Syd van der Vyver alfa

1962 Westmead ‘120’ – the first win for an LDS. Serrurier leads van der Vyver’s Lotus 21 Climax. (Photo: Tony de Wijn).

Story by Robert Young

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The 1962 South African Grand Prix season would also be see successful Alfa powered racecars. Ernest Pieterse, a proprietor of an Alfa Romeo dealership engaged Peter de Klerk to assist with the fitting of Alfa power to his championship winning Heron.

The South Africans were adept at building ‘specials’ and Doug Serrurier of LDS fame, a close friend of van der Vyver and de Klerk, used Alfa power in his early constructions. “Pure racing parts were hard and expensive to come by and I remember that to make larger valves Doug modified Model T Ford valves in his engine,” recalled Lew Baker.

Bruce Johnstone inspects the motor. (Photo: Tony de Wijn)

Story by Robert Young

In the late 1950s, after years of austerity following WW2, as motor racing became more ‘professional’ in South Africa and factory-built racing chassis began to take their place on the grids and displace the ingenious ‘specials,’ the drivers sought the cheapest and most efficient engine power.

The 1½-liter South African Formula One Championship from 1960 to 1965 up to the adoption of the 3-liter formula was notable for the use of Alfa Romeo power for many of the contenders. Contrary to popular opinion these engines were not imported racing motors but were self-modified by the resourceful locals.