelen with a burnt camshaft on his Porsche 904GTS and by Pius Zund with a broken suspension on his Lotus 30.  The much publicised Iso A3C Grifo Rivolta of Pierre de Siebenthal was abandoned earlier.
After 300 kilometres Piper receives the chequered flag with three Ferrari 250LMS on the three following places. The two-litre class is won by South-Africa's Dawie Gous in his Elva Mk7, ahead of Belgium's Léon Dernier ("Eldé") in a Porsche 904GTS and by the local Ising Rainer in a similar machinery.
Passionating was the fight for Grand Touring honours between the steel-bodied Ferrari 287GTB of Aquilles de Brito and Keith Schellenberg in the ex-Ropner Cobra 289. The last, on holiday with his wife, was not intended to race, but once in it, was duelling with the Ferrari for any metre. Finally De Brito won that fight, finishing 9th overall.
Result - 1. David Piper (4.4 Ferrari 365P2), 2. Herbert Müller (3.3 Ferrari 250LM) at 1 lap, 3. Pierre Dumay (3.3 Ferrari 250LM) at 4 laps, 4. Vic Wilson (3.3 Ferrari 250LM) at 5 laps, 5. Dawie Simon Gous (2.0 Elva-Porsche Mk7), 6. "Eldé" (2.0 Porsche 904GTS), 7. Alvaro Lopez (3.3 Ferrari 250LM), 8. Ising Rainer (2.0 Porsche 904GTS), 9. Aquilles de Brito (3.3 Ferrari 275GTB), 10. Gerald Langlois van Ophem (3.3 Ferrari 250LM), 11. Peter Clarke (3.3 Ferrari 250LM), 12. Keith Schellenberg (AC Cobra 289 Roadster), etc.

REVENGE FOR SUTCLIFFE (AT PIETERMARITZBURG-3H)

December 27, 1965 -In a blistering heat with temperatures hovering near the 100 mark, the 2nd Pietermaritzburg 3-hours in Natal are contested at the new Roy Hesketh circuit, named near a former South-African racer. Several racers are no longer in Africa but went home for Christmas. Of the overseas racers Peter Sutcliffe is still here with his ultra fast Ford GT40, whilst Jackie Epstein is present with his own Ferrari 250LM. In the two litre class Mike de Udy and his Porsche 904GTS are favourite, despite the fast Elva-Porsche Mk7 of Simon Gous and Luki Botha. Paul Hawkins will start in Sid Taylor's 4.7 Lola-Ford T70 Mk1 with David Prophet (4.7 McLaren-Elva-Ford M1A) as most dangerous opponent.
Fastest qualifier is Australia's Paul Hawkins in 1'18"4 for 2.902 kilometres. Unfortunately the car finishes practice with a holed piston and some hard nightly work is necessary to bring the car at the start at 2 p.m. Second on the grid - surprisingly - is not the other big banger, Prophet's, but the deep green Ford GT40 of Peter Sutcliffe in 1'19"5. The time realised by Jackie Epstein - only 1'24"2 - lets preview an easy win of the Ford over the Ferrari for the last race of the year. For Ford 1965 was just a catastrophe: the GT40 won only one race, the Daytona 2000 miles in February. The outings of the 7-litre MkII at the Nürburgring and at Le Mans were a pure disaster. And the new open Ford GT-X, as tested by Chris Amon at the Bahamas, at the Nassau Speedweek. The car with the prolonged nose and the automatic transmission is abandoned after a couple of laps at the warm-up race (the Nassau Governor's Trophy). But also at the big money race over 400-kms (the Nassau International Trophy)  the GT-X is retired after 10 of the 56 laps, again with a broken gearbox. So a victory for a private owned Ford GT40 should be very welcome for the Dearborn giant. Then they can at least let write that they won the very first and the very last race of the year. However, Sutcliffe has to do it without any factory support.
At the start we find 40 cars, most of them being Mini-Coopers, Volvos, Renaults and Opel Kadetts. Even a 5.3 Dodge sedan is allowed to start.

 As the flag comes down David Prophet (McLaren-Elva M1A) goes immediately at the lead; motoring ahead of Paul Hawkins (Lola T70 Mk1) and Keith Berrington-Smith, from Maritzburg, in his diminutive but fast 1.6 Lotus-Alfa 23B. Fourth, but hard-chased by South-African Dawie Simon Gous (Elva-Porsche Mk7) is Sutcliffe.
After 45 minutes Hawkin's Lola T70 expires on the far side of the circuit, again with piston bothers. Five minutes later leader Prophet screams into the pits with a jamming accelerator pedal. That brings Sutcliffe (Ford GT40) on the lead, since he and Epstein passed already Berrington-Smith's Lotus-Alfa 23B. At the end of the first of three hours Sutcliffe is first, Epstein second and Prophet third. Berrington-Smith passes no longer and is out with an engine blown up. Mike de Udy (Porsche 904GTS) is now fourth, but the following lap he runs in brake troubles, touches, going into Querry, the 4.2 Mirage-Ford "big banger", so that both cars are out with battered bodywork.
During an uneventful second hour Prophet, recording a best lap in 1'19"0, can move up to second. Epstein, concentrating on a steady trouble-free run, is per lap three seconds slower than Sutcliffe, and follows already at the end of the second hour at three laps.
During the last hour Prophet comes back to the rear of Sutcliffe's Ford GT40, but 25 minutes before the end he is victim of a jammed gearbox, enabling only second gear to be used. Epstein, later followed by Gous/Botha and their Elva Mk7, can pass the ill McLaren to finish second. Prophet looses nine laps during the last 25 minutes. Finally Ford ends the season as it began, with a victory. So Sutcliffe has his revenge for the unlucky race at the Kyalami Nine Hours. It is only the third time of the year that a Ferrari prototype is preceded at the finish by a Ford prototype. In 14 other direct confrontations Ferrari was the winner.
Result - 1. Peter Sutcliffe (4.7 Ford GT40), 2. Jackie Epstein (3.3 Ferrari 250LM) at 5 laps, 3. Luki Botha/Dawie Simon Gous (2.0 Elva-Porsche Mk7) at 7 laps, 4. David Prophet (4.7 McLaren-Ford M1A) at 9 laps, 5. Arnold Chatz (1.8 Volvo 122S), etc.

§2. THE FIRST SPRINGBOK SEASON (1966)

