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Nairobians turn out in large number to view classic cars

SLIGHLY under 5000 spectators who turned up at the Athi River Portland stage were treated to some exhilarating display of rallying artistry as classic machines entered Nairobi with much zest and vigor. It was a welcome relief for Nairobians who have been yearning to view the cars since the ceremonial flag off at Moi Avenue in Mombasa on Saturday. The reverberating nature of the vintage cars rekindled the good old days unlike the present day Group N and Specially Prepared Machines that produce less sound. Though many teams were apprehensive of bashing their machines, it was Englishman Iain Freestone who got the wildest of cheers for his graceful driving at the stage.

Prior to the classic cars run at 3pm, Rallye Sports Club who wee assigned to run the stage gave spectators a reason to smile for the long wait. Former Autocross champion Rick Aslam and cross-country quad rider set the platform sweeping the road well in time for the classics to attack. The large turnout and fervour of classic cars showed in essence just why classic cars still have a place in the hearts of Kenyan fans; decades after similar machines raced on some the scenic terrain in the region.
The venue was a beehive of activity and the large turnout of fans culminated into a big traffic jam that traffic police contained after a while. Crews had to borrow a few matatu tricks at Mulolongo area where there was a snarl up of heavy commercial vehicles.

They were compelled to overtake from the road side indrer to be at the Safari park ferme well in time. The road works around the area did not deter the determination of the myriad spectators who started streaming in at the venue as early as 9am. By the time the event gathered moment the parking were filled to the brim with no major incidences recorded.
Title sponsors Kenyan Airways had guest and officials treated to a big bash on its tent. The cars restart at safari park Hotel tomorrow and will pass through Ngong View Point, Suswa, Kimwarer before having a night stop at lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge.

By A Correspondent

Local boys excel as the 2007 Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic rally moved into Nairobi at the end of Day One action.

Ian Duncan, who is favoured to steal the limelight when the 10-day action moves into rougher terrains as the rally progress, was the top Kenyan driver to check into Nairobi yesterday. His Ford Mustang was placed in the fourth place. Bjorn Waldegaard, one of the most popular drivers from the past era of the East African Safari Rallies, was the first driver both on points and road to check at the Safari Park Hotel last evening ahead of over 40 cars.The Swede was not deterred by earlier mechanical problems which saw his Ford Escort lose time in the second competitive stage of the day through Ndi because of damaged steering arms.

Duncan was joined by Nakuru-based John Rose in the ninth place driving a Datsun 260Z. The father to the former national champion Lee Rose was said to have suffered no major problems along the route of the day one action. It was also a good show for the Malindi-based Steffano Rocca lying in the 13th place in a Datsun 260Z having tasted victory twice at the hands of Rob Collinge.

The East African Portland Cement Quarry stage proved as expected to be the stage of the day or even may be the whole competition after thousand of fans turned up to see the action.Ben Muchemi, the sole indigenous driver in the competition was last reported at the end of stage one through Vipingo.

The day action will start at 5.30am this morning before cars pass through Ngong, Suswa and Tenges. Naivasha Sopa Lodege will host tonight’s rest halt.

Provisional results Day One: 1. Bjorn Waldegaard/Mathias Waldegaard (Ford Escort Mk1, S/S) 1hr:28mins:13secs; 2. Gerard Marcy/Alain Lopes (Porsche 911, B/B) 1:30:09, 3. Stig Blomqvist/Ana Goni (Ford Escort Mk1, S/YV) 1:32:23; 4. Ian Duncan/Amaar Slatch (Ford Mustang, EAK/EAK) 1:34:01; 5. Frederic Dor/ Didier Breton (Porsche 911, F/F) 1:37:30; 6. John Rose/Michael Borrisow (Datsun 240Z, EAK/EAK) 1:38:47; 7. Graham Alexander/Ross Runnels (Datsun 260Z, AUS/AUS) 1:39:04; 8. John Lloyd/ Adrian Cavenagh (Datsun 240Z, GB/EAK) 1:40:12; 9. Geoff Fielding/Preston Ayres (Porsche 911, GB/GB) 1:40:20; 10. Paul Eric-Jarry/Craig Redelinghuys (Porsche 911, CZ/ZA) 1:41:55

The remaining programme:

Re-start from Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi on Nov 26th at 05:30; Night halt for Nov 26th and 27th at Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, Naivasha; Re-start from Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge on Nov 27th at 06:00; Re-start from Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge on Nov 28th at 06:00; Night halt for Nov 28th and 29th at Ol Tukai Lodge, Amboseli Reserve Thursday, November 29th is a rest day in Amboseli; Re-start from Ol Tukai Lodge, Amboseli Reserve on Nov 30th at 07:00 Night halt for Nov 30th at Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge, Tsavo; Re-start from Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge, Tsavo on Dec 1st at 07:00; Night halt for Dec 1st and 2nd at Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, Arusha; Re-start from Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, Arusha on Dec 2nd at 07:00; Re-start from Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, Arusha on Dec 3rd at 05:30 Finish at Sarova Whitesands, Mombasa on Dec 3rd at approx 15:00; Prize giving at Sarova Whitesands, Mombasa on Dec 4th at 11:00.

