Articles Air Race (Page 18)

1977 State President’s Trophy Air Race

From Baragwanath to Virginia – 30 to 31 May 1977

Total Distance: 925 Statute Miles

 

Pos Race
No		 A/c Reg Aircraft Speed
Knots		 Gain(-)
Loss		 Pilot Navigator
1 73 UDZ Taylor Titch 166.12 00:21:42- J S McKerchar None
2 63 EBI Piper PA28 235 159.60 00:10:20- V Maclean J Haig
3 66 JZR Piper PA34 200T 227.96 00:08:49- W van der Spuy J Dries
4 36 JWT Piper PA28 235 158.88 00:08:45- J W Taylor A I Taylor
5 61 PMG Beech V35B 202.70 00:08:31- G B Conlyn N Lederle
6 29 FHA Piper PA28 235 158.76 00:08:29- A J Hodgson C W Hodgson
7 4 IWK Cessna C182 161.84 00:08:20- W C Angus A G Purchase
8 70 JZP Piper PA28 R200T 200.54 00:07:52- H Dames J A Earl
9 57 AJT Beech 17S 184.67 00:06:06- A J Torr B Thomas
10 9 EAU Piper PA24 260 187.74 00:06:01- A M Niemann C Langeveld
11 11 AWB Beech A36 198.12 00:05:57- W Barnes N Forrester
12 10 DXG Piper PA28 235 157.45 00:05:34- V Hunt-Davis D Hunt-Davis
13 58 KOB Piper PA28 235 157.26 00:05:09- R Stevens D Campbell
14 84 ISU Piper PA28 180 145.63 00:04:19- D Erasmus L Erasmus
15 22 JPC Beech A36 197.65 00:03:49- R H Preller M Summerly
16 54 JYB Beech V35B 198.47 00:03:32- C A Gedye C Massey
17 69 ENA Cessna C182 159.25 00:02:46- P Kraupner G Titren
18 47 RMC Cessna C182 158.94 00:02:05- H R Hodgson G Vorster
19 25 FWP Piper PA28 140 139.40 00:01:09- C F Jordaan C R Snow
20 17 LCR Cessna C210 198.55 00:00:47- L C Rinkel A Nel
21 33 LMS Piper PA28 200 163.98 00:00:02 V Paoloni F Potgieter
22 78 MAA Beech C55 226.60 00:00:26 W Barnard A du Plessis
23 24 MBO Cessna C206 167.73 00:00:33 D G Carlisle A Williams
24 21 DVN Beech B55E 226.05 00:01:02 S Ord L Kay
25 52 FRV Beech V35A 195.27 0:01:04 H B Redman R Livingstone
26 83 GLS Beech BE58 225.57 00:01:33 R L Schwartz G Smith
27 15 PTC Beech B55E 225.37 00:01:46 E A King A S Bane
28 26 IBD Beech B55 222.30 00:01:54 D C Spence A J Pappas
29 72 JXJ Piper 28-181 II 146.01 00:02:33 M Hamlet G Fig
30 82 IVD Cessna C182 156.71 00:02:53 R H Dreyer T Honiball
31 35 JFG Beech V35B 193.90 00:03:04 D J Steenkamp C L Marais
32 28 DZZ Piper PA24 400 211.87 00:03:49 D W Charlton A Weltan
33 30 CMU Cessna C182 155.97 00:04:35 J Cilliers A Grobbelaar
34 31 IBY Beech V35B 192.87 00::04:36 P Knoesen N Gilliland
35 85 ITP Beech B55 219.60 00:04:58 N Kropman S Saitowitz
36 32 JBY Cessna C206 165.49 00:05:01 E Sparg C A McGill
37 16 IJL Beech B55 189.56 00:05:13 C Thom F Thom
