The Philipstown WireCar Foundation is the engine room of hope
The dust of the Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix eventually settles. The echoes of cheering crowds and the determined footsteps of young champions fade into the quiet expanse of the Karoo. For one incredible day, the town is the centre of the world. But what happens after? What ensures that the hope, pride, and energy of that single day translate into real, lasting change?
The answer lies in the project’s powerful, beating heart: The Philipstown WireCar Foundation.
While the Grand Prix is the spectacular public face of this movement, the Foundation is its engine room – the dedicated, sustainable force turning the spirit of the race into a tangible future for the youth of Philipstown. It is the bridge between a day of celebration and a lifetime of opportunity, ensuring the legacy of the wire car tradition is wired directly into the town’s revival.
From a dream to a registered reality
For over a decade, the Grand Prix was a beacon of hope, an annual event run by a passionate group of community members. It proved that a simple idea could unite a town and inspire its children. But for that inspiration to become a true catalyst for change, it needed a permanent home and a formal structure.
That milestone was reached in July 2024, when the Philipstown WireCar Foundation was officially registered as a non-profit company (NPC). This crucial step transformed a grassroots event into a sustainable organisation with a clear mandate. It gave the dream a legal identity and the power to build, employ, and invest in the community it serves.
Our vision – more than just wire
The Foundation’s vision is rooted in the very material that gives the race its name. As our constitution states, “Wire is a powerful symbol”. Found throughout Philipstown, it can be old and corroded or shiny and new. By itself, a discarded piece of wire might seem worthless. But in the right hands, with imagination, effort, and purpose, it can be transformed into a draadkar, a profound symbol of ingenuity and joy.
The Foundation strives to be those hands, providing the support and resources to help the children and the broader community transform their limitless potential into something meaningful and self-sustaining.
Our mission in action – building a future
A vision needs a mission to give it wheels. Our mission is clear and focused: to leverage the goodwill created by the Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix to contribute directly to the social and skills upliftment of the children of Philipstown. They are our absolute priority. Our secondary, but no less important, goal is to support the broader community that shapes the environment in which these children grow.
This means building programmes that facilitate confidence and independence from a young age. It means seeking out and nurturing potential across all racial and social groups, prioritising those most in need. It also means responsibly managing the funds raised through the documentary, the mobile game, and the e-commerce store to create a cycle of positive change.
A home for hope – the new headquarters
This September, our mission took physical form. During the week of the 15th of September 2025, renovations officially began on the Foundation’s new headquarters in the heart of town. This building will become a vibrant community hub and a state-of-the-art e-learning centre – a safe space where dreams can be built alongside wire cars.
As Chairperson and co-founder, Kay Fourie says, “My dream is for this Foundation to become a centre of excellence where we can train kids and provide them with real opportunities. We want to offer everything from computer skills and robotics training, to driver’s licence programmes and social support. This is about building a future where the next generation has prospects they never would have had otherwise.”
The Philipstown WireCar Foundation ensures that the race is just the beginning. It is the promise that every wire car sold, every game downloaded, and every story shared fuels a brighter, more resilient future for an entire community.