Piper's 5th Kyalami 9-h (Ferrari 365P2/P3)
November 5-6 - The season goes to its end. On October 23, at Mexico, John Surtees wins in his Cooper-Maserati the last Grand Prix of the year, becoming in extremis vice-world champion behind Australia's Jack Brabham. In North-America Surtees won with his own Lola T70 already two of the six rounds of the new CANAM series. Eventually he will win one week after the Kyalami 9-hours the last round and the championship. The entry With the traditional Rhodesian and Angolan Grand Prix - holly ground for British and Belgian racers - having been cancelled, the newly created Springbok series offers them a valuable alternative. Until 1963 the series was restricted for F1 cars, and after two years of inactivity the organisers decided to open a new series, over 4 rounds, for prototypes and sportscars. The Rand Daily News 9-hours of Kyalami is the first round of the new series. Ferrari is present with two 4.4 365P2/P3 cars, the #3 bright green one for David Piper and Mike Parkes, and the #4 Jacques Swaters' yellow one for Willy Mairesse and "Beurlys" (Jean Blaton). In Group 4 we find two Ferraris LM: The Écurie Francorchamps yellow one for Jackie Ickx and "Eldé" (Léon Dernier) and Peter Clarke's to be shared with Rollo Feilding. A third Ferrari LM, Bernhard White's, scheduled for two motorcycling aces, Mike Hailwood and Bob Anderson, is in place, but will not start, due to a broken engine at practice. Ford has nice machinery on the grid. There is the 5.3-litre #2 Ford P40 Roadster of Peter Sutcliffe, modified by Alan Mann, and using new lightweight elements. Two other G40s are the traditional closed versions. Mike Spence and Dave Hobbs have the fast ex-Essex Wire GT40, now entered by Bernhard White. The other GT40 is Colin Crabbe's for him and Ed Nelson. Most dangerous competitor for all Ferraris and Fords is 4.7-litre Lola-Ford T70, a Group 7 big banger, Roy Pierpoint's. He'll share the car with the local Group 7 specialist Doug Serrurier. The only other European machines are two Porsches 906, the green one for Mike de Udy and Peter de Klerk, the orange one of Racing Team Holland for Ben Pon and Gijs van Lennep. All the rest is local machinery, several Group 7s. Fastest here are the 1.6 Lotus 23B Alfa Romeo of Keith Berrington-Smith/Tony Jefferies and the 2.0 Elva Mk7 Porsche of Luki Botha/Dawie Gous. Very speedy too is the Lotus Elan S2 of Jack Holme. Practice Several teams are setting no sharp time during practice. The local South-African racers go for it, and fastest qualifier is Doug Serrurier in the hairy Lola T70 in 1'35"3. Then comes Sutcliffe's Ford P40 (1'38"7). On the orange Porsche Ben Pon tries to score a top time, but on doing so (1'39"8), a broken crankshaft will eliminate the car from the start. Analogous problems for the two motoring aces and the LM. Here a holed carter is the result. Qualification times are:		ABOVE THE PIPER FERRARI 365P2/P3, modified with parts of the new Ferrari 330P3. The car on the picture is a restoration from more recent date. BELOW a model of the Belgian Ferrari P2/P3 with the normal windscreen and original P2 wheels.
		The race Cars are lined-up for a Le Mans start following their engine capacity, not following the realised times at practice. That explains why several teams were not going after sharp times on the two practice sessions, preceding the race. When the flag drops the powerful Lola T70 big banger is immediately out at the lead, followed by Sutcliffe in the Ford P40, Spence in the Ford GT40, Mairesse in the yellow Ferrari P2/P3, Piper in the bright green P2/P3 and Ickx in the Ferrari LM. Then follows a gap with Mike de Udy leading the local machinery. In front Doug Serrurier is pulling away from the rest of the field. After one hour of racing he has already lapped the two Fords once and the two Ferrari P2/P3 prototypes twice. Ickx is sixth on nearly 3 laps. Before the end of the second hour the fast Lotus 23B Alfa Romeo is abandoned with a broken universal joint. Roy Pierpoint, who took the Lola T70 over after the first pit stop, has now two laps advance over Sutcliffe/Love (Ford P40), Piper/Parkes (Ferrari P2/P3), Spence/Hobbs (Ford GT40) and Mairesse/"Beurlys" (Ferrari P2/P3).  Shortly after the second hour Écurie Francorchamps looses its Ferrari 250LM when Ickx brings the car into the pits with a bored radiator. The fast Alfa Romeo GTA of Basil van Rooyen is out too, with a blown-up engine. Attacking continuously in order to increase his advance, Roy Pierpoint has to come into the pits with no oil pressure. Shortly after he retires. Same fate for Luki Botha when five laps later he brakes his gearbox, retiring the Elva Mk7 from a seventh place. Setting the pace is now John Sutcliffe (Ford P40), heading Spence/Hobbs (Ford GT40) and Parkes (Ferrari P2/P3), racing nose-to-tail. Mairesse is unable to follow that duo, since his yellow Ferrari P2/P3 has problems with an overheated motor. Before the end of the third hour Parkes can pass the Ford GT40 of Hobbs, to take the second place. The yellow Ferrari P2/P3, showing brake problems, looses more and more ground and is even passed by the green Porsche 906S of de Udy/de Klerk for the fourth place. Then follow the red Ford GT40 of Colin Crabbe and by Peter Clarke's Ferrari LM. A while later Écurie Francorchamps looses its second car when the brakeless P2/P3 is abandoned with no more oil pression. In front David Piper follows now the Ford P40 very close, and this during already a dozen of laps, however without overtaking the dark green Ford P40. An irritated Peter Sutcliffe tries to speed up, but on doing so he breaks his rear suspension and will end the car in an accident. That means that shortly before mid-race Piper/Parkes are leading the race, ahead of Spence/Hobbs (Ford GT40), Nelson/Crabbe (Ford GT40), de Udy/de Klerk (Porsche 906S) and Clarke/Feilding (Ferrari LM). Of them only the ex-Essex Wire Ford GT40 seems able to follow the pace. The green Porsche can pass Crabbe's GT40 by loosing less time in the pits for refuelling. A broken differential will stop the red GT40 shortly after mid-race. Since the Spence/Hobbs GT40 shows clearly signs of fatigue, de Udy decides to attack the car during the fifth hour. However it is not his week. Impeded by the slower BMC Cooper 1300S of Nolly Limberis and Garth McGillewie, Mike goes off, wasting several laps. When he resumes the Spence/Hobbs Ford GT40 passes no longer: broken crown wheel. Clarke/Feilding are now second despite having lost some 25 laps in the pits on all kinds of minor repairs (among them a punctured tire). Piper/Parkes have now the easiest run of their life, with an advance of nearly 30 laps. At once a torrential storm ravages the circuit. Mike de Udy quits. This time the car is total loss, but the driver is uninjured. Some 30 minutes before the chequering flag, Piper - now leading 33 laps ahead of the Clarke/Feilding Ferrari LM - has a moment, when, after the last refuelling, his V12 refuses all service. Only two minutes later his mechanics succeed to fire the engine, so that David Piper and Mike Parkes win the Kyalami 9-hours, ahead of Clarke's LM. For David it is already his fifth consecutive win here. An old #14 Porsche 718RS by Clive van Beuren/Steve Mellet, having overtaken during the final stages of the race the valiant Lotus Elan of Jack Holme/Brian Wheble, finishes third. With all other European cars out, all other finishers are South-African racers. Of the 35 cars at the start only 17 are ranked.
Results 1. David Piper/Mike Parkes #3 Ferrari 365P2/P3 1st P2 David Piper Racing 291 2. P. Clarke/Rollo Feilding #6 Ferrari 250LM 1st S3 Peter Clarke. 258 3. Cl.van Beuren/Steve Mellet #14 Porsche 718RSK 1st G7 Ecurie Tomahawk 254 4. Jack Holme/Brian Wheble #19 Lotus Elan S2 1st GT Jack Holme 253 5. Scamp Porter/Eric Adler #27 Renault R8 Gordini 1st G5 Team Lawson 252 6. Colin Burford/Phil Porter #38 Renault R10 2nd G5 Team Renault 250 7. Frank Wingels/Dirk Marais #39 Volvo 122S B18 3rd G5 Team Lawson 249 8. Geoff Mortimer/R. Ramsayer #25 Renault R8 4th G5 Team Renault 243 9. Jack Houliston/Peter Sissens #36 BMC Cooper 1300S 5th G5 Ian Gouliston 240 10. Louis Cloete/Alex Karstens #23 Ford Cortina GT 6th G5 Philp Robinson Mo. 236 Cars having not finished DNF Mike de Udy/Peter de Klerk #10 Porsche 906S S2 Porsche Great Britain 186 DNF Mike Spence/David Hobbs #8 Ford GT40 Coupe S3 Bernard White Racing 174 DNF Ed Nelson/Colin Crabbe #9 Ford GT40 Coupe S3 E.S. Nelson 148 DNF Peter Sutcliffe/John Love #2 Ford P40 Roadster P2 Peter Sutcliffe 140 DNF Willy Mairesse/"Beurlys" #4 Ferrari 365P2/P3 P2 Écurie Francorchamps 128 DNF Doug Serrurier/Roy Pierpoint #1 Lola T70 Ford G7 R.F. Pierpoint 88 DNF Jackie Ickx/"Eldé" #5 Ferrari 250LM S3 Écurie Francorchamps 87 DNS Ben Pon/Gijs van Lennep #11 Porsche 906S S2 Racing Team Holland 0 DNS Mike Hailwood/B.Anderson #7 Ferrari 250LM  S3 Bernard White Racing 0

rest 1966 season still under construction

§3. THE SECOND SPRINGBOK SEASON (1967)

KYALAMI 9-H TO JWA GULF FORD MIRAGE

START OF THE 10th KYALAMI NINE HOURS - David departing Piper's Ferrari P3/P4 has sideswiped Frank Gardner's #5 Lola T70Mk3A at the Le Mans start. Mechanics hastily remove the battered nose section of the car. Still grinding his starter is Jacky Ickx in the JWA Gulf Mirage M1 while the Cowell/Armstrong Alfa Romeo passes. PHOTO: AUTOSPORT, November 10, 1967, Vol. XXXV, n°19, pp. 812-3.

November 9, 1967 - Contrary to last year, when Ferrari was victim of social strikes and financial problems, this year Ferrari had a much better year in sportscars racing. At the first race of the season, the Daytona 24 hours, Enzo Ferrari took immediately revenge for his defeat by Ford at last year's Le Mans: on all-American soil he realised a splendid 1-2-3, humiliating the giant of Dearborn. And although the works Ferraris 330P4 finished second and third at Le Mans, behind a winning Ford MkIV, FIA's Manufacturers Championship was won by Ferrari on July 30 after the eighth and last round at Brands Hatch. Then, at once, came FIA's decision that up from next year over-3-litre prototypes will be no longer allowed in endurance racing. That implies that the Ford MkIV, the Chaparral 2F and the Ferrari 330P4 will be no longer seen in competition for the FIA World Championship. At Maranello they decide to sell the ex-works cars to privateers, and this at ridiculous low prices. It offers David Piper, already winner of five consecutive Kyalami Nine Hours, a unique opportunity to go after a sixth win. Indeed, in August he can buy at £15,000 the Ferrari 330 P3/P4, earlier owned by colonel Ron Hoare of England's Maranello Concessionaires. It's the car with chassis number 0854, having finished third at the Spa 1,000-kms (and preceded by the 5.7 JWA Gulf Mirage M1 of Jacky Ickx/Dick Thompson).
The entry
Piper races the new car a first time at the Paris 1,000-kms, finishing 5th overall. For Kyalami he mounts a special four-cam 4.4-litre engine, although without fuel injection, but good for 450bhp. However, this year opposition at Kyalami is extremely strong. John Wyer shows with the JWA Gulf Mirage M1, having earlier won the Francorchamps 1,000-kms and the Paris 1,000-kms, beating at both occasions the 0854 Ferrari. The car is equipped with a 5.7-litre motor, estimated to be 520bhp strong. Drivers are Jacky Ickx (B) and Brian Redman (GB), two extremely promising racers, 22 and 29 years old. Other serious competitors for Piper are Eric Broadley's new closed Lolas T70Mk3, equipped with a variety of Chevrolet engines. Earlier this year such cars took the two first places on the grid at the BOAC 500-miles at Brands Hatch. Although nut fully reliable before September - only the Francorchamps 1,000-kms could be finished in fourth position - the child diseases have been solved, and the Lolas are at once very serious contenders for victory lane. Australia's John Hawkins shows with a 5.9-litre engine, whilst the Sid Taylor Racing T70Mk3 for Frank Gardner (AU)/Mike Spence (GB) comes with a 5.5-litre motor, just as the Lindsay Saker Motors Lola entry for Mike de Udy 5GB)/Hugh Dubley (GB). Two other Lolas are open Group 7 versions with a 4.7-litre Ford engine for Dave Charlton (ZA)/Roy Pierpoint (GB) and Doug Serrurier (ZA)/Jackie Pretorius (ZA).

