Page 44 - Porsche Club Central Magazine Oct 2020

Lights out, Please
Engage Parking Brake and switch off daytime running lights
STORY AND PHOTO: CILLIERS VAN NIEKERK
When last did you go to a Drive-In? The technological advances made in home entertainment systems have largely caused the almost 50 drive-ins in South Africa to close. The last drive-in at Menlyn Park closed in 2014 marking the end of an era in SA.
As a small-town boy, I have fond memories of my first experience at a drive-in. I still get nostalgic when I smell popcorn, hamburgers, fries and milkshakes. Memories come flooding of drive-in experiences, such as tilting the seat back and trying to hear the movie through the static of the car speaker hooked on your window.
While COVID-19 caused movie theatres to shut down, drive-ins were
making a comeback. It was the ideal solution to social distancing regulations. We thought so too and started planning. It turned out to be quite a demanding event to organise. Challenges existed such as obtaining various clearance certificates, investigation of suitable safe venues and conducting due diligence. It took almost 3 months to organise. We were finally given the green light, and the drive-in took place at Kyalami Equestrian Park.
There was never any question about what the movie should be. It needed to
be a car racing movie with a Porsche winning of course, and it needed to be a classic. Therefore, the main attraction was Le Mans featuring ‘the king of cool’ Steve McQueen. The movie is about the 24 hours Le Mans race in France where a duel takes place between the German in the Ferrari and the American (Del- aney) in Gulf Team Porsche. Delaney is still suffering from the guilt of causing
an accident which killed his best friend.
The movie starts with a silver Porsche zipping through the country- side and coming to a stop. The driver gets out with his back to the camera. Eventually, the camera sweeps around allowing the fans
to feast their eyes on the contemplative stare of Steve McQueen as Delaney, the top driver of the Gulf Team. This sets the tone for the rest of the movie with very little dialogue and many more pensive stares from McQueen and cars speeding around the Le Mans track. Very near the end of the movie, you find the best dialogue. Lisa Belgetti asks: “When people risk their lives, shouldn’t it be for something very important?” Steve McQueen replies with the profound statement that “when you’re racing, it’s life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting.” Something most Porsche drivers will understand.
But did the members enjoy the event? As this was one of the first events after the lockdown, meeting fellow Porsche Club members felt like a reunion and watching the movie was almost a secondary issue
44 drive-in theatre
PORSCHE CLUB SOUTH AFRICA - CENTRAL