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34 years later, Drews looking for another Safari victory

Nairobi, September 14---Lofty Drews who grew up in Kenya is a rallying legend by his own right. His reputation as a navigator has no equal in this time and era. His peer group has faded into retirement but Lofty as he is known in rallying circles is still going strong well into his 60s, possessing the strength of a stud and mind of a professor.

In this year's KQ East Africa Safari, Lofty will navigate Jayant Shah in a Datsun 260Z; a slightly inferior model to the one he won the 1973 East Africa Safari while navigating Shekar Mehta. Now a resident of Queensland, Australia, Lofty has always had fond memories of Kenya. Should current weather condition persist in the 2007 Safari, then Drews says he is well prepared for the rigours he encountered with Rauno Aaltonen in the 1977 in a Datsun 160J when part of Kenya suffered a deluge.

Then, he managed to push Aaltonen, one of the original Flying Finns to second position, a result they were to repeat in two more times with Datsun and Opel. His last outing with Aaltonen was in the 1987 Safari in an Opel Kadett which could not match the Audi of Hannu Mikola in muscles, that is in rally speak, as they were to finish ninth overall.The 260Z has been in Kenya since last year after failing to arrive in time for the 2005 KQ Classic which will be a 4500km long marathon in Kenya and Tanzania. The duo drove a Datsun 180B which at some time required serious surgery after the right wing fell off.

Lofty and Jayant Shah, now resident in Arusha, Tanzania, have been a winning combination over the years.In 1987 Lofty moved to Queensland but his return last year was just a great home coming. Lofty honed his rallying career in Kenyan highlands and was a Safarifinisher, navigating Tony Fall in 15th in a Lancia Fulvia in 1969 Safari.

In 1970, Lofty partnered Italian rallying icon Sandro Munari and were leading when they crashed on the last night in a Fulvia In 1973, he was to navigate the late Mehta, the only driver in history to have won five Safari titles. Shah is no newcomer to rallying. Although in 2005 they nursed a very tired Datsun 180B, at least this brought back the memories of their earlier relationship.

The Shah will be looking behind the dust or mud of his daughter Prina, and son in-law, Ekya who will be driving a Colt Lancer GSR which was driven by Davinder Singh, Joginder's brother, in the 1974 to 12th position. His elder brother Joginder Singh, the Patron of the 2007 East Africa Safari, was the overall winner in a similar car.