KENYANS SCOOP TOP SCHWEPPES CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE PRIZES

Kenyans scooped the top Schweppes East Africa Concours d'Elegance prizes, but overseas competitors made their presence felt by registering five top ten places and three class wins. Only one point separated both the overall car and motorcycle winners making the 2006 event one of the closest fought in the 36 year series organised by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club.

The Phoenix Aviation prepared 1958 Volkswagen Beetle earned 261 points to register the third victory for this superbly prepared machine. The 1952 MG TD of Julia Wilcock which took the top prize last year was placed second with Diccon Wilcock's 1934 Railton third.

The most successful overseas car entrant was Peter Aneck-Hahn of South Africa who finished eighth in his 1965 Volvo P1800. Peter had the satisfaction of winning the up to 1800cc class which was dominated by participants in the 5,000 kilometre African Odyssey classic car safari from Johannesburg to Nairobi. The runner-up in the class was Garth Todd in his 1968 MGB and fellow South African Roy Jones was third in a 1959 Volvo 544.

Andreas Koch from Germany, who also drove from Johannesburg, earned first place in the up to 1600cc touring car class in his 1959 Porsche 356. Clive Winterstein from South Africa made Concours history by showing the first Porsche convertible to be seen at the Nairobi Racecourse. He was placed second in the up to 1600cc sports cars behind the 1952 MG TD of Julia Wilcock and ahead of David Githere's 1966 MG Midget.

The African Odyssey calvacade reached Nairobi 36 hours before the start of the Concours judging and the crews spent Saturday at the Hughes Motors Workshop
cleaning and servicing their cars. Bill Parkinson, the Chief Judge of the event commented, "Considering that the African Odyssey entrants had been on the road for two weeks, their results were very good."

The highest placed overseas competitor was Johannesburg based Peter Posniak whose 1965 Moto Guzzi Stornello took the third overall prize for motorcycles. Peter's flame red Moto Guzzi also won the trail bike class finishing ahead of
Keith Baker's BMW R80 GS. Philip Gordon of South Africa was delighted that his gleaming 1969 Triumph Bonneville won the award for the most elegant motorcycle.

The equivalent prize for cars was taken home by Gurgeet Chana whose impressive glistening black 1939 Buick Special saloon was declared the most elegant car at the Nairobi Racecourse. This was one of the seven machines entered by Gurgeet in memory of her late father Tochi Chana. The Elegance awards were metal artworks made by Concours competitor Frank Hetimier who was commissioned by Sherwin Williams Automotive Paints to create the awards.

This year's East African Concours d'Elegance had a strong international flavour with seven overseas car entries (one each from Australia and Germany and five from South Africa), two motorcycle entries from Uganda and five from South Africa. The car entries came from participants of African Odyssey which was inspired by Roger Pearce, the Chairman of the governing body of motor sport in South Africa who represents his country at the FIA.

Discussing the Schweppes Concours, Roger Pearce said, "We were very impressed with the arrangements, the organisation and the facilities at the Nairobi racecourse. The method of judging is probably unique in the world and is very effective thanks to the dedication and knowledge of the officials."

"When we return home we will recommend the Schweppes East African Concours d'Elegance to South African classic and vintage car enthusiasts. It is our intention to run another African Odyssey either next year, or in 2008 and we will time our 5,000 kilometre drive from Johannesburg to Nairobi to include participation in the Concours."

Among the newcomers who surprised Concours regulars were Gurgeet Chana with her seven car fleet and Richard and Clare Hooper who showed a 1966 Ford Mustang. This car was purchased at the 2005 Concours Classic Sale and was painstakingly restored to contest the large touring car category. The Hooper's American muscle car won the class finishing 24 points ahead of the 1968 Jaguar of Arun's Auto Limited with Anil Lakhani's 1951 Rolls Royce in third place.

Meschell van Tongeren received warm applause from the crowd when she emerged the winner of the class for current rally cars with her 1995 Subaru Impreza. Ben Muchemi took the runner up award in another Subaru Impreza. There was a strong field of classic rally cars and the massive Mercedes Benz 450 SLC was the class winner with Surinder Thatthi's 1973 Renault Alpine taking the runner-up slot. The 1967 Alfa Romeo GTA of Brian Esterhuysen from South Africa emerged third.

A significant number of the Concours entrants contested the costume category which was sponsored by The Winemasters. The top prize was taken by a wedding party who arrived in the Rolls Royce of Anil Lakhani. The remaining prizes went to competitors who saluted the return of Schweppes products to Kenya with imaginative fancy dress outfits.

Top honours in the six motorcycle classes were taken by local competitors, but the five members of the Vintage Motorcycle Club of South Africa made a strong impact. Sati Jabbal won the up to 650 cc class with his superb 1951 Triumph
Thunder Bird with the 1929 Velocette of Johannesburg based Michael Milner-Smyth only four points behind. Fellow South African Philip Gordon was placed third with his 1969 Triumph Bonneville.

Rick Agagliate, a seasoned Concours competitor won the competition motorcycle category with his flame red 1937 Moto Guzzi GTC which also brought him the top motorcycle award. This was Rick's first overall win since 1997 when he fielded a 1941 Indian Scout.
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Summing up the Schweppes Concours d'Elegance, Bill Parkinson, the Chief Judge, said, "A day of close fought competition with both Kenyan and overseas competitors giving us one of the best events in the 36 year series. The growing international interest should bring more entries from outside Kenya next year. This will boost the already strong spectator appeal of the Concours and give local entrants stiffer competition."