Words: Dave Richards
Five times South African rally champion and Olympic cyclist Jan Hettema was shot and killed at his homestead in South Africa during a break-in on 29 June 2016.
Most famed for his drives in the GM South Africa ‘Little Chev’ Chevrolet Firenza V8, he notably developed the use of a large rear spoiler on the car, attesting in period ‘you can really feel the downforce happening when you’re over 100mph’.
His racing career started as a young man not on four wheels, but two, eventually becoming a Springbok contestant at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He failed to finish the road races he entered, but gained a fourth place in the Mens 4000 metres team pursuit.
By the 1960s his rally driving skills were developing, becoming a keen clubman and South African National competitor when GM South Africa announced it was to build 100 examples of the Chevrolet Firenza V8 powered by a ‘Can-Am’ five-litre V8 shared with the Z28 Camaro.
As standard the car was fitted with an adjustable boot mounted aerofoil, but Hettema took the game further by creating a huge rear wing fitted to his successful rally car. He is survived by his wife who was also injured during the break-in.
Greg MacLeman is a contributor to and former Features Editor of Classic & Sports Car, and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC