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Sports Reporter
THE season opening motor race for the Bulawayo Motoring Club, John Love Trophy, takes place today at the Bulawayo Circuit. Organisers are using the event to celebrate the life of one of the greatest motoring stars ever to grace local circuits and those in South Africa.

Born on December 7, 1924 Love won six South African F1 Championships in the 1960s driving a Cooper-Austin.

He shone in the European Formula Junior event in 1961/62 where he competed in 10 Formula One World Grand Prix.

Love was to suffer a broken arm but in 1964 he was Phil Hill’s replacement in the Works Cooper team for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

He became a regular contestant in the South African Grand Prix and was leading the 1967 event at Kyalami in his 2.7L climaxed-engine Cooper when a misfire made him make a precautionary stop for extra fuel and he dropped back to finish second behind the Cooper-Maserati of Pedro Rodriguez.

Love had an exciting racing career for many years and even owned the Jaguar dealership in Bulawayo and owned his own stock car racing team in the 1980s.

The motoring legend died on April 25, 2005.

“As a tribute to Love this race is called the John Love Trophy,” said Zane Shah the BMC spokesperson.

Several Bulawayo and Harare competitors are expected to take part in this race.

“This being the second round of the championship with the opening round having been held in Harare on March 8, the BMC are hoping to see the likes of Darren Pragji in his Datsun, Julian Van Vuuren racing the Honda Jimmy Zevgolis in his Red Golf, Dean Norman and more in the national races, with new comers and Ultimate Street Car challengers of Dino Khamal and Ross Mckop taking on Julian and Sam Nyamapfeka.

“As for the Harare challengers we’re expecting drivers like Ian Howden in his Corolla, Kevin Allmark in his Ford and many more. Lorraine Randall in her Mini and Christy Laing in her Starlet will be trying to show the men how it’s done. The father and son duo of John and Brett Cameron in the Super 7s is part of the line up,” said Shah.

Supporting Bulawayo Motor Sport are Road Angels, Autoworld Bulawayo, Colourworld, Auto Quip and Anderson Motors.

“This year we will have the second running of the Superbike National Series which will be continuing and supported by Autoworld Bulawayo with riders like Phil Archenoul on his 600 keeping up with the 1000cc bikes, Dave Marsberg on his Suzuki GSX, Tim Schultz on his Yamaha R1 and his wife Bianca Schultz on her Yamaha R6 as well as their son Mathew Schultz who all took part in the first round in Harare,” said Shah.