KENYA: Classic car show celebrates the old and the glamourous

Record ID: 361948

  • Title: KENYA: Classic car show celebrates the old and the glamourous
  • Date: 28th September 2009
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) WINNER MOHAMMED PARVEZ, SAYING "We had to take it all apart, that was about two and a half years ago, and then we assembled it. We came here and we were second overall last year, and then we then we went back, we knew where our faults were and we sorted all of that out."
  • Embargoed: 13th October 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVAJH3Q64FBLAQD3SOGPGMKZNUK
  • Story Text: Kenyans flocked on Sunday (September 27) to the annual Concours d'elegance, held at the Ngong's Racecourse in Nairobi.
    Classic and vintage cars and motorcycles were paraded in front of 3,000 spectators who braved the scorching sun and a late evening drizzle to catch a glimpse of the rare cars.
    The competition -- considered by many as the most prestigious in the region -- welcomed 12 entries from outside Kenya.
    Participants from Uganda Bikers Association rode all the way to the Kenyan capital, stealing the show.
    "What I've seen is a bit different from the other competitions. I've seen some new entries for this year that I've never seen before. I've have been a participant for the past two years, three years... For the past years I've been coming but this time round I've seen something totally different," said Brian Bakari, a regular attendant at the event.
    The Alfa Romeo owners club has organised the Concours d'elegance fair for the past 39 years.
    The vehicles is judged based on their cleanliness and condition.
    "I bought it here about 4 years ago in quite a rundown state and I restored it and renovated it and I entered it a few years back to see how it would do… And so, it's a fun thing to do, it's fun to bring it back and show it off again," said Richard Yuper, a participant.
    Second-time participant Mohammed Parvez's 1928 Ford Tudor won the overall vintage prize, while Karl Plaitz's Harley Davidson Bike scooped the overall bike Prize.
    "We had to take it all apart -- that was about two and a half years ago, and then we assembled it. We came here and we were second overall last year, and then we then we went back, we knew where our faults were and we sorted all of that out," said an elated Parvez.
    There were a total of 67 vehicles at this year's show.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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