If the angry rumble of a powerful V8 gets your heart racing, then you need to be at the Knysna Speed Festival from 11 to 20 May. This is a week packed with exciting events featuring fast cars, classic cars, go karts, soap box races and 4×4 challenges. The highlight of the festival is the Renault Simola Hillclimb, which sees an assortment of exciting cars, from nostalgic greats of a previous era to state of the art exotics, testing both man and machine on the hair-raising climb to the Simola Golf Estate. The Festival is unique in South Africa, incorporating thrilling action on the road with an assortment of events which will ensure that there is entertainment for the whole family in the beautiful town of Knysna.

The Knysna Kart Grand Prix brings day and night street racing to the spectacular Thesen Island Harbour Town.

Classic cars never fail to appeal. There is something about the cars we grew up with which becomes part of us. As much as one admires the high tech wizardry of the latest supercar, it is the raw power and simplicity of a 60’s muscle car which never fails to draw the crowds, or the romance of an era long past reflected in the classic roadster. There will be at least one car at the Knysna Motor Show to make you linger.

The Knysna Speed Festival is not just about high speed racing cars. It also offers exciting opportunities to those who love the outdoors and enjoy testing themselves and their vehicles off road. The Sunday and Wednesday of the Festival week are dedicated to 4×4 enthusiasts. Knysna has some of the most spectacular indigenous forests in South Africa, and during the 4×4 Knysna Elephant Trail, off-roaders will be able to travel through forests not normally accessible to the public. You may be lucky and even see the reclusive Knysna Elephants! This is an eco-friendly event for the whole family and should not be missed if you have an off-road vehicle capable of exploring the wild. It offers 6-7 hours of unique terrain and extraordinary beauty in the company of 4×4 experts who will ensure that nothing goes wrong. The 4×4 Challenge tests the off-road skills of those who enjoy seeking the limits of themselves and their vehicles in tough terrain with daunting obstacles in both standard production vehicles and modified 4×4 specials.

Want to get up close to the exciting vehicles featured during the Speed Festival? All the cars will be on display on Friday at the Waterfront and there will be a parade through the streets during the day.