38 27 RTB Piper PA28 R200 161.43 00:05:43 H Karlsen A Kluyts
39 53 CWK Piper PA24 250 178.65 00:05:43 Heynike van Tonder
40 62 ELP Cessna C182 155.44 00:05:47 P M Boer J Steyl
41 14 FOS Piper PA28 140 131.85 00:06:45 L KIopper C van Rooyen
42 2 WGB Piper PA28 235 152.12 00:06:47 P L Smith T Birkett
43 56 EMP Piper PA28 235 152.09 00:06:51 A Lauw H A K Giese
44 39 TSH Cessna C182 154.52 00:07:55 S Honiball D Honiball
45 68 IHS Beech 35 190.62 00::08:00 C Strydom K Odendaal
46 6 IME BeechV35 190.52 00:08:09 P van der Merwe C Boucher
47 74 EYI Piper PA28 140 131.25 00:08:41 R Marais van der Merwe
48 38 AST Piper PA28 140 131.05 00:09:20 H Lintvelt A Van Veenhuizen
49 75 VVK Piper PA28 180 140.47 00:09:41 Greyling L Greyling
50 67 JSF Rallye 235 155.31 00:10:29 C Fine F Plumb
51 19 JRJ Rockwell 112A 161.86 00:10:34 A Potgietar K Duff
52 7 VMF BeechV35 188.96 00:10:34 R Cooke A Wicksteed
53 59 DPN Piper PA28 180 140.14 00:10:37 G Lilley Capt. Spies
54 41 JNJ Cessna C210 II 190.48 00:11:05 R I Theron D Johnston
55 23 FJU Cessna C172 126.61 00:11:27 B Lüthi L van Wyngaard
56 49 JDR Cessna C210L 199.34 00:11:36 K Denning R J Barnes
57 55 JSG Rallye 235 154.03 00:13:27 S Luker Kitchener
58 42 JSA Robin DR400 180 162.74 00:14:35 R Statham T Sommerville
59 45 ECG Beech B55 210.61 00:15:46 L Edelstein D Kayser
60 71 JJY Piper PA32R300 179.23 00:16:01 S Levin I Wainstein
61 46 JEV Aerostar 601 243.70 00:18:07 W Bürgener R L Hay
62 43 JSU Robin HR100 285 181.22 00:25:59 B Charteris A G Cogle
63 8 NBC Beech B19 125.46 00:28:14 B Eaterhuyse van Wyngaard
64 80 JSJ MS 893E 131.02 00:30:00 B Cumming M A Webber
65 81 JHH RaIIye 235 147.17 00:30:16 L Sharman A Jonk
66 18 JAH Grumman Tiger AA-5B 151.89 00:31:06 J Havenga G R Atkinson
67 65 FJY Cessna C177 133.76 00:32:12 B G Hall B Cameron
68 3 EYW Marchetti F260 199.49 00:32:40 V Humphreys K Humphreys
69 51 CHL Beech B58 199.49 00:33:45 D Kaye H Greenberg
70 79 BZN Piper PA 14 Cruiser 115.30 00:37:23 H F Heim J Bezuidenhout
71 64 JAE Grumman Tiger AA-5B 148.15 00:40:20 D H Chambers H Fradi
72 40 FEC Piper PA28 R180 142.88 00:45:54 M P Whelan K G Norman
73 34 JGU Piper PA28 180 128.38 00:46:57 C Irvine-Smith R Pryce
74 37 JAC Grumman AA5 128.35 00:49:42 J H ViIjoen C Prinsloo
75 1 FSE Mooney 22 193.93 00:50:04 L Gillinsky A Csomoss
76 44 COA Cessna C175 122.12 01:09:07 C J Molier K Brand
77 5 IFF Piper Aztec PA23 160.10 01:19:54 G A Matthews K Matthews

