• Karoo Art Hotel Cars

The Art of the Passes is back

Posted by Rick on Sun July 12, 2026.
Karoo Art Hotel Cars

We're blessed by an ongoing parade of extraordinary cars but there's something about the passion of the Art of the Passes participants that sets them and their cars apart.

It's the hands under the bonnet passion of the true sports car enthusiast you could say.

Interior of a Craig Harper 'Mega Snake' project 

One of my most favorite long format ads is ‘The Wager’ by Johnny Walker featuring Jude Law and Giancarlo Gannini involving a wager involving the overnight restoration of a priceless racing car and subsequent race to Monaco against an impossible deadline ; the prize being Gannini’s villa.

Watch: The Wager

https://youtu.be/cMMIg0c8EO4?si=oNL6RmAuGVxmlblM

A visit to Craig Harper's atmospheric workshop in the grounds of the Wyneburg military base has a lot of the spirit of the Wager in it for me. it's a spirit that's common to all participants in these Art of the Passes events. With their love  of a no holds barred response from the accelerator peddle - no matter what the look or shape or condition of the chassis it is housed on.

Art of the Passes 2026

 

 

 

 

About Rick Melvill

Magical Mystery Tour dept

Further Reading

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