My one abiding memory of Sarel van der Merwe is of him being interviewed on television and the presenter asking him why he never smiled, to which he replied behind steely eyes and in his gruff voice; “I am smiling!” I swear I heard spaghetti western music and the clink of his stirrups!
This Port Elizabeth born rally driver, was a multiple South African Rally Drivers Champion who held numerous Championship titles including the South African Rally Drivers Championship (1975 and 1977-1985), the South African Saloon Car Championship (1988 and 1994) and the South African Modified Saloon Car Championship (1994 and 2001).
Sarel van der Merwe received his Springbok Colours in 1976 and his South African National Colours in 1997. In the year of his retirement, 2002, van der Merwe was awarded the Motorsport South Africa (MSA) Lifetime Achievement award.
And now the legend has published a book, SuperVan and I, which promises; “The cars, the races, the rivalries, the women… welcome to the world of Sarel van der Merwe, South Africa’s greatest racing driver. It’s time to fasten your seatbelt for the ride of your life… Sarel van der Merwe is a certified, card-carrying legend – the Clint Eastwood of South African motor sport. Not only is Sarel the most gifted driver ever to come out of this country, winning both off-road and on the track, but he’s been utterly uncompromising in his approach.
“Since he and his alter ego, SuperVan, have been racing, Sarel has been super-competitive, scratching paint off racing cars from Kyalami to Le Mans. And he’s certainly pissed some people off. In this no-holds-barred story of his life, Sarel reveals the skinny behind all his big rivalries, his run-ins with team owners and his frequent disagreements with motor-sport authorities.
“Along with a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s legendary motor races, he rates the greatest – and worst – cars he ever drove, remembers some of the colourful characters that featured in his long career, and explains exactly why motor sport in South Africa is no longer what it used to be. And then, of course, there were the women…’Sex is like motor sport,’ Sarel says. Though you’ll have to read the book to find out why.”
SuperVan and I is written by Steve Smith and Sarel van Der Merwe. Smith recently co-write Herschelle Gibbs’ book, To the point – The no-holds-barred autobiography.
Port Elizabeth fans will get a chance to have their books signed by van der Merwe at the VWSA Auto Pavilion in Uitenhage on Tuesday 17 April – giving you just enough time to order SuperVan and I from Kalahari.com.
Alan Straton
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Can anyone pls send me Sarel vd Merwe’s contact details – email adr or phone no. Thanks. Jerry Paice