1965 Capital Formula Vee

Track Stars is an ongoing series where showcase cars, such as this 1965 Capital Formule Vee, built and raced by regular petrolheads at circuits all over our beautiful country. Cars with a backstory, some with checkered pasts. Not cars prepared by teams of technicians paid for by sponsors. In the latest instalment we highlight a historic single seater that has been raced by three generations of the same family.

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Car: Mk1 1965 Capital Formula Vee
Engine: VW Beetle
Cylinders: flat four
Capacity: 1 300 cm³
Boost pressure: n/a
Power: n/a
Torque: n/a
Drive wheels/transmission: RWD/four-speed manual

Best lap time: 1 min 20,0 sec (at Zwartkops)/59,8 sec (Redstar short track)

Best championship position: 2025 and 2025 HSSA Champion and Historic Formula Vee champion (Class D).

Click here to check out other feature cars in the Track Stars series.

Why did you choose to race this car?

In 1968 my grandfather John Kernick bought the car for R900, much to the unhappiness of my grandmother who wanted a sewing machine which cost the same. My grandfather raced the car with some success for a few years before selling it in 1970. At the Formula Vee 21st anniversary race 18 years later, John would race the car again as the family borrowed it from its owner at the time.

In 1998 my father, Alan Kernick, got the bits of the Capital back reuniting the car with the our family. By this time the car had been living under trees. My father rebuilt the car as tribute to John. Sadly, my grandfather passed away before he could witness the car race again. When the Capital was rebuilt my father strapped my grandfather’s ashes into the car and took ‘him’ for his last laps in the car before spreading his ashes at the East London GP circuit, my grandfather’s favourite track.

Years later I started racing the car. I raced the car at East London GP track, which means three generations of the same family have raced the car at the same track which is a very special achievement, and I believe rare in SA. I have been racing the car for many years in the HSSA. The car won every race this year barring the last round where it had engine trouble. All of this is tribute to my grandfather John Kernick

What major challenges have you faced?

One of the biggest challenges I had was learning how to drive the car properly and quickly, its not a easy car to tame but once I learnt how to drive it properly the car became even more fun. It also teaches you a lot of driving skills making driving other cars a bit easier.

Was it a good choice to go racing with this model?

It has been a very good choice to race with this car. It really is special and being able to still win races in the oldest car in the class is cool. Also the HSSA association is a really friendly club to be in. I love historic cars and historic racing and driving the car you feel the history. This car is the oldest Formula Vee in the country and races against 1980s cars and is still one of the leading cars in the class. It has claimed multiple victories, pole positions and fastest laps over the years. The competition in the class is also fairly stiff so I’m always in for a good race.

What has been your best achievement with this car to date?

The best achievement in the car you would think is the championships but I think my best achievement is when we rebuilt the car a few years ago after a crash. My dad I put a lot of time to really make the car shine. It’s a really special tribute to my grandfather I think of that every time I look at it and smile knowing it is one of our families proudest possessions.