story by: Stuart Johnson - Street Rods 12 July 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE part 2

MORE ABOUT STREET RODS AFRICA

 
WHAT IS STREET RODDING?
Street Rodding is a spin-off of the international automotive brotherhood that had its birth some sixty years ago. Youngsters began chopping up the old cars they could afford; giving them what today would be called "street cred." A lack of money, but a desire to be different, gave rise to the street rod movement in much the same way that old South African VW Golfs are given the dropped suspension, stained-windowed treatment today.
 
Hot rods have gone through countless fashion swings in their sixty-year history, and the 1940s look is very popular right now. So lucky for our CHEVY ’41 – she is in good … no, GREAT capable hands!
 
THE INSERTS:
INSERT 1 – WHEELS OF FAME
Patrick and Joe visit car enthusiasts around the country to investigate the mechanical dynamics in hot rodding, street rodding and classic restoration. Each insert includes the heart behind the restoration process, as well as the technical expertise and creative ingenuity car enthusiasts invest in their passion projects.
 
INSERT 2 – HAMPTON’s CLASSIC DRIVE
In motoring circles you get those that love hot rods, and those that love the classics… well… in STREET RODS AFRICA, we give you a taste of both! Stuart Johnston, a well-known motoring journalist, gives our audience a classic car experience like none other! He gets behind the wheels of historic super-cars to explore just what makes a car, super. His witty personality and passion for petrol-driven perfection fuels this insert with top class classic entertainment.
 
STREET RODS AFRICA has a unique South African flavor but that doesn’t keep the show from exploring foreign turf. In episodes 2 & 3 Riaan travels to Las Vegas for the SEMA show. He meets motoring industry giants Ryan Friedlinghaus from West Coast Customs and Herb Martinez, the internationally acclaimed pin striper. He also gets up close and personal with celebrity cars like ‘the Kookie’.
 
TELEVISION BROADCAST SCHEDULE:
Each episode will be broadcasted six times over the course of a weekend

	SATURDAY                             05:30; 11:30; 17:30	SUNDAY                                  06:30; 12:30 18:30
EPISODE 1	31 July 2010	01 August 2010
EPISODE 2	07 August 2010	08 August 2010
EPISODE 3	14 August 2010	15 August 2010
EPISODE 4	21 August 2010	22 August 2010
EPISODE 5	28 August 2010	29 August 2010
EPISODE 6	04 September 2010	05 September 2010
EPISODE 7	11 September 2010	12 September 2010
EPISODE 8	18 September 2010	19 September 2010
EPISODE 9	25 September 2010	26 September 2010
EPISODE 10	02 October 2010	03 October 2010
EPISODE 11	09 October 2010	10 October 2010
EPISODE 12	16 October 2010	17 October 2010
EPISODE 13	23 October 2010	24 October 2010

 
 
 
ABOUT RIAAN GARFORTH-VENTER:
This celebrated DIY Guru, most recently seen in Love & Mortar on the Home Channel and DIY met Riaan on SABC 2, is also a well-known television personality and a ‘Strictly Come Dancing' Champion.
 
Riaan Garforth–Venter is not only known for his creative ideas but also for his petrol-passion to rebuild hot rods, street machines and classic cars.
 
Riaan makes the impossible possible. His easy tips and extensive knowledge of products, parts, engines and electronics and how to use them effectively, is appreciated and respected nationwide. More than 1 million viewers tune in weekly to watch his shows on SABC 2, Home Channel and IGNITION to learn from the humorous master himself.
 
“If you can dream it, you can build it. With enough time, passion and petrol you should be able to drive anything!”
 
ABOUT ETIENNE BOTMA:
Etienne Botma is an artist who just happens to have an all-encompassing passion for motorized madness.
 
His art studio in Centurion near Pretoria is well known for supplying fiberglass elephant tusk replicas and other African art paraphernalia as Etienne hates the idea of killing animals for wall hangings.
 
A few years ago Etienne decided to turn his attention to motorcars and restoration. Etienne hails from Kwazulu Natal, where he became something of a street rodding legend with a massively modified Morris Minor. The addition of a V8 engine and some trick suspension modifications saw Etienne run ten-second quarter miles in what was still essentially a street machine.
 
Etienne Botma is fortunate in having skilled body workers like Nico Fakude and Jeffrey Mathebula to handform replicas of The American Dream, tailored to our unique South African requirements.
 
His collection of trophies for drag races and car shows speaks of a long career in petrol hedonism. As for engine choice, Ettiene is a card-carrying bow-tie Chevy man.
 
ABOUT STUART JOHNSTON:
Nationally-renowned motoring journalist since 1979 – CAR Magazine’s Gauteng correspondent, Stuart Johnston regularly appears on Ignition. He is on top of everything that’s happening in the motoring world. In his writing, he tries to get to the soul of each car. His writing and presenting style are descriptive, vibey and never ever boring  
 
Stuart’s career is filled with highlights but his personal favourite (and best) is when he passed Sarel van der Merwe in a race for journalists – they were driving identical VW Jetta’s. Sarel however, re-passed the upstart 3 seconds later.
 
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM STUART:
“Cars are like people, they have personalities. That's why there are so many different varieties. The history of a car brand is fascinating because it uncovers the thinking process of that company, and maybe by studying that you can predict the future”
 
His love for cars is ingrained and the first car he drove was a 1951 Ford Anglia ‘puddle-jumper’ owned by his mom. (*The car came to an unfortunate end when Stuarts’ friend drove the Ford straight into Stuart’s bedroom whilst his parents were at the movies)
 
He is an enigmatic classics lover and has the knowledge to fuel his passion with sensible objections and opinions. His future visions include writing a novel and becoming a rock star… It remains to be seen which would be the better career choice.
 
ABOUT JOE VAN ZYL
He is the editor and mastermind behind the SA HOTRODS magazine and definitely not an average Joe - quite the contrary…
 
He saw a gap in the magazine market, and seized the opportunity. He is focused, driven, devoted and completely, irrationally in love with all things that can be rodded, chopped or dropped.
 
Since then he has learned that nothing is impossible, and if you can dream you can do it. All you need is a lot of hard work, a little bit of luck and litres of coffee to keep you going.
 
“Life is short so enjoy it. When it feels like all is too much - climb in an old car and go on a road trip. You can find a lot of answers in the middle of nowhere.”
 
Joe’s biggest wish for young South Africans is to get back into the garage … ‘you can do anything as long as you keep on Rodding!’
 
PATRICK SHAI
Patrick personifies old-school charm and class. His passion for vehicles makes him a force to be reckoned with when discussing car parts and interior finishes.
 
He is a celebrated South African actor who has appeared in numerous stage plays, television productions and feature films. Shai started his career at Safari Ranch as a dancer with Mzumba African Drama and Ballet. He went on to scoop many awards on both television and stage.
 
He has appeared in numerous television series including Mission Top Secret, Behind the Badge, Zero Tolerance, Hillside, Soul City, Life is Wild and Yizo Yizo. He also played the role of Christmas in the 1996 BBC mini-series Rhodes.
 
“The car has become an article of dress without which we feel uncertain, unclad, and incomplete… If I can have my wife’s wardrobe in cars I’ll be the happiest man ever to have lived!”
 
 

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