Back in 1957 a very brave youngster borrowed the Peugeot 404 family sedan to contest his very first hillclimb on a road known as Bloublommetjieskloof, near Wellington, and the bug bit as said driver would return in 1958 to win his class behind the wheel of his own Renault Dauphine. He also ventured into track racing by participating in a Dauphine vs Beetle race at the Killarney Racetrack, finishing second behind the modified Dauphine of one Brian Peek (legendary Killarney Racing Commentator).
In 1959 Stellenbosch Hillclimb appeared on the horizon and Hennie Mostert claimed a class win in his Renault Dauphine on debut. The Renault Dauphine became a Renault Dauphine Gordini in 1960 and another class win followed on the Stellenbosch Hillclimb before a move into proper track racing peaked with a class O victory in the 1963 Kyalami 9 Hour with the Renault Dauphine and 2nd on Index of performance, 1st in class during the 1963 Killarney 2 Hour in a Renault R8.
Leading their class during the 1964 Kyalami 9 Hour mechanical maladies forced their retirement and then in 1966 Hennie Mostert unfortunately rolled the Renault R8 in Malmesbury Sweep when a rear tyre burst during the Killarney 3 Hour.
Many interesting diversions included four outright victories and all lap records on the Oudtshoorn Racetrack (I certainly did not know such a track ever existed) and winning seven heats with fastest lap in each in Port Elizabeth (an airfield circuit before the Aldo Scribante track was built).
As a member of the Paarl Motor Club Hennie Mostert was club champion from 1958 winning gymkhana, rallies and even held the outright lap record at the old Paarl Oval Track. His speciality was however the Paarl Hillclimb. An event he totally dominated from 1967 till 1973 when the event unfortunately became a victim of the International Fuel Crisis. Hennie Mostert winning his class with an 1100cc engine in the Renault Gordini in 1967 and then taking overall victory and the track record from 1968 till 1973.
Sadly only sections of this road remains visible but it was a well supported event that enjoyed widespread coverage.
Hennie Mostert still owns the very first Renault R8 Gordini 1.3 that reached South African shores in 1967. The car still carries it’s original registration plates, has never been rebuilt and led the Renault parade on circuit (26 March 2019).
Hennie Mostert closed his long motorsport career as driver of the 0 Car during the International Total Tara Rally Namibia in 2013 / 2014.
Thank you to Hennie Mostert – your contribution to South African motorsport will not be forgotten!
Son, Berto, became the 2013 Namibian National Rally Navigators Champion in 2013 with Walvis Bay based Allan Martin in the J&P Hydraulics S2000 VW Polo 4×4 2.0 formerly campaigned by double South African Rally Drivers Champion Hergen Fekken.
Condolences to
Wife: Reinette Mostert neé Kellerman
Daughter: Elzaan Mostert
Son: Jacques Mostert
Daughter in Law: Rika Mostert
Grand Children: Sunell Mostert and Henko Mostert
Son: Berto Mostert
Daughter in Law: Lize
Children: Elizabeth, Zia and Isabel Mostert
Patrick Vermaak