Road to Simola Hillclimb with Volkswagen

Embarking on the weekend with Volkswagen at the Simola Hillclimb, our journey from Gqeberha to Knysna in the Transporter marked the beginning of an exhilarating experience. Here’s a brief rundown of our day and what to anticipate during this eagerly awaited weekend.

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Setting off from a red-eye flight from Cape Town to Gqeberha, one of the most anticipated weekends on the calendar is about to take place. The Simola Hillclimb is the most talked-about and  by  far  the  most anticipated motoring event in South African motorsport.  Known for its picturesque setting and demanding track winding its way up the Simola hillside, it  attracts  a  diverse  range of  participants, including professional  racing drivers, amateur enthusiasts, and various high-performance vehicles.

Taking place in  Knysna over three days, starting from Friday till Sunday, the Classic Car Friday kicked off yesterday, featuring exclusively historic, classic, and vintage cars. While the Classic shootout was happening, we were still en route to Knysna in the Volkswagen Transporter, where we got a chance to spend some time behind the  wheel of the vehicle . With passengers aboard, the road opened up, allowing us to feel what 146 kW felt like in the Transporter.

 Early Details on Volkswagen Transporter Revealed

Driving an 8-seater car full of passengers is quite the experience. Managing such a large vehicle with  a significant number of  people in it while tapping into the available power effectively presents a different challenge from what I’m used to.  While the power output was sufficient, I could feel the  weight of the vehicle  and the extra load from passengers affecting its performance. Navigating corners and overtaking required smooth and careful driving, considering the vehicle’s size and weight. Despite these challenges, the spacious interior and ample power from the 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel engine ensured a comfortable ride for everyone on board .

Arriving late in Knysna meant that we had to miss the classic car Friday shootout, but at least we got in time for the parade, which featured tyre-smoking, roaring  cars,