Engines roar at Cape Town's first Hillclimb in years
Nearly 70 classic cars powered up a closed-off Philip Kgosana Drive for the inaugural Speed Classic Cape Town hillclimb.
Image: Picture Ian Landsberg
Philip Kgosana Drive shook off its usual traffic and came alive this past weekend as the Cape Town Speed Classic roared into town. Engines screamed, tyres squealed, and thousands of spectators cheered as classic cars and modern supercars raced uphill beneath Table Mountain in the city’s first hillclimb in years.
More than 15,000 people turned out over the two days to watch the action. Saturday’s Classic Car showcase drew vintage Jaguars, Alfa Romeos and Ford Escorts, giving fans a taste of racing history. Sunday’s “King of the Mountain” challenge kicked things up a notch as high-performance machines battled for the fastest run up the 1.8km course.
Event Director Steyn Momberg said the weekend ran smoothly, with drivers praising the route. “Most of the complaints were about what might happen before the event. Once we became operational, things went much better than expected,” he said.
Only minor racing incidents were reported.
The event also reached a global audience, with 35,000 tuning in via the official Speed Classic livestream. Temporary road closures were managed well, with organisers reporting minimal disruption to traffic and few complaints from residents.
Momberg said the team hopes to make the Speed Classic a permanent fixture. “With the support of Cape Town and the Western Cape Province, we want to establish Speed Classic Cape Town as the number one hillclimb event in the world.”
By Monday morning, the barricades were down and Philip Kgosana Drive had returned to its normal pace. But for one weekend, Cape Town rediscovered the roar of engines, the thrill of speed, and a motorsport tradition that could be here to stay.