Blog home Autos A permanent note should be made to attend The Festival of Motoring

A permanent note should be made to attend The Festival of Motoring

South Africa is a nation of petrolheads, and that notion is continuously reinforced when there is a motoring event on the go. Like-minded people from all over converge in one place and revel in all the pieces of automotive machinery from different generations.

Topics of discussion were never short off because cars and motoring is a universal language that petrolheads worldwide can understand.

This year marked the 5th edition of the annual motoring event that took place at the popular Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit from 26 – 28 August. In addition to droves of people attending, there was also a substantial list of exhibitors, partners, and sponsors that was more than eager to interact with attendees.

A festival for all

Depending on the package chosen, visitors could be treated to a culinary experience with celebrity chef Reuben Riffle, along with a luxury supercar hot lap session, amongst other things. Visitors also got a glimpse of high-performance machinery like a Cosworth-powered Minardi F1 M189, the Ferrari A1 GP car, a Renault 3.5, and an Indy engine-equipped Pilbeam MP58 stretching its legs around the iconic track. In addition, plenty of cars were on display, like Volvo's Recharge and Mercedes-Benz' EQ Electric Intelligence range(s).

Judy Maharaj, the Show Director, said: "We aim to bring the quality of the show that has made the Festival of Motoring such an iconic event on social and entertainment calendars.  The support we have had from the industry already has been testimony to the resilience of the South African industry. The show will offer multiple facets for every type of auto enthusiast, ranging from motorsport, bikes, SUVs, bakkies and EVs to the newest models available from exhibitor brands."


The Festival of Motoring was not just for die-hard petrolheads. It also served as a fun day to entertain families, including a selection of food stalls, a Mobsie-Kids play area, a Parolin karting circuit, and a gaming zone. Gumtree's Autos team was also in attendance, and by simply just being there, plenty of positives were taken away.

The event allowed the brand to showcase hospitality to existing clients and organically build new relationships for any future sales - all done through the love of motoring. In addition, clients were extremely appreciative and engaging, sharing ideas of possible synergies with their respective businesses.


Brands present at the event, like Alfa Romeo, Dunlop, Suzuki, and Toyota, used the opportunity to put some of their popular vehicles in the public eye. The benefit to exhibitors and visitors is the interactive and experiential nature, allowing consumers to get into the vehicles and test drive the cars. Everything was well-planned, from the various allocated zones (Green, Red and Yellow) that housed different types of attractions to overall hospitality.

From a brand perspective, the potential exists to go bigger and better, target a far bigger audience by being in the right space/spot and continue to showcase the brand.

Now that you've got the knowledge, it's time to shop! Head to gumtree.co.za or your Gumtree app (click for Apple & Android) and don't forget to use your location settings to find local service information close to home.