Condolences continue to pour in as the world mourns Kenya's rally great Vic Preston Junior

VICTOR PRESTON AT AINTREE 1962 [photo courtesy]

The global rally fraternity will never be the same again! This follows the demise of Kenyan rally great Vic Preston Junior.

Preston passed away in Seychelles on Tuesday after a long battle with illness, reportedly pneumonia. He was 72.

His death shocked the world rally scene, especially those who saw the two-time Kenya Motor Sportsman of the Year winner display his prowess in bike races and different brands of rally cars.

From the condolences that are continuing to pour in for the legend, who graced our black and white television screens while engaging in the battle between man and machine, one can tell Vic Preston Junior was a much loved person.

"Kenya’s rallying community is in mourning following the news that Safari Rally star Vic Preston Junior passed away at the age of 72 on Tuesday," world motorsport governing body FIA wrote on their website WRC.com.

"Junior’, as he was known throughout the sport, finished his home round of the World Rally Championship on the podium three times – his 1978 runners-up spot aboard a factory Porsche 911 was as close as he came to winning," FIA said.

President of the Kenyan Motor Sports Federation (KMSF) Phineas Kimathi while mourning, described the star as one of the pillars of Kenyan rallying.

"He was one of the most celebrated sportsmen in Kenya for the last 50 years," Kimathi said, adding that the speedster was one of the pillars of the sport in the country.

Glen Edmunds, who made his debut in the East African Classic Rally this season, mourned Preston saying the fallen hero brought a wealth of experience and techniques to his company, the Glen Edmunds Advanced Driving School where he was a teacher.

"Junior" was an instructor at Glen Edmunds Performance Driving School for almost a year and a half before migrating to the Seychelles," Edmunds said.

"He was always a favourite with the students and helped so many become better, safer drivers. He was a great fun to have in the company and always had everyone laughing. Gone but never forgotten," Edmunds said.

In his tribute, Steve Anthony, a former Kenya National Autocross champion wrote: "Junior was one of the most naturally gifted bike racers and rally drivers of his generation.

"We were extremely good friends. He was a motor vehicle engineer, with a great talent for vehicle preparation, which was very useful for his racing."

Celebrated award winning photographer and rally personality, Anwar Sidi termed Preston as a 'Legend, a Star and Kenya's hero.'

"Am proud to have witnessed him in action," Sidi said.

Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Mabona remembers the driver as a childhood hero who inspired her love for motorsports.

"We used to have a parallel children's Safari Rally each year with wire- made cars and we would compete vigorously," Mobona wrote.

"We returned home with mud all over us but thrilled at our feats. We would take on names of our heros. Vic Preston Junior was my hero. Reason sijui( reason not known). Rest in peace personda (Rest in peace my favorite person)," Mabona added.

Media personality Topi Lyambila who interacted with the speed ace says Preston was as a man of few words.

"Vic Junior was a great guy, great sportsman although he spoke very little and let the action do the talking. May the good Lord give him a deserved rest," said Lyambila.

To Hassanali Abdullah, a rally fan, Preston was the only Kenyan driver who could wrestle with the well-oiled world beaters who trooped to Kenya every season to take part in the historic Safari Rally done during Easter holidays.

"I loved the way he gave them sleepless nights," Abdullah said.

Fellow Safari star Mike Kirkland,who is currently based in Mombasa, said of his friend and rival: “Preston Junior was not only a good rally driver, but he was a fun guy and an excellent motorcycle competitor.

"He was, no doubt, one of the best rally drivers in Kenya.”

Preston competed in motorsports actively between 1966-1990. Just like his father Vic Preston Senior, his life revolved around the game.

Preston Junior competed for a host of manufacturers including Ford, Lancia, Audi, Porsche and Nissan.

At 17, he received a Kawasaki motorbike as a birthday gift, a present that inspired his dominance in bike racing in the Nakuru and Nairobi championships.

He comfortably beat prolific rivals like Jack Simonian, Ivan Smith, Kirkland and the Rose brothers at the Sikh Union Grass Track and at the Nairobi Race Track.

A year earlier (1966), at a tender age of 16 (too young to even own a driving licence), he made his debut in the East African Safari Rally driving a Ford Cortina GT as Gerrish Robert called out his pace notes.

VICTOR PRESTON AT THE WHEEL OF ONE OF HIS FORD ENTRIES IN THE SAFARI 1967 [photo courtesy]

He finished the rally in 80th position, jump starting his career that spanned for 24 years.

In 1971, aged 21, he was navigated by the late Bill Parkinson in the Safari Rally, finishing sixth overall in a Ford Escort Twin Cam.

In 1985, he won all 12 rounds of his domestic series in a performance which was one of the highlights of his time as a factory Lancia driver.

But it was the 911 which delivered his finest hour. And, had it not been for a broken driveshaft aboard the Martini-liveried Porsche, he would likely have landed the win many in the sport felt he was due.

Preston made history of sorts in 1989, navigated by John Lyall when they were forced to wait patiently by the roadside in the bushes for hours after a pride of lions surrounded their Nissan 200SX.

His career ended in 1990 after he retired in 11th place at the Marlboro Safari Rally following suspension problems with his Nissan 200SX while co-driven by Lyall.

After his successful rally career in Kenya, Preston moved to Seychelles where he ran a petrol station until his demise.

Like father like son

His father, Vic Preston Senior was a one time Chief Judge at the annual Concour d'Elegance. The father is among the Kenyan rally pioneers, having competed in the inaugural Coronation Rally in 1953.

Preston Senior won the 1954 and 1955 Safari Rally in a VW Beetle and Ford Zephyr Mark 1 respectively.

The father had so many similarities with his son including starting his career as a teenager at age 17.

 Preston Senior dominated the Grass Track Challenge Cup at Sikh Union for three years till 1949.

He was also a two-time Motor Sportsman of the Year winner in 1960 and 61.

 Vic Preston Junior Rally Achievements

1.KNRC Drivers Champion

1971-Vic Preston Jnr. (Ford Escort TC)

1972-Vic Preston Jnr (Ford Escort TC)

1973-Vic Preston Jnr (Ford Escort RS1600)

1977-Vic Preston Jnr (Ford Escort RS1800)

1985-Vic Preston (Lancia 037)

2.Kenya Motor Sportsman of the Year victories

1970: Jointly with Joginder Singh.

1977: Jointly with Co-driver John Lyall.

 

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