This Whale Festival season promises to boast something to tickle each fancy, and if you love all things nostalgic, this event is for you.
Seeff Hermanus is one of the proud sponsors of the next Whales and Wheels Classic Car Show on the 1st of October to be held at the Sandbaai Hall this year, from 9h00 to 15h00. The entry fee is R20 and kids under 12 go for free.
An exciting parade will have heads turning as a convoy of over 25 classic beauties cruise to the festivities in Hermanus CBD and back to the venue. There will be over 100 cars on display, weather permitting, with a few small vehicles showcased inside the hall. You’ll find vintage, classic, sports, and new cars. A great selection of model cars on display will be for sale.
Inside the hall, many food stalls will offer the good old classics such as breakfast buns, burgers, sausage rolls, chipstix, curry & rice, corndogs, prego rolls, sosaties, as well as pancakes, desserts and other sweet treats. There will also be a bar, with ample seating to enjoy your selection of eats while perusing old car magazines found on the tables.
Experience nostalgia with a HiFi system that will play good old 60s to 70s records of your choosing – coming to life with a crackle that brings back memories. Further old-school moments will be brought to you by Apollo Kombi Hire with their gaming van and a photobooth van to take home some fun memories of the day.
Forming a part of history for Hermanus, the first show was held behind the station building in 1999 with 68 cars from three clubs (EFCC, Cranchandle and Peugeot). The event was started by well-known motoring and TV presenter/ journalist Alan Johnson and Thor Bovin. They roped in Oom Danie Loubser, a devout Peugeot man. Together with his dad, he co-owned Peugeot agencies in Vredenburg.
Since 2001, Piet Haumann was involved together with the three founders of this event. He recalls fondly that “they gave me a proper run-around… I wish I could write a book about the three old toppies’ antics.”
Oom Piet took over for many years (being a part of the event for over 20 years and event organiser for a decade, with a lot of assistance from Percy Leech). Roy Groenewald and others gave a hand to keep this event going strong and in 2020, Oom Piet handed the reins to Roy.
Current event organiser and classic car enthusiast Roy Groenewald has had a love of cars since preschool. He recalls fondly a specific moment that sparked the love affair. It was sometime in the 1950s at a car parade in Hermanus CBD, on the main road. His mom held his hand as the cars drove past, it was one of those precious moments where memories are born.
Many moons later in this special connected town, Roy bumped into a gentleman who was in that very parade, the very same “Oom” Danie Loubser of the 1950s parade, who drove a pristine Model T Ford.
Roy’s dad was born in the area, and the big berry farm out in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley was his grandad’s farm, known back then as Ertjiesvlei and now Haygrove Heaven. Roy spent many holidays in this cherished town and bought a holiday home here. He regales with tales of his passion for cars, participating in motorsport and racing, and how things took a sombre turn for him in the wholesale of cars and exports.
This ultimately became too much of a rat race and in 2004 he decided to give it all up and return to the restorative Hermanus. He now spends his time in the slightly rustic and very serene Sandbaai. He still has a few of his lovely classic cars that he maintains and takes for a spin about the town. A Morris Minor, an Austin A 35, two MK1 Cortinas, an Mk3 Cortina LDV and a 1,3 Datsun LDV are his prized possessions.
Pop in to see these lovelies and fellow enthusiasts’ pride and joys, many of who reside in this classic town. This is the first time the event will be held in Sandbaai, deemed by Roy to be the old car capital of the Overberg. Restrictions at schools and traffic prompted them to move the venue to the Sandbaai hall.
An entire weekend of festivities is planned for Hermanus this coming 30th of September till the 2nd of October as part of the Whale Festival. Enjoy a festive atmosphere with vibey live music every day at the Hermanus Whale Festival Music Marquee.
Listen to interesting marine and nature talks, and check out environmental exhibitions. Walk along the coastal paths for awesome land-based whale watching, especially from Gearing’s Point, where you’ll also find interesting sculptures.
You’ll find fun for the whole family at this event, with plenty of kiddies entertainment and an exciting treasure hunt. There will be a challenge of strength at the Strongman Competition, and a 10 km fun run for all to the scenic New Harbour.
Enjoy perusing through arts and crafts tents and delight in a wide variety of eats at the many food stalls. For the ultimate foodie, the town boasts many highly recommendable local eateries – there’s a reason the area gained status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
This will be the 31st Whale Festival to celebrate the annual return of the majestic southern right whales to breed in our safer waters. An extra memorable event in an extra memorable town, this is why we love Hermanus.
Related Articles
