Ben Morgenrood, 69, a well-known member of the community not only excels in a business capacity but is a star in his favourite sport, motor sport.
Ben started his motor sports career in 1967, where his first competitive race was in the Krugersdorp Hillclimb. Asked why he chose motor sports, he answered, “My father told me that when I was very young, I already knew all the names of the cars on the road. I was born with this passion.”
Ben currently has three cars he races with, namely a 1965 Mustang, which he races with in the Historical Series, a 2014 Mustang V8 which he uses in the Super Series and a V8 Flexi which he uses on the Oval Track.
Ben says all the cars are customized for motor racing and that some parts get imported from the US, which can become very costly.
Ben’s biggest achievements include winning 13 National Championship titles, competing in the US; holding various records in motor sports and he has been competing in motor sports for a whole 40 years.
Ben’s hopes for the future is that he can continue competing as long as possible, doing what he loves most. Ben says you need to be very fit and alert for this sport and he keeps fit by going to the gym everyday. Asked who his all time hero is in motor sports, he answered, “Michael Schumacher.”
Ben says the fastest speed the Mustang V8 goes to is over 300km/h in East Londen, where the racetrack is favourable for that speed. He secretly smiles and said ” I love that speed.”
Ben added he has been injured during motor sports, but that he has always recuperated and that being fit helps the process. Ben advises motor sport enthusiasts to start off in your own car, like he did and compete against others at the Oval Track. His son, Benjamin Junior, is doing exactly that and he too is doing extremely well.
Ben is extremely proud of Randfontein, it’s people and the history. He says that out of the 20 competitors in the V8 Super Series, five of them comes from Randfontein and they are also very good competitors. They are Mackie Adlem, Steve Smith, Roelf du Plessis and Matty Martins.
The raceways Ben competes on are Kyalami, Zwartkops, Midvaal, Redstar raceway as well as raceways situated in Cape Town, East Londen and Port Elizabeth.
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