Visiting AAD Eastern Cape, by Byron Smith

Visiting AAD EC - an article by Byron Smith

The movement All About Datsun (AAD) has really grown by leaps and bounds with the Facebook membership having over 1000 members in less than year a half. It was time to visit the Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage members. So I finally did after a few invitations from the AAD EC members. Clint Cotton aka Clint van der Baai on Facebook was the guy that took up the challenge of pulling the guys together and creating a Datsun family… he would also be the person to give me a place to stay when visiting the friendliest city in our beautiful country.

AAD Eastern Cape really made me feel at home with some of the guys taking off the Friday to welcome me. The guys are split between two areas namely Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage. They transit between the two places for meetings and events. The areas are 10-15 min apart depending on what road you take - “I always joked there where 4 ways to get to the same place.” They are very close group of guys that hardly do anything without informing each other of what is happening. There was certain point I asked Clint if the guys were always so close be and he replied that they never spoke before AAD started. A story that really made me smile was that two guys actually found out they were brothers after joining the AAD family.

I arrived in Port Elizabeth at 06.00am Friday morning after taking a bus from Cape Town. I was lucky to get good weather after I’ve been told that it was raining most the week so we were off to good start. Clint arrived at 07.00am, very late if I might add. This was the 1^st time meeting him - the only contact was over social media and 1 or 2 phone calls so I didn’t know what to expect. What I did know was that he drives a Datsun - That alone made us family. Clint has had few cars in his life to his  friends he’s known for having Toyota Corollas (box shape). He was a chairman of a group called “Loskop” that was known for dicing and burnouts.

My first stop after catching a nap to recover from my trip was a workshop called East Coast Mechanical Repairs. They seem to do everything from panel beating, mechanical to lowering of cars.

The guys setup braai stand and drinks at the back so we could relax and inform me of what was happing with the movement and the plans they have for the year. The big head line was plans to come down to Cape Town!!

This low stanza belong to Jucaine Warrick Thorne. It had some problems the weekend with Nikki carburetor flooding. I advised him it was time for SU carburetor upgrade.

Lunch was done and it was time to meet Gary Koopman the owner of 160z with 2.8 conversion the motor was in the process of getting  a overhaul. 

 It was getting late and it was time to visit the guys in Uitenhage. There was a park off happening hosted by Southern Stance. AAD EC members was in attendance and showing off their old school style. As always this particular 510 belonging to Renaldo Young with neat shade of pink with purple pearl. This car has real presence about it with correct wheel fitment and ride height screaming show stopper.

So I was in Uitenhage, the home of Volkwagen SA, visiting a Datsun club. The guy with green 160z named Picee (never really got his surename) -  neat car - he showed the FWD cars how Datsun does it.

Super clean 240C belonging to Breigh.

 Saturday morning arrived and the guys all got together to get the cars cleaned

 This sexy 180U belonging to Shaun caught my attention - it has SR20DE from a S14 - very clean car indeed.

Irvine Rayners stance 510 - the color looks really cool with awesome wheel and tyre fitment.

Afterwards a few of us went to help Johan Ban du Preez load his 510 coupe on the trailer. Johan has been preparing for this day for a while buying all the parts he could find. I must admit I’m a bit excited to see how she turns out.

I found this art work in the back of the garage where the coupe parked.

So the coupe was on his way to his new home and we were off to Punchers this blue 160U Coupe picthed. The car was parked at the back of the yard and just need a battery after the paper work was completed car started just with one swing of the key , we were off to meet few of the guys at local hang out called the Fountain.

This 510 belonged to Reggie - good looking sitting very low on 17’s

This low 1400 ute reminded me of Purdon Mitchell 1400 back home.

It was getting dark and the rumor that there would burnouts at the Fountain was untrue. The guys from club called 6 Piston, which is mainly made up of Skylines, made a turn. The left one belongs to Bashier - it has RB25DET engine transplant - and the right one belongs to Roger.

Sunday morning came and it was almost time for me get the bus home. My last stop for the weekend was Riaz Moodale. He has 3x 510s - the one in the picture is 69 model, almost complete, with few exterior bits and soon to get full interior overhaul. 

The 2^nd one is his daughter Azraah Abrahams. The 3^rd 510 is still just a body… he’s still not sure what his plans are with it. 

Beautiful interior

So the weekend ended like It started with Clinty’s orange 510. Before heading to the bus station Clint gave me send-off Datsun style with a burnout. I would like to say thanks to all the members that made me feel at home they really keeping  the AAD name high. 

This feature is dedicated Ashton Koopman, Gary Koopman’s brother, who died in tragic truck accident two days after I left. May God bless your soul and you cruizing to heaven in a Datsun. The AAD EC Members will be having convoy to his funeral on the 22 Feb. RiP Brother!

Special thanks to Clinty for the hospitality, the EC Members friendliness, and the use of pics from Ashtwinz Photography, dopest inc and Southern Stance.