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Franschoek pass

Peter Palm By:
Friday, March 2nd, 2012 03:24 pm GMT +2

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When we were shooting the three way comparitive test between the BMW M5, Merecedes-Benz E63 AMG and the Jaguar XFR, we were nearly taken out by an articulated truck that couldn’t get around the hairpin bend without taking up the entire road. He was going up, we were coming down. Luckily we not travelling fast and stopped in time. But then we had to start backing up and again, and some more. this took a few minutes. Luckily our coleagues warning other motorists that there was a problem and no-one ran into the back car, the Jag. this was fortunate as the corner is blind. What this all means is that it is extremely dangerous for trucks over about 10 m in length to use this pass at all. but they can – and do – all day-every day.

Today the pass is blocked – for over a full day. Why? Because a truck has overturned on the pass. I don’t know where but what I do know is that we need to do something about regulating what trucks get up to! And don’t get me started on the lack of rear mudguards and mudflaps – or the 80 km/h or 100 km/h speed limit signs on their backs that are never, ever adhered to.


PLEASE NOTE: The opinion expressed in this article is the author's own and publication does not mean it is endorsed by the CAR magazine editorial staff or RamsayMedia, publishers of CAR magazine.
  • Andreas Bothe

    And the absence of covers when transporting sand !!!!!!

  • JS

    The “Sportscar Pass”. While a student at Stellenbosch University in the late 60’s a few of my good mates stayed on farms at the top of the pass and on the Franchoek side and had to drive in and out to classes and Stellenbosch town on this pass before the upgrade. It was treacherous especially at night and I lost a number of mates who were killed misjudging the corners. With the upgrade it has become even more difficult because of the good surface, widened road and marginally better cambered corners that lull one in to a false sense of security and higher speeds. There have been some huge wipeouts – loss of lives and expensive machinery – also bikers and their bikes on this pass over the recent years. It is still not ideal and needs to be negotiated very carefully. It will make for a great Hillclimb venue though.

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