PRESS RELEASE No. 1
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Patron
Mr. D.P. Marwaha |
In the first ever Coronation Safari Rally started in 1953 I am glad and very proud that along with my co-driver Late Vic Preston Senior we were winners 1st in Class "C" on this event driving a Tatra T-600 car. No overall winner was declared in 1953 and there were three class winners only.
In the next two years we were overall winners of the Coronation Safari Rallies in year 1954 when we drove a Volkswagen Beetle and in 1955 Ford Zephyr Mark-I, again with my co-driver the Late Vic Preston Senior. Never had African motor sport seen such dominance by one team of driver and co-driver with three successive victories.
This event was started to commemorate the occasion of crowing ceremony of Her Majesty the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth-II in the year 1953 by personalities such as Eric Cecil, L.F. Menton, Ian Craigie all officials of the Royal East African Automobile
Association who took the decision to hold a marathon event to be known as Coronation Safari Rally in Kenya, Uganda and then Tanganyika in May 1953.
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Tatra
T-600 Class Winner in 1953
Left to Right: Vic Preston Senior/Vic Preston Junior/D.P Marwaha |
This event was warmly
welcomed by motor sports enthusiast in all the three countries particularly
those who have been participating in Hill climbs as well as Track racing
and I was one of them too.
Every one of us longed for the day of the start of the Safari and what
was more challenging that the specification of the motorcars had to
be of the standard specifications with no modifications allowed other
than putting additional long range lamps, better safety belts etc. In
this way the skill of the drivers participating in the Coronation Safari
Rally was what determined the winners.
In year 1956 I along
with my colleagues had pre-planned to win the Team prize to prove the
motoring fraternity the reliability and ruggedness of the Simca make
of cars and we were successful to win the Team Prize. The drivers were
myself with my brother Mr. Marwaha, Mr. Samakraj, Mr. Sivyer, Mr. Drooks
and Mr. Vest.
From 1957, I decided to retire from Motor Sports Competition and indulge
myself in my married life and business. In the year 1960, the Coronation
Safari Rally was then declared to be known as East African Safari Rally,
the same name as the event you are going to be driving in.
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VW
Overall Winner in 1954
Left to Right: D.P Marwaha/Vic Preston Senior |
I wish all the competitors
the best of luck and hope every one of the participants shall enjoy
the rally and learn through the experience they shall go through. May
I also take this opportunity to offer my very sincere thanks to the
organisers and officials those who have been participating and have
indulged themselves since 1953 and they deserve a great appreciation
for their devotion, efforts and spending their valuable time for making
every year after year great success in East African Safari Classic Rally.
My final Word to all Drivers is to go with the Motto "NEVER GIVE
IN" while on the wheel, victory shall be in the hands of Almighty
God.
D.P. Marwaha
November, 2008.