The new Hi-Tech Automotive/Superformance GT40 Mk11 is progressing well and production is due to commence shortly.
As mentioned in previous posts the project is headed up by Robbie Senekal.The surname Senekal is derived from the French Huguenot surname Senechal.When old Louis X1V revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685 the Protestants had to duck out of France in a great big hurry. By 1688 a whole bunch of them, including my forebears, arrived at the Cape. The Dutch government of the time went out of its way to stamp out the French culture and consequently over the years some French surnames were changed to sound more Dutch. The one thing the old Dutch boys couldn't do was to stamp out the French wine making skills and thanks to the new arrivals the Cape is one of the world's premier wine making regions. Even old Napoleon ordered his wine from the Cape! Anyway, wine and GT40 don't go too well together!
Robbie was born near Johannesburg in 1945 and grew up on a dairy farm close to the present day Johannesburg International Airport. After school he served an apprenticeship as a tool die and jig maker, whilst attending technical college.
After leaving school Robbie and school friend, Rory Byrne, today Ferrari's chief F1 designer, used to modify and tune Ford Anglias which were extremely quick off the mark. The little Fords would produce close to 100 bhp, rev to about 8500 rpm and be clocked at 109 mph, (with std diff and gearbox) quite fast for those days. The Jaguar E-Type was the one to beat at the time and the Anglias were just as fast from O to 100km/h. The two friends also built free flight gliders and in this sport Rory, at age 17, won his first of two World Championships, possibly why his Ferraris are so fast! Rory qualified in Chemical Engineering at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) and in the early 1970s moved to the UK where his career as race car designer was launched.
After gaining wide experience in the engineering field, as well as engraving, metallurgy, metal casting, plastic injection moulding and plastic vacuum forming in the Johannesburg area, and after a stint with the Atlas Aircraft Corporation, in 1973 Robbie started his own pattern shop and a small metal pressing business which did all the tooling and pressings associated with rear window louvres for Ronnie Rosen, today the Superformance agent in Ohio.
In 1984 Robbie, his wife and two children moved to Cape Town. Robbie joined the department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town as Chief Technical Officer. For the next 15 years he was involved in a variety of developments and experiments including the manufacture of high pressure autoclaves and reactors used in the manufacture of catalysts, for the manufacture of synthetic fuels.
In 1999 he became chief engineer for CAV and his first job was to design and manufacture jigs and tooling and other components, for the space frame chassis supplied by GTD. In March, 2002 he became general manager and chief engineer on the new Hi-Tech Automotive/Superformance GT40 Mk11 project.
Robbie's hobbies are building live steam locomotives and model engineering. He also loves building scale R/C aircraft and tugs and to date he has built four steam locomotives from scratch as well as a model of ¼ scale combustion engine. In the 1980s he became involved with the breeding of Bull Terriers producing one show champion.
As a young man in Johannesburg Robbie was seconded to the Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment, a Scottish Lowland Battalion and was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class 1n 1973. Later he was transferred to 54 Medium Workshop Squadron, a Technical Unit and held the post of Squadron Sergeant Major (RSM). In this position he saw service in African bush wars, an experience he would rather forget. He was decorated with the John Chard medal.
With this disciplined background the new GT40 project is in good hands. Robbie's military background dictates that he starts work at 6 am.
The attached pic shows Robbie and secretaries, Candice centre and Lana right (lucky fella!). They are well trained...er....in GT40s! In his right hand Robbie is holding a quarter scale Halibrand spinner that he engraved. Would make a great key ring holder and then of course his son Rob, jnr, runs a spincasting business right next to his dad's car factory.
More pics follow.
Quality!
Andre 40
As mentioned in previous posts the project is headed up by Robbie Senekal.The surname Senekal is derived from the French Huguenot surname Senechal.When old Louis X1V revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685 the Protestants had to duck out of France in a great big hurry. By 1688 a whole bunch of them, including my forebears, arrived at the Cape. The Dutch government of the time went out of its way to stamp out the French culture and consequently over the years some French surnames were changed to sound more Dutch. The one thing the old Dutch boys couldn't do was to stamp out the French wine making skills and thanks to the new arrivals the Cape is one of the world's premier wine making regions. Even old Napoleon ordered his wine from the Cape! Anyway, wine and GT40 don't go too well together!
Robbie was born near Johannesburg in 1945 and grew up on a dairy farm close to the present day Johannesburg International Airport. After school he served an apprenticeship as a tool die and jig maker, whilst attending technical college.
After leaving school Robbie and school friend, Rory Byrne, today Ferrari's chief F1 designer, used to modify and tune Ford Anglias which were extremely quick off the mark. The little Fords would produce close to 100 bhp, rev to about 8500 rpm and be clocked at 109 mph, (with std diff and gearbox) quite fast for those days. The Jaguar E-Type was the one to beat at the time and the Anglias were just as fast from O to 100km/h. The two friends also built free flight gliders and in this sport Rory, at age 17, won his first of two World Championships, possibly why his Ferraris are so fast! Rory qualified in Chemical Engineering at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) and in the early 1970s moved to the UK where his career as race car designer was launched.
After gaining wide experience in the engineering field, as well as engraving, metallurgy, metal casting, plastic injection moulding and plastic vacuum forming in the Johannesburg area, and after a stint with the Atlas Aircraft Corporation, in 1973 Robbie started his own pattern shop and a small metal pressing business which did all the tooling and pressings associated with rear window louvres for Ronnie Rosen, today the Superformance agent in Ohio.
In 1984 Robbie, his wife and two children moved to Cape Town. Robbie joined the department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town as Chief Technical Officer. For the next 15 years he was involved in a variety of developments and experiments including the manufacture of high pressure autoclaves and reactors used in the manufacture of catalysts, for the manufacture of synthetic fuels.
In 1999 he became chief engineer for CAV and his first job was to design and manufacture jigs and tooling and other components, for the space frame chassis supplied by GTD. In March, 2002 he became general manager and chief engineer on the new Hi-Tech Automotive/Superformance GT40 Mk11 project.
Robbie's hobbies are building live steam locomotives and model engineering. He also loves building scale R/C aircraft and tugs and to date he has built four steam locomotives from scratch as well as a model of ¼ scale combustion engine. In the 1980s he became involved with the breeding of Bull Terriers producing one show champion.
As a young man in Johannesburg Robbie was seconded to the Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment, a Scottish Lowland Battalion and was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class 1n 1973. Later he was transferred to 54 Medium Workshop Squadron, a Technical Unit and held the post of Squadron Sergeant Major (RSM). In this position he saw service in African bush wars, an experience he would rather forget. He was decorated with the John Chard medal.
With this disciplined background the new GT40 project is in good hands. Robbie's military background dictates that he starts work at 6 am.
The attached pic shows Robbie and secretaries, Candice centre and Lana right (lucky fella!). They are well trained...er....in GT40s! In his right hand Robbie is holding a quarter scale Halibrand spinner that he engraved. Would make a great key ring holder and then of course his son Rob, jnr, runs a spincasting business right next to his dad's car factory.
More pics follow.
Quality!
Andre 40
