Simola Hill Climb 2023: Where Speed and Adrenaline Meet
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Hill climbs are one of the most exciting and dangerous forms of motorsport. Here in South Africa, we have our very own. Knysna is a stunning coastal town known for its large number of retirement homes and slow, relaxed nature. However, one week every year, the town comes alive with motoring enthusiasts and petrol heads, all eager to watch the suped-up monsters take to The Hill.
Simola is one of our nation's many motoring events and one of the more prestigious events on the calendar. The field of cars which will take on the hill is diverse; sports cars, supercars, super saloons, single-seaters and more and this diversity of classes is also one of the reasons for its popularity. It's the perfect platform for manufacturers to display their newest cars, and similarly, individuals enjoy the opportunity to show off their pride and joys with their heavily modified race cars. There will even be a rally-cross car to make some noise and amp up the excitement.
If this is your first time attending Simola, this racing event is non-stop, with car after car after car leaving the start line. Walking, and lots of it is also part and parcel of the Simola experience since every corner allows you to experience racing from a different angle. Simola is also incredibly loud, so if you enjoy flame-spitting gear changes or side-exit exhaust action, then Simola is the place for you.
The event will run as follows. Starting the classic cars on Thursday, May 4th will be the Classic Cars Parade and car display. Friday is Race Day for the classics, with practice in the morning and from 8:00. Qualifying will begin at 10:45, followed by lunch at 13:25, and then the real race begins at 14:05.
The King of the Hill Shoot Out, consisting of a line-up of more modern cars, begins on Friday, May 5th, with a car display and parade. Saturday morning starts with practice at 9:00, which will continue to lunch at 13:00. Qualifying starts after lunch at 14:00 until 16:00. The excitement will grow as Sunday provides the main event. Warmup kicks off at 9:00, with the remaining qualifying sessions until lunch at 12:00. The final starts at 14:05, where the drivers will try to break the hill climb record.
The primary vehicle classes to look out for are:
The Classic Conqueror is currently being held by 2022 winner Ian Schofield in his March 77B with a time of 42.302 seconds.
The Single Seater and Sports Cars record is currently held by Andre Bezuidenhout in his Gould GR55 with a record-breaking time of 34.161 seconds.
The Modified Saloon Cars record is currently being held by the 2022 winner Franco Scribante in his insane Nissan R35 GT-R with a time of 38.129 seconds.
Finally, the road-going Saloon Cars and Supercars category record is currently being held by Jean-Pierre vd Walt in his Porsche 911 Turbo S with a time of 44.562 seconds.
The race is just around the corner and kicks off on May 4th. Tickets can be bought online, and you don't want to miss this one. The noise, the speed, and the atmosphere are all unique to Simola. We will be there, and we hope to see you there too.
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