By Prashirwin Naidu
The Festival of Motoring (FOM) is a massive event for car enthusiasts and every petrol head’s dream! It can be a fun family outing or even a casual date – just don’t wear heels because there’s a lot of walking involved. This annual event, held at Kyalami racetrack on the last weekend of August, has become South Africa’s premier auto festival. The event is jam-packed with activities, from testing the latest everyday cars to taking spins in supercars and high- performance rides. There’s something to excite everyone.
Wide variety of brands
Automotive brands put on a great show at this year’s event. Brands that showcased
included Abarth, Alfa Romeo, BAIC, Chery, Citroen, Fiat, Haval, Isuzu, Jeep,
Omoda, Opel, Porsche, Peugeot, Shelby, Subaru, Suzuki and Volkswagen. It was good to see VW back in Kyalami after last year’s hiatus.
So, what does one expect at FOM? Food, drifting, family activities, games for the
little ones, and sightseeing. It’s the best event to be enjoyed with company, going
solo can be tiresome. There is something for every personality. For example, I’m
happy with food, coffee and a chance to silently stare at beautiful cars. I had a
special moment with the new Hybrid Porsche 911 Carrera S – no words were
exchanged, but my heart purred with delight.
I attended all three days, and each had something different. On Friday, HaveYourSay
and Autotrader organised a Hot Lap around the track, and they gave me the VIP
experience. Despite the long queues, I was excited and immediately suited up and
made my way to the track. Vrrrpah!
Last year I had the misfortune of spending three long hours in the hot lap queue,
waiting for a 2-minute ride around the track. After all that wait, I didn’t have a choice of the car I rode in. Whatever car came first, I had to go for a spin – it could have been a Ferrari, Suzuki Swift Sport or Toyota GR Yaris. When my turn eventually
came, I went in the pocket-rocket Toyota GR Yaris, which was intensely fun.
Highlights
There was much more to do this year and the festival was well-run. The wait was
only five minutes. I got into a striking red Ferrari F430 for my lap. This fierce and
mean-looking machine was spectacular around the track. I felt the G-force as the
driver pushed the vehicle to its limits, screeching for traction. It moved and clipped
the corners with elegance.
On day two, I was a guest at the Isuzu stand. The heat was torture, but I was at
peace pondering over coffee. The off-road 4×4 side is one to check out; every brand
was there waving their flags, enticing the public to have a go. As an attendee, you can attend the 4×4 course with designated drivers to take you along for some minor
bundu-bashing, which is a treat— not a great idea after lunch.
The heat was intense and the walking around was a bit draining. But there were nice
surprises. I got a sneak preview of the new VW Tiguan, Touareg and T-Cross and
the new VW ID Buzz, which I quite fancy.
On the last day, I took my good friend Kagiso Mangolele. We wandered around,
talked, and laughed a lot while enjoying our delicious meals from the Mexican stand I had a vegan bean wrap while he tucked into a juicy beef burger.
While recovering from the xploring, I spotted an industry legend and overall Mr Nice Guy – uncle Athol. Uncle Athol is a well-known and liked figure in the media test fleet having been part of the Volkswagen/Audi group for decades. He’s a gentleman and meeting him always feel like a blessing. I love him.
While the 2024 Festival of Motoring was much smoother, it would not hurt to add
more flavour and variety going forward, and avoid it feeling like a cookie-cutter. As I
relish on the memories, I wonder what FOM 2025 has in store for us. Flying cars
maybe?
