The Speed Classic Cape Town is a thrilling two-day motorsport festival bringing historic hill climb racing back to life on Philip Kgosana Drive. Vintage cars and modern racers roar side by side beneath the stunning backdrop of Table Mountain, blending Cape Town’s rich past with fast-paced excitement. More than just a race, it’s a lively celebration where the community comes together to honor craftsmanship, speed, and culture. This event turns the city’s famous road into a vibrant stage of history, horsepower, and heart.
The Speed Classic Cape Town is a two-day motorsport festival held on Philip Kgosana Drive, celebrating historic hill climb racing. It features vintage car displays, modern racing competitions, and community festivities, blending Cape Town’s rich automotive heritage with contemporary speed and culture.
Motorsport has always existed at the crossroads of artistry and adrenaline, and this October, Cape Town will once again echo with the symphony of revving engines. The Speed Classic Cape Town rolls into the city on October 25th and 26th, 2025, transforming the legendary Philip Kgosana Drive into the epicenter of celebration, competition, and community. Nestled beneath the watchful gaze of Table Mountain, this event promises a unique blend of performance, nostalgia, and the city’s vibrant cultural tapestry.
Over two action-packed days, both locals and visitors will immerse themselves in a spectacle that resurrects hill climb racing after a long dormancy. The iconic Philip Kgosana Drive, more than just a stretch of tarmac, boasts a history intertwined with South Africa’s fight for justice—its curves and ascents once echoed with the footsteps of protestors led by anti-apartheid hero Philip Kgosana. Today, these 2.1 kilometers, rising 150 meters from start to finish, represent both a technical challenge and a living monument to Cape Town’s indomitable spirit.
Organizers aim to create more than just a race; they build a bridge between the past and present. Co-founder Garth Mackintosh captures this sentiment, envisioning the event as a tribute to both legacy and innovation. It’s an opportunity to honor craftsmanship, celebrate progress, and invite the community to witness the enduring magic of motorsport.
Cape Town’s connection to automotive adventure dates back to the early 20th century. In 1912, crowds gathered along daring routes like Camps Bay Drive, Signal Hill Road, and Kloof Road. Early hill climbs transformed the city’s byways into theaters of daring and ingenuity. Drivers, often shielded by nothing more than goggles and scarves, coaxed fragile-looking machines—marked by exposed engines and spindly wheels—up daunting inclines, turning each race into a ballet of courage and ambition.
These first competitions unfolded during what many consider the golden age of motoring. The era pulsed with the ideals of Futurism—a movement infatuated with speed, innovation, and the mechanical marvels that defined modernity. Cape Town’s adaptation of these trends blended colonial grandeur with local pride, creating events that were as much about social gathering as they were about engineering achievement. The last major hill climb thundered through Camps Bay in 1962, after which the engines went quiet and daily life reclaimed the routes.
For over sixty years, the absence of such races left a gap in the city’s collective memory. With the announcement of the Speed Classic, waves of anticipation and nostalgia sweep across Cape Town. This event marks not just the revival of motorsport, but the restoration of a cherished tradition, set against scenic vistas and the golden light that has always defined the city’s cinematic allure.
The Speed Classic divides its festivities with a thoughtfully curated program that pays homage to each era of automotive evolution. On Saturday, October 25th, Classic Car Saturday unfolds as a rolling tribute to the artistry of vintage vehicles. These machines—remarkable for their Art Deco silhouettes, post-war elegance, and exuberance of 1950s design—take center stage. Wandering through the open paddocks becomes an immersive journey through the history of automotive design, where every polished surface and throaty engine tells a story of ambition, innovation, and meticulous craftsmanship.
The words of legendary designer Ettore Bugatti, “Nothing is too beautiful, nothing is too expensive,” ring true as the event celebrates the intersection of engineering and art. In the golden days, drivers and mechanics worked in harmony, much like musicians and composers, orchestrating symphonies of speed where every detail mattered and every risk carried the thrill of possibility.
Sunday, by contrast, delivers a jolt of contemporary excitement with the King of the Mountain contest. The same 2.1-kilometer stretch morphs into a battlefield for modern machines, honed in wind tunnels and armed with state-of-the-art electronics. Today’s drivers, as much tacticians as thrill-seekers, analyze data and strategy before each ascent, attacking every corner with precision and flair. The crowd, holding its collective breath as engines scream toward the summit, experiences a timeless surge of excitement—proof that the thrill of the race remains as potent now as it was a century ago.