General expectation is that the winner of the tenth Rand Daily Mail Nine Hours is to be found among Piper's Ferrari, the JWA Gulf Mirage or one of the five Lolas. But this year Alex Blignaut, secretary of the South African Motor Racing Club realises the best entry ever. He has also as outsiders three Ferraris 250LM at the start: the Drummond Racing for Rollo Feilding (GB)/Trevor Blokdyk (ZA), Peter Clarke's (GB) for the owner himself and George van Straaten (ZA), and David Skailes' (GB) for him and Eric Liddell (GB). Having sold its competition cars Jacques Swaters and his Écurie Nationale Belge are not present. Two other out-siders are the Fords GT40 of Edward Nelson (GB), teaming with Mike Hail-wood (GB) and of David Prophet (GB), teaming with Peter de Klerk (ZA).
In the two-litre class Tony Dean (GB) is present with his always fast and reliable 2.0 Porsche 906 for him and Basil van Rooyen (ZA), while Ben Pon shares the similar Racing Team Holland machinery with Sten Axelsson (S), the anti-hero of Le Mans 1966 who had to retire from a leading Group 4 position the private Swedish 906 less than half an hour before the end of Le Mans.
Another works car at the start is the 1.5 Alpine-Renault A210 M66 entered by Société Automobiles Alpine for Henri Grandsire (F) and Patrick Depailler (F). Originally a second car, the 3.0 A220 was also entered, but this entry is not taken up. Other racers coming from overseas are Rob Grant (GB)/Phil Cadman (GB) in a 1.1 Diva-Cosworth GT and Jem Marsh with a 1.3 Mini-Marcos to be shared with Brian Raubenheimer (ZA). The rest of the field - 39 units strong - is made up by a variety of local sports and saloon cars ranging from a 1.0 Fiat-Abarth 1000TCR, though a Ford Cortina GT, Volvos, Renaults R8 Gordini, Alfa Romeos, Mini-Coopers S, GSM Darts, a Lotus Elan, a Triumph GT6 and on old Porsche 718 RSK to a 2.0 Elfin-Climax T300.
Practice
Since the start of African races is given following each car's performance index, practice has not the same value as in European or American races. There are two official sessions each from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The first sees few cars on the track, as it's raining the proverbial pushrods and the track is streaming with water. Most of the overseas entrants, however, made unofficial practice sessions during the week to sort out the set-up of their cars for the final practice the day before the race.
The second session seven cars lap at over 100mph, a speed that eluded F1 drivers until late last year. All the Lolas break the barrier, as do Piper's Ferrari P3/P4 and the JWA Gulf Mirage-Ford. Fastest lap went to two racers of two different cars: Dick Attwood (Ferrari P3/P4) and Mike Spence (Lola T70Mk3A) in 1'27"4 (105.03 mph), that is 0"2 faster than the outright track record by Dave Charlton in a Brabham-Repco F1 car. Then follows Jackie Ickx (Mirage) with 1'29"1, Mike de Udy (Lola T70Mk3A) in 1'29"5 and Tony Dean in 1'33"6.

FERRARI 330 P3/P4 CHASSIS 0854 -ABOVE the original car as it was raced by its first owner, Maranello Concessionaires. In August 1967 the car is sold at David Piper for an amount of £ 15,000. MID the same car (however painted in bright green) as raced by David Piper at the two first rounds of the 1967 Springbok Series (here the car at the Cape Town 3-hours - one remarks the body repairs on the nose). The car could be raced in closed version and in open version, res. as Berlinetta and as Barchetta. At the BOAC 500 on Brands Hatch David Piper and Dick Attwood raced the car (for Maranello Concessionaires) in open version. It was the last race in red and blue colours, since Piper bought the car one week later. BOTTOM - After the car was sold to Paul Vestey it was again painted in the original colours. Here the Barchetta version.

The race
The start at 2 p.m. on Saturday follows the classic Le Mans tradition with cars lined up in echelon formation in front of the pits and with drivers on the other side of the track. Public venue reaches the day of the race a record of 80,000. It is extremely hot, with a temperature above 122 deg F. To the delight of the crowd local Doug Serrurier is the first away. But for Frank Gardner the race starts as a nightmare. Immediately after the start his car is sideswiped by Piper's Ferrari, enabling a new nose section, making him loosing 15 minutes (9 laps). Contrary to Europe, where advertising on cars is forbidden, South-African cars are plenty of sponsor-stickers. That example has been followed by a commercial boy like Piper, showing a car with Coca-Cola publicity. Leader Serrurier goes around with "Wall's ice cream" as main sponsor. On the back of his car he put the slogan "Stop me & buy one". But nobody to stop him like he is rocketing around the circuit. Only three cars are able to follow him, three other Lolas: Dave Charlton in the other "big banger", de Udy and Hawkins in their Lola Coupe. Already after four laps the leaders are lapping the tail-enders. The de Udy Lola is easy to recognise since he mounted - just as did Sid Taylor on Gardner's car - two periscope air extractors at the roof of his bright blue car.
After less than half an hour de Udy's car slows down and is overhauled by Hawkins, later also by Piper and by Charlton's "big banger". In front Hawkeye (like he's called here) overtakes Serrurier, followed one lap by Piper doing the same. Order is now Hawkins (Lola), Piper (Ferrari), Serrurier (Lola), Charlton (Lola). However not for long, since Charlton screams into the pits to have replaced a water pump. Order at 3 p.m., after one hour of racing is:
1. Paul Hawkins (5.9 Lola-Chevrolet T70Mk3A) 38 laps, 2. David Piper (4.4 Ferrari 330 P3/P4) 38 laps, 3. Doug Serrurier (4.7 Lola-Ford T70Mk1) 38 laps, 4. Jackie Ickx (5.7 JWA Gulf Mirage-Ford M1) 37 laps, 5. Mike de Udy (5.5 Lola-Chevrolet T70Mk3A) 37 laps, 6. David Prophet (4.7 Ford GT40 Coupe) 36 laps, 7. Ed Nelson (4.7 Ford GT40 Coupe) 36 laps; 8. Ben Pon (Porsche 906) 36 laps, 9. Rollo Feilding (3.3 Ferrari 330LM) 35 laps, 10. Tony Dean (Porsche 906), 35 laps, etc.
Then comes an eventful second hour, changing thoroughly the positions on the track. After a pit stop for refuelling Piper hands over the Ferrari P3/P4 to team mate Dick Attwood. He drives the bright green car (yes, Piper changed the original colours on the colonel's car!) still in the pit lane but collides with the Alfa Romeo Super of John Fritelli, screaming into the pits to check on overheating. First the front of the Ferrari hits Fritelli, then the Alfa flows up and lands on his roof, before sliding to the ground. He is taken to the hospital with lacerations and severe concussion. For Piper/Attwood, having followed the last hour Hawkins' Lola within two seconds, its a pure drama. Their car was going like the wind, right on its way to a sixth consecutive win. The incident puts the British car out of running. Valuable minutes are lost in the pits to secure the torn glass fibre bodywork with rope, wire, masking tape and pipes. Reparation takes 58 minutes, enough to loose 42 laps on the leader.
Doug Serrurier cannot maintain the second place, since he has to visit the pits to repair a burst oil pipe. Before the end of the third hour Ickx/Redman not only unlap themselves, but succeed to take over the lead during a regular pit stop of the Lola T70Mk1. Then follow Hawkins/Love (Lola T70Mk3A) at 5", de Udy/Dibley (Lola T70Mk3A), Pon/Axelsson (Porsche 906), Dean/van Rooyen (Porsche 906) and Feilding/Trevor Blokdyk (Ferrari 250LM).
During the fourth hour we loose a Ferrari LM and a Ford GT40. Coming out of Leeukop Bend to enter the ½-mile long main straight, where top speeds of 162 mph are measured (261 kph), the Drummond Ferrari, with Rollo Feilding at the wheel, bursts into flames. Rollo  drives the car off the road and bales out, but fire can only be extinguished after doing extensive damage. Shortly after David Prophet looses a rear wheel of his Ford GT40, coming into the tight Clubhouse Bend. Initially a new wheel is refitted, but after examination of the old wheel it is decided for security reasons to retire the car. The Racing Team Holland Porsche 906 looses several laps in the pits and drops to rank 7, whilst the de Udy/Dibley Lola Coupe is stopped with falling oil pressure. After 4 hours of racing positions are:
1. Jackie Ickx/Brian Redman (5.7 JWA Gulf Mirage-Ford M1), 2. Paul Hawkins/John Love (5.9 Lola-Chevrolet T70Mk3A) at 1 lap, 3. Tony Dean/Basil van Rooyen (2.0 Porsche 906) at 8 laps, 4. Ed Nelson/Mike Hailwood (4.7 Ford GT40) at 13 laps, 5. David Skailes/Eric Liddell (3.3 Ferrari 250 LM) at 18 laps, 6. Henri Grandsire/Patrick Depailler (1.5 Alpine-Renault A210 M66) at 31 laps, 7. Frank Gardner/Mike Spence (5.5 Lola-Chevrolet T70Mk3A), 8. Dave Charlton/Roy Pierpoint (4.7 Lola-Ford Mk1) at 32 laps, 9. David Piper/Dick Attwood (4.4 Ferrari 330P3/P4) at 35 laps, 10. Ben Pon/Sten Axelsson (2.0 Porsche 906), etc.
The Mirage is now not only leading the race on laps, but also on Index. During the following hour, with the darkness falling, Sten Axelsson, trying to bring the Racing Team Holland Porsche back into the top-5, has a moment. Coming into Clubhouse Bend a GSM Dart, having spun off, is pulled back onto the track, colliding with the orange Porsche, and sending it in the bank and out of race.  Peter Clarke's Ferrari LM is in the pits with a broken wheel bearing. Replacement will cost some 45 minutes or 30 laps.

