For 47 years, the Concours D’Elegance has attracted one of the classiest, star-studded events in the motorsport calendar where motor vehicle enthusiasts, families and friends, including competitors from outside Kenya come together to celebrate the elegance and class of vintage cars and bikes.
Continuing off the very popular 2017 theme of “Beauty and the Beasts,” this year’s theme, “Aladdin and the Magical Rides”, maintains the overarching theme of Classic Tales that celebrates both the splendour of the event as well as the centrepiece of the event which is the cars and bikes on show.
Aladdin and the Arabian Nights is an enchanting theme and a much-loved classic tale with the added character of the magic carpet; a character very similar to the cherished rides on display at the event, which each have their own personality and moods.
Collectively, Aladdin and The Magical Rides is the perfect fit as the chosen theme that promises another wonderful day for the continuing story of the CBA Africa Concours, and all the machines on display.
What to expect this Sunday.
Held at the Nairobi Racecourse on Sunday (September 30th) from 9:00 a.m, spectators will be treated to a pageant of motoring history starting with the 1925 Triumph motorcycle entered and prepared by Dominque Antoine. This ancient bike will be judged in the class for motorcycles made in 1960, or earlier which includes Peter Giraudo with a 1959 BSA Shooting Star which will appear at the Racecourse for the first time.
The Rolls Royce limousines of Roger Tanner and Rajesh Lakhani and the 1968 Jaguar of Kevit Desai who is the Patron of the annual Concours d’Elegance, will compete in the class for cars over 3,000cc against the 1968 Buick Riviera of Paul Bukuru who is the first ever Concours entrant from Rwanda.
Sachit Shah will be tackling the classiest event in the motorsport calendar for the first time with his 1959 Mercedes Benz 300 D. Anwar Fatehdin is another newcomer who will be driving his 1930 Ford Model A along the judging line in front of the Nairobi Racecourse grand stands. He is one of the eight participants in the class for “golden oldies.” The Ford Model A pick up of Joseph Kamau will be at the Concours for the first time and is the last car on the list to be judged by the officials.
How are cars judged?
The process of judging cars starts on the Total Excellium inspection ramp and continues along the judging line with assessments for the external finish, the interior and boot, external finish, the engine and a safety check.
Motorcycle fans will be flocking to the motorcycle judging ring to watch the two Galleria shopping mall sponsored competitors from the Vintage and Classic Motorcycle Club in South Africa. Vivian Matthew Kuiper will be visiting Kenya for the first time to ride his 1970 Honda in the parade ring.
In addition to watching the judging of the vintage and classic cars and motorcycles spectators will be able to view a selection of new cars, SUVs and pick ups in Auto Expo which is the motor trade section located a short distance from the grandstands on the inside of the Racecourse. Several of the trade stands will be displaying motorcycles and the makes represented are TVS, KTM and Suzuki.
Total Kenya will show an old dispensing pump together with the latest service station equivalent. Following the sub theme of the old and the new in the Heritage Collection there will be an electric powered car which has been made by students of St. Andrew School and a motorcycle using solar generated electricity.
Throughout the day there will be fly pasts and in the afternoon there will be a spectacular free fall parachute before the prize giving ceremony. The completion of judging will be followed by a grand parade of all the Concours cars and motorcycles in front of the grandstand. The podium prize giving will be held shortly afterwards and Concours day will end with a grand finale.
