The Concours d’Elegance does exactly what it says on the tin – showcase glamorous, elegant cars and motorcycles to discerning petrol heads as well as the public at large.
This year’s event was sponsored by CBA and featured competitors winning prizes with cars and motorcycles that had not in previous years showcased as well as they did this time around!
Most Meritorius Bike – the 2001 Kawasaki Vulcan of Tumaini Muthiga won this award and a was also placed 2nd in the over 1200cc street motorcycles class. Tumaini won the costume prize for bikes.
Entries come from all over the continent and this year the major prizes were scooped by not only Kenyan entries, but also South African and Ugandan teams!
The Concours d’Elegance is an annual event organised by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club and took place this year at the Nairobi Racecourse.
A 1950 Jaguar Mark V of Steve Parkinson won the overall car trophy and John Wroe was the runner-up with his 1930 Ford Model A – Wroe’s best result since winning at Concours 10 years ago!
Elegant Car – Roger Tanner presents his 1952 Rolls Royce Silver Dawn. This car was declared the most elegant at the event.
In the bike class, Sati Jabal entered his 1958 Norton Racer – a break from his usual entry, his 1925 DKW motorcycle which has already won a number of times. He also picked up a gong for his 1981 Yamaha XT 500.
DJ Adrian won in the 1300cc touring car class with a sexy pearl grey classic 1961 VW Karmann Ghia.
Young faces also made an impact this year, with Nairobi’s Andre Antoine in the up to 1600 street motorcycle category with a 1960 BSA.
Elegant Bike – the 1956 Ducatti 65T of Russel Hughes was declared the most elegant motorcycle and also placed 5th overall in the motorcycle category
Yes, Concours is about competition, but it’s also about spectacle – and despite the extreme traffic on Ngong Road on Sunday afternoon as well as the rain that completely engulfed the city in the early hours of the evening, fans of the event came out in droves to catch some pretty outstanding vehicles. The show may not be for everyone, but for those who enjoy the thrill of cars, the beauty of clean engines and the superior craftsmanship of classic cars, the Concours d’Elegance is definitely one for the books!
Images: courtesy Bob PR