1977 State President’s Trophy Air Race

From Baragwanath to Virginia – 30 to 31 May 1977

Trophies

Trophy Name Awarded to Race A/c Reg Pilot/Navigator
Aircraft
State President’s Trophy The Competitor gaining most time on Handicap 73 ZS-UDZ J S McKerchar
Taylor Titch
Air Charter Companies Cup The Second Pilot Home 63 ZS-EBI V MacLean/J Haig
Piper PA28-235
Natal Advertiser Trophy The Competitor covering the course in the fastest time 46 ZS-JEV W Bürgener/R L Hay
Aerostar 601
Vickers Armstrong Trophy The Competitor giving the Most Meritorious Performance 79 ZS-BZN H F Heim/J Bezuidenhout
Piper PA 14 Cruiser
Wakefield Trophy The First Woman Pilot 10 ZS-DXG V Hunt-Davis/D Hunt-Davis
Piper PA28-235
Natal Mercury Trophy The First Natal Pilot Home 58 ZS-KOB R Stevens/D Campbell
Piper PA28-235
Hoofstad Pers Trophy The First Transvaal Pilot Home 73 ZS-UDZ J S McKerchar
Taylor Titch
Phoenix Volkswagen Trophy The First O F S Pilot Home 61 ZS-PMG G B Conlyn/N Lederle
Beech V35B
Stellalander Trophy The First Cape Province Pilot Home 15 ZS-PTC E A King/A S Bane
Beech B55E
Comair Trophy The Pilot of the First Cessna Home 4 ZS-IWK W C Angus/A G Purchase
Cessna C182
Piper Trophy The Pilot of the First Piper Home 63 ZS-EBI V Maclean/J Haig
Piper PA28-235
Beechcraft Trophy The Pilot of the First Beechcraft Home 61 ZS-PMG G B Conlyn/N Lederle
Beech V35B
Carletonville Trophy The Pilot of the First Baron Home 78 ZS-MAA W Barnard/A du Plessis
Beech C55
Preller/Germishuys Trophy Handicapping Committee Award 70 ZS-JZP H Dames/J A Earl
Piper PA28-R200T
D P Kelly Trophy First Delmas Pilot Home 30 ZS-CMU J Cilliers/A Grobbelaar
Cessna C182
Durban Wings Club Trophy The First Durban Wings Club Pilot Home 24 ZS-MBO D G Carlisle/A Williams
Cessna C206
Lanseria Trophy The First Lanseria based Pilot Home 29 ZS-FHA A J Hodgson/C W Hodgson
Piper PA28-235
99 Trophy The First “99” Pilot Home 10 ZS-DXG V Hunt-Davis/D Hunt-Davis
Piper PA28-235

The last time the Governor-Generals Cup was awarded was in 1961. The event was held on 26/27 May 1961, the last weekend before the Republic of South Africa came into being.

The race has the traditional routing of a course that covered at least 1 000 miles and entered all four of the provinces. The race started at the Baragwanath airfield in Johannesburg and finished at Benoni. The route was going to be via Kimberley (refuel), Ladybrand, Harrismith to Ladysmith for a night stop) and then to Benoni via Nelspruit, Tzaneen (refuel) and Potgietersrus but the route was shortened to avoid the Drakensburg.

An article in the 30 March 1961 issue of Flight magazine (see attached) indicated that this would be the last race and that “the organisers of the 1961 race, mostly loyal monarchists, have decided that if this year’s race is to be the last it shall certainly be the best” This statement obviously created a stir as a retraction was published in the 27 April issue of the magazine (attached).

The race was one by Mr A P Nieman in a Fairchild 24. There were 37 finishers out of a field of 39. A report on the race was included in the Flight of 22 June.

 

Attachment Size
Flight – 30 March 1961 348.92 KB
Flight – 27 April 1961 358.79 KB
Flight – 22 June 1961 351.22 KB

Day 1

From To Distance
Statute Miles		 Cumulative
Distance
Durban (Stamford Hill) Matatiele
Matatiele Aliwal North (lunch stop)
Aliwal North Kimberley

Day 2

From To Distance
Statute Miles		 Cumulative
Distance
Kimberley Baragwanath (landing)
Baragwanath Ladysmith (landing)
Ladysmith Durban (Stamford Hill)

A short course was flown over Durban before the finish line.

1939 Governor-General’s Cup

 

Pos Race
No		 A/c Reg Aircraft Pilot/s
1 9 ZS-AOC BA DOUBLE EAGLE E. U. BRIERLEY
2 15 ZS-AHA LEOPARD MOTH J. D. DALRYMPLE
3 13 ZS-AID CESSNA C.34 J. WILLIAMSON
4 1 ZS-AML FAIRCHILD 45 F. C. ELLIOT-WILSON
4 5 ZS-BBC BEECHCRAFT C17L O. THANING
6 22 ZS-AIV LEOPARD MOTH H. CALDERBANK
7 4 ZS-ANO SPARROWHAWK C. ERASMUS
8 7 ZS-AKG HORNET MOTH G. K. JONES, J. J. OOSTHUIZEN
9 8 ZS-AOA HORNET MOTH F. ALLEN, T. G. PAGET
10 18 ZS-AEP LEOPARD MOTH R. M. COULL
11 16 ZS-AOY MILES MONARCH E. PHILLIPS
12 17 ZS-ACR PUSS MOTH J. BOWIE
13 26 ZS-AMR MAGISTER E. N. DONNELLY
14 12 ZS-AOS HORNET MOTH P. MURDOCH
15 2 ZS-AFS LEOPARD MOTH H. P. BLINKHORN
15 21 ZS-AKT RAPIDE D. MAIL
17 11 ZS-APX HAWK MAJOR J. M. PROUT
18 20 ZS-ANN HORNET MOTH P. HOLT
19 3 ZS-AHF HORNET MOTH C. F. KALLENBACH
20 10 ZS-AKA HORNET MOTH L. R. SPOOR, E. J. PEALL
21 25 ZS-ANT WACO UEC A. VELCICH

