Mike
Fourie (Editor, CARtoday.com)
About me: Started my career in print media, but subsequently
diversified into online and mobile automotive publishing.
I developed a love for motoring by playing with Matchbox
cars, draadkarre (my favourite was fashioned on the
seminal E28 BMW M5), snipping up automotive publications,
jolling PC racing games, and fiddling with the buttons in
my grandpa’s Mercedes 200 – which later became
my varsity car! I’ve owned a few classics – the
freakish BMW M Coupé, timeless (pre-facelift) Alfa
Romeo 156, and I hope to park a ’Benz SL or Ferrari
F355 next to my beloved 159 one day. First car: Smokey
and rusty Isuzu KB220 diesel.
Dream 5
Porsche 959 – The first high-tech
supercar, years ahead of its time.
Alfa Romeo 156 – Walter d’Silva’s
masterpiece is a timeless beauty.
Mercedes-Benz sL (W107) –
“Bobby Ewing’s car” stayed in production
for 17 years.
BMW 850 CSI – Despite its
shortcomings, gave the E92 its beautiful shape.
Citroën Xsara WRC– Allowed
Sébastien Loeb to eclipse Carlos Sainz’s record
of 26 WRC victories in only his fourth full season.
Gareth
Dean (Associate editor, CARtoday.com)
Regardless of the diverse background of work and interests
I’ve had, the one subject that never fails to gain
my undivided attention is that of cars. My journey with
CAR started as a six-month internship for the online publication
that has now become a permanent placement that makes a green-eyed
monster out of everyone who asks what I do for a living!
Being able to experience, and write passionately about,
the latest automotive metal has gone from a daydream to
a fantastic reality. First car: A well-used Renault
5 Campus that I inherited from my older sister. That poor
white car had so many dents in it that my friends used to
call it the golf ball .
Dream 5
Citroën DS - The epitome
of Gallic cool.
TVR Sagaris - Any car named after
a medieval fighting axe deserves some respect.
Mazda MX-5 - The hairdresser connotations
just won’t wash any more, the current model is a
fantastic no-frills sportscar.
Land Rover Defender - Anti-styling
at its best. The benchmark to which true off-roaders aspire.
W210 Mercedes E280 Avantgarde - The looks may divide opinion, but this was Mercedes
styling beyond the box
John
Bentley (Editor, CAR)
My first car was the family Peugeot 403, which I had on
“permanent loan” from my father for my final year
at varsity in Durban, and my first few working years in
Pretoria and Johannesburg. Although it accelerated fairly
sluggishly, even by the standards of the time, it was a
magnificent cruiser, running all day with the quadrant speedo’s
needle pegged at the 95 mph mark. Those were the days .
. . The Peugeot inspired a love of French cars (and gallic
culture), resulting in my buying a string of Peugeots and
Citroëns in later life. But then I discovered Porsche
. . . I still yearn for my 356C, and rue the day I sold
it, way back in 1989.
Dream 5
Porsche 356 – Like most cars
from this Stuttgart manufacturer, it set the sportscar
standard for its time. And it’s still an inspiring
drive.
Citroën 2CV – Another
standard-setter. And if you want to have fun at modest
speeds, nothing can better the Deux Chevaux.
Porsche 911 - The greatest roadgoing
sportscar ever made. I especially like the S versions
of the late-’60s and early-’70s.
Citroën DS - Like the 2CV,
the deésse (goddess) was a brilliantly innovative
addition to the world of cars. Sadly, they don’t
make ’em like that any more.
Alpine Renault A110 – I’ve
driven several Alpines, but sadly not an A110. To me,
it’s the purest of the cars from Jean Redélé’s
company, which was later absorbed by Renault.
Hannes
Oosthuizen (Deputy editor, CAR)
Although I’ve been obsessed with cars since birth,
my destiny only became clear when I was finally tall enough
to see CAR magazine on our local Spar’s bookshelf.
Since then, and ignoring the heartbreaking realisation that
I could never be a car designer – never mind a ten
minute-long flirtation with the thought of becoming a dentist
instead (when I saw what journalists earned) – I’ve
only always wanted to work for CAR. But my world wasn’t
always filled with exotic cars . . . First car: I
started out with a lime-green, rear-wheel drive Mazda 323
that previously belonged to my granny’s sister. We
called it the Green Monster.
Dream 5
Ferrari 250 GT Lusso – the
automotive equivalent of Monica Bellucci.
Lancia Stratos (in Alitalia rally
trim) – so rare, and so beautiful.
Yamaha OX99-11 – because
nobody else has one.
