East African Safari Classic Rally

[J4MIE]

This is a ten day marathon rally taking in over 2,000 competitive kilometres in East Africa, starting and finishing in Mombasa, Kenya. There are 52 cars entered with a few big names in there too and defending champion Ian Duncan in a Capri.

I am heading over there (leaving Saturday) for three weeks and will be following the whole event, and with a bit of luck I can post some photos on here - depending on web access.

There has been a lot of rain in the region lately and there are a lot of very muddy areas and some overflowing rivers, so it will undoubtedly be a massive challenge for anyone to get the finish - just like proper rallying should be :up: One of the stages on Day 3 is 154km :bounce:

Official website is East African Safari Classic - The World's Greatest Rally - The Official website (http://www.eastafricansafarirally.com) where you can find details of the event, route and entry list.

[J4MIE]

Have arrived at Rally HQ in Mombasa after a great days driving from Nairobi via a couple of the stages. We even got our 4x4 stuck in a particularly muddy 5km section and the cars being 2WD will be a massive struggle in there, I'm amazed that anyone could drive in there at all!!

[Mark]

Great stuff. I've been following you on Facebook with interest!

[J4MIE]

It's worth it then :) Still two days until the Ceremonial start in central Mombasa, the first stage starts early Sunday morning, although the rumours are that the road is impassable so may be cancelled. A lot depends on the weather over the next few days, it might be ok if it stays dry but it's the short wet season so who knows... :s

[J4MIE]

Advance course car was stuck in Stage 1 for 6 hours apparently....

[J4MIE]

Ferrari is not starting due to engine failure yesterday :(

[J4MIE]

Just back from the ceremonial start under the tusks in Mombasa, lots and lots of people crowding the roads and was a good spectacle to see :up:

First car leaves here at 6.00am tomorrow morning, the first stage has been rerouted to avoid a particularly muddy section. We will be on the road by 5.30 to get to the second stage which is the famous Taita Hills. I'm very excited about it!! :bounce:

[MJW]

Just back from the ceremonial start under the tusks in Mombasa, lots and lots of people crowding the roads and was a good spectacle to see :up:

First car leaves here at 6.00am tomorrow morning, the first stage has been rerouted to avoid a particularly muddy section. We will be on the road by 5.30 to get to the second stage which is the famous Taita Hills. I'm very excited about it!! :bounce:
Any chance of posting photos J4MIE?

[J4MIE]

I will try to get some photos up but there was a power cut at my hotel last night and it xseems to have killed my laptop :( I will see what I can do. I will try to put some up that I've taken with my mobile. Just in Rally HQ having a meal and drinks after the cocktail party....

[driveace]

Bentley brothers of Skipton posted that there has been lots of rain in the North,and they are glad they are not the lead car,so maybe some rerouting or cancelled stages. Is Peter Scott navigating for a South American guy starting ?

[sollitt]

Stage 1 run at 145kph average speed for the leading crews? That's a mistake surely, perhaps the stage was shortened?

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[J4MIE]

Stage 1 run at 145kph average speed for the leading crews? That's a mistake surely, perhaps the stage was shortened?

Yes it's entirely possible, there are some stages that are very fast but the crew have to decide whether to back off on the rough parts as otherwise they might not makr it to the end - it's what rallying is all about! :up:

Sorry for lack of updates, was in SS2 yesterday at a river crossing which was quite nice, then on our way we lost mobile and still haven't got it back, I am on wifi at Rally HQ in Arusha. Was at the first stage this morning after crossing the Tanzanian border at 5am, a 115km stage, found a nice spot at a mud hole which was quite good! The 145km middle stage SS5 was cancelled due to flooding, the last stage is nearly finished.

I hear that Walegard leads at the end of the day by just 3 seconds! But there is still seven days of rallying to go.

There was a muddy section on the third stage last night which a lot of crews got stuck in, and there was also a very wet and muddy section after where we were which swallowed a few cars and there were about 6 in there by.the.time we arrived :s

The long 154km stage which is first to run tomorrow is ok at the moment but rain is forecast overnight so a decision will be taken in the morning whether it can tun. It was cancelled when last run in 2009 after a few bridges were washed away...

[J4MIE]

In addition to sollitt's query about the speed - speaking to someone earlier today who said the last stage today had a 6km straight in it but was a fast stage anyway.

Just back into Arusha after being at the middle stage today, great scenic views from the Mbulu hills overlooking Lake Manyana. I am a bit sunburnt but it was an excellent stage to watch, fast open roads past a few villages and then very very twisty uphill with big drops - like Monte Carlo on gravel :)

Here are a couple of photos from yesterday:

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/6056/30857510150963126590612.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7923/39118110150963124790612.jpg

[J4MIE]

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/5088/30424110150963125855612.jpg

[J4MIE]

Pastrana just came into service with a front wheel missing.

[J4MIE]

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/336/31573310150954280015612.jpg

[James Graham]

Very jealous of you getting to go out and follow this event. Thanks for the updates and pictures.

