SCHWEPPES CONCOURS CAR ENTRIES HEADING FOR 50

STAR CAR. This locally built replica of a 1930s Alfa Romeo 1750 Gran Sport racing machine is one of the star entries for the Schweppes East Africa Concours d'Elegance scheduled for September 30th at the Nairobi Racecourse. The vehicle beauty contest features 13 classes for cars and seven for motorcycles of all makes and types.

Car entries for the Schweppes East Africa Concours d'Elegance are heading for the 50 mark and there will soon be more than 30 motorcycles on the list for the vehicle beauty contest scheduled for September 30th at the Nairobi Racecourse.

Interest in the crowd pulling sports car category will be heightened by a 1965 Triumph TR 4A which will be shown by Sandra Webb. She is based in Dar es Salaam and will be driving her classic open two seater to Nairobi to contest the Concours. Last year this car won a silver award in the annual Concours run by the Triumph Sports Car Club of South Africa.

Among Sandra Webb's sports car rivals will be the 1963 Chevrolet Nova entered by Fullbore Shades Limited and the unique Kenya made replica of an early 1930s Alfa Romeo 1750 Gran Sport. The chassis and body of this racing car were built locally by the late Vittorio Cassini and Frank Hetimier and the machine is equipped with an Alfa Romeo engine, gear box and rear axle.

For the past 37 years, the Alfa Romeo Owners Club has held the annual Concours to reward the owners of well kept cars and motorcycles. The event also gives the entrants the opportunity of showing their treasured possessions to the motoring enthusiasts and their families who flock to the Racecourse for the classiest event on the motoring calendar.

Regulations and information on the Concours d'Elegance, the Classic Car and Motorcycle Sale and Auto Expo are available from the Bob Dewar Publicity offices in Block G of Norfolk Towers, Kijabe Street. The telephone numbers are 316160, or 229793 (office hours) and the Concours website is www.concourskenya.com

The Classic Car and Motorcycle Sale is open to any vehicle made in 1982, or earlier regardless of the condition of the machine. This helps the owners of

unwanted classics to offer them for sale to potential buyers who are interested in such machines. In previous years the entries for the Classic Sale have varied from Concours condition to vehicles requiring a complete rebuild.

The motorcycles which are already listed for the Schweppes Concours range in age from a 1928 Rudge Whitworth which will be shown in the judging ring by Harare based motoring enthusiast Bob Rose to new Suzuki trail bikes entered by Car and General. The Rudge will be up against the 1937 Moto Guzzi GTC of Rick Agagliate and a KTM entered by Sport Motorcycles.

Bill Parkinson, the Chief Judge, and a team of officials start the car judging at the Caltex Ramp to assess the underside. After this check, competitors drive along the judging line in front of the main Racecourse grandstand. There are check-points for the paintwork and external finish, the interior and boot and the engine. The process ends with a pair of judges marking road-worthiness. The motorcycles are assessed in a similar way in the Racecourse parade ring adjacent to the grandstands.

There are separate awards presented by The Winemasters for Concours competitors wearing costumes. Personalities make a rating of the costumes and interview the competitors in a prime location fronting the grandstand which is packed with enthusiastic spectators.

The choice of fancy dress is completely free but as the event is sponsored by Schweppes and hosted by the Jockey Club, competitors are invited to illustrate a soft drink, or horse-racing theme, or use costumes that suit their vehicles. The introduction of costume prizes several years ago has added to the status and style of the Concours.

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