Another parade of automobile elegance upon us

Elegance, beauty, fun and sun will on Sunday converge in technicolour at the Ngong Racecourse, Nairobi, where car lovers and the upwardly mobile will be attending the 47th edition of the Concours d’Elegance.

The premier motor show organised by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (Kenya) has become one of the most closely-watched social events in Nairobi’s calendar.

It is probably the second most popular event after the Nairobi International Trade Fair.

CLASSIC CARS

This year, the motor show sponsored by CBA Africa will be coming a week before the trade fair.

That also means unlike last year, the Concours will not clash with the last day of the Nairobi International Book Fair, which opens its doors to book lovers on Wednesday.

In any given year, at least 11,000 adults and about 1,000 children attend the motor show, which showcases restored classic cars from bygone eras as well as the latest models in the automobile market.

VOLKSWAGEN CAMPER

This year, radio presenter Larry Asego will be one of the entrants presenting 70 classic and vintage cars and 40 motorcycles in what is essentially a beauty contest for cars and bikes of a certain age.

Among the contestants will be a 1927 Dodge, a 1934 Railton, a Rolls Royce from the same year and an MG made in 1947.

Mr Asego will be presenting a 1974 Volkswagen Camper, which he bought in a yard three years ago.

At the time, it had a Subaru engine and no roof.

“After restoration I named my Volkswagen Scooby and I have been driving it over the weekends,” he said in an earlier interview with the event organiser.

“Last year I entered the car for the Concours but it developed a mechanical problem on the day of the event and I could not drive it to the Racecourse.”

CONTESTANTS
Another Kenyan, Mr Gayling May, will be showcasing a rare 1967 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint.

Competitors from South Africa, Uganda and Tanzania have made a strong showing this year with 31 entries.

Among them is a 1966 Peugeot 404 owned by Mr Tor Allan of Arusha.

Mr Kakooza Wazzir of Uganda will be showcasing his 1991 Mitsuoka Le-Seyde coupe.

“This will be one of the most unusual cars ever seen at the Nairobi Racecourse,” Mr Bob Dewar, the chief organiser of the event, says.

The car is one of nine presented by Uganda contestants.

OLDEST CAR
Over the last three years, the event has featured “The Heritage Collection”, a segment that showcases old equipment and machinery.

Some of main attractions in this section are likely to be a Ferguson tractor made shortly after the Second World War and a 1916 steam engine.

They will, however, be competing for attention with a 1911 Ford Model T owned by Mr Michael Hughes.

“This is believed to be the oldest remaining car in Kenya,” Mr Dewar says.

WINNERS
Last year, the overall winner was Mr Steve Parkinson with a 1950 Jaguar Mark V.

He was followed by Mr John Wroe who had a 1930 Ford Model A.

The top bike award went to Mr Sati Jabbal with his 1958 Norton Racer while second place was taken by the owners of a 1981 Yamaha XT.