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Few, if any, South African motorsport enthusiasts can claim not to know the Moss name. It has been synonymous with high-speed racing for decades. First it was Terry Moss who thrilled fans at local circuits, most notably in Touring Cars. Now it is the turn of his son Simon, who is following in the footsteps of his father in the National Production Car Championship.  Simon started early, behind the wheel of a kart. In 2006, at the tender age of 14, he finished second in the GP Junior championship and the 100cc Stock. By 2009 he was competing in the Vortex Super Rok, winning it in 2012. In his fledgling career, he has also been named the Formula BMW Pacific Rookie of the Year and finished third in the category in 2008. In the Formula Volkswagen championship has finishes of first, third and second in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. While the Moss name is well-known in motorsport, it is also very well known in South Africa’s farming community. When not competing on the racing circuit, Terry Moss was involved with submersible water pumps, helping farmers get water to where they needed it. The AllPower company have designed and installed solar windmill pumps since 1989 and have 27 000 installations running in South Africa. Simon has picked up the baton from his old man and is now involved in helping the farming community not only pump water, but also to power the pumps right where they are located. Solar powered water pumping installations are a big part of what Simon does when he is not on the circuit competing for the Engen Xtreme Racing Team. Through this he is providing farmers with reliable power in places where it is either extremely difficult – or impossible – to get the national electricity grid. The latest of these runs a 380 volt three-phase motor directly from the sun powering sprinkler irrigation systems, travelling irrigators, drip irrigation and centre pivot irrigation systems. “It is incredibly rewarding,” says Simon. “From the start of the installation where nothing exists to a completed and working installation that provides power for pumping water or any number of farming activities, not only making things easier for the farmer – but also helping to provide food for South Africa.” “Food security is critical to our country and to make that happen means looking after the farming community,” adds Simon. “Being a part of that, ensuring that farm life can run as needed so the agricultural process can take place, knowing I’m part of getting food onto tables is very rewarding.” The solar installations are not a “one size” solution, but customised according to the function they need to serve. Some are small, while others are dramatically ramped up in size. “Not all of the installations I do are agricultural, but most of them are – all over the country,” says Simon. “While my team and I do residential installations of a variety of sizes, ranging from a simple solar geyser installation to taking a complete home off the grid, it is the farming systems, from the solar pumps to the big centre pivot irrigation systems that are the most important.” “I’ve found that our original solar-powered home and hot water systems, which are intended as back-ups for Eskom to deal with load-shedding change, with homeowners switching off the grid entirely,” says Simon. “Our installations are now actually replacing the electricity grid entirely.” Of the 830 kW installed by AllPower since 2013, Simon and his team have installed around 66 percent of these and the rate of solar adoption in South Africa is growing. The growth between 2013 and 2014 saw an increase of solar installations by 20 percent. For this year 50 percent of the installations done in 2014 have already been completed in just the first four months. “Racing is extremely important to me,” says Simon. “Competition on track in production cars is fierce and I’m facing some of the best competition in the country. What I do off track is even more important. While we are helping to power the farms in South Africa we are helping to make a real difference to people’s lives.” Simon Moss and his teammate, Michael Stephen, will compete at Aldo Scribante Raceway in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 13 June, the home event for the Engen Xtreme Team. |
