New winners in the special vehicle category at the Vryburg 400

The special vehicle category produced new winners with the Vryburg 400, taking its toll on competitors. In the end, it was a King Price Xtreme team who claimed the overall and Class A victory, but this time it was Boela Botes/Jay Pretorius who finished on the top step of the podium despite an overheating gearbox.

Botes/Pretorius (Porter) won in a time of 05:55;45. They broke the winning streak of their teammates and newly crowned champions, Lance Trethewey/Adriaan Roets (BAT), who had to settle for second place in Class A and third place overall (06:39:12) after being hampered by fuel-pressure issues during the second loop.

The two class A teams sandwiched the Larney brothers, Cecil and Elardus, who finished second in the category and won class G for side-by-side vehicles in their Ride Fox Africa Can-Am Maverick SxS. They were overjoyed to finish the Vryburg 400 in a time of 06:19;33 after losing time with two punctures and a broken belt during the second loop.

Finishing means they keep their lead in the Class G Championship and the title is still within their reach.
Bazil Bezuidenhout/Rikus Hattingh (Moto-Netix KEC Racing Can-Am Maverick) claimed the second place on the class G SxS podium (06:41;11) and were fourth overall.

Except for a puncture during the first loop, they were frustrated by their SxS going into limp-mode during the race, the same fate that befell Werner Mostert and his son, Ian (King Price Xtreme) who had to call it a day on the first of the two loops.

The top five was rounded off by SACCS newcomers, Nicolas Pienaar/Carl Swanepoel (BAT) who also finished on the Class A podium (06:58:09). Lood du Preez/Tiaan Swart (Farmers Meat Stryker) had an eventful event that started with the team not finishing the Pirelli qualifying race on Friday and had to start the main race at the back of the field.

Two punctures during the first loop; losing an hour to put a suspension bolt back and then having to push-start their vehicle after it mysteriously died, all added to a long day in the field for the team.

They made it home (08:05;25) and deserve their points for finishing sixth overall and fourth in Class A.

It was also a long day for both Geoff Minnitt/Gerhard Snyman (Can-Am Maverick SxS) and Sandra Labuschagne-Jonck and Jaco Jonck (Moto-Netix KEC Racing BAT) who took a 10-hour penalty for not being able to complete loop one due to mechanical issues, but then started and finished the second loop. Minnitt/Snyman finished seventh overall and third in class G with the Jonck couple eighth overall and fifth in class A.

Youngsters Kent Rutherford/Kabelo Mokanyane (Enza Construction Can-Am Maverick) were the first class G team to start the day, but could not finish while Upington businessmen, Willem du Toit/Victor Fincham (CR-T) were also among those who could not receive the chequered flag in Vryburg.

Teams now have three weeks to prepare for the seventh and final round of the SACCS, the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Parys 400 that takes place on 20 November from the Parys Airfield in the Free State.

Source: SA Cross Country Racing (SACCS)