124 replies to this topic

[Darren Galpin]

The Kenya Motor Racing Association held an event at the Nairobi Racing Track on the 3rd February of what looks like 1974. I have been sent a map of the track, but with no further details, and it doesn't match Nakuru for example. Does anyone know which track it could be, or have any further details of the meeting? The event was sponsored by Firestone, with a bend on the circuit near the Nairobi-Mombassa Highway named after the company.

[TimB]

I believe that will be Embakazi

 

 

[D-Type]

That race would have been at Embakasi (with an s not a z).  This was a totally different track from Nakuru Park which was in Nakuru,100 miles from Nairobi, which again is a different track from Langa Langa which was at Gilgil, approximately 75 miles from Nairobi on the way to Nakuru.  Many people refer to the Nakuru track as "Langa Langa" because this became the local term for motor racing. 

Edited by D-Type, 24 February 2022 - 19:32.

[Darren Galpin]

Thanks! That confirms what I was otherwise guessing.

[terry mcgrath]

thanks for info managed to find and buy a copy terry

For Mozambique, there is a copious book titled "História do Desporto Motorizado em Moçambique"  (History of the Automobile sport in Mozambique) written by two enthusiasts back in 2011. It is in Portuguese, though, covering from 1921 to 1973. If you are looking for something specific let me know, I own a copy and can read the language.

[nexfast]

Excellent, Terry. Can tell you that the first mention of Jaguar in the book appears in 1948, when South-African Ian Fraser-Jones raced his SS in then Lourenço Marques road circuit. There are a few pictures around some of reasonable quality, others just scans from contemporary newspapers.

[terry mcgrath]

can't wait for it to arrive

 

Excellent, Terry. Can tell you that the first mention of Jaguar in the book appears in 1948, when South-African Ian Fraser-Jones raced his SS in then Lourenço Marques road circuit. There are a few pictures around some of reasonable quality, others just scans from contemporary newspapers.

[nexfast]

If you would need any help with translations just send me a PM

[terry mcgrath]

just seen this thanks

If you would need any help with translations just send me a PM

[Rupertlt1]

just seen this thanks

 

Terry, Have you looked here lately?

https://forums.autos...jaguar-history/

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

TANGANYIKA ENTERS MOTOR SPORT

TANGANYIKA has come into the motor

racing world and for once the capital,

Dar-es-Salaam, has not taken the lead,

but Tanga, the Territory's second city.

The first race meeting, held last

November by the Tanga Motor Club,

was more or less a tryout for club

members on their ready made tarmac-

adam track, 5 deg. South of the Equator,

fringed with palm trees and ceilinged by

a blue tropical sky. This meeting was

an unqualified success. Tales of this

meeting and the excellent mile and a

half track in its lovely setting and the

fact that the Tanga Motor Club were

serious soon spread over East and

Central Africa and applications for entry

at the club's next meeting, which was

held last week, came from the big boys

of racing in Kenya.

Of the six events which took place

during the last meeting the 10-lap handi-

cap for sports cars and Formula 3 racing

cars and the 20-lap New Year Handicap

for all-comers undoubtedly, caused the

greatest sensation for the public, African,

Asian and European alike, who have

now taken to motor car racing in no

uncertain terms.

In the 10-lap event, which was won by

the only lady driver, Mrs. Cicely

Gavaghan, in a Jaguar XK 120, 12 cars

lined up for what was to prove a

thrilling race.

Stan Bradfleld from Dar-es-Salaam

led from the start in a Ford V8 special

and was followed 18 secs. later by two

M.G.As before the Jaguar XK 120 with

a 24-sec. handicap got away. Through-

out the race these four cars and an M.G.

TF driven by David George, a club

member, battled it out for the lead,

the M.G. TF trying very hard to take

fourth place till he eventually dropped

out. Unfortunately most of the show

was stolen by one car—a "D"-type

Jaguar from Kenya driven by Kenya's

champion driver, John Manussis. This

was the first time this car had been seen

in Tanganyika and was watched with

interest resulting in many of the thrills

provided by the other competitors going

unnoticed by the spectators.

The "D"-type had a handicap of 127

secs. and Manussis sat watching the first

four cars battling for the lead before he

even had a chance to move. But when

he did, what a get-away! Throughout

the race the Jaguar kept improving upon

his handicap as he roared around the

track at fantastic speeds—fantastic at

least for Tanganyika.

A Swiss driver, Hans Huber, in an

M.G.A overtook the Ford during the

ninth lap. At the same time the Jaguar

XK 120 overtook the M.G.A and the

Ford V8, thus taking the lead which

Mrs. Gavaghan held with brilliant

driving. In the meantime Manussis in

the "D"-type Jaguar had come up to

third place only 200 yards behind the

XK 120 at the start of the last lap.

Given one more lap and undoubtedly

the "D"-type would have won.

The main race of the day, however.

was a 20-lap New Year Handicap in

which over 15 cars took part and we in

Tanganyika considered it some race.

Once again major interest was shown the

"D"-type Jaguar. This was unfortunate

as so many people failed to see the

superb performance put up by the

others. The Jaguar, however, only

finished third, but in one of the most

spectacular finishes one could wish to

see.

There is room for considerable

improvement in Tanganyika, but the

sport here is as yet new, however it has

caught on and is attracting outsiders. A

Corvette was, in fact, entered from the

Belgian Congo, right over on the other

side of Africa, but was unable to get to

Tanga. It is hoped that interest will be

aroused in South and Central Africa and

that soon racing names from those

countries will be seen at Tanga.

Tanga is very lucky indeed in having

a ready made track consisting of the

dispersal runways of the old Naval Air

Base in a setting which is really perfect.

Given their fair share of luck there

seems no reason why Tanganyika should

not come to the front.

ROBIN PETERS

Autosport, 21 February 1958, Page 248

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Mozambique:

HAVING won the 1960 South African

Championship, Van Der Vyver

added another victory to his already long

list by winning the City of Lourenco

Marques Cup, a round-the-houses race

in the heart of the city.

He took the lead on the third lap of

the 30-lap race and led easily from then

on. Alvaro Lopes from Angola drