Baldev Chager takes day one lead as Top Fry Classic Rally begins

Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Mureithi flags off Joey Ghose at Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nyeri County on July 31, 2019. [Mose Sammy]

The 2019 Top Fry Classic Safari Rally got underway yesterday after a colourful flagging off ceremony at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Nyeri county, against a backdrop of the picturesque Mount Kenya.

Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Mureithi flagged off a total of 24 classic cars, categorized in three groups; 1, 2 and 3, which headed out to the plains of the vast Laikipia County.

“As Laikipians we are excited to host such a big rallying event. It affords us an opportunity to showcase our county to the world and what it has to offer,” said Governor Ndiritu.

He added: “Top Fry Classic Safari Rally, presents us with an opportunity to showcase the enormous but untapped tourism potential, travel and sporting opportunities that Laikipia presents to locals as well as foreigners participating or just here to spectate.”

Smooth and blistering fast gravel roads, littered by gut-wrenching jumps lay in wait for both young and seasoned rally drivers as they set out to cover 276.23km on the opening leg.

First off the ramp at 8.00am, was Baldev Chager a.k.a Boldy, who teamed up with Ravi Soni in a Kabras Rally Team Porsche 911.

Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo navigated by Tim Jessop of Top Fry Rally team was second off the ramp ahead of South African Geof Bell co-driven by Tim Challen in a Team Magnum Cream Lique Datsun 240Z.

From Fairmont, the drivers headed west to commence the opening route which featured subtle changes that were expected to be more of a drivers rally than navigators one.

The competitive section began at Ole Naishu where the cars covered 76.00km before the second competitive section of relentless action, spanning 65.30 km before the cars head north to Il Polei for service.

This gave way to the day’s third and longest competitive section covering (134.93 km) ending at Naibor before the cars headed back to the Perc Ferme in Nanyuki for overnight rest.

Day one had its fair share of casualties who included; veteran Jayant Shah’s Porsche, which hit a bump and rolled into a ditch along the competitive stretch. Briton duo of Andrew Sidell and Alex Lee pulled out after their Datsun 240Zs’ steering developed problems.

Local rally ace, Ian Duncan, also retired after his Ford Mustang developed mechanical problems in CS2.

As another Kenyan, Fergus Robley’s VW Beatle’s oil pump malfunctioned 176 kilometres into the route.

Tundo, whose Triumph TR7 power steering failed along CS2 surrendered the second spot to Kabras Rally Teams’ Onkar Rai.

Both Kirit Rajput and oldie Rob Helier equally pulled out due to mechanical issues which they were hoping to fix in time to start off the second leg with most of them seeking to finish despite being slammed with maximum penalties for not finishing the opening leg.