[Camelopard]

Very jealous of you getting to go out and follow this event. Thanks for the updates and pictures.


Me also!

[J4MIE]

Thanks guys, it is an incredible adventure and great to be able to watch. Just wish my laptop hadn't dies or I would've been able to get photos up at the end of each day. Had mobile signal for a short while earlier today but nothing since, Orange not the best to have as others have signal on different networks, hey ho you live and learn!

Not had a good day, spot in the first stage this morning wasn't great, then we hit a massive dip very quickly on the road section just before the border, luckily (amazingly) nothing broke on the car but I think my neck will be a bit sore in the morning. Then we got to the last stage of the day and drove in from the finish, however we took a wrong road at a junction and were off the stage but didn't realise until later- then when we were going back we got stuck in mud that was a foot deep, we got the winch out but the tow rope broke... no phone signal so Geoff had to set off on foot for help, he walked about 5km before finding Reinhard Klein who pulled us out. Drove back to the stage and got out near the end in time to see the last few cars just as the sun was going down. Now at Rally HQ in Amboseli National Park and looking forward to the rest day tomorrow, don't think I'm the only one!!

[mousti]

How is De Mevius going? :)

[J4MIE]

Was in the stage in Amboseli park this morning, about 10km further in there.were about 10-15 cars stuck in mud, we got about 5-6 out but stage has been cancelled. Hearing unconfirned reports that Waldegard may have crashed near end of middle stage :s

[J4MIE]

Ok, our rear diff has gone so we are limping to service....

[J4MIE]

Eesh now the front diff has gone so we are waiting for a tow and replacement car..... No more stages for us today!

[J4MIE]

Waldegard is out - hit a truck on road section and bent roll cage. 40 minute lead wasn't enough!!

[J4MIE]

Waldegard is still going but he has lost the lead.

[J4MIE]

Imran Khan cheats death (http://flatoutaction.com/index.php/our-news/235-imran-khan-cheats-death)

Well done that man!! He has already pulled dozens of cars out/through mud :)

[J4MIE]

Currently raining in Nairobi and has been for a.few days, lots of water and mud around. I think the stages over the next two days in particular will be extremely difficult!! :s

Will hopefully have access to a PC tonight so will try and get some more photos up.

[J4MIE]

Results after day 6 - http://www.eastafricansafarirally.com/2011/Results%20EASCR%202011%20-%20%20Unofficial%20Provisional%20Classification%20 Day%206.pdf

[mousti]

Maybe De Mevius can get in the top 5 again :o Marcy for podium good :)

[J4MIE]

Extremely wet and muddy today, the middle stage was cancelled., but he has splashed mud all over me amd my camera...

Due to out car issues and being messed around getting a replacement 4x4 on time, we had to race up to end of last stage and just made it in time. First few.cars.are.through, Waldegard was nearly caught by de mevius. He covered me and my camera with red mud on the way past! :(

Perez late coming through with damage to front left looks like he's been off. Siddall very slow with very bad misfire.

[J4MIE]

Sorry, Perez had misfire, Siddall had damage...

Stagr just been cancelled due.to a funeral procession! Only in Africa!!

[J4MIE]

Our adventures continue... Got a puncture in our spare.car but no key for locking wheel nuts.....

[J4MIE]

I hear De Mevius is limping through the last stage of the day.

Was at the first stage this morning and it was the roughest bit of road I've seen in my life, absolutely unbelievable! Carried on to a jump but everyone slowed down a lot fpr it. Managed to catch the last couple of cars in the third.stage, now heading to HQ in Voi.

[pino]

Waldegard is still going but he has lost the lead.

Is Waldegaard there ? :eek: :up:

[J4MIE]

Yes Pino, he is in a Porsche 911. With one day to go now he leads by about 25 minutes as Geoff Bell lost time stuck in a mud.hole in the last stage today.

[J4MIE]

Epic rally is over, Waldegard wins, Geoff Bell second, Blomqvist third. Lot of tired people around here! I was feeling ok until the podium and now I'm completely dead, not sure whether we will head back to Nairobi tomorrow or take a day to chill out and come back Wednesday, with a day in a safari park on Friday. Hopefully get some more photos up over the next couple of days.

Absolutely amazing event, total adventure, massively difficult and an amazing experience to have gone through. Very very glad I made the decision to come :) Only got the prize giving party this evening then it is all over for another two years...

[mousti]

Is Waldegaard there ? :eek: :up:
He's doing that event every year I think, we'll probably see him back in 2-3 months in Belgium for Legend Boucles de Spa. Sucks that Mevius lost so much time, but it's all about survival mostly.

[J4MIE]

This event is only every two years - next in 2013 :)

[mousti]

Ah yeah it was last year that De Mevius won but in the Rallye International du Maroc

[mousti]

Autonews Magazine » Historic » 27 minutes de bonheur On-Board au Kenya (http://www.autonews-magazine.com/blog/?p=19187)

27 minutes of onboard footage of Kronos Boss Mondron and Nicolas Gilsoul!!