Strong entries at Sunday’s Concours

The eagerly awaited 2012 CBA Africa Concours d’Elegance, which opens Sunday morning from 9am at Ngong Racecourse, Nairobi, has attracted strong international and local entry.

The 70 gleaming and well prepared cars and 34 motorcycles is the maximum field allowed at the annual car beauty contest.

The crowd-pulling class for convertibles has attracted a fleet of MG sports cars from Australia and a giant 1965 Chevrolet Impala entered by Magdi Riad.

Other new entries include the 1935 Austin single-seater racing car of Geet Chana and a 1934 Ford Phaeton prepared by Rashid Mughal of Nakuru.

The motorcycle entry list is also studded with machines that have never been seen before at the racecourse.

Among these is an amazing motor tricycle powered by a rear mounted Volkswagen engine and steered by motorcycle handle bars.

Other newcomers include a 1936 AJS contesting the up to 650cc street bike class in the hands of Gavin Walton, who is representing the Vintage Motorcycle Club of South Africa.

Walton’s club mate, Bevan Beckmann, is showing a 1977 Ducati, which will give spectators the first opportunity to see a machine made by the legendary Italian motorcycle manufacturer.

On Saturday, Michael Hughes, the chief car judge, and Robert Gow, his motorcycle opposite number, conducted their briefings for officials at the Total Quartz ramp.

Foreign entries

“The CBA Africa Concours d’Elegance is fortunate to have 23 entries from outside Kenya of which 11 are from beyond the continent of Africa,” Hughes said at the briefing.

“Great attention must be paid to assessing the cleanliness, condition and standard of preparation of each competing car.

“In addition to checking the underside, exterior finish, interior and engine, it is necessary to select the winner of the most elegant car and recipients for three meritorious awards.

“These will be presented at the podium prize giving in front of the main grand stand.”

Gow added: “All the motorcycles in the Concours have been meticulously prepared by the entrants.

“It is vital that the officials at each of the judging stations in the parade ring to make thorough all round checks. Look for any oil seepage, sub-standard wiring and view paintwork from several angles.”

Eye catching

Among the eye-catching motorcycles are nine enduro bikes ridden from Kampala to Nairobi by the Uganda Bikers Association (UBA).

The UBA contingent, whose chairman Gianfranco Masetto is contesting the Enduro class with his Honda Varadero, is expected to take home most of the Enduro motorcycle prizes.

Veteran rally driver Ben Muchemi’s Safaricom-sponsored Kenya Rally School has entered a record seven cars – both rally and vintage.

“Our entry will also be used by the motorsports safety commission to showcase road safety,” Muchemi said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, theatre personalities Ian Mbugua and Millicent Ogutu will be assessing the costumes worn by Concours competitors.