Vintage cars go on stylish drive to raise funds for men's health

Date: 03 October 2024 By: Anton van Zyl

The past Sunday, 26 vintage cars and their stylishly dressed drivers and passengers took a drive through Polokwane as part of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive (DGD), an international initiative to support men’s health.

This was the first year the drive was held in Polokwane, organised by members of the Limpopo Classic Car Club (LCCC). Worldwide, 183 such drives were held on 29 September across 60 countries. In South Africa, drives took place in eight cities, with the flagship events in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Although this was the first year that LCCC members participated, the club did exceptionally well, and collected more than R56,000 for the Movember charity. The Polokwane Drive was ranked the 30th top drive in the world, based on funds raised, with only Johannesburg (almost R98,000) performing better in South Africa. Globally, more than 5,000 drivers registered for the event, and R7 million had already been raised.

The DGD was founded in 2021, and owners of vintage cars (40 years and older) are eligible to participate. Funds raised go towards the Movember charity and are invested in vital research and programmes for prostate cancer and men's mental health. Mental health has been highlighted as a serious problem affecting men, with a significantly higher suicide rate among men than women.

However, the DGD is more than just a fundraiser as it also embraces an element of bravery and style. The dress code is “dapper,” referring to stylish and elegant outfits, complementing the well-polished vintage cars.

The group that arrived on Sunday morning at the Pietersburg Club was dressed to the nines. LCCC members came from as far as Louis Trichardt, Mokopane, and Mookgophong. The two oldest cars were a 1933 Austin 7, driven by Dr Bruce Phillips, and a 1938 Studebaker pickup, driven by André van Dyk.

Of the original 31 vehicles that entered, only 26 made it to the starting line, with some refusing to start or suffering breakdowns. The route took the cars around Polokwane, including a quick dash through the central business district. This was much to the enjoyment of commuters, shop owners, and hundreds of people standing along the road watching the special vehicles. The soaring heat on Sunday, however, made life difficult, especially for the air-cooled vehicles.

The 1969 Volkswagen Type 3 Fastback, driven by Pier Tiersma, was the first to seek the comfort of a trailer after suffering from a burnt-out rotor. The 1960 Messerschmitt KR200, driven by Anton van Zyl, made it to the rendezvous at Hennie’s Place at the Thornhill shopping centre, but then decided it needed a bit of a rest. The poor little 200cc two-stroke engine did not take kindly to the boiling petrol.

To vintage car enthusiasts, these types of setbacks are part of the package and add to the appreciation of the vehicles. It also aligned well with the theme of the event: health. Men’s health, especially mental health, is not something that can be taken for granted, and when things go wrong, they need fixing.

The trip ended at the historic Pietersburg Club, where participants were treated to lunch. Gustaf Tiersma, who, along with his wife Yolanda, was the main organiser of the Polokwane event, was very excited about the success of the DGD. It is set to become an annual feature on the LCCC’s calendar, with next year’s drive already scheduled for Sunday, 28 September.

“It was an honour and a pleasure to host the Polokwane DGD 2024. We are thankful for all the donations and dapper dressed participants that made the day possible. What better way to promote the awareness of men’s health than through vintage and classic cars,” said Gustaf.

Yolanda added that it is just as important for women to support men’s health. “There are countless fundraising initiatives for women, but not many focusing on the problems men experience,” she said.

The award for the best-dressed dapper gentleman went to Barend Van Biljon, while the best-dressed lady was Elana Phillips. The Car of the Day was the 1933 Austin 7.

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Anton van Zyl

Anton van Zyl has been with the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror since 1990. He graduated from the Rand Afrikaans University (now University of Johannesburg) and obtained a BA Communications degree. He is a founder member of the Association of Independent Publishers.

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