Concours d’Elegance splendor catches on in Nairobi

An influx of a total of 31 entries from South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda confirms the Africa continental status of the Concours d’Elegance scheduled for Sunday at the Nairobi racecourse.

Rated as the classiest event on the Kenya motor sport calendar this will be the sixth to be sponsored by CBA and the 47th in the annual series organized by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club.

The importance of the Concours is highlighted by a visit to Kenya by Clive Mawson, a Vice President OF FIM AFRICA which has recognized and sanctioned the Concours since 2006.

Clive is the Chairman of the Leisure, Touring and Road Safety Commission of FIM AFRICA.

During his time in Kenya, Clive will be meeting Concours competitors and officials before and during the event. He will spend Saturday at the racecourse monitoring the preparations and will attend the briefing for judges and officials.

On Sunday he will devote the day to assessing all aspects of the organization of the Concours including the judging of the vintage and classic motorcycles, the publication of the results, the prize giving and crowd control.

For cars the judging process starts on the Total Quartz inspection ramp where officials assess the underside.

This is followed by checks of the exterior, interior, engine and roadworthiness which are carried out infront of the racecourse grandstand. Motorcycles are judged in a similar way in the parade ring.

Among the entries from outside Kenya are several outstanding star motorcycles and cars. Under the sponsorship of Allianz Insurance and the Galleria shopping mall the Vintage Motorcycle Club of South Africa will present a 1929 New Henley, a 1935 Sunbeam and a 1960 Velocette Viper for judging in the racecourse parade ring. This trio of magnificent motorcycles will be seen for the first time by Concours spectators.

In recent years the sole entry from Tanzania has been Tor Allan’s 1966 Peugeot 404. On Sunday he will be joined by the 1998 Ferrari F355 Replica of Shane Ramzanali, a Dar es Salaam classic car enthusiast. Shane will also contend the sports car class in his 1976 JBA Falcon Roadster.

Spectacular entry

The most spectacular entry from Uganda will be Kakooza Wazzir ‘s 1991 Mistuoka le-Seyde. This is one of the limited edition of specially built cars inspired by the large and luxurious machines made in the mid 1930s.

Other eye catching machines from Uganda are the 1983 Nissan 240RS of Bob Roberts who would be contesting the rally car class and the 1974 Mercedes of Ronald Walusimbi.

Ronald was the overall winner in the Uganda equivalent of the Concours which was held earlier this year.

The visitors will receive tough competition from Kenya’s leading competitors like Sati-Gata Aura with his 1947 MG TC, Diccon Wilcock who will be driving his 1934 Ralton along the judging line and Savi Bhogal’s 1972  Alfa Romeo Spider.

Recognizing the congestion on the Ngong Road the Alfa Romeo Owners Club recommends competitors, officials and spectators to use the Southern By-pass this gives speedy access to the Lenana intersection which is only one kilometre from the Nairobi Racecourse entrance on the Ngong Road.

The Racecourse gates will open to the public from 9:00 a.m. on September 24th to enable spectators to avoid traffic by arriving early.

The programme for the day includes a spectacular free fall parachute drop at approximately 2:30 p.m. and throughout the day spectators will be able to divide their time between watching the judging of the classic and vintage cars and motorcycles, visiting Auto Expo (the motor trade section) and the Heritage Collection.

This comprises displays of historic vehicles, old machinery and equipment. The earliest exhibit will be the 1911 Ford model T which was used by General Smuts in World War 1.

There will also be an ancient Ferguson tractor, a 1918 steam engine and a hand operated petrol pump kindly loaned by Total Kenya Limited.

After the completion of judging there will be a grand parade of all the Concours cars and motorcycles which will precede the podium prize giving in front of the main grandstand.

Following the presentation of awards spectators will be treated to a fashion show in keeping with the Concours d’Elegance spirit.