During the fifth hour Hawkins/Love can stabilise their arrears on the Mirage setting the pace. An unscheduled pit stop, early in the sixth hour lets loose Hawkins' Lola Coupe a second lap. The rough-sounding engine causes the team a lot of anxiety, however without being able to sort out what's the reason. Dean/Van Rooyen are always third on laps, but now again leading the Index. The Gardner/Spence Lola, striving gamely to make up some of the leeway on the leaders, is involved in a shunt with the brand new Elfin-Climax of McGillewie at Leeukop. Going off the road Spencer splits the car's fuel tank, putting it out of race. The Charlton/Pierpoint "big banger" Lola, suffering from numerous maladies, succumbs to a broken crown wheel and pinion.
During the seventh hour the Dean/Van Rooyen Porsche 906, performing so impressively, looses its left front wing, complete with headlight. Repairs cost the car its lead on Index and its third place. Hawkeye's Lola looses 10 extra laps in the pits with its rough-sounding engine. Positions at 9 p.m. (it's now totally dark), after 7 hours of racing are:
1. Jackie Ickx/Brian Redman (5.7 JWA Gulf Mirage-Ford M1) 266 laps, 2. Paul Hawkins/John Love (5.9 Lola-Chevrolet T70Mk3A) at 13 laps, 3. Tony Dean/Basil van Rooyen (2.0 Porsche 906) at 17 laps, 4. Ed Nelson/Mike Hailwood (4.7 Ford GT40 Coupe)  at 18 laps, 5. David Skailes/Eric Liddell (3.3 Ferrari 250LM) at 28 laps, 6. David Piper/Dick Attwood (4.4 Ferrari 330 P3/P4) at 32 laps, 7. Henri Grandsire/Patrick Depailler (1.5 Alpine-Renault A210 M66) at 36 laps, 8. Peter Clarke/George van Straaten (3.3 Ferrari 250LM) at 36 laps, 9. Scamp Porter/Chris Swaenepoel (1.3 Renault-Gordini R8) at 44 laps, 10. Clive van Beuren/Steve Mellet (1.8 Porsche 718RSK) at 45 laps.
Leader on Index is the Mirage, followed by Fastest car on the track - and this already since it could be repaired - is the bright green Ferrari of Piper/Attwood. The last named realises even the fastest lap in 1'29"2 (102.7 mph). In 4 hours time they could reduce their arrears upon the leaders from 42 laps to 30 laps. However it's now already sure that, with only two hours to go, they will not realise a sixth consecutive win.

DOUG SERRURIER'S (ZA) ice-cream sponsored Lola T70Mk1 holds off Dave Charlton in Sid Taylor's open T70 through Crowthorne Bend (TOP). FAX DUNN and the other Piper mechanics work frantically on the Ferrari P3/P4 after it has hit a driver in the pit road. Note the shattered windscreen (BOTTOM). PHOTO: AUTOSPORT, November 10, 1967, Vol. XXXV, n°19, pp. 812-3.

Results on Performance Index
1. Jacky Ickx/Brian Redman	106.34	11. Ian Houliston/Peter Sissons	97.71
2. Tony Dean/B. Van Rooyen	102.93	12. Clive van Beuren/Steve Mellet	96.01
3. C.van den Heever/K. Berrington-Smith	102.38	13. Jack Holme/Richie Jute	93.79
4. Henri Grandsire/Patrick Depailler	102.36	14. Frank Wingels/Dirk Marais	93.10
5. Paul Hawkins/John Love	102.17	15. Willie Vlok/Rupert Galdwin	89.66
6. Phil Porter/Colin Burford	101.49	16. Jem Marsch/Brian Raubenheimer	88.61
7. Ed Nelson/Mike Hailwood	100.63	17. Jos Viljoen/Meyer Botha	88.11
8. David Skailes/Eric Liddell	100.32	18. Peter Clarke/George van Straaten	85.90
9. Jan Hettema/Tom Woodley	99.26	19. Scamp Porter/Chris Swaenepoel	75.50
10. David Piper/Dick Attwood	98.43	-	-

With less than two hours to go we note a fierce accident when the Porter/Swaenepoel Renault R8, last year still fifth at the Nine Hours, now ninth, splutters through Clubhouse Bend and bursts into flames while going through the Esses. The flames are soon extinguished and the driver is unhurt, but the car is out. Out too is the diminutive British 1.1 Diva GT of Rob Grant and Phil Cadman after an off-course excursion. The Mini-Marcos of Jem Marsh is still there, but headed by a simple 1.3 Mini Cooper S. All positions are maintained during the two last hours, except for the Piper/Attwood Ferrari having moved from sixth to fifth. In 6 hours of splendid motoring they reduced their arrears from 42 to 28 laps. Jackie Ickx/Brian Redman win not only on laps, but are for the first time since 1963 also winner on Index. Seven cars, among them the Alpine A210 improve last year's distance record of 291 laps. This year the winners achieve 872 miles (1,223 kms) or 342 laps what is an unbelievable 17.5 per cent better than in 1966. Even the 1.5-litre factory Alpine achieves this year 303 laps, always 4.1 per cent better than the 4.4 Ferrari P2/P3 of last year. Of the 39 starters 19 cars are classified, also Clarke's Ferrari LM and Porter's Renault R8, no longer raced at the chequered flag. The old Porsche RSK, last year already third, finishes again in the top-10, now as 8th, having achieved 35 laps more than last year. For the JWA Gulf Mirage it is the third overall victory in a 1967 endurance race (after the Spa 1,000-kms and the Paris 1,000-kms).
Results on laps

1.	Jacky Ickx/Brian Redman	#4 JWA Gulf Mirage M1	1st G6	J Wyer Automotive	342
2.	Paul Hawkins/John Love	#3 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A	2nd G6	Paul Hawkins	329
3.	Ed Nelson/Mike Hailwood	#9 Ford GT40 Coupe	1st G4	Ed Nelson	320
4.	Tony Dean/B.van Rooyen	#15 Porsche 906	2nd G4	A.G. Dean Racing	316
5.	David Piper/Dick Attwood	#7 Ferrari 330P3/P4	3rd G6	David Piper Racing	314
6.	David Skailes/Eric Liddell	#12 Ferrari 250LM	3rd G4	David Skailes	313
7.	P.Depailler/H. Grandsire	#20 Alpine A210 M66	4th G6	Automobiles Alpine	303
8.	Cl.van Beuren/Steve Mellet	#18 Porsche 718RSK	5th G6	Ecurie Tomahawk	289
9.	Colin Burford/Phil Porter	#38 Renault R8 Gordini	1st G5	Team Renault	273
10.	Jack Holme/Richie Jute	#21 Lotus Elan S2	4th G4	Jack Holme	272
11.	Jan Hettema/Tony Woodley	#30 Alfa Romeo Giulia	1st G2	Superformance	270
12.	P.Clarke/G. van Straaten	#11 Ferrari 250LM	5th G4	Peter Clarke	268
13.	C.vdHeever/K.Berrington-S.	#43 Alfa Romeo GTA	2nd G5	Alfa Romeo Africa	258
14.	Ian Houliston/Peter Sissons	#38 Mini Cooper S	3rd G5	Ian Houliston	256
15.	Jem Marsh/B.Raubenheimer	#26 Mini-Marcos	6th G6	Marcos Racing	249
16.	Jos Viljoen/Meyer Botha	#24 Elfin-Mallala	7th G6	Elfin racing	248
17.	Frank Wingels/Dirk Marais	#40 Volvo 122S	2nd G2	Team Lawson	243
18.	Willie Vlok/Rupert Gladwin	#41 Ford Cortina GT	3rd G2	L.G. Galdwin	234
19.	Scamp Porter/C.Swaenepoel	#33 Renault R8 Gordini	4th G5	Renault Africa	203
Cars having not finished
DNF	Dave Charlton/R. Pierpoint	#2 Lola-Ford T70Mk1	G6-G7	Sidney Taylor Racing	-
DNF	Frank Gardner/Mike Spence	#5 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A	G6-G7	Sidney Taylor Racing	-
DNF	G.McGillewie/Tony Jefferies	#17 Elfin-Climax J300	G6-G7	Garth McGillewie	-
DNF	Ben Pon/Sten Axelsson	#16 Porsche 906	G3-G4	Racing Team Holland	-
DNF	Mike de Udy/Hugh Dibley	#6 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A	G6-G7	Mike de Udy	-
DNF	Rollo Feilding/T. Blokdyk	#10 Ferrari 250LM	G3-G4	G.A.H. Drummond	-
DNF	D. Serrurier/Jackie Pretorius	#1 Lola-Ford T70Mk1	G6-G7	L.D. Serrurier	-
DNF	David Prophet/P. de Klerk	#8 Ford GT40 Coupe	G3-G4	David Prophet Racing	-
DNF	Robert Grant/Phil Cadman	#22 Diva-Cosworth GT	G6G7	R.G. Grant	-

CAPE 3-HOURS: HAWKINS (LOLA T70 Mk3)

THE LOLAS of Paul Hawkins (AU) and Mike de Udy (GB) during their dice early on the race, which will continue until the first pit stops. PHOTO: AUTOSPORT, November 24, 1967, Vol. XXXV, n°21, p. 892.

The entry
November 18, 1967 - Although there is no longer any competition with the Nassau Speedweek, having been stopped as a terrible spillage of public money, several European cars limit their appearance in Africa to the Kyalami Nine Hours. The victorious JWA Gulf Mirage-Ford M1 of Jacky Ickx and Brian Redman is shipped back to England. The same happened with the two Lolas of Sid Taylor, the open one and the closed one. Of the three Ferraris LM seen at Kyalami only Drummond's is still here: David Skailes and Peter Clarke took their LMs with them to England. Still here are the Lolas T70Mk3A of Paul Hawkins and of Mike de Udy, the two Fords GT40 of David Prophet and of Ed Nelson, the Lola-Ford T70Mk1 of Doug Serrurier and Jack Pretorius, the Ferrari 330P3/P4 of David Piper and the Porsche 906 of Tony Dean. The orange sister car of Racing Team Holland is no longer present. Of all local machinery only the well-prepared neat and fast 2.0 Elfin-Climax J300 must be able to follow the 8 remaining top-cars.
For the Cape International Three Hours at Cape Town's 2.030-mi (3.267-km) several cars have been changed. Fax Dunn, Piper's n°1 mechanic, found a local firm to repair and respray the damaged body occurred at the Kyalami Nine Hours, when, in the pit road, John Fritelli walked into the Ferrari's path. Only around the headlights of the P3/P4 one can still see the last traces of the accident. Mike de Udy let replace his 5.5-litre Chevrolet by a 5.9-litre unit prepared by America's Traco. Hawkeye not only changed the sponsoring on his car but also the head where he added a small spoiler.
Most drivers opt to go alone for the three hour race, without team mate, especially since the organisers are unable to pay enough start money for co-drivers. All they can do is to announce that there will be a £ 500 prize  for the winner of the Springbok Series. Ranking here is based upon top-6 results without res. the joint Group 6 and 7 (prototypes and big bangers together) and the joint Group 3 and 4 (Grand Touring cars and sportscars together). Number of overseas racers interested to win the £ 500 prize is restricted to Ed Nelson (9 points as winner of G3/G4 at Kyalami), Paul Hawkins (6 points as second in G6/G7 at Kyalami), Tony Dean (6 points as second in G3/G4); Mike de Udy, Rollo Feilding and David Prophet (no points at Kyalami). Piper, who starts as favourite at the Cape International Three Hours, who collected 4 points at Kyalami, seems not interested by the first prize, since he decided only staying on for this event, not for the two remaining 3-hour races (Mozambique and Pietermaritzburg).
The 36 cars strong field is, apart from the 9 cars mentioned above, made up with local sports and saloon cars, some of which  have no right to be on the same circuit as the big-banger sportscars.

Practice
Followers of South African racing know that the new Killarney circuit - totally rebuilt in 1960 - is a winding narrow affair, surfaced in the similar abrasive material previously used at the Grand Central Circuit before 1961. This makes it pretty hard on tyres, but it seems likely that even the Group 7 "big bangers" will just scrape through without changing. Firestone - equipping Hawkins and Piper - are well presented at Killarney  with a van and crew, including three lads from England. Dunlop - providing tires for Nelson and Dean - has only a small van, and Goodyear is not here now the Sid Taylor cars returned to England. 
There are not many cars out for the Thursday practice, but Paul Hawkins takes the opportunity to scrub in some tyres, while de Udy runs in his new engine and gearbox. Tony Dean also goes out to look round the circuit and manages a creditable 1'25"8, which is not far above the record realised earlier by Doug Serrurier in the same Lola "big banger" as he has now: 1'23"4. Then it comes on to rain and everyone goes back to town (which is only five miles away) to partake of some fresh sea food and Cape Town hospitality.
Friday is the main practice day and everyone is out, except for Hawkeye who is not feeling well after an all-fish meal the night before. De Udy does many laps running in and testing various suspension and brake mods, while Piper and Serrurier doe the bar minimum to refamiliarise themselves with the circuit. Rollo Feilding, having found yesterday that his Ferrari LM is grossly overgeared for a small circuit is now testing his new gear ratios. This proves too low, so he decides to stick to the original set-up for the race. Only at 4.30 p.m. Hawkins turns up, still not looking very well, but he manages to put in a few fast laps, closely followed by Mike de Udy, before the distributor drive shears and puts an end to his afternoon. No official times are taken, but private timings show Piper to be the fastest in 1'22"8, with Hawkins, de Udy and Serrurier on their Lolas being about a second slower.
The race
The race begins at 3 p.m. with a Le Mans start, with the cars lined up in order of Performance Index as is customary in South-African long-distance racing. This has Hawkeye at the head of the queue, but it is Serrurier (4.7 Lola-Ford T70Mk1) being the first away, just as in Kyalami. He is closely followed by Hawkins (5.9 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A), de Udy (5.9 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A), McGillewie (2.0 Elfin-Climax J300), de Klerk (4.7 Ford GT40), Nelson (4.7 Ford GT40), Piper (4.4 Ferrari 330P3/P4) and Feilding (Ferrari 250LM). On lap 3 Hawkins and de Udy both get past Serrurier and proceed to treat the crowd (20,000 people) to a marvellous display of close driving, with the Englishman never more than a few feet and often less than one foot from the Australian's exhaust pipes.

MORAL WINNER of the Killarney 3-hours is the 5.9 Lola-Chevrolet T70Mk3A driven by Mike de Udy. Equipped with a new engine, prepared by Traco in the States, de Udy's Lola had no longer problems to follow Hawkeye's similar machinery. When Paul lost two laps in the pits, victory seemed acquired, but 15 minutes before the chequered flag - wrong informed concerning the position of Hawkeye's car on the circuit - the overheated new engine throws a rod and then bursts into flames.

The commentator is good and really makes the most of this, so the crowd get their money's worth right from the start. Behind the three Lolas, rocketing together over the track, order is Piper, McGillewie, de Klerk, Dean, Nelson and Feilding. On lap 8 Dean misses a couple of gears on his Porsche 906 and feels a strong vibration over the whole car. When the silencer falls apart because of this Tony decides to pack in before the engine blows up. On the same lap Rollo Feilding (Ferrari 250LM) spins and looses his 8th place to the twin-cam 1.6 APM-Ford of the local man Adrian Pheiffer. After one hour of racing positions are unchanged, except for Feilding having taken back his 8th place. Then follow the first pit stops where Jackie Pretorius takes over the Wall's ice-cream open Lola from Serrurier. He succeeds to take over de Udy's Lola; but has to come in three laps later with the distributor loose. The Lola train setting the piece is thus reduced to two units. The ice-cream Lola resumes the track in fourth place, behind Piper's Ferrari. McGillewie/ Jefferies loose a half lap to take on water. Feilding is now 7th, but then has to make several stops to take on oil, only to find after the third one that the oil radiator and the catch tank are both split, putting most of their contents on the track. As a spare for neither is available Drummond's car is to be retired.
The track is now very oily and several drivers have a moment, fortunately without any real drama as far as the leading cars are concerned. Soon after 4.18 p.m., one lap after his refuelling stop, leader Hawkins is in again with the right rear tyre almost flat. His crew makes a rapid change, but Paul looses a lap and resumes the race in third position, behind the Lolas of de Udy and Serrurier/Pretorius, just ahead of the bright green Ferrari of Piper. Just at this point Piper slides off onto the grass at the first left-hander after the start. By the time he sorts himself out, the McGillewie/Jefferies car is through into 4th place. Next for an incident is the Prophet/de Klerk Ferrari 20LM, now driven by its owner. 