Citroën DS Decapotable –
for my arty-farty moods.
Subaru Forester – in my opinion,
there’s no better car for the
real world than this.
Mike
Monk (Senior associate editor, CAR) Born and raised in Coventry – then the heart of
the British motor industry – and having a “driving”
grandfather who used to chauffeur royalty, I was attracted
to cars from a very early age. Forever an enthusiast, it
was not until I emigrated to SA and chanced an application
(successfully) to Technicar in 1972 that my passion
became a career. Later moved into the industry as a product
development engineer with Leyland then Ford, before becoming
an auto trim supplier. (I’ve experienced the industry
from many angles!) Moved back to CAR in 1994, and although
now an “old hand”, the passion has not diminished. First car: A late-’50s Wolseley 4/44 that cost
£25, was hand-painted matt military green, but the
illuminated grille badge worked! And I rallied it . . .
Dream 5
’60s Alfa Romeo Giulietta sprint – From many Alfas my heart desires, this is a sensible,
practical compromise. Still looks great today.
’60s Ford Mustang – I
would happily live with a Boss 302, GT350 or GT500. Mind
you, the new Mustang is appealing, too . . .
’59 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
Convertible – The ultimate chrome and fins machine.
Automotive excess par excellence.
Audi RS4 – Pipped a Porsche
911 by virtue of being a bit more family friendly. An
awesome road machine in its own right.
Toyota Condor – Versatile
workhorse – and something with which to fetch the
bits when the oldies break down . . .
Jake
Venter (Technical editor, CAR)
I started life with an interest in all forms of transport,
but picked motorcars for special attention. I spent many
years as a mechanic or technician, but finally realised
that it’s more fun to write about these wonderful objects
than to fix them. I’m also turned on by scientific
discoveries, classical music and clever mathematics. At
home, I spend a lot of time playing with cats or dogs, because
I don’t believe they’re inferior to us, just different. First car: ’37 Ford V8 saloon, which I only
kept for a few months because of horrendous fuel consumption
and its constant need for attention.
Dream 5
Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI– A
modern car that embodies the latest diesel technology,
yet it is elegant and fast enough to feel no shame when
parked next to any exotic car.
Mercedes-Benz 540K – The
Erdmann & Rossi two-seater that was shown at the 1938
Berlin motor show is truly Wagnerian in looks and proportion.
Bentley Supercharged 4,5-litre – The open Le Mans body fitted to many of these cars
represents the ideal way to expose four people to the
thrill of a big and very brutal four-cylinder engine.
Citroën Light 15 – This
model was 20 years ahead of its time. It pioneered unit-construction,
wet sleeves, torsion bars, and front-wheel drive.
Chain-drive Frazer-Nash –
A very basic sportscar. It could
only be cornered by breaking traction at the rear wheels…
Ian
McLaren (Photojournalist, CAR)
What can be better then getting to photograph all the latest
cars on the market? Shooting and writing about them probably
has to be one of the best jobs in the world. Having studied
advertising, and specialised in photography, I was lucky
enough to land the job as assistant photographer at CAR
magazine eight years ago. I progressed into the full photographer
gig a short while later, and for the past four years, under
the guidance of some of the best motoring writers in the
business – as well as Spell Check – I have been
able to change that title to photojournalist. The best driving
experience that I’ve had to date was on the international
launch of the current Porsche GT3. First car: 1982
Mazda 323 (fwd). Delivered so many pizzas in this reliable
little car that there was a permanent pizza smell present,
which proved strong enough to lure the thieves who stole
the car two weeks after I began working at CAR!
Dream 5
McLaren F1 – Who needs personalised
plates when the car has my name on it already?
. Porsche GT3 – The best everyday
sportscar in the world – with a bit of attitude!
Audi RS4 – Huge presence
thanks to aggressive styling and a fantastic soundtrack,
in a practical package.
The Batmobile – “It’s
the car, isn’t it? Chicks dig the car . . .”
VW Golf GTi – Through good
and average years, the GTI badge has always set the bar
for others to try and beat.
Peter
Palm (road test engineer, CAR)
Having been keen on cars since age 11, I figured that after
school I should do something that was car related, so I studied
mechanical engineering. It was a long route working first
with trains, then weapon systems before arriving at CAR magazine. First car: A 1959 Morris Minor, with two doors, red
upholstery to brighten up the grey bodywork, and a shot crankshaft.
A new crankshaft cost R75, the same price as I paid for the
car, so I left it as is. I even fitted a valve radio taken
out of my dad’s 1953 Ford Mercury Monterey V8.
