Phoenix Aviation dominates Concours vehicle contest

By FEVERPITCH REPORTER

TOP: Robert Mutahi’s 1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal won the Most Meritorious Award. ABOVE: Mohammed Parvez of Phoenix Aviation holds overall trophy for the 2013 CBA Concours d’Elegance.

Phoenix Aviation dominated proceedings as the 43rd Concours d’Elegance came to a dramatic and colourful end at the Nairobi Racecourse on Sunday.

An elegant 1928 Ford Tudor entered by Phoenix Aviation emerged the winner of the motoring event racking-up the highest score over the past 10 years.

The winning Ford Tudor had event judges score it 36 on the underside, 75 on the external finish, 60 on interior boot and 55 on engine condition.

The Ford chalked up the highest marks on its external finish but tied with the 1951 Jaguar Mk V on the interior boot points.  

Second overall was a 1951 Jaguar Mark, another pristine collection from the Phoenix Aviation.

Sati Gati-Aura’s 1977 Nissan 160J sealed the podium tussle incidentally with the best underside score and a total of 273 points.

A 1958 VW Beetle from Phoenix Aviation scooped fourth overall place with a total of 271 points to his credit.

This year’s event also witnessed the first ever Ferrari (308 Dino GT4) entry in the history of the event. The Ferrari entered by Kenya-based Italian Marzio Kravos finished fifth overall with 271 points. The car which is a 1974 model will be competing in the forthcoming Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally.  The Ferrari scored the highest marks (60) on the interior which it tied with the two Phoenix Aviation Ford and Jaguar.

The Motorcycle category also created considerable interest from onlookers more so the Uganda Bikers Association (UBA) who rode their machines all the way from Kampala to Nairobi.

The highest placed motorcycle was a 1925 DKW entered by Sati’s Classic.

 Jude Thaddeus’ 1976 Harley Davidson won the Street Motorcycle over 900cc class after racking up 156 points. Coming in second in the class was Peter Njenga with a 2006 Texas Chooper.  Thaddeus’ 37year old bike collected 42 points on the external finish, two ahead of Muturi and 35 on the state of  engine and mechanical. 

Jim Streit (1969 Honda 750) garnered 186 points to win the street motorcycle (from 651cc to 900cc) class. 

Tumaini Muthiga settled for second place in the class with 143 points.

After the competition, there was a colourful grand parade led by the Starehe Boys’ Centre band.

Spectators were treated to some exhilarating displays of motoring artistry put up by all sorts of machines from bikes, vintage cars, the classics and many more.