1930 American classic takes overall honours at Ngong Racecourse after tying on points with Mike Duder’s Ford Tudor
Veronica Duder’s meticulously preserved 1930 Essex Super Six has won the 54th Africa Concours d’Elegance at Ngong Racecourse, emerging overall champion after tying on points with another 1930 American classic.
Duder’s Essex Super Six and Mike Duder’s 1930 Ford Tudor both scored 278 points, but the Essex took the overall title because it is recorded as the older marque in the vehicle logbook.
The two cars dominated the judging, particularly in categories assessing their undersides, finish and originality.
Kevit Desai’s 1968 Jaguar 420 finished third overall with 270 points, followed by Umang Patel’s 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL on 267 points. Safari Rally driver Baldev Chager’s 1986 Nissan Silvia 200SX completed the top five with 265 points.
Century of motoring history
The annual event brought together vehicles spanning more than a century, from a 101-year-old motorcycle to modern classics from the 1980s and 1990s.
In the motorcycle category, Rick Agagliate’s 1941 Indian Scout 741 claimed overall honours with 176 points, narrowly beating Dominique Antoine’s 1925 Triumph 550SD, which scored 175 points.
Andre Antoine’s 1959 BSA finished third with 164 points, followed by Agagliate’s 1976 Yamaha Trial on 162 points. Douglas Kiereini’s 1980 Honda CB750F and Prateek Singh Gulati’s 2001 Yamaha Roadstar tied for fifth on 153 points.
Motorcycle chief judge Robert Gow said the category attracted a strong and varied field, including the century-old Triumph.
“This year we’ve got 35 entries, a couple of no-shows, but this is just what happens. We’ve got a good entry of different varieties of motorcycles,” Gow said.
Among the entrants were members of Pearl Bikes Africa, who travelled from Uganda to participate in the event.
Classic workhorses take centre stage
The utility vehicle classes provided another showcase of Kenya’s motoring heritage.
In Class 1, for utility vehicles manufactured after 1980, Cloth My Ride (EAT) won with a 1999 Land Rover Defender on 189 points. James Nguo’s 1996 Mercedes-Benz 290GD was second on 181, while Kelvin Leiyan’s 1992 Toyota Land Cruiser finished third with 163 points.
Chirag Soni’s 1972 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ55 won Class 2, covering vehicles made between 1971 and 1980, with 200 points. Don Owino’s 1979 Range Rover Classic was second on 198 points.
Class 3, for utilities manufactured up to 1970, was won by Martin Sharrif Butt’s 1957 Chevrolet 3100, followed by Reid Arensen’s 1959 Land Rover Series II.
Benson Muli’s 1970 Volkswagen Kombi Westfalia finished third, while Bernd Trompell’s 1968 Land Rover Series IIA was fourth.
Volkswagen Beetles shine in touring classes
Volkswagen models dominated the touring car categories.
In Class 5, covering 1,001cc to 1,500cc touring cars, Elizabeth and Dereck Dames won with their 1968 Volkswagen Beetle, scoring 228 points.
Jane Chemngorem’s 1960 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia was second on 222 points, narrowly ahead of Capt. Mugo Keiyoro’s 1972 Volkswagen Beetle on 221 points. Imran Khan’s 1956 Volkswagen Beetle Deluxe was fourth on 210 points.
Paul Chemngorem’s 1975 Toyota Celica won Class 6 for 1,501cc to 1,700cc touring cars with 222 points, two points ahead of Avraj Singh’s 1980 Alfa Romeo Sud Sprint.
Chager revives Safari Rally memories
One of the event’s standout entries was Baldev Chager’s 1986 Nissan Silvia 200SX, an ex-works Nissan factory car associated with rally legend Jayant Shah.
Chager has owned the car for 18 years and spent 11 years restoring it, with the project focused on retaining its historic character.
“This is actually a beautiful restoration project. I have had this car for 18 years and began the restoration 11 years ago,” Chager said.
He said the Silvia was driven by Shah in several Safari Rallies and national events in Kenya and Tanzania.
“When we started to restore it, we wanted to give it a perfect nostalgic look and I think we’ve managed to do that with the 1990 colour that Jayant ran in,” he said.
The car’s appearance at Ngong Racecourse carried additional significance because the venue hosted a WRC Safari Rally spectator stage in 1990, the same period in which the Silvia competed.
SportPesa brings Formula One nostalgia
SportPesa also showcased a replica of the Racing Point Formula One car it sponsored in 2019.
Racing Point made its Formula One racing debut at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix before the team was rebranded as Aston Martin for the 2021 season.
The 54th Africa Concours d’Elegance once again brought together collectors, restorers and motoring enthusiasts to celebrate vehicles judged on originality, restoration quality, presentation and roadworthiness.
The result was a showcase of Kenya’s enduring motoring culture, with machines separated by decades but united by craftsmanship and racing history.