Dream 5
Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super – Once owned
one, and it remains my favourite to this day, having everything
I dreamt of considering my financial limitations.
2. VW MicroBus 2000 – Actually own one. This
vehicle is supremely versatile, easily converted to a camper,
able to seat 10 people with luggage, and has walk-through
capability.
Ferrari – any Ferrari. Why? Because they
are all beautiful. I’ve never driven one, but the dream
remains intact.
Jaguar XJ6 – I think the shape is exquisite,
so much so that they could never improve on it.
’68 Pontiac Firebird. As a teenager, an uncle
occasionally took me for a spin in one of these. I have
fancied one ever since.
Sudhir
Matai (Associate editor, CAR)
Not even a failed attempt at mechanical engineering was going
to keep me away from the world of motoring. Spanner twirling
for various race teams, and constant pestering of those with
more knowledge than myself, helped to build a technical understanding
of my most favoured subject. As the newest member of the editorial
team, I’ve had the least input into the mag’s history,
though extreme passion for all things motoring and with a
high flow of unleaded (we do care for the environment after
all) race fuel in my veins, I plan to make a significant contribution
in the years to come. First car: A 1 600 cm3 VW Golf
I, a hand-me-down with a dodgy electrical system and a penchant
for understeer – and I loved every moment of it.
Dream 5
Ferrari F40 – The first production car to
break 200 mph, and supposedly a terrifying monster to drive.
I still have a poster of it at my parent’s house .
. .
McLaren F1 – Single-minded in purpose and
design, and advanced beyond its years. A business failure,
but who cares? At least they built it . . .
VW Golf GTi – Giant-killing performance,
and the progenitor to a breed that has been copied across
the planet. A legend in its own lifetime.
BMW M3 – Usable everyday practicality with
supercarrivalling
performance. Every petrolhead should own an M3 once.
Mercedes-Benz 300sL Gullwing - Quite possibly
the most beautiful car ever made.
Ian
Dinan (RS&P newsstand marketing manager) My background has had very little to do with cars. I've
been a retailer and customer service man, so when you compare
my background with those of other CARtoday.com bloggers, I
guess I look and feel the odd-man out. My first memories of
cars was my gran's Ford Anglia - I used to fall asleep with
her keys in my hand - and following that, my mom's 1964 Volvo
station wagon, which I would place in the same category as
the modern day MPV - it carried kids, friends and clutter
everywhere. We loved that car!
Working alongside the passionate editorial CAR team is always
inspirational. I've loved the mission to be the best continuously
and retain the magazine's credibility and independence. It
is this type of passion that motivates us as a marketing team
to ensure that the magazine is in the right place to sell
each month. First car: A Ford Escort 1.6GL. Bought
it third-hand for R1300. I still miss the gearbox of that
car - it was the second one, and had been resurrected from
a scrapyard outside Pretoria.
Dream 5
Volvo 1964 station wagon- I would’ve loved
to own that car. The clutch looked and felt like a clutch
from an army Bedford.
Alfa Romeo Guilietta - a mate had one in Matric,
and I always wanted to get my hands on it.
Alfa Spider - the older shape
Porsche Carerra - I saw one today, red, personalized
number plate - beautiful
Ray
Leathern (freelance writer, journalist)
I guess the maroon, Z28 Chevy Camaro I used to powerslide around
my dinner plate, every night as a child was probably to blame.
That and David Hasselhoff maybe… Goodness knows it wasn't
the first car I had the misfortune of paying money for that
made me fall in love with motoring. A white, 1964 Beetle that
I had to leave, one night on the side of the road in Mowbray,
so it could meet its maker (Ferdinand Porsche presumably, though
with this one I'm not so sure). Whatever the source of this
love for cars, it's a guilty pleasure that never fails to distract
from my 'proper job' as a contributing writer and journalist
for a variety of print and online media groups. First car: An air-cooled, lounge chair with the steering wheel from a Putco
bus.
Dream 5
Nissan Skyline GT-R - As cult cars go the new Skyline
is like a Pulp Fiction and Scarface double bill.
Lamborghini Muira - I mean, just look at the thing.
Undoubtedly, the motoring equivalent of the 'Garden of Eden'.
Mazda 787B - When you think Le Mans you think
Ford GT40 right? I like to think - 1991 and the only rotary
and only Japanese manufacturer ever to win Le Mans. You
know you're on the money when you get banned for being too
fast.
'66, Alfa Romeo 'Duetto' Spider - The last car
ever penned by Batista 'Pinin' Farina. Two million Lire
never looked so good.
