Get to know East London better (4)

Now, here’s something we think few people know – including South Africans – East London has a race track packed with history! And this isn’t just any race track, it’s where Formula One action took place in the 1930s and early 1960s.

A public road leads to the race track

The race track is officially known as the Prince George Circuit. The South African Grand Prix was held here in 1934, and 1936 to 1939. It was then stopped due to World War II and resumed in 1960 – 1966.

Prince George Circuit (Credit: Wikipedia)

Good friends went to show us what the race track looks like. We were very surprised that you could drive your own car on the race track. We drove to the official starting point and then followed the original circuit of 3.920km (2.436 miles).

The humble start of the race track

Probably the smallest spectators’ pavilion at a (former) Formula One race track

This is South Africa’s oldest and perhaps most prestigious race track and remains SA’s fastest race track with its long flat out run down through the imposing Potters Pass and Rifle Range bends.

The start and finish straight

In the last Formula One race at East London in 1965, the racing driver from Scotland Jim Clark (Lotus-Climax team) started in pole position and also won the race. During this year, he was also crowned as world champion. Three years later, Clark was killed in a Formula Two accident at the Hockenheim race track in Germany when his car somersaulted into a wood at about 170mph.

Pole position at the East London race track

Exit of the pit lane

Entrance of the pit lane

It was interesting to read that another famous Scot, Sir Jackie Stewart, made his Grand Prix debut at this very same race track in 1965. He later won the world championship on 3 occasions (1969, 1971 and 1973).

Sir Jackie Stewart (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

We loved our time riding on the race track. Unfortunately, I didn’t give Berto the opportunity to step on the gas, because I stopped him a few times for photos.

It seems someone went off the track here earlier

Drivers probably don’t have time to enjoy the sea views on these fast straights

We’re going to end our history of East London race track on a more patriotic note. The South African racing driver, Jody Scheckter, was born here in East London in 1950. His Formula One debut took place during the US Grand Prix in 1972 – unfortunately a few years after the last Grand Prix was held in 1965 in East London. He won the Drivers’ Championship in 1979 with Ferrari. Scheckter remains to this day the only African driver to won the Formula One World Championship. We have no doubt that he raced here at East London race track many times before competing in Formula One.

Jody Scheckter during the 1979 Monaco Grand Prix (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

After hosting three rounds of the Formula One South African Grand Prix in the 1960s, the East London circuit was later deemed too small for Formula One cars, and the race then moved to Kyalami (just north of Johannesburg).

Although Formula One races are no longer held here, it still plays host to top SA National motorsport. Apparently, it’s fun to attend one of the events … maybe we’ll have to mark the next race day on the calendar to spend a day at this historic race track!

Lunch at Lavender Blue Market:

After our visit to East London Race Track it was time for lunch. We drove to our new favourite restaurant, Lavender Blue Market. It was another warm winter day and the perfect weather to sit under the trees and enjoy a cold drink and refreshing salad.

Mojito and Ginger Beer

Panko Chicken Bowl