1939 Governor-General’s Cup – Exclusions

 

Race
No		 A/c Reg Aircraft Pilot/s Reason
6 ZS-AFU WACO UIC J. T. SLABBERT Retired
14 ZS-AHH HAWK MAJOR D. C. ROXBURGH Retired
19 ZS-AMJ REARWIN 6000M A. M. MILLER Retired
23 ZS-AMU MAGISTER B. de VILLIERS Retired
24 ZS-AIX CESSNA C.34 D. DUNN, D. MILLIGAN Retired

Day 1

From To Distance
Statute Miles		 Cumulative
Distance
Durban (Stamford Hill) Bloemfontein 142 142
Bloemfontein Kimberley 94 236
Kimberley Baragwanath 278 514

Day 2

From To Distance
Statute Miles		 Cumulative
Distance
Baragwanath Vryheid 202 202
Vryheid Durban (Stamford Hill) 144 346

Total distance – 860 statute miles

1938 Governor-General’s Cup

 

Pos Race
No		 A/c Reg Aircraft Pilot/s
1 12 ZS-AKG HORNET MOTH J. J. OOSTHUIZEN, D. P. McKEOWN
2 18 ZS-ANN HORNET MOTH W. T. B. TASKER
3 8 ZS-AKA HORNET MOTH L. R. SPOOR
4 21 ZS-AMT MAGISTER E. N. DONNELLY
5 16 ZS-AHG HORNET MOTH W. NICHOL
6 10 ZS-AFH WACO CJC J. T. SLABBERT
7 2 ZS-AEK LEOPARD MOTH R. M. COULL
7 7 ZS-AII HORNET MOTH W. F. du PLESSIS
9 17 ZS-AEP LEOPARD MOTH G. K. JONES, KELLY
10 9 ZS-AIV LEOPARD MOTH H. CALDERBANK
11 22 ZS-AML FAIRCHILD 45 E. McCONNELL, F. C. ELLIOT-WILSON
12 1 ZS-ANO SPARROWHAWK V. SMITH
13 6 ZS-AFS LEOPARD MOTH H. P. BLINKHORN
14 19 ZS-ADW GIPSY MOTH NORTON, BRINTON
15 4 ZS-BBC BEECHCRAFT C17L O. THANING

1937 Governor-General’s Cup – Exclusions

 

Race
No		 A/c Reg Aircraft Pilot/s Reason
15 ZS-AOT HORNET MOTH C. ERASMUS Disqualified
3 ZS-AIX CESSNA C.34 C. F. KALLENBACH Retired
5 ZS-ANM DRAGONFLY D. A. de R. LABISTOUR Retired
11 ZS-ANX BUCKER JUNGMANN K. KATZENSTEIN Retired
20 ZS-AEX STINSON F. R. SLABBERT, J. WILLIAMSON Retired
13 * * * Scratched
14 * * * Scratched

Thanks to Alan Taylor, renown South African aviation historian, the full results and exclusions of the 1937, 1938 and 1939 Governor-General’s Cup have now been published on this site.

Alan has also written a short biography on Roy Coull, the winner of the first Race. This book, titled OF MOTHS AND MARAUDERS, is available on the internet.

It was interesting to note that the pilots that did not do well in the 1937 Race were unhappy with the handicap system. Looks like nothing has changed in 70 odd years.

The first race covered 1 000 miles and passed through all four provinces. (Natal, Transvaal, Orange Free State and the Cape). Prize money was in the order of £1 000.

Second in that year was Johannes Slabbert in a Waco and third was Rhenia Slabbert in a Hornet
Moth. Rhenia (no relation to Johannes) was the only woman entrant and ended only 3 seconds behind the second placed aircraft.

Full results of the 1937 to 1939 races can be found Here