Tim Boles in Capetown Racing Triumph
Butch (The Car) beats the Local Daytona winning hero in thrilling races
Tim Boles, resident of Santon, Isle of Man has just returned from another successful racing venture in South Africa.
He joined the David Piper entourage of visiting European drivers in the International Sports Prototypes Series which is held in South Africa in February each year. Details of what these illustrious racing drivers have got up to in the past can be found at their website: http://www.racecar.co.uk/isp/. Perhaps the greatest mishap this year was the unfortunate “racing accident” that put Lord Irving Laidlaw’s Ferrari 312P into the pit wall and out for the remaining events.
As before the visit was divided into two race meetings 1000 miles apart – one in Johannesburg at a little track called Zwartkops, which resembles a scaled up Cadwell, park in layout and Brands Hatch for viewing. Zwartkops is owned by the ever enthusiastic Peter Du Toit who has quite a stable of racing cars to his name. The second rather larger event is held at Killarney near Capetown, and it was here that Tim Boles acting as principal driver for TCB Racing managed to secure the three all important wins against Sarel van der Merwe the South African racing megastar who was in a 1964 7.7 litre Ford Galaxie.
The races were so close and yet Tim managed to get by the Sarel’s huge Galaxie on three occasions- the third race saw Tim lying back in 4th place at the first corner- the commentator suggested that he was asleep at the start! Yet he still managed to win overall; even some of the locals were baying for next year’s crucial rematch. It may be the some might be persuaded to switch allegiance to the Manx driver.
In the meantime TCB Racing has invited Sarel to drive Butch the Camaro in the Chomondeley Pageant of Power speed event to be held on 18th and 19th July at Chomondeley Castle Cheshire for information see: http://www.pageantofpower.com
When interviewed later by Sky DSTV which is likely to be shown next month, Tim stressed his Isle of Man connections, which have a significance to many in South Africa as well as his early racing life which began driving Jeeps on his farm in the Highlands of Scotland from the tender age of 9 and the support afforded by his sponsors; Simcoc Pensions Limited, Isle of Man, AKG Group Limited (UK) and Sandvik Mining & Construction of Johannesburg.
Notes to editors (not familiar with the Classic Camaro Club!)
Butch is a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro which has been campaigned by Tim Boles, holder of an International Racing Licence since 1991. Tim is secretary of the Classic Camaro Club UK, part of the Association of American Car Clubs see: http://www.classiccamaroclubuk.com
Tim is Managing Director of Simcocks Pensions. which has offices in London, and the Isle of Man, and provides international pension services to clients all over the world. http://www:simcockspensions.com
