A Silver Ghost spends a night in Klaarstroom

-Jeremy Witts-Hewinson -

Her name is Lady Moonpenny and her “master” arrived in Klaarstroom exclaiming, “Heavens! Where can one get a Gin and Tonic?” The “Moon” in her name derives from the fact the she shines…she really does. The “penny” part is because she cost a pretty penny and offers exceeding R 1 500 000 to own her have been politely declined! Mystified? It’s all very simple. Lady Moonpenny is a 1920’s Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.

Her owner Stewart Halsall and his wife drove her ALL the way from Cape Town (that’s where the Gin and Tonic part fits in!) to Klaarstroom earlier in February to spend the night with over twenty other vintage and classic cars together with their devoted owners. The majority of the cars were Model T Fords – and yes - they mostly came in any colour as long as you wanted black!

That evening over 60 vintage car enthusiasts from all over the country and overseas gathered for a braai at Klaarstroom Guest House. Everything in Klaarstroom and its immediate vicinity that vaguely resembled a sleeping place was occupied that night. Had unsuspecting visitors wandered into the village and not seen the few modern cars and trailers on which a few of the more fragile models were transported, they could have been forgiven for thinking they’d walked into an Edwardian time warp!
The following morning more classic cars arrived, led by Brian Zechlin from Beaufort West, to assemble in the now very crowded village. Together they set off in an impressive cavalcade en route to George via the Robertson’s Pass. There they joined over 700 more classic and vintage cars of every marque or description – even vintage tractors – at the annual Southern Cape Old Car Club Classic Car Show. The organiser of this grand procession, Philip Kuschke, was pleased to report that all arrived safely.

Philip explained that the centenary commemorating the production of the first Model T Ford will be celebrated in 2008 and that the Southern Cape Old Car Club has been asked to co-ordinate the official South African centenary celebration.

The proliferation of Model Ts in Klaar-stroom is only a foretaste of the invasion we can expect into the district in September next year. Philip feels that any vintage car tour around the Southern Cape would be incomplete without a drive through Meiringspoort. Tea in Klaarstroom on that day has been booked. For that occasion they can expect nothing less than a Model Tea!

And what of Lady Moonpenny? Should you chance along the main street of Klaarstroom on a moonlit night you may just feel compelled to glance back and see a gracious lady, dressed all in white, standing regally awaiting her companions in the Guest House precincts.