Speed Classic Cape Town reaches beyond the world of motorsport to create a festival atmosphere that welcomes everyone. The open paddocks invite curious visitors to engage with both the machines and their caretakers, erasing the divide between audience and participant. Roaring demonstration runs, gourmet food vendors, and luxurious hospitality spaces transform the event into a sensory celebration. Children, wide-eyed with wonder, dream of future racing glory, while families bond over the shared spectacle of speed and sound.
This commitment to inclusivity reflects a broader cultural shift. Once seen as the preserve of a privileged few, motorsport now opens its doors to new generations and diverse communities. The accessible design of the Speed Classic ensures newcomers and veterans alike find something to remember, while local artists, musicians, and culinary creators contribute their own flair, converting Philip Kgosana Drive into a vibrant corridor of creativity.
Such fusion of lifestyle and competition mirrors esteemed events worldwide—Le Mans, Goodwood Festival of Speed, and Mille Miglia come to mind—where the celebration of automotive excellence goes hand-in-hand with community and pageantry. Cape Town’s cosmopolitan nature and storied history make it the perfect stage for an event that honors both tradition and contemporary culture.
Taking part in the Speed Classic involves an organized and transparent process. Prospective drivers can register their interest from July 15th to August 15th, 2025, with invitations following by August 22nd. This invitational model ensures a balance between variety and quality, assembling a grid that reflects both the diversity and excellence of the automotive world. Spectators will have their chance to secure tickets—whether seeking general admission, premium grandstand views, or exclusive hospitality access—starting August 1st through Webtickets. Organizers encourage all Cape Town residents to join the festivities, whether drawn by mechanical marvels, design beauty, or the sheer excitement of the race.
At its core, the Speed Classic represents a celebration of the interplay between person, machine, and landscape. Each engine roaring against Table Mountain’s silhouette echoes with the city’s own saga—marked by struggle, tenacity, and renewal. Every participant, from drivers to spectators, joins in writing a new chapter in Cape Town’s ongoing story, one filled with passion, ingenuity, and a deep connection to place.
This event stands as part of a global revival in historic motoring. Renowned gatherings such as Goodwood Revival and Italy’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este highlight how automobiles serve as cultural icons, chronicling the values and artistry of their time. In South Africa, where the automotive sector has shaped both society and economy, such celebrations carry special significance, reinforcing the connection between community and industry.
For two days, Philip Kgosana Drive will transform into a living theater, exchanging ordinary traffic for extraordinary spectacle. The city, framed by mountains and sea, will bear witness as history and innovation merge, reminding all who attend that Cape Town’s greatest strengths arise in moments where tradition and aspiration meet. In celebrating motoring’s past and present, the Speed Classic Cape Town offers not only a thrilling weekend, but a renewed sense of civic pride and shared possibility.
The Speed Classic Cape Town is a two-day motorsport festival held on Philip Kgosana Drive that revives historic hill climb racing. It features vintage car displays, modern racing competitions, and community celebrations. The event blends Cape Town’s rich automotive heritage with contemporary speed and culture, offering a unique experience beneath the iconic Table Mountain.
The event will take place on October 25th and 26th, 2025, on Philip Kgosana Drive—a scenic 2.1-kilometer stretch of road in Cape Town. This location is historically significant, not only for motorsport but also as a monument to Cape Town’s social and political heritage, named after anti-apartheid activist Philip Kgosana.
Saturday, known as Classic Car Saturday, showcases vintage vehicles celebrating the artistry and craftsmanship of automotive history, featuring cars with Art Deco and post-war designs. Sunday hosts the King of the Mountain contest, where modern racing cars compete in a thrilling hill climb. Beyond racing, the festival includes open paddocks, demonstration runs, gourmet food vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities creating an inclusive, festive atmosphere.
The event bridges Cape Town’s past and present by reviving hill climb racing routes that were dormant for over sixty years and by celebrating the city’s cultural tapestry. Philip Kgosana Drive itself is a symbol of resilience and justice, and the festival pays tribute to automotive craftsmanship, innovation, and community spirit while highlighting local artists, musicians, and culinary talents.
Drivers interested in competing can register between July 15th and August 15th, 2025. Invitations will be sent out by August 22nd, ensuring a high-quality and diverse grid. Spectators can purchase tickets starting August 1st via Webtickets, choosing from general admission, premium grandstand seats, or exclusive hospitality packages. The event welcomes everyone from motorsport enthusiasts to families and curious visitors.
The Speed Classic is more than a motorsport event; it is a celebration of heritage, innovation, and community. It revives a historic racing tradition that once defined Cape Town’s automotive culture, fosters inclusivity, and promotes local creativity. Positioned alongside renowned international festivals like Goodwood Revival, it helps place Cape Town on the global motorsport and cultural map, inspiring civic pride and shared possibilities for the future.
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