2025 ProAuto Rubber Tour – 20 to 24 August 2025 in Hazyview
By Cindy Allan
Model T Ford Club of South Africa
When my husband Delvin first mentioned joining the Model T Ford Club of South Africa, on their Veteran tour to Hazyview this past August, I’ll admit I was more than a little apprehensive. We are both creatures of habit, and this was definitely stepping outside our comfort zone. Delvin is very passionate about his Ford collection – he has got some Model A’s, 2 Model T’s and various other vintage vehicles and treasures that he lovingly restores himself, but I’ve never been too involved in that side of things.
The tour was going to cover about 180 kilometers a day for three days in our 1911 Model T that Delvin had bought in October 2024. I discovered rather late in the game, Delvin hadn’t done much mileage in it himself as yet! And if you’ve never seen a 1911 Model T, picture this: it’s mostly open except for an upholstery rooftop that you can pull over and no doors; just you and the elements. So, when I learned that we would be driving through Kruger Park on day two, well, let’s just say visions of lions and other predators had me a bit on edge.
So off we went from KwaZulu Natal, trailing our Model T behind us. The journey up was an adventure in itself, with two days of travel on busy freeways. We made it to the most perfect little B&B, the Wayside Lodge, near White River, which felt like stepping back in time. There were numerous antiques around the property and even a little Paul Kruger Museum. The couple running the B&B were very welcoming and we had a lovely dinner and a cozy room for us to rest in.
Arriving in Hazyview at the Numbi Hotel before lunch, I was not sure what to expect. But any nervousness quickly melted away when I met the other participants. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, the two Philips and the rest of the organising team had done a brilliant job, and Rosita and Corné ensured I felt part of the family. By the evening, when all twenty odd vintage vehicles were parked together – all the beautiful Model T’s, as well as a few Model A’s and other vintage vehicles – it was just magical.
Above: Cars starting to arrive at the Numbi Hotel and getting scrutineering done.
The thoughtful touches started immediately. The sponsors, as well as various donations from some of the members made sure we were spoilt with awesome gift bags as well as beautiful picnic baskets with coffee mugs, wine, rusks and biscuits. The excitement began at the welcome talk when it was explained as to how the tour would work. We all got a detailed instruction booklet covering all three days, explaining exactly how many meters to travel before looking for specific landmarks to ensure you stayed on course – it was like a treasure hunt on wheels! I was to be the navigator responsible for keeping us on track rather than just following the car ahead. The time trials, to take place on day one and three, required our speedometer and odometer to be covered up for the duration of the event. At certain sections of the tour, you had to maintain an average speed between the “mystery start and end points”. Since Delvin’s instruments didn’t work anyway, we were really in the dark with regards to the speed of our Model T, and were advised to register for 45 kilometres per hour average, which was right for our T. Amazingly, we came third overall out of the 4 “time trials” over the 3 day event!
Day one took us through stunning Mpumalanga scenery to Pilgrim’s Rest, with stops at Mac Mac Pools for lunch and the quaint Casterbridge museum and shopping centre on our way home. The Ignition TV crew was following us for an upcoming episode, which added to the excitement. Things got interesting when an old carbide pipe from the 1911 lighting system wore a hole in our radiator as we headed down the hill into Pilgrim’s Rest. So, there I was, stranded on a hillside while Delvin hiked down to the river for water! Thankfully, I managed to get some signal and got through to Joy (another wonderful new friend, along with her partner Des), and shortly afterwards another vehicle stopped to help us too. This was a typical sight over the 3 days, with the Model T community spirit shining through. A temporary plug made of tissue got us to the garage where Pratley glue then provided a permanent fix that lasted the rest trip!
Above: Radiator repairs to the 1911 Model T Ford in Pilgrim’s Rest.
Above: A beautiful line-up of cars at the Mac-Mac Pools
Above: The vintage car exhibition at Casterbridge Museum.
Day two we headed into the Kruger Park. By then, I was completely relaxed, loving the wind in my hair, as I held onto my hat and our clipboard and directions! We entered through Numbi gate, stopping for coffee at Pretorius Kop, and had a lovely lunch near Skukuza, again provided by the Numbi Hotel and staff. We made a few stops at various sites and dams, and saw elephants, buck, and various other wildlife from our vintage perch – it was absolutely amazing and my wildlife fears proved completely unfounded. Our convoy of vehicles proved to be quite the sighting for many of the other Kruger Park visitors that day!
Above: Probably the highlight of the tour was the visit to the Kruger National Park.
Above: We experienced some wonderful wildlife sightings in the Kruger National Park.
Day three took us to Bateleur Estate in Nelspruit for a car show, where our little group joined various other vintage and classic car enthusiasts. Our return trip concluded another 180-kilometer adventure through beautiful countryside, with more time trials to navigate. That evening was prize giving, where everyone looked absolutely wonderful in their 1920s Gatsby dress-up finery. Delvin won “Best Brass Era Model T,” which was a fantastic surprise to cap off our unexpected third place in the time trials.
Above: On Day three we visited the Car Show at the Bateleur Estate.
The next morning, we said our goodbyes as everyone packed up their vehicles and started to head off home. Our adventure wasn’t quite over, we spent a further three lovely days at Hazyview Cabanas, and got to explore the Kruger Park again, as well as visit the impressive Sudwala Caves. The entire Hazyview area is just stunning and really had been the perfect setting for the Model T Veteran Tour!
Our journey home included the perfect final touch, a night at the Green Lantern in Van Reenens, a hotel that hasn’t changed since the early 1900s. They even have a resident donkey named Bo Jangles who wears a little hat and comes into the bar at night, taking apples bits from your mouth as he gives you a kiss! It really was the perfect ending to our vintage adventure.
The combination of the picturesque scenery, all the exquisite vintage vehicles, the meticulous navigation plans, the lovely accommodation and meals, and most importantly, the warmest, most welcoming group of people, made this tour so much more than we expected, and so memorable! Thank you to the organising team and all the participants who made two newcomers feel like family from day one. Adventures like this are what memories are made of!
Trophy awards:
1st Overall: Neville & Susan Koch
2nd Overall: Hennie & Corné Marx
3rd Overall: Delvin & Cindy Allan
Best Performance by a Brass Radiator Ford: Delvin & Cindy Allan
Best Performance by a Non-Brass Radiator Ford: Hennie & Corné Marx
Best Performance by a Model A Ford: Neville & Susan Koch
Best Performance by Another Marque: Desmond Lemon-Ward & Joy Herbert
Best Dressed Couple: Desmond Lemon-Ward & Joy Herbert
Most Meritorious Performance: Stef-Steyn Walters
Above: Wesley Coppard of ProAuto Rubber presenting the Best Dressed Couple award to Desmond Lemon-Ward and Joy Herbert
Above: The jubilant tour group at one of the view points in the Kruger National Park