Kevit Desai is the overall car winner of this year’s edition of the quintessential Africa Concours d’Elegance that was held at the Ngong Racecourse on Sunday 24 September. Desai, a former Principal Secretary in the Ministry of East Africa Community and Regional Development, straddled the judges’ course in his 1968 Jaguar 420.
In the motorcycles category, Dominique Antoine rode off with the trophy atop his 1925 Triumph 550 SD, the oldest bike in the Concours with 183 points after fending off a spirited challenge from Russell Hughes with his Ducati 65T only one point behind. Russell rode about 140 km from Njoro Nakuru to take part in the event. David Odhuno’s 1989 Yamaha Super Tenere came in third place with 173 points.
Desai stunned the zealously cheering crown of vintage car enthusiasts who turned up for the biggest motor pageant in Kenya. Veteran participant Gayling May came in close tow with his meticulously spruced up 1976 Alfa Romeo Sprint, while Vitafoam’s 1966 MGB came third. This is the 51st edition of the annual event organized by the Alfa Romeo Club Owners of Kenya.
The spirited contest for the grand title underscores the intensity of the work, time, and attention to detail that competitors put in to present their superbly finished machines to an impressed crowd of car enthusiasts who, on their part, turned up in stunning outfits that matched the elegance of the event.
The award for the most elegant-looking car at the Concours went to first-time entrant John Milia Ntoipo with his gleaming 1974 Daimler Sovereign, a clear favorite of the spectators, while Emmanuel Lari Odero’s 2002 Honda VTX 1800C was the judge’s choice for the most elegant motorcycle.
Kevit Desai in his 1968 Jaguar 420.
The Pearl Bikers Association from Uganda added a glamorous twist to the event with their attention-grabbing machines that roared past the cheering crowd of admiring spectators. Gianfranco Masetto’s 2018 BMW R1200 GSA led the pearly pack of seven entrants and he proudly took home the Pete Maas Memorial Trophy for the best bike from Uganda.
Leslie Carvell, a regular car competitor from Uganda won second place in her class after driving her 1976 Volkswagen Beetle from Jinja to the Nairobi Racecourse to participate in the event. Mercedes Benz enthusiast Patrick Mweheire who had entered four cars from Uganda won a prize for his 1959 Mercedes Benz W180 (Ponton) and the 1970 Mercedes Benz 250D.
Among the rare vehicles paraded at this year’s Africa Concours d’Elegance was the 1990 Lancia Delta Integrale rally car of Tanzania enthusiast Naavraj Singh Hans and Dominique Antoine’s 1976 Bultaco Sherpa T250.
Tumaini Muthiga carried the day in the fancy dress category. The enthusiastic car collector had entered four vintage cars and two motorcycles in different categories which he paired with well-prepared costumes. He won the car costume award while Prateek Singh Gulati carried home the motorcycle prize with his costume-themed “Punjab Nightrider”. First-time entrant Major Kelvin Saningo in his “Maasai Invasion” costume also won a prize.