By A Correspondent

Sweden’s Bjorn Waldegaard is the early leader of the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally after cars checked in at Safari Park Hotel at the end of Leg One.

The former multiple winner of the Safari Rally led the rally from start to the end of Day One action despite suffering minor mechanical hiccup in the second competitive stage after the start from Mombasa yesterday morning.His Ford Escort was among several cars which suffered damaged steering arm problems through the opening two competitive section of Day One.

Top local driver, Ian Duncan was hit also hit by similar a problem in stage two after his Ford Mustang found the terrain too rough. Despite the problem, the former Safari Rally winner and one of Kenya’s best hopes climbed one place up the ladder board to the fourth place when the cars checked into Nairobi at the end of Day One.

It was also same story for another former Safari Rally legend, Stiq Blomqvist whose Ford Escort was forced to stop in the Ndi section after damaging the steering arms. He dropped from second on road to third in points.Marzio Kravos and Renzo Barnardi became the first casualty of the day after their Mercedes Benz blew its engine into the first stage of the day through Vipingo.

Months of preparations and hard work went down the drain for the crew which had aimed to finish in the top-10 of this year’s competition. The crew decided to retire from the rally though rules would have allowed them to rejoin after repairs to the rally car.

Like the local boys, the Europeans also found the going tough suffering numerous mechanical failures shortly after the start of the rally from Mombasa. Voi town was the centre of bee-hive activates as crew sought refuse for major repairs touching on the engine and other parts of the cars.

The Volvo 142s of Belgium’s Kurt Vanderspinnen (No41) was in the area trying to replace a broken piston while the Briton Nick Mason was in rush to repair the rear broken cross member of his Datsun 260Z. A broken piston would mean a major setback for any driver but the idea of withdrawing from one of the most glamorous rounds of the world rallies would not be on top of the agenda right now for any competitor. With Duncan in the top five and expected to pick up positions, other Kenyans have also performed commendably well to stay within at the top.

John Rose, father to former national champion, Lee Rose is the next top Kenyan driver after Duncan to emerge as a serious contender among the top 10 position. His Datsun 240Z moved up the ladder board without major problems in an excellent 6th place. He was joined by Malindi-based Steffano
Rocca driving the two-times winner of the of the rally, a Datsun 260Z in the 11th place.

The husband and wife crew of Ekya and Prina Shah were also motoring well causing some sort of embarrassment to their parents in Car number 18 of Jayant Shah which was a further four places down the leader board at the end of stage two. Jayant’s former navigator, Aslam Khan and nephew Imran were also ahead of the former colleque driving a Ford Escort. They were placed 17th.

Car no 24, a Ford Escort of David Kedward of Great Britain and Mombasa-based Crispin Sassoon was towed back to Mombasa to be replaced with a new water pump. Sassoon said he was disappointed to have hit trouble so early in the event. He said they would rejoin the competition after carrying out the repairs.

The Day Two action will start this morning at 5.30am before passing through Nongo, Suswa and Tenges along the route of the rally

Provisional results Day One: 1. Bjorn Waldegaard/Mathias Waldegaard (Ford Escort Mk1, S/S) 1hr:28mins:13secs; 2. Gerard Marcy/Alain Lopes (Porsche 911, B/B) 1:30:09, 3. Stig Blomqvist/Ana Goni (Ford Escort Mk1, S/YV) 1:32:23; 4. Ian Duncan/Amaar Slatch (Ford Mustang, EAK/EAK) 1:34:01; 5. Frederic Dor/ Didier Breton (Porsche 911, F/F) 1:37:30; 6. John Rose/Michael Borrisow (Datsun 240Z, EAK/EAK) 1:38:47; 7. Graham Alexander/Ross Runnels (Datsun 260Z, AUS/AUS) 1:39:04; 8. John Lloyd/ Adrian Cavenagh (Datsun 240Z, GB/EAK) 1:40:12; 9. Geoff Fielding/Preston Ayres (Porsche 911, GB/GB) 1:40:20; 10. Paul Eric-Jarry/Craig Redelinghuys (Porsche 911, CZ/ZA) 1:41:55

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John Davenport Tel: +44 7973.334297
Francesca Davenport Tel: +44 7976.918968