The Vintage and Classic Car Club of Kenya
Concours 2010
THE ACCESSKENYA AFRICA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE MET HIGH EXPECTATIONS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od_P4ZBugkE
The 2010 Africa Concours d’Elegance met the high expectations created by an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of the AccessKenya Group, 40 years of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (Kenya) and the centenary of the legendary Italian car manufacturer which inspired the formation of the Club in 1970.
Spectators were treated to 16 entries from four countries outside Kenya and a host of new competitors and gleaming highly prepared cars and motorcycles appearing at the Nairobi Racecourse for the first time. Pride of place among these were the 1952 Rolls Royce limousine of Roger Tanner and the 1915 Indian and the 1920 ABC Sopwith motorcycles from South Africa and the 1972 Triumph Hurricane which was flown to Nairobi by British Airways for Surrey based Tony Page.
The large and enthusiastic crowd thronging the Racecourse relished the close competition for the podium prizes. From mid morning the top car was Sati Gata-Aura’s 1977 Nissan 160J with 268 points. Julia Wilcock’s 1952 blue MG TD was highly rated as a strong challenger and won the up to 1600cc sports car class with 267 points. This left the lead with Gata-Aura who has won the Concours three times and has earned a string of runner-up placings.
Seasoned Concours fans predicted that the remaining threat to Gata-Aura’s Nissan would be the 1928 Ford Tudor of Phoenix Aviation which was last year’s winner. This was one of seven entries in the pre-1940 class and was the last car to face the gauntlet of judges. At the end of the day the ancient Ford was declared first overall with a score of 275 points.
In contrast the 2009 motorcycle champion Karl Pleitz had to be content with the fourth overall position for his 1959 BMW. The veteran 1915 Indian of Philip Gordon scored a decisive overall victory with 192 points. The South African enthusiast was followed by the 1937 Moto Guzzi GTC of Denise Agagliate on 188 taking the runner-up slot by the narrow margin of one point from the 1925 DKW of Sati’s Classics.
Last year Pleitz commenced entering his 1973 MGB GT two seater coupe in the Concours. Using the marks allocated by the judges in 2009 as a guide, he improved the preparation of the MGB and won the up to 1800cc touring car class and shot up the rankings to fifth overall.
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For British motorcycle enthusiast Tony Page, the AccessKenya Africa Concours d’Elegance was a learning experience. He explained, “In the UK, there is strong emphasis on the originality of
machines, but judging the entries in the Africa Concours is based entirely on cleanliness, condition, fit and finish. To win this event requires a very high level of preparation.”
Asked to give his rating of the event, Tony Page replied, “Big by any standards. Slick preparation and well run with meticulous judging. The Nairobi Racecourse is one of the best Concours venues that I have ever seen.”
The most unusual two wheeler was the “Chopper” of Malindi based Andy de Mare which attracted hundreds of motorcycle fans. This featured an 1800cc engine set low in an elongated frame with wide high handle bars and a space-age fuel tank. Loud cheers greeted the announcement that Andy de Mare had won the award for the most elegant motorcycle in the Concours.
Three Jaguars and two Rolls Royce limousines pulled spectators to the Total inspection ramp and the judging line to watch the contestants in the over 3,000cc touring car class. This was won by Kevit Desai’s 1968 Jaguar 420 and the 1952 Rolls Royce of Roger Tanner captured the award for the most elegant car. He was also placed second in the costume category with an Ascot horse racing theme.
For the first time, a Ford Zephyr Zodiac contested the Concours in the hands of newcomer Michael Muya. His restoration of the Ford which was carried out in conjunction with the CMC Body Repair Shop earned a meritorious award and he also took home the prize for the best costume.
Muchohi Gikonyo was another new entrant with his gleaming silver BMW 335i and was rewarded with second place in the up to 3,000cc touring car class. This was won by Gayling May’s burgundy red 1967 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint which also earned a top ten placing.
The strongly supported utility vehicle class has been won by Peter Huth in a 1946 Willys Jeep for several years. He was relegated to second spot by a 1990 Land Rover Defender prepared and entered by Jascruisers Limited.
“The Rat Pack” was the name chosen by Daniele Sardelli and three fellow students from Rossyln Academy for their entry of a 1950 Fiat Topolino (little mouse). They became a
favourite with the crowd and took second place in the small touring car class behind the Vitafoam Mini which has dominated this category for several years and is a top ten Concours car.
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Popular rally driver Ben Muchemi was cheered wildly during his drive along the judging line in his Subaru N8. The class for current competition cars was won by Quentin Mitchell in his 2008 Subaru Impreza. Top prize in the classic rally car class went to Marzio Kravos with a 1972 Mercedes who finished six points ahead of Surinder Thatthi’s 1971 Porsche 911.
The applause for Ben Muchemi was matched by the attention given to the 11 Uganda Bikers Association members in the motorcycle parade ring. For the second successive year they dominated the class for big trail and enduro motorcycles. This was won by Peet Coetzee on his 1997 Honda Africa Twin.
In addition to the rare cars in the pre 1940 class, there were two historic Peugeot pick-ups which were made by AVA in Mombasa. In the utility category Marshalls entered a 1991 Peugeot 404 which is the last example of this model to have been assembled anywhere in the world. The Kenya built 504 rally pick-up which won the 1984 Africa Rally Championship was shown by Mars Auto Garage in the classic competition car line-up.
Throughout the day, spectators turned their attention skywards to watch enthralling model aircraft displays, fly pasts and a spectacular free fall parachute drop. As competitors and spectators waited for the publication of the results and the prize-giving ceremony, Phoenix Aviation entertained them with fly-pasts by a Citation Bravo twin jet and a turbo prop King Air which made three passes over the Racecourse at varying speeds.
To the tune of “When the Saints go Marching in” the Starehe Boys Band led the grand parade of all the Concours motorcycles and cars along the front of the Racecourse Grandstands. Spectators rose to their feet to applaud the 11 members of the Uganda Bikers Association with their magnificent motorcycles.
The crowd remained standing and cheering favourite cars and competitors including the Rolls Royce limousines, rally drivers Ben Muchemi and Quentin Mitchell, the sleek Alfa Romeo Spider sports cars and the pre-1940 “golden oldies”.
The afternoon ended with the presentation of Deacons prize vouchers to the best dressed spectators who used the blue and yellow colours of the day. This was followed by the Grand Finale featuring the Sarakasi dancers, vibrant music and a Deacons fashion show.