Willie Hepburn, better known as the ‘Hepcat’ and ‘Oom Willie’, was a South African motorsport legend who set the South African land speed record in 1990 with a top speed of 372 kph – a record that still stands today!
His journey began in the 1960s, after working as an apprentice mechanic at Basil Green Motors in 1958. He gained attention in 1965 for creating the “Mortina,” a car that combined a Morris 1000 body with a 1500 cc Cortina engine.
In 1971, his love for speed took him to the Kyalami Top Speed Runs, where he reached an impressive 233 kph in a Chevrolet truck.
In the late 1970s, he built a formidable Opel Rekord V8, which led to numerous race wins. In 1982, Hepburn claimed the Star Modified Saloon Car Championship, driving a Chevrolet SS. By 1984, he had secured a Group One title with a Mazda RX-7.
In 1990, Hepburn made history by setting a South African land speed record, driving a Pontiac Trans-Am to 372 kph, a record that still stands.
Among his many cars, the red-and-white Opel Rekord from 1989 stands out as a personal favourite. Hepburn continued racing the V8 Opel for over 20 years, well into his seventies. Make no mistake, despite his age, he was the predator on the track, not the prey.
