Revving Hearts and Engines: Cobra Club and SEFAC's Joyful Charity Cruise for South Africa's Children

linettelintvelt
Dec 3, 2025
3 min read

n the sun-drenched streets of Pretoria, a symphony of roaring engines and beaming smiles unfolded Sunday, 30 November 2025, as two of South Africa's most passionate automotive clubs joined forces for a cause greater than horsepower. The Cobra Club of South Africa, founded on August 9, 1986, has long been more than a gathering of enthusiasts for iconic replicas like Cobras, GT40s, and Daytonas. With nearly four decades of fostering community through track days, concours events, and breakfast runs, the club has carved a reputation for blending adrenaline with altruism. This year, their charity focus shines on Unchain Our Children, a vital organization dedicated to breaking cycles of abuse and supporting places of safety for vulnerable kids. Known for generous outreaches—from toy drives to school supply donations—the Cobra Club embodies the spirit of "service to fellow man," turning shiny chrome into instruments of hope.

Teaming up with the Southern Equatorial Ferrari Automobili Club (SEFAC), one of the world's oldest Ferrari owners' clubs established in 1967 by the visionary Pierre Bastiaan Kelfkens, the collaboration was a masterclass in automotive elegance and empathy. SEFAC, whose name whimsically nods to the region's equatorial flair, has thrived on a calendar of spirited drives, social soirées, and deep dives into Prancing Horse lore since the first Ferrari rolled into South Africa in 1957. Together, these "petrol heads" orchestrated a joint club run that transcended the tarmac, inviting members to channel their passion into tangible goodwill.

The event kicked off with a dazzling convoy of 33 high-performance marvels—sleek Cobras rubbing fenders with Ferrari exotics—lining up in a display of polished brilliance outside the Louis Botha Children’s Home in Pretoria. This historic haven, caring for traumatized youth since 1918, became the heart of the day as club members unloaded armfuls of school stationery packs, goody bags brimming with festive treats, and personalized gifts. Each child received their own bundle of joy, a small but mighty boost for education and dreams amid hardship. The Cobra Club of Gauteng sweetened the pot with a R5,000 donation to Unchain Our Children, earmarked for broader distribution to safe havens like Louis Botha, and issued a bold challenge: urging other car clubs, businesses, and organizations to match it and amplify the impact.

But the magic wasn't confined to parcels and pledges. As engines idled, children clambered aboard for unforgettable rides in these supercar legends, their wide-eyed wonder rivalling the vehicles' V8 growls. Hugs flowed freely, laughter echoed, and the festive season's warmth wrapped everyone in its glow—a reminder that true power lies not in acceleration, but in acceleration of kindness.

"When the petrol heads came together, memories were built for the children today during the outpouring of love and care from both the Cobra and Ferrari Clubs," reflected Wayne van Onselen, Founder and Executive Director of Unchain Our Children, as he extended heartfelt thanks to the clubs' chairmen. The sight of gleaming machines paling beside the sincerity of donors underscored the event's soul-stirring essence.

Looking ahead, both clubs pledge continued support: individual outreaches in the coming year, plus another joint venture with Unchain Our Children as the beneficiary. In a world that often races forward at breakneck speed, the Cobra Club and SEFAC prove that slowing down to give back can rev up the most enduring legacies—one smiling child, one shared mile at a time.

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