Automark All Tar Rally - 4 & 5 September 2002

What was a mad idea of Brian Hastie less than three weeks before this unique all tar rally on the regional calendar, turned into crazy reality in the week leading up to the event. But the achievement was well worth the effort in the end and a fitting tribute to the legendary ex Tonie van Olst “Mini Van”.  

Help was called in from all corners to get the Van into shape for the event within two weeks. After acquiring the Van that has not only featured, but achieved top results in many a championship in the last two decades, Brain decided to enter it in the Automark All Tar Rally “to see what the Van can still do…”.

After wiping off years of dust and cobwebs and deciding that it was definitely going to happen, Brian discussed his plan with Piet van Olst, who promptly decided he had to navigate for Brian on the event. Once the work started the team soon realised that they had tackled a huge task - repairs included rebuilding the dashboard, sorting out electrical systems and a host of other items that had either deteriorated or even disintegrated after four years of storage. Support, encouragement and assistance came from all over and included Sasol Dual Fuel™, Yokohama, and Kollie’s Auto repair – thé Mini specialists in Pretoria. 

The Van made documentation, passed scrutineering, but still needed the odo to be sorted out before the 7:30 Friday night start of the event. This stage was an addition to the 10 year old Saturday only event, and found huge support from the large crowd in attendance. The first section of the first stage – a “Tour de Pits” at Zwartkops Raceway went off well with the odo working spot-on thanks to the generous assistance of Wayne Watt from ATS Motorsport. Drama struck on the first corner once onto the race track proper with four laps of frustrating fumbling in the dark following. As Brian put his foot down to accelerate out of the corner the Van started cutting out - first thought that crossed Brian’s mind was electrical – and off the lights went which was followed by renewed power from the 1300cc Cooper S motor under the bonnet. The next corner came up and the lights was put back on to see where the apexes were and once again the power disappeared on accelerating out of the corner. The odo and navigation lights were also switched off, but the Van still had intermittent bursts of power only. The result was third slowest time for the stage and third last on the road for Saturday – at least we were not stone last and we beat some guys WITH intercom and lights! Upon investigation in the service area it became clear that the “Tour De Pits” dislodged some dirt in the fuel tank and the Sasol Racing Fuel wasn’t getting to the Webers.

Some hasty repairs followed before the car had to be booked into the Parc Fermé for the night. No servicing was allowed before the first stage of Saturday, another four laps of the Zwartkops circuit. Matters were slightly better, but the Sasol Racing Fuel was still not surging through the Webers at the required rate. Draining the fuel tank, adding more fuel pumps and replacing filters the team thought that the problem was sorted for stage three, Lotus Gardens, only to have it recurring again on the first sharp left hander. Main service man Kollie van der Westhuizen then blew out the fuel lines with air from the spare tyre in desperation. Next up was two stages at Gerotek, the hill climb and the dynamic handling circuit. At last the Van was flying! Shod with Yokohama A008’s the Van excelled and gave the Class S3 Toyota of Danie van Rensburg and Paul Bothma an uphill battle on the tight and twisty hill climb. Overtaking was too risky and despite also dropping off a side shaft and tools for the Mini of Gary Swemmer, a good time was posted for the stage.

On the next stage we gave the turbocharged 1800cc Honda Civic of brothers Wannenburg and Jan van Rensburg a hard time with Danie and Paul’s Toyota falling off the track trying to outbrake us into the first hairpin. Next up was Rosslyn and we looked forward to adding another frown or two to the brows of the Toyota and Honda crews, only to see the temperature going sky-high and a misfire setting in. Kollie gave it a once over at the service point and sent us off with the worried look and frown now on his face. Arriving at Waltloo it was obvious that the head gasket was on its way out and to get it too the end we would have to take things a little easier. Brian still managed to entertain the crowds with sideways driving and despite tapping off on the straights to get the Van to the end, no one caught us in the stage and a competitive time was posted. Stage 8, the last, was another four laps of Zwartkops with everybody holding thumbs and wishing the Van to the end.

Brian and Piet managed to finish the event without penalties, achieve a third in class S1 and take the “Battler’s Award” – a hamper from Castrol which deservedly went to Chief Mechanic, Kollie van der Westhuizen.  The event was won by Dawie Olivier and Henry Dearlove in their Class S4 Toyota Van with Charl Wilken and Robing Houghton in their S3 (Class B, Group N) Corolla second. Congratulations to Ivor Wiid and his team from SCC Pretoria on an excellent event, the only problem being some different interpretations of the rules regarding the Parc Fermé on Friday night, which resulted in the Prize Giving being delayed for quite a bit.

This unusual, but highly popular event, once again drew a huge entry of more than eighty competitors. Entries included some wild and wonderful machines such as Porsche 911s, Subaru WRX Sti’s, Lotus Elise and Sevens and Renault Turbos. 

Piet van Olst would like to thank Brian for the opportunity, experience and fun had in memory of his late brother Tonie. Brian Hastie and Piet van Olst thank the following for their generous support and assistance: 

• Peter Wise - Sasol Motorsport Michael Gilbert – Yokohama SA
• Kollie van der Westhuizen – Kollie’s Auto Repair
• Corporate Medical Services – Willie du Plessis
• Wayne Watt – ATS Motor Sport Supplies
• Independent Car Radio (Centurion)
• Pole Position Promotions
• Desa, Joni, Martie, Mark, Sarah and Lilja who assisted at the servicing points.  
   Issued by Flying Finish ReproductionPiet van Olst

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