Philip Young is always the same shyster and, in proposing this raid, he pointed out some elements. The rally is very exclusive. There will be thirty crews maximum, a princely welcome and refined service. A lot of tourism, a dash of competitive spirit and pleasant places to live on board of our beloved vintage cars. All this on paper. In practice, there will be challenging departures before dawn, some camping and many wild animals. Fortunately, there is a friendly company, more than half of the crews are old friends, veterans of the Beijing-Paris or Around the World, people that we really love to see. According to the latest entry list, it seems that the park-machines consists of cars more choices for their charm that for their performance. In short, the characteristic of the race should be the trip. Good. Maybe we will find fun, this time ...
Fifty years ago the first Safari Rally took place. Departure and arrival were in Nairobi, cars were those of every day, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Citroen, Mercedes, entrusted to local pilots who were experimenting for the first time this kind of race. Over the years, the Safari has become a classic, one of the most significant of the racing season. The Datsun, owes much of the success in Africa just for the victories of 240, for example. For years, foreign drivers did not win, they needed experience, knowledge of the roads, points of care. It was a grueling race, roads almost all dirt, with mud, dust, stones, fords, animals. The one we are going to face is a different tour that in common with the original Safari will have only the arrival, in Kenya. And, perhaps, a bit of that spirit of adventure that characterized the pioneers. We will meet Philippa and Colin McLachlan from Australia. Han-le Noble e Joop van Kesteren with the legendary Porsche 356, the terrible Broderick with Invicta the 30's, and Anne and Do Meeus with the same Jaguar XK120 that overturned during Around the World. It is also joined us Ray Carr, 78, our friend in Pennsylvania since the time of the Peking to Paris. Peter and Betty will follow us with their traveling workshop and this, perhaps, is the most reassuring element in this African adventure in which we aim to arrive among the first ... thirty.
