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The 1948 Fairfield Handicap—South Africa’s First Post-War Motor Race

Robert Young

Before the outbreak of WWII, motor racing in South Africa had been developing strongly and, in fact, the last pre-war South African Grand Prix, held in January 1939, was the first major ‘scratch start’ event in the country and included a top class field of voiturettes comprised of nine Maseratis, four ERAs and a Riley.

Drivers of the caliber of Luigi Villoresi, Franco Cortese, Piero Taruffi and Paul Pietsch in Maseratis, pitted themselves against the ERAs of Lord Howe and Peter Whitehead.

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