Motor adventure, competition return to East Africa

Arusha to witness the hair raising event

By Arusha Times Reporters

Based on the original idea of the 1953 Coronation Safari, the East African Safari Rally returns in 2003 as the greatest classic car rally in the world. The event, scheduled to run from 10-19 December 2003, covers a mammoth 5,000 kilometers and will take the crews through some of the remotest and most rugged landscapes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The 2003 East African Safari Rally marks the 50th anniversary of the original Coronation Safari, a unique event run by enthusiasts to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. In 1960 the event was renamed the East African Safari Rally, running annually until 1972, and, in keeping with the sense of history, only cars manufactured before 31 December 1971 are eligible to compete in the 2003 event.

The event starts from Mombasa on the Kenya coast on 10 December 2003 and covers approximately 5,000 kilometers, 2,200 of which will be competitive. From Mombasa, competitors drive across the Taru Desert en route to the verdant Taita Hills with their endless sequence of hairpin bends. The crews then continue north into Masai country, blending with the wild animals that wander the vast plains, past Nairobi to Mount Kenya across the Laikipia plateau and up the wall of the Great Rift Valley escarpment to Eldoret. Competitors then continue on to Kampala in Uganda via Owen Falls Dam, the source of the Nile.

The route then returns to Kenya at the Busia border, past Lake Victoria, to the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve where roaming animals will once again keep the crews on their toes. On to Arusha in Tanzania, with competitive sections in the foothills of Africa's highest mountain, the imposing and spectacular 19,340ft Mount Kilimanjaro. The crew then heads across the Usambara Mountains, which decimated the field in 1963 to the ‘Magnificent Seven' finishers. After crossing the Kenya border at Lunga Lunga, the dramatic Shimba Hills await, an area famed for its large herds of elephant. The beautiful Diani Beach marks the finish of this epic journey, new names likely to be added to the list of East African Safari Rally finishers and, for the winners, the trophy prized among rally drivers the world over.

The spirit of the 2003 East African Safari Rally is one of adventure and camaraderie, a commemorative event that not only celebrates a 50th anniversary and marks a moment in motorsport history, but also embraces the essence of early competition, much of which is lost in today's multi-million dollar era. The historic and much loved flavour of the event has been recaptured and, half a century later, the East African Safari Rally will retrace many of the legendary routes that have played host to driver skill, persistence, stamina and a unique camaraderie over the years.

The organisers of the 2003 East African Safari Rally are names considered as tribal elders of the rally fraternity. Fred Gallagher (a former navigator to the international Rally legend; Bjorn Waldegaard) Clerk of the Course, has three wins to his credit, and Mike Doughty – who led Shekhar Mehta to four of his five wins before assuming the role of Manager of the Safari Rally for many years – is Assistant Clerk of the Course. Mike Kirkland, Event Director, has contested 19 Safari rallies amassing five podium finishes, and Surinder Thatthi, four-times Africa Rally Champion navigator, is the Rally Manager.

The event will also embrace a humanitarian side by pledging charitable donations along the route. Each night, one of the competitors will present a school with much needed equipment to assist in the further education of East Africa's children.

The East African Safari Rally is open to crews holding an International Competition Licence and, while all the competitive sections will be run in daylight to enhance this historic adventure, the challenge posed is still like no other. Vast open plains, with only a rally car, a long plume of dust trailing behind it, small gatherings of local people and families of giraffe and zebra are contrasted by rugged and spectacular mountain ranges, ultimate picture postcard scenes.

The element of competition obviously remains, and trophies will be presented to the leading 10 crews with additional awards for Class winners. Added to this, a special trophy – awarded at the discretion of the Clerk of the Course – will be presented to one of the competing crews who has, whether completed the route or not, embraced the spirit of the event.

The 2003 East African Safari Rally, which has been scheduled outside the international rally calendar and during one of the most beautiful months in Africa, promises to be one of the greatest classic car rallies of the modern era.

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Last modified: November 21, 2002.
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