Knysna is home to some of South Africa’s wealthiest citizens. The coastal town has a quietness that mirrors the old-money stealth of its residents. Except for one weekend in May.
Cloudy burnouts and engine-revving theatrics are positively encouraged as racers take aim at the Simola Hillclimb — now in its 14th year.
From privateers with purebred track machines, both modern and retro, to contenders with more modest steeds, as well as carmakers drumming up some excitement about new releases, the event ranks among the most elite gigs on the local motoring calendar. The thought of turning your estate service road into a full-on circuit is pretty ridiculous, but that is essentially what happens here. This snaking 1.9km climb cutting through forestry services the Simola Golf and Country Estate and the Simola Hotel, Country Club & Spa, and is governed by speed limits like any other residential area.
Closed off for the event, the circuit sees drivers reaching speeds as high as 250km/h, while the surrounding lush greenery and mountainous topography become a blur. Spectators have several vantage points from which to take it all in at a slower pace. Those who live on the estate and hotel guests can merely luxuriate on their balconies.
Or set up your camp chair on one of the mounds adjacent to the track, getting buzzed off the crisp, cool air the region is famed for. You could also opt for one of the various hospitality suites, as we did.
After a midmorning touchdown in Gqeberha, we took a leisurely cruise down the N2 into the Garden Route district. I am almost ashamed to admit that, despite my having spent a decade as a motor-noter, this was the first time I attended the Simola Hillclimb. After a quick lunch stop at Enrico’s in Plettenberg Bay, we cruised into Knysna in time for the afternoon parade through the quays district — a consolation prize for having missed out on the Classic Car Friday event at the Hillclimb, where beloved warhorses from yesteryear compete.
The waterfront parade is all about showboating in spectacular fashion. Locals and out-of-towners converge, smartphones up, to take in the procession. Kids are perched on parents’ shoulders, while shorter adults are standing on tiptoes for a better vantage point.
It really is like a catwalk, each model performing the same routine — full-throttle with a dipped clutch, and then a big, smoky plume of a wheelspin as a hard launch is delivered without mechanical sympathy.
After retiring to our lodgings for the night and washing the smell of burning rubber out of my hair, we went to bed early, as Saturday would put us trackside for the practice day.
Like any event of real significance, there are tiers to access. Fork out for the package that allows passage through the pit area, and this will get you up close and personal with the cars — as well as their handlers.
Just be sure to obey the stern marshals keeping things in check. The cars come in hot after their runs, and are then parked in preparation for their next go. Walking around the pit area at the Simola Hillclimb, an average Joe like myself gets an education in what it means to have deep pockets.
Someone who owns a regular Porsche 911, Audi R8, Nissan GT-R, McLaren 720S or contemporary Ferrari is obviously doing well at this life thing. But to have one in competition-ready fettle, for the purpose of caning a weekend hill climb? Life goals.
Aside from the exotics, there were other specimens to pore over. The tamer, road-going competitors included the Audi RS3 and TT RS, an Alfa Romeo Giulia Q, a monstrous Nissan Patrol Black Hawk, and a bevy of Mustang iterations. Someone even brought an E60 BMW M5 with its wailing V10 engine. A battle-hardened old Audi RS6, probably 20 years old, was also in the mix. On the fully fledged racing-breed front, there were executions such as a Lotus Exige powered by a Ferrari 488 engine, plus V8-powered single-seater types.
Take a set of earplugs because the noise from the hard-core racing varieties is jarring. Our privileged seating point metres away from the starting line, on a slight elevation, allowed for the full acoustic experience — a vibrational one, too, felt right in the chest cavity.
Those attendees with a deeper technical appreciation will, of course, want to familiarise themselves with the three different categories for King of the Hill — each with its own winners. Class A is for road cars and supercars, Class B for modified saloon cars, and Class C for thoroughbred race cars such as single seaters, sports cars and sports prototypes.
Did you think they were driving up the hill for fun? This is a timed event with fierce rivalries!
My eardrums had a brief reprieve when an electric BMW i5 came past, at full chat, in typically silent fashion. The new four-cylinder C63 that the Mercedes-AMG team took up the hill sounded like a Philips blender — and by that point my ear canals were ready to be assaulted yet again by the unsilenced contenders that make the event such a blast.
Volkswagen Motorsport made an appearance in a pair of SupaPolo racing cars and had a Mk1 GTi in the field on Classic Car Friday. We pulled works driver Jonathan Mogotsi aside for a quick chat. He spoke with enthusiasm about his SupaPolo. “It’s a bit of a pocket rocket, a two-litre turbo, four-cylinder motor, originally from the Golf R, with a bit of spice to it — probably around 320kW.”
On the circuit itself, he issued some words of warning. “It’s not a racetrack — it’s a public road, so you have to be aware of the road surface. It’s not even, it’s not smooth, and it ranges from tar to concrete. You’ve got mountain on the left and cliff on the right, so you’ve got to be confident,” he said.
“But don’t overthink it — just get in the car and go.”
Which is exactly what I did — as a passenger, however, riding shotgun in a stock Golf 8 GTI.
With its sharp kinks and dramatic elevation, the Simola Hillclimb route is breathtaking, even when you are not behind the wheel. I did not time our run, but it felt as though it was over before it had even started.
To give you some perspective, that spicy Volkswagen SupaPolo achieved a best time of 44.058 seconds on Sunday’s main, timed run, in the hands of driver Daniel Rowe.
Fastest up the hill was a Pilbeam MP58 single seater, powered by an Indycar V8, driven by Robert Wolk in a time of 37.133 seconds.
My esteemed colleague Thomas Falkiner also participated, behind the wheel of a Suzuki Swift Sport, conquering the climb in 53.784 seconds.
Whether you’re a devoted petrolhead or casual lover of cars and stunning coastal scenery, a weekend at the Simola Hillclimb should be on your bucket list.
Visit www.simolahilclimb.com for the full rundown of competitors’ times, as well as for details about the 2025 event. The author was a guest of Volkswagen Motorsport.
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