2018 CBAConcours D'Elegance

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THE 2018 CBA AFRICA

CONCOURS D’ ELEGANCE

What went down in the most anticipated motor event of the year?

Words by Mark Muhoro

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Veronica’s Wroe Rolls Royce ended up bagging the overall winner’s award in the car category with 270 points. Following closely behind with 269 points was Sati Gata-Aura with his 1947 MG TG and 1977 Nissan 1600 cars that took up the 2nd and 3rd places overall respectively.

Sachit Shah’s 1959 Mercedes Benz 300D

Car enthusiasts rose up bright and early on 30th September to attend the most anticipated motor event in Kenya- the 2018 CBA Africa Concours d’ Elegance. As early as 8 AM, competitors had already set up classy cars and motorcycles to the admiration of spectators. The day was sunny and the mood cheerful- a perfect recipe for a successful event. The theme was Aladdin and the Classical Rides.

Being a continental status event, CBA Africa Concours d’ Elegance draws crowds from all over Africa. Over 10,000 people - adults and children- attend the event each year. This year’s event was the 48th in the series, and just like the ones prior, it was organized by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club.

CBA Africa has been the main sponsor of the event for seven years. They sponsor a similar one in Uganda named Uganda Vintage and Classic Auto Show ,which has been running for three years. According to Chris Pasha, CBA’s Group Head of Marketing, the two events have reinforced and connected vintage and classic auto enthusiasts in the two countries. He noted that more and more Ugandan competitors are making the trip to Kenya to participate in the CBA Africa Concours d’ Elegance, and vice versa.

The Cars

This year, car enthusiasts were treated to an intriguing auto pageant that included star studded car entries from all over Africa. The entry list comprised of 70 cars in total, eight of which were made before 1940.There were three Roll Royces, a one-of-a-kind classic 1959 Mercedes Benz car, a 1968 American muscle car, and many more.

Dr. Kevit Desai, the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Vocational and Technical Education in the Ministry of Education, was one of the competitors. He fielded a gorgeous 1967 Jaguar 420, which he acquired it 30 years ago from the owner of the British Gas Organization in Kenya at the time and gradually reconditioned over the years. Only 1,500 models of its kind were produced.

Another car that wowed the crowds was a 1968 Buick Riviera that was fielded by Paul Bakuru from Rwanda – a collector with a penchant for American cars. This was the only all-American muscle car entered into the competition. Bakuru acquired the Riviera just before the Rwanda government implemented its 10-year tax policy on used vehicles in 2016. The car features a massive 7.0-liter V8 engine that delivers over 400 horsepower. The deafening roar that the exhaust produced when he revved the engine was proof enough of the specs.

Anwar Fatehdin, a new entrant, showed a striking 1930 Ford Model A. It was in excellent shape, with a well-finished, newly upholstered interior. When he bought it in 1968, it was a

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Peter Giraudo’s 1966 Triumph TR 6C managed to pull-off a 1st place win in the motorcycles category with 175 points, and in second position was Dominiqie Antoine’s 1925 Triumph 550 SD. Martin Kaiser’s 1964 AJS Cafe Racer managed to scoop third place.

‘piece of junk’ in his words. The body, chassis, and engine were in very bad state. Anwar painstakingly reconditioned the car, and by 1972 he was driving it. I was intrigued that the car’s body has been locally fabricated for the most part, unlike most other competitors who imported various replacements for their cars.

One of the most anticipated cars was Sachit Shah’s 1959 Mercedes Benz 300 D. This majestic, light-green limousine looked fit to carry royalty. The 1959 Mercedes Benz 300 D is also referred to as the Adenauer because it was loved by Germany’s first chancellor – Konrad Adenauer. This particular car was sold new in Kenya several decades ago and was only rescued in November 2016 after being left outside for over 15 years. Mr. Shah entrusted the process of reconditioning the car to J.P. Roquier – a man who is well versed in all things concerning classic and vintage machines. Most of its parts and components were refabricated or repaired, while others had to be shipped from UK, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and USA. Mr. Shah’s 1959 Mercedes Benz 300 D features a 180-horsepower 2996cc straight-6 engine and a fully independent suspension system.

These cars were really cool, but it was apparent that the stunning Rolls Royce limousines were getting a lot of attention from fans. The Nairobi City Council showed a 1952

Rolls Royce in which Governor Mike Sonko rode when he was being sworn into office. The Nairobi City Council acquired the magnificent car way back in 1968. Every incoming Nairobi Mayor or Governor has been chauffeured in it ever since.

Rajesh Lakhani also brought his 1951 Rolls Royce Silver Dawn. Only 735 models of the 1951 Rolls Royce Silver Dawn were ever made in right-hand-drive, and only five of them had been brought into the country before independence.

Veronica Wroe showed a 1934 Rolls Royce Boatail that was also a showstopper. This bright yellow car featured a wood-paneled cabin with a boat-shaped rear, hence its ‘Boatail’ suffix.

Motor Cycles

This year also saw a significant increase in motorcycle entrants; up to 40 competitors showcased their bikes, quite a few coming from Uganda and South Africa.

Galleria Mall sponsored two bikes from South Africa: A 1964 AJS Café Racer that was fielded by Martin Kaiser from Johannesburg, and a 1970 Honda that was fielded by Vivian Mathew Kuiper. Other entries included a 1966 Triumph TR6C fielded by Peter Giraudo , Tumaini Nyagah’s 1999 Harley Davidson ( which won top honours in the Most Elegant

Motorcycle Category), a 2006 Vstar 650 that belonging to Kevin Wairiuko Maimba,

Peter Giraudo’s 1966 Triumph TR 6C managed to pull-off a 1st place win in the motorcycles category with 175 points, and in second position was Dominiqie Antoine’s 1925 Triumph 550 SD. Martin Kaiser’s 1964 AJS Cafe Racer managed to scoop third place.

Added Value

2018 CBA Africa Concours d’ Elegance also set up an Auto Expo where people could buy new or used vehicles. There, automakers like Mercedes Benz, Nissan, and Isuzu had set up shop and were showing off their latest vehicles. There were also trade stands for motorcycle makes like KTM, TVS, and Suzuki.

There was also a Heritage Collection where vintage automotive machinery was exhibited. In this section, the showings included Roger Tanner’s 1918 steam engine, an ancient Mercedes Benz truck, and an old Fergusson tractor.

Kids had a lot of fun thanks to Brookside Diary Limited, which had set up a kid’s zone complete with bouncing castles and clowns. Car enthusiasts were also treated to live performance by music artist Nyashinki later in the evening. Without doubt, the 2018 CBA Africa Concours d’ Elegance lived up to expectations.

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