Every mile a pleasure

 

September 26, 2008

Zululand OBSERVER

	Every mile a pleasure Oom Willie and Drieke Brits pose next to the world's largest crystal - 14 100kg* Earl Baillache Zululand Car Club members Oom Willie Brits and Dave Watkins, accompanied by their wives Drieke and Anette, have completed a 6 000km trip in their 1959 DKW Station Wagon and 1960 DKW car. The coast to coast adventure was the last part of the Four Ring Tour organised by the DKW Owners Club of South Africa. Leaving Empangeni, they travelled to Pretoria where they met up with nine other DKW before departing for Zeerust, through Botswana and onto Namibia, Gobabis, Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay before returning home. The adventure started off on a sour note though. Oom Willie's station wagon barely made it out his yard before the gear linkage coupler broke. Once on the road, a faulty plug forced them to stop about 31km out of Empangeni. After towing it to Kwambo, the station wagon's engine had to be stripped before proceeding to Pongola. Behind bars The DKWs received a huge welcome in Gobabis and they were given a traffic police escort to the old jail which is now a bar and restaurant. 'This was the first time we had a beer, coffee and snacks behind bars,' joked Oom Willie. In Windhoek, the DKWs joined the Old Wheelers Club of Namibia for a car show where a record number of 154 vehicles took part. The oldest on show was a 1934 Austin Chummy, while the oldest registered vehicle in Namibia is a 1925 Dodge. A 1936 Nash La Fayette, one of only two known to exist, was also a highlight. The Old Wheelers Club then organised a tour through Windhoek before the adventurers hit the road for Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. 'A must see for anyone visiting the area is the Crystal Gallery, boasting the largest crystal in the world - 14 100kg with the most beautiful and various colours I have ever seen,' said Oom Willie. On the way back to Windhoek the station wagon's windscreen was smashed by a stone thrown up by a passing car. Oom Willie had to complete the 156km trip before replacing it with one donated by the Old Wheeler Club. Unfortunately it was not a perfect fit so with a bit of tape, the trip back home was completed without further hassles. The DKWs averaged 65 miles per hour (103km/h) and 10.4 kilometres per litre of fuel.