For several laps Prophet felt a vibration through the steering. As he is coming past the pits at about 130mph (210kph) the right front wheel comes off, runs into the finishing post, bounces high into the air and back about 20 yards to crash onto the roof of the Hawkins pit and finally flops harmlessly into the grass behind the pits. Prophet manages to steer the car on one front wheel off the track. Not at all daunted by this experience (he lost already a rear wheel at Kyalami) he gets his pit crew to put a new wheel on and resumes the race in 10th position. At 5 p.m. after 2 hours of racing order is de Udy (Lola T70Mk3A) nearly 2 laps ahead of Hawkins (Lola T70Mk3A), who is in turn 45 seconds ahead of Piper (Ferrari P3/P4) with Serrurier/Pretorius next. Although Piper's pit makes preparations for a pit stop, David doesn't show any signs of coming in, hunting behind Hawkeye's Lola. At 5.30 p.m., with still an half hour to go, he makes a rapid stop for a few gallons to keep him going. The right rear wheel has some chips out of the rim where he has hit a kerb, but the Firestone crew seems confident that the wheel is safe and Piper goes off, still in third place, but at once a complete lap down to Hawkins. Although the last is lapping over a second faster than de Udy there seems little hope that he can catch him by undoing his one lap arrears. With 25 minutes to go the finishing order is apparently decided. However not for the time keepers making a real mess of things by crediting Hawkins being in the same lap as de Udy and confirming that Piper is too!

THE ICE-CREAM LOLA T70Mk1, here driven by Doug Serrurier, finishes in third place, collecting 4 points for the Springbok Series ranking. During the third hour the car is involved with the closed #2 Lola T70 of Mike de Udy in a minor accident. At the Kyalami Nine Hours the car was retired shortly after the first hour.

Informed by his crew about those erroneous situation, Mike de Udy becomes nervous. With 25 minutes to go he manages to hit the ice-cream Lola when passing on the left-hander. This costs him some time. With 15 minutes to go the engine throws a rod and then bursts into flames. De Udy gets out all right, but has to use the car's extinguisher to try to put out the fire as no marshals are nearby. This he does, but he has to abandon the car and thus looses a race he never should had.
Paul Hawkins is now the new leader, with Piper into his exhaust pipes. Also erroneously informed that he is in the same lap as the Australian, Piper tries by all means to pass the Lola. Paul is in control and eventually finishes six seconds ahead of the Ferrari. Only after time keepers have to admit that the difference is one lap plus six seconds. The ice-cream Lola finishes third, 5 laps down to the winner. The de Udy Lola is classified as fifth, despite the car was abandoned. Then follows Ed Nelson (Ford GT40), winning again the G3/G4 division and 9 points. That means that he continues to be the series leader, with 3 points more than Hawkins. The fast 2-litre Climax-powered Elfin J300 of Garth McGillewie and Tony Jefferies finishes sixth as winner of the two-litre class, 3 laps ahead over the Adrian Pheiffer/Piet van Niekerk Ford powered 1.6-litre AMP. Prophet's car, having lost several laps after the lost-tyre adventure is ranked as ninth and second G3/G4 car, good for 4 points.

Ranking on Index is won by the Team Lawson Volvo 122S, winner in G2/G5, ahead of the Renault-Gordini R8 of Spencer Schutz/Andrew Brown and the Opel Kadett of Robin Thompson.

1.	Paul Hawkins	#1 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A	1st G6	Paul Hawkins	122
2.	David Piper	#5 Ferrari 330P3/P4	2nd G6	David Piper Racing	121
3.	D. Serrurier/Jackie Pretorius	#3 Lola-Ford T70Mk1	3rd G6	L.D. Serrurier	117
4.	Mike de Udy	#2 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A	4th G6	Mike de Udy	115
5.	Ed Nelson	#7 Ford GT40 Coupe	1st G4	Ed Nelson	115
6.	G.McGillewie/Tony Jefferies	#6 Elfin-Climax J300	5th G6	Garth McGillewie	112
7.	A.Pheiffer/Piet van Niekerk	#? APM-Ford	6th G6	Adrian Pheiffer	109
8.	D. Joubert/Clarence Taylor	#? GSM-Ford Dart	2nd G4	unknown	106
9.	David Prophet/P.de Klerk	#8 Ford GT40 Coupe	3rd G4	David Prophet	104
10.	John Rowe	#? Lotus-Ford 23B	7th G6	John Rowe	104
11.	Jack Holme/Richie Jute	#21 Lotus Elan S2	4th G4	Jack Holme	103
12.	Arnold Chatz/Fr.Wingels	#28 Volvo 122S	1st G5	Team Lawson	103
13.	Spencer Schutz/Andrew Brown	#32 Renault R8 Gordini	2nd G5	Team Renault	101
14.	Robin Thompson	#35 Opel Kadett	3rd G5	Robin Thompson	100
Cars having not finished
DNF	Tony Dean/Basil van Rooyen	#10 Porsche 906	G3-G4	A.G. Dean Racing	-
DNF	Rollo Feilding	#9 Ferrari 250LM	G6-G7	G.A.H. Drummond	-

December 3 - Two weeks later a part of the Springbok entrants move to Bulawayo for the 8th Rhodesian Grand Prix. It is a race for 3-litre F1 cars, counting for the South-African F1 Championship. John Love wins the race in a 1966 3.0 Brabham-Repco V8, although Dave Charlton, having led 48 of the 50 laps is the moral winner. Other entrants are Paul Hawkins, Jackie Pretorius, Doug Serrurier and Trevor Blokdyk. There is also a sportscar race over 20 laps (41.2 miles). Here we find Bob Olthoff back. He's living in South-Africa and leads the South African Sports Cars Championship. He's present with a 5.8 McLaren-Elva-Ford M1B "big banger". Although the race doesn't count for the Springbok Series most overseas entrants - but not Mike de Udy and not Rollo Feilding - enter the race. Serrurier is first away in the ice-cream Lola T70Mk1, but at lap 2 Hawkins (Lola T70Mk3A) takes over until mid-race when he has to abandon with no oil pressure. That brings Olthoff out on the lead. Despite a boiling engine he conserves that position until chequered flag and wins ahead of Tony Dean (Porsche 906) and David Prophet (Ford GT40).  After the race it appears that someone sabotaged Hawkeye's car by putting cotton wool in his oil tank.

PROVISIONAL RANKING SPRINGBOK TROPHY AFTER 2 ROUNDS

Racer	Car	Class	#1	#2	#3	#4	points
1. Edward NELSON (GB)	4.7 Ford GT40 Coupe	G3/G4	9	9	-	-	18
2. Paul Hawkins (AU)	5.9 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A	G6/G7	6	9	-	-	15
3. David Piper (GB)	4.4 Ferrari 330 P3/P4	G6/G7	4	6	-	-	10
3. Jacky Ickx (B)	5.7 JWA Gulf Mirage-Ford M1	G6/G7	9	-	-	-	9
4. Brian Redman (GB)	5.7 JWA Gulf Mirage-Ford M1	G6/G7	9	-	-	-	9
5. Mike Hailwood (GB)	4.7 Ford GT40 Coupe	G3/G4	9	-	-	-	9
6.Jack Holme (ZA)	1.6 Lotus Elan S2	G3/G4	4	3	-	-	7
6. Richie Jute (ZA)	1.6 Lotus Elan S2	G3/G4	4	3	-	-	7
8. John Love (RSR)	5.9 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A	G6/G7	6	-	-	-	6
9. Tony Dean (GB)	2.0 Porsche 906	G3/G4	6	0	-	-	6
9. Basil van Rooyen (ZA)	2.0 Porsche 906	G3/G4	6	0	-	-	6
11. Denis Joubert (ZA)	1.6 GSM-Ford Dart	G3/G4	0	6	-	-	6
11. Clarence Taylor (ZA)	1.6 GSM-Ford Dart	G3/G4	0	6	-	-	6
13. David Prophet (GB)	4.7 Ford GT40 Coupe	G3/G4	0	4	-	-	4
13. Peter de Klerk (ZA)	4.7 Ford GT40 Coupe	G3/G4	0	4	-	-	4
15. Dick Attwood (GB)	4.4 Ferrari 330P3/P4	G6/G7	4	-	-	-	4
16. Doug Serrurier (ZA)	4.7 Lola-Ford T70Mk1	G6/G7	0	4	-	-	4
16. Jackie Pretorius (ZA)	4.7 Lola-Ford T70Mk1	G6/G7	0	4	-	-	4
18. David Skailes (GB)	3.3 Ferrari 250LM	G3/G4	4	-	-	-	4
18. Eric Liddell (GB)	3.3 Ferrari 250LM	G3/G4	4	-	-	-	4
20. Mike de Udy (GB)	5.5 & 5.9 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3	G6/G7	0	3	-	-	3
21. Patrick Depailler (F)	1.5 Alpine-Renault A210 M66	G6/G7	3	-	-	-	3
21. Henri Grandsire (F)	1.5 Alpine-Renault A210 M66	G6/G7	3	-	-	-	3
23. Clive van Beuren (ZA)	1.8 Porsche 718RSK	G6/G7	2	-	-	-	2
23. Steve Mellet (ZA)	1.8 Porsche 718RSK	G6G7	2	-	-	-	2
25. Grath McGillewie (ZA)	2.0 Elfin-Climax J300	G6/G7	0	2	-	-	2
25. Tony Jefferies (ZA)	2.0 Elfin-Climax J300	G6/G7	0	2	-	-	2
27. David Skailes (GB)	3.3 Ferrari 250LM	G3/G4	2	-	-	-	2
27. Eric Liddell (GB)	3.3 Ferrari 250LM	G3/G4	2	-	-	-	2
29. Jem Marsh (GB)	1.3 Mini-Marcos	G6/G7	1	-	-	-	1
29. Br. Raubenheimer (ZA)	1.3 Mini-Marcos	G6/G7	1	-	-	-	1
31. Adrian Pheiffer (ZA)	1.6 APM-Ford TC	G6/G7	-	1	-	-	1
31. Piet van Niekerk (ZA)	1.6 APM-Ford TC	G6/G7	-	1	-	-	1

