Motoprint news 9 October 2008
My email has been buzzing with messages about the fate of the former Grand Prix at East London. As you may know, its origins go back to the 1930s as the Prince George Circuit, when it was a formidable test for overseas teams including Auto Union.
In the late 1950s a shorter version was resurrected retaining elements of the original and a South African GP was held on New Years Day 1960, with Stirling Moss as the star attraction. The race was won by Paul Frere with Moss second. In 1962 the final round of the World Championship saw Graham Hill win BRM’s first title after Jim Clark’s Lotus 25 failed.
The SA GP moved to Kyalami in 1967 but racing has continued on the completely unchanged layout since. Now the story goes that the local council has plans to build a university campus and accommodation on the site.
I do not have all the details and am going away tonight but have seen a petition gathering signatures to support retaining the venue with many well-known names on it.
On the South African Historic Race Car Register website www.hrcr.co.za you can click on a link to the petition. No doubt a worthy cause but I am not sure if this one is simply pro retaining the circuit or whether the petition organisers actually have a concrete counter proposal. Read it for yourself and decide.
I believe the AA or MSA has issued a press release so keep your eyes open. I am sure each of you will support every serious effort to keep the circuit. It does have a very special place in our motor racing history.
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