Recent Joburg rides and events
Joburg Chapter Clears Throttle Into the Mist for the Annual Val ‘Whiskey Train’ Ride
During the Boer War, the railway line from Standerton to Balfour and then onto Heidelburg, which passes through Val, was a vital supply line for the British. On the 29th of December 1900, brothers, Jack and Gert van den Heever, under the command of Commandant Fourie of the Heidelberg Commando, lay in wait, explosives at the ready. As the goods train approached, the charge was detonated and carriages were derailed, spilling tins of pudding, fish, vegetables, meat and boxes of alcohol. What followed was a party where both Boer and Brit, while consuming the spoils of war, became great friends. There were no casualties during the incident.
Herein is a story within a story. During the celebrations, one of the brothers, Jack, consumed enough courage to ask a senior farmer in the area, Petrus Killian, for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The van den Heever brothers later became prisoners of war and were shipped off to Bermuda and only returned to South Africa in 1902.Jack then married Maria Killian (daughter of Petrus).
This Whiskey Train incident is re-enacted in Val annually.
On an April Saturday morning just over 125 years after the incident, a group of bikes with family members in cars in tow, set off. The road was shrouded in mist, that mist that gets inside your visor. Riding on regardless, first stop was in Greylingstad for breakfast at SR Shellhole. Old Bill Robbie Hall was there to welcome us. Apparently this Shellhole gets its name from the Scottish Rifles who were based in or around Greylingstad during the Boer War. Then onto Val (pronounced like the Val in Waterval). The highway between Greylingstad and the turnoff to Val is in good condition and is conducive to throttle clearing.
Val itself is a historic little town and comprises of a hotel with the “Moeggeploeg kroeg”, a post-office which has been converted into accommodation and a railway station. There may be more, but it was not obvious. The highlight of the day was the re enactment of the whiskey train incident, just outside of Val. This included a tractor and trailer which stood in the train, Boer commando on horseback and Khakis dressed for the occasion. We were joined by members of KBB Shellhole with their families and bumped into Moths from Sandy Shellhole. The fight against dehydration continued back at the hotel garden with some heading home that afternoon and some (sensibly) staying over.
This event will become an annual event on the Joburg Chapter calendar.
Val hotel 11 April, we also visited SR Shellhole Greylingstad for breakfast. Total of 12 Moths and friends attended, will do this one again
Sphinx Shellhole
21 March St Patrick’s day. The Shellhole is in a “basement “on the property of the St. Michaels Anglican church in Boksburg. There was live entertainment provided by Moth Andrew.
Cannon installed at KBB Shellhole
8 March, Moths Mark (MMA), Jacque and son Dirk (both MMA) , Lloyd (MMA), John and grandson and Lourens (MMA) laying thw foundations. Jacque and Dirk done most of the work, others were there for moral support.
Hartbeespoort animal rescue
1 February. Moth Mark and family adopted Sally and later that month Moth Lloyd adopted Hope and Snoopy.
10th Annual MMA parade
The Chapter had the privilege of hosting on 4 October 2025. This annual event is the highlight of the MMA calendar.