Both Heritage Day and Tourism Month will be celebrated by a diverse group of car enthusiasts when the Southern Cape Old Car Club’s (SCOCC) Heritage Tour, supported by Recollection Rides, hits the road.

The tour party of 46 participants and 26 special automobiles, including a back-up vehicle in case of emergency, sets off from Halfway Toyota in George at 08h00 on September 23.

“We ensure that all the cars are roadworthy before departure,” explains Heritage Tour organiser, Pierre Olivier of the SCOCC. “Drivers are not required to stay in convoy, so are free to detour when it pleases them,” he adds.

Whereas previous years’ tourers traversed the Karoo with an overnight stop in Graaff-Reinet, this year’s participants will head southwest before leaving the beaten N2 track.

The first stop after departing from George will be Delish in Heidelberg before cruising along to Swellendam. The fleet will then turn towards the coast and spend the night in the quaint village of Arniston.

Heritage Day on September 24 will be celebrated while passing through Baardskeerdersbos, Gansbaai, Caledon, Franschhoek and Villiersdorp, with Worcester as the day’s final destination.

The Franschhoek experience will include a visit to the hamlet’s automobile museum, with its collection of antique and vintage cars and motorcycles.

On September 25, the Heritage Tour will depart from Worcester for Montagu, Barrydale, and Calitzdorp before ending the day in Oudtshoorn with a gala evening and prize giving. The fleet will end off in George via De Rust and Uniondale the next day.