Porsche 911 GT3 - The 911 is to driving what Mount
Everest is to mountains… the pinnacle.
Gautengjimmy
Gautengjimmy aka. James van der Westhuizen was born in Pretoria
in 1969 and learnt to read from CAR Magazine - he could say
"Datsun SSS" before he could say "daddy".
Growing up on bicycles and dreams of one day owning a set of
real wheels, that day came with a sadly unreliable Fiat 128.
Since then he's been spending large chunks of his disposable
income on various cars and bikes, finally coming to rest with
a diesel Pajero. He lives half the time in Jo'burg, the other
in Dullstroom, and, like so many other South Africans, he often
wonders why the experience of buying and running a car is not
a more pleasurable experience.
Kelly
Lodewyks I've always had a passion for writing, and started my
journalism studies at CPUT in 2006. I fell into motoring journalism
when a bursary from RS&P got me placed at CAR Magazine
and CARtoday.com for my year-long internship. I got hooked.
I even started driving better because I fully appreciated
what sits under the bonnet. I was able to teach a few showoffs
a thing or two with my new-found knowledge and appreciation
of cars. My first car - a sexy bright red Honda CRX that got
me first to the finish line in many sprint and circuit races.
on Juiced.
Dream 5
Audi R8 - that engine sound from the back is absolutely
amazing.
Audi A3 2,0 TFSI - The next best thing to the (now)
ubiquitous VW Golf V GTI.
Honda CRX - it's racing roots make it so very appealing.
Alfa Romeo Spider (from 1966 to 1993) - it looked
good with Dustin Hoffman behind the wheel of it in the Graduate.
Plus, it's a classic.
Toyota Land Cruiser - It was the first 4x4 I took
off-road and it never let me down.
Kyle
Kock It all started when I bought my first CAR Magazine in
what was then known as Standard 4 (Grade 6). As a child of
the PlayStation generation, my obsession with Gran Turismo
and Need for Speed, gave the spark. Designing bodykits when
I should have been paying attention in math in Standard 7
- provided the air. Sneaking out with my father's mint Mercedes
W123 to go on a late-night cruise, when I was in Standard
9, was tantamount to opening the throttle all the way. Below
are the models that constantly fuel the fire in my life that
is all things automotive - we can all dream, can't we? First
car: VW Scirocco GTi. I'm still driving this rare little gem
(in fact I still owe my father for it).
Dream 5
Nissan Skyline GT-R - as supercar slayers go, "Godzilla"
is by far the Godfather.
Porsche 550 Spyder - the car in which American superstar
James Dean died.
BMW M3 - Perhaps it's the pedigree of its motorsport success,
maybe the "bang for buck" value, but all I know
is - it is an M3, and I want one.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air - Fell in love with it the minute
I saw it on an auto shop calendar and was lucky enough to
have a ride in one on the night of my Matric dance.
Lamborghini Diablo GT - The devil that truly succeeded
the SV, the Diablo GT makes all cars tremble. It's also
the reason I have a strange attraction to all things carbon-fibre
Juliet
McGuire When I tell a person I want to be a motor journalist, his
or her response is always the same, "What on earth do you
know about cars?" Well actually, not much, yet! But I'm
learning! That is why I am here on an internship at CAR Magazine.
I've always loved cars and I can appreciate their aesthetic
qualities, but it's the technical side that I need to learn
about.
I recently completed my honours degree in journalism at
the University of Stellenbosch and chose to do my thesis on
female motor journalists in South Africa. Before that I did
a BA Humanities degree and majored in English and Psychology.
And before all of that I studied film and television at City
Varsity. So I am pretty much a professional student! But now
it is time to take on the business world and hopefully become
one of the most successful and talented female motor journalists
that this industry has ever seen. Hopefully CAR will keep
me on and offer me a permanent position, otherwise that dream
will become pretty pointless! My first car: VW Golf I 1600.
Dream 5
Porsche Carrera GT - Understated and underestimated.
Mike
Fourie (Editor, CARtoday.com)
John
Bentley (Editor, CAR)
Hannes
Oosthuizen (Deputy editor, CAR)
Mike
Monk (Senior associate editor, CAR)
Jake
Venter (Technical editor, CAR)
Ian
McLaren (Photojournalist, CAR)
Peter
Palm (road test engineer, CAR)
Sudhir
Matai (Associate editor, CAR)
Ian
Dinan (RS&P newsstand marketing manager)
Ray
Leathern (freelance writer, journalist)
Gautengjimmy
Kelly
Lodewyks
Kyle
Kock
Juliet
McGuire
