Five epic South African drives

It was the glorious rasp of his dad’s 1973 Alfa Romeo Giulia that first turned a young Steve Smith onto all things automotive. The editor is currently at the helm of Car, South Africa’s biggest motoring magazine and website. Here, he shares his most thrilling drives on his home turf.

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Meiringspoort Pass between Oudtshoorn and Beaufort West

Following a deep, narrow gorge through the Swartberg mountains, this pass joins the Groot and Klein Karoo regions and the towns of Beaufort West and Oudtshoorn. Car magazine’s annual Performance Shootout road trip came through here a couple of years ago and I had a blast in the nimble Alfa Romeo, dancing through tight corners with the sound of the turbocharged engine bouncing off the sandstone cliff walls.

Car of choice: Alfa Romeo 4C

Photo: Steve Smith

Pakhuis Pass between Clanwilliam and Calvinia

We were overnighting in Clanwilliam on the Western Cape on another Shootout and took some of the cars for a sunset run out of town. A local suggested we try this recently tarred pass, originally built by the legendary Thomas Bain. From the Clanwilliam side it ascends with fast, flowing bends before heading down towards Calvinia in a series of tight hairpins.

Car of choice: McLaren 570S

Photo: Getty Images

Clarence Drive between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi-els

The parking lot above Gordon’s Bay harbour, south of Cape Town, is often a meeting point for our team, before a blast through to Rooi-els along this beautifully cambered, cliff-hugging ribbon of asphalt. It follows the curve of the False Bay coastline along the Hottentots Holland mountain range, with 77 bends and one gloriously long straight.

Car of choice: Ferrari California T

Photo: Steve Smith

Route 62 (any of it)

This is the less travelled but infinitely more rewarding way to get from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth with Bain’s Kloof, Mitchell’s, Gydo, Tradouw and Swartberg just a few of the spectacular passes. Being an enthusiastic cyclist, I’ve traversed this route many times to reach races.

Car of choice: Volvo V60 Cross Country

Photo: Shutterstock

N12 between Kimberley and Beaufort West

To celebrate Car magazine’s 60th birthday, we bought a 1956 DKW 3=6 (which appeared in the first issue) and drove it 1,700km from Mokopane in the north, down to Cape Town. I loved the stretch between Kimberley and Beaufort West with its flat, golden landscapes, rocky outcrops and big blue skies. The little ‘Deek’ (as it’s affectionately known by owners), never missed a beat.

Car of choice: 1956 DKW 3=6

Photo: Getty Images

Steve Smith

Five epic South African drives

Meiringspoort Pass between Oudtshoorn and Beaufort West

Pakhuis Pass between Clanwilliam and Calvinia

Clarence Drive between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi-els

Route 62 (any of it)

N12 between Kimberley and Beaufort West

Meiringspoort Pass between Oudtshoorn and Beaufort West

Pakhuis Pass between Clanwilliam and Calvinia

Clarence Drive between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi-els

Route 62 (any of it)

N12 between Kimberley and Beaufort West

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