MOZAMBIQUE 3-H: HAWKINS (LOLA T70 Mk3)

December 16, 1967 - Two weeks after the Rhodesian Grand Prix the Springbok entrants move to Mozambique to the Lourenço Marques circuit for the Mozambique Three Hours. The track in Lourenço Marques, the capital of Mozambique, is a 2.1 mile virtually flat street circuit although it also ran alongside the coast amid sand dunes. The main straight is about half a mile, permitting the fastest cars to reach a speed of over 160mph before the end. Between this road and the beach there are sand dunes. At crosswinds sand of and the beach and the dunes is blown over the circuit. The rest of the circuit is very narrow, making overtaking difficult. It consists largely of very slow banked corners. Since last July the circuit has a real bad reputation. At a minor race South African Luki Botha's F1 Brabham-Repco spun off, killing eight spectators and injuring nine others. Competitors expect a tightening up of the organising Touring Automobile Club of Mozambique, but all what is done is sending the local police, not understanding one decent English word, and allowing or not the entry to the circuit, based on principles of pure arbitrariness.
The entry
Of the European cars David Piper's bright green Ferrari 330P3/P4 didn't make the move to Mozambique. Before leaving the continent David attacked the South African land speed record set up by Bob Olthoff in his 5.8 McLaren-Elva-Ford M1B (178 mph, 286 kph). In a 6 a.m. run on a closed stretch of public road near Bloemfontein on November 29, Piper realises 189.4 mph, 304.74 kph. This rather low figure - the Ferrari goes easily 200 mph at Le Mans - must be explained by the fact that the record runs are done at an altitude of 4,500 ft.
At Lourenço Marques, where start money is down to £ 25, we find the seven top cars earlier seen at Kyalami and at Killarney: the closed Lolas of Paul Hawkins and Mike de Udy, the ice-cream Lola of Doug Serrurier/Jackie Pretorius, the Fords GT40 of Ed Nelson and David Prophet, the Drummond Ferrari 250LM of Rollo Feilding and the Porsche Carrera Six of Tony Dean. De Udy mounted the spare 5.5-litre engine in his Lola after the 5.9-litre Traco Chevrolet was blown up at Killarney. He mounts a dry-sump and cross-over exhaust system, making the engine sounds good. Hawkins returned to his old roof and let made an engine and oil system strip after his bad experiences in Rhodesia. The car is also repainted in a shade of red, looking really immaculate. Prophet mounted a Perspex spoiler to the rear of his Ford GT40 and Rollo Feilding had his motor partially rebuilt to cure the bent valves found after Cape Town. The fast and neat Climax powered Elfin J300 didn't make the move from South-Africa to Mozambique, but Steve Mellet (ZA) is here with an ex-CANAM "big banger", the 4.7 Mirage-Ford, built in 1964, and not to be confounded with John Wyer's cars with the similar name. Of them championship's leader Ed Nelson refuses to start if organisers make no realistic offer of higher start money. Finally he gets what he asked and will start. The rest of the 26-cars field are local cars, several saloons.

Practice
Two practice sessions are scheduled from 4 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. to give drivers a chance to practice in the dark, as the race starts only at 5 p.m. on Saturday to miss the terrific heat. De Udy, Nelson, Prophet, Dean, Feilding and Hawkins are all there. The two last named however are unable to test their cars. Feilding's has a second valve bent and Hawkins' came back from Bulawayo, where John Love did some testing, with a seized dry sump oil pump.
Friday's session sees everyone turn out, the bogey time being de Udy's 1'20"7 of yesterday. Nobody can improve that time. Both Hawkins and de Udy are suffering from misfiring. Most impressive time of the day is Tony Dean's 1'23"4, confirming that the Porsche 906 is certainly suited to this narrow circuit. Staggering is the lack of control of spectators, crossing the track whenever they feel like it, or going round in their road cars in order to quit the circuit (there is no tunnel or bridge to go out of paddock).

The race
As the race is starting at 5 p.m. most drivers have a good lie-in and then a swim in their hotel pool. De Udy even has a haircut. Feilding does not anything drastic as that, but he and mechanic Richard Birks manage to get the Ferrari LM engine back together and running properly. De Udy has drama because the organisers refuse him scrub in his new tyres, so he has to start on unscrubbed and unbalanced tyres.
Twenty-six cars line up for the Le Mans type of start in order of Index of Performance, thus with Hawkins, de Udy, Mellet, Pretorius, Nelson, Prophet, Feilding etc. ranked on the first places following the capacity of their engines. First away is de Udy, squeezed between the Lolas of Hawkins and Pretorius. Prophet's Ford GT40 refuses to start for about 10 seconds. By the end of lap 1 Hawkins has taken the lead with de Udy and Pretorius close behind. Those three Lolas are already pulling away from the rest of the field with Nelson (Ford GT40), Dean (Porsche 906), Feilding (Ferrari 250LM), Holme (Lotus Elan), Mellet (Mirage Group7) and Prophet following in that order.
On lap 3 Mellet's Mirage drops a valve and retires. Nelson looses his fourth place by going straight into town at the end of the main straight instead of taking the corner. He rejoins in ninth place. Water temperature on Pretorius' ice-cream Lola is going up. When it reaches 120 deg C on lap 9 Jackie calls into the pits to discuss the situation with owner Doug Serrurier. After a couple of more laps they decide to retire the car rather than to cook the engine. This puts Tony Dean on third place. Prophet's Ford GT40 is going incredibly well and is already fourth. On lap 10 de Udy catches right up with Hawkins and then passes him, in spite of the vibrations, due to unbalanced wheels. His lead is short lived, because at lap 19 after less than 30 minutes of racing a rocker stud shears. He looses 20 laps in the pits while his mechanics repair the damage with a stud borrowed from Hawkeye's pit. The car will make one new lap and will be retired with a broken cylinder head.

ROLLO FEILDING's Drummond Ferrari 250LM lost 15 laps because of ignition trouble, but made up some lost time to finish fifth.

By this time Prophet, in the ex-F. English Ford bought from the colonel (Ron Hoare who distributes Fords and Ferraris in England), is already second, followed by Dean, Feilding, Nelson and the admirable Lotus Elan of Holme. Feilding passes Dean's Porsche Carrera Six on lap 30, but is passed one lap further by Dean and by Nelson. Hawkeye's red Lola is blowing out a lot of oil and on lap 39 he comes in for a quick two gallons to be added. This lets Prophet in the lead. On the next lap Feilding's Drummond Ferrari slows to stop on the back straight with suspected battery failure. His mechanic runs across the field with the battery from their tow truck. Feilding can resume the pits with the new battery and a faulty ignition switch is discovered, costing him 15 laps. After one hour order is: 1. Prophet (Ford GT40), 2. Hawkins (Lola T70Mk3A), 3. Dean (Porsche 906), 4. Nelson (Ford GT40), 5. Holme (Lotus Elan).
Prophet then stops for fuel, and the car gives again trouble starting, dropping him to the third place. Nelson also refuels, retaining his fourth spot. At halfway, in the dark, at 6.30 p.m., Dean has to come in to let Basil van Rooyen take over. This makes order Hawkins, Prophet, Dean, Nelson. This order lasts another 15 laps until Van Rooyen is enforced to stop on the back straight with a broken throttle cable. He manages to get the car round to the pits, where a temporary hand-operated piece of wire is fitted. When the engine is started the throttle is stuck open and the revs go rapidly upwards, but fortunately mechanic Bob Boilault switches off in time.

Next lap it is Nelson's turn. He too has electrical problems with the fuel pumps on refuelling, costing him two laps. For Basil van Rooyen the problems are not over. When the new throttle cable stretches he has to stop again, costing him 15 laps. 
After two hours of racing the advance of Hawkins - having refuelled once more - over Prophet is only 15 seconds. However the Ford driver cannot maintain that small gap since he has to stop for oil. Order is now Hawkins, Prophet at 2 laps, Nelson at 9 laps, Holme at 13, Dean at 19 and Feilding at 19. G2/G5 is lead by the 1.8 Volvo 122S of Arnold Chatz and Dave Clapham ahead of Team Lawson's sister car with Frank Wingels at the wheel. Holme, after a superb drive of the Lotus Elan leads the Index ranking, ahead of the Mini Cooper S of the local Antonio Leitao.
At 7.15 p.m. police decides at once that nobody shall sit on the pit counter and, for want anything else to do, goes along telling all pit managers, mechanics and helpers to move. It is the last bit of drama and the race runs out in darkness with Paul Hawkins three laps ahead over Prophet, who beats Nelson in G3/G4. That implies that with one last round to go, the day after Christmas, Hawkins and Nelson are tied up with 24 points, leading the 2nd Springbok Series. Since the third ranked driver, David Prophet, is already 11 points down, and the maximum to win is only nine the Australian and the Briton are the only racers able to win the Series.

Only twelve cars reach the finish. Performance Index Ranking is won by Jack Holme (Lotus Elan) with 101.83 %, ahead of A. Leitao (Mini Cooper S) 100.97 %, Arnold Chatz/Dave Clapham (Volvo 122S) 100.26%, A. Leal/Frank Wingels (Volvo 122S) 100.26%, David Prophet (Ford GT40) 97.6% and Paul Hawkins (Lola T70Mk3A) 93.28 %.
Results

1.	Paul Hawkins	#1 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A	1st G6	Paul Hawkins	125
2.	David Prophet	#5 Ford GT40 Coupe	1st G4	David Piper Racing	122
3.	Ed Nelson	#4 Ford GT40 Coupe	2nd G4	Ed Nelson	115
4.	Jack Holme	#12 Lotus Elan S2	3rd G4	Jack Holme	111
5.	Rollo Feilding	#6 Ferrari 250LM	4th G4	G.A.H. Drummond	106
6.	Tony Dean/Basil van Rooyen	#8 Porsche 906	5th G4	A.G. Dean	105
7.	Arnold Chatz/D. Clapham	#22 Volvo 122S	1st G5	Team Lawson	101
8.	A. Leal/Frank Wingels	#23 Volvo 122S	2nd G5	Team Lawson	100
9.	A. Leitao	#25 BMC Mini Cooper S	3rd G4	Leitao	98
Cars having not finished
DNF	D. Serrurier/Jackie Pretorius	#3 Lola-Ford T70Mk1	G6-G7	L.D. Serrurier	-
DNF	Mike de Udy	#2 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A	G6-G7	Mike de Udy	-
DNF	Steve Mellet	#7 Mirage G7	G6-G7	Steve Mellet	-

DICKIE DALE 3-H: SERRURIER/PRETORIUS

DOUG SERRURIER's Lola T70Mk1, having been twice retired with an overheated motor at the three previous rounds, eventually succeeded to win one of the four races of the 1967 Springbok Series. Here the car as seen at Killarney during the second round.

December 26, 1967 - Less than one week before the start of the South African F1 Grand Prix, counting for the 1968 World Championship, the British-Australian colony is always there, in the country where Apartheid reigns and where the majority of the inhabitants are just second hand citizens, dominated by the white rulers. The Springbok circus has moved to Natal, to Pietermaritzburg for the Dickie Dale Three Hours at the Roy Hesketh circuit, built in 1953. Contrary to the three other circuits, already used, Roy Hesketh has no long straight but to quarter mile straights joint by a smooth curb, called Henry's Knee. Length of the circuit is 1.803 miles (2.903 kilometres), being the shortest of the four. With its prohibited zones it lets feel the Apartheid much more obviously than at Kyalami or Killarney.
The entry
At the start we find again the seven top cars of the previous rounds: the Lola Coupes of Paul Hawkins and Mike de Udy, the ice-cream open Lola of Doug Serrurier and Jackie Pretorius, the two Fords GT40 of Ed Nelson and David Prophet, the Drummond Ferrari 250LM of Rollo Feilding and the Porsche 906 of the 1965 winner of the British F3 Championship, Tony Dean. Impressed by the performance of Prophet in the ex-F. English Ltd GT40, and convinced that his direct opponent Paul Hawkins will win for the third consecutive time the G6/G7 class, Ed Nelson must absolutely win the G3/G4 class where Feilding, Dean and especially Prophet are his most dangerous competitors. So Ed Nelson asks Mike Hailwood to fly over and to help him winning the 1967 Springbok Series, be it tied up with Hawkeye. The Australian made the season of his life. Earlier this year he, the free agent, won the British Sports Cars Championship at the wheel of his Ford GT40. At the Spa 1,000-kms he was asked as co-driver on Jackie Epstein's Lola T70Mk3 and finished fourth. Impressed by this result Huschke von Hanstein, the race director at Porsche, offered him a drive in a works 910 F8 at the 51st Targa Florio, together with Rolf Stommelen, enough for the Australian to win. A second drive in a works Porsche, now a 6-cylinder 910, at the Nürburgring 1,000-kms, with Gerhard Koch as team-mate, ended ... a tenth of a second behind the winner.

For the Le Mans 24-hours he was asked by Ford to drive an MkIIB together with Ronnie Bucknum. At La Sarthe an engine swallowing a valve was necessary to stop him, lying in fifth position after a long pit stop which swept him back into 44th! At the Rheims 12-hours, in a Lola T70Mk3A, he TQ-ed ahead of John Surtees and was leading the race with nearly a complete lap over Surtees when, after 3½ hours he had to retire with a broken transmission. All this performances were so impressive that Enzo Ferrari himself proposed the Australian a drive in a works Ferrari P4 at the Brands Hatch 500-miles, the last round for the Manufacturers World. Here he led during 8 laps and should have finished third if he made no spin in the grass at Clearways. Eventually he finished sixth. 
At the wheel of his own red Ford GT40 he wins also the Trophées d'Auvergne and the Austrian Grand Prix. And just before coming to Africa, he and Jackie Ickx win the Paris 1,000-kms in a JWA Gulf Mirage-Ford M1 works car. Now one understands better why Ed Nelson asked Mike Hailwood to come over to beat the winningest of all sportscars racers of this season.
The race
The race starts as the two previous rounds, with the three Lolas pulling away from the rest of the field. There is even a fourth Lola, an old 1960 1.5 Lola-Climax Mk1A entered by the local Roy Edmond. The two Fords GT40 - Nelson and Prophet - and Tony Dean's Porsche 906 form a second trio. In front Mike de Udy falls out after lap 8 with a blown-up engine. Hawkins attacks continuously the leading ice-cream Lola but Jacjie Pretorius, and later Doug Serrurier are fighting like devils. Positions switch during no less than 2 hours and 40 minutes, with the two cars never more away than ... 6 seconds. This type of non-interrupted close racing - a real pleasure for all spectators - comes to an abrupt end with only 20 minutes to go. Then Hawkeye's motor explodes and his car stops in the straight behind the pits. Although no more raced at the chequered flag, the car will be classified as second. In G3/G4 Ed Nelson and Mike Hailwood win the easiest race of their life since Tony Dean is out with a broken chassis and David Prophet with a broken rear wheel bearing. Their last competitor, Rollo Fielding, has again valve problems and is found with the tail-enders.

THE 1.5 LOLA-CLIMAX MK1 is the first sportscar built by Eric Broadley in 1957. Three years later he launched an improved version, the Mk1A. Here a restored version of this car, at Roy Hesketh driven by Roy Edmond.

Fourth and fifth place go to two under-two-litre Group 7 cars. Roy Edmond causes a stir by bringing his old #17 metallic grey 1.5 Lola-Climax Mk1A home in fourth, only five laps down to Ed Nelson's Ford GT40, two laps ahead of the 1.1 Lotus-Ford 23B of John Rowe, who finished at the Cape International Three Hours already tenth with the same car. Second G3/G4 finishers, at rank 6 overall, are Jack Holme and Richie Jute in their 1.6 Lotus Elan S2.
The Performance Index Ranking is again won by the team Lawson 1.8 Volvo 122S, now with Arnold Chatz and Frank Zwingels as drivers. For Chatz it is his third victory in G2/G5.
Moral winner of the 2nd Springbok Series is undoubtedly Paul Hawkins, having won two rounds overall. But the official winner is Ed Nelson, ahead of Hawkins, team mate Mike Hailwood, Jack Holme, Doug Serrurier and Jackie Pretorius.
Result

1.	D.Serrurier/Jackie Pretorius	#4 Lola-Chevy T70Mk1	1st G6	Doug Serrurier	143
2.	Paul Hawkins	#2 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A	2nd G6	Paul Hawkins Racing	130
3.	Ed Nelson	#3 Ford GT40 Coupe	1st G4	Ed Nelson	130
4.	Roy Edmond	#17 Lola-Climax Mk1A	3rd G6	Roy Edmond	125
5.	John Rowe	#18 Lotus-Ford 23B	3rd G4	John Rowe	123
6.	Jack Holme/Richie Jute	#19 Lotus Elan S2	2nd G4	Jack Holme	122
7.	Arnold Chatz/Fr. Zwingels	#25 Volvo 122S	1st G5	Team Lawson	116
13.	Rollo Feilding	#6 Ferrari 250LM	4th G4	G.A.H. Drummond	100
Cars having not finished
DNF	David Prophet	#5 Ford GT40 Coupe	G3-G4	David Prophet	-
DNF	Mike de Udy	#1 Lola-Chevy T70Mk3A	G6-G7	Mike de Udy	-
DNF	Tony Dean	#7 Porsche 906	G3-G4	A.G. Dean	-

CONCLUSION
The history of the Springbok Series for sportscars has - at my knowledge - never been written. It's the history of white men considering Africa, lang before Paris-Dakar - as their playground, totally unaware of the poverty of the black people, going to there as superior representatives of the human race. Colonialism and Apartheid are considered by them as some unavoidable fatality of history. Only after the French government will refuse its racers to send any longer cars to a country where Apartheid rules, some racers become aware that perhaps not all things are perfectly correct in South-Africa. 

Some of the 1967 SpringbokTop Guns

Paul Hawkins (†)

Jackie Ickx

Brian Redman

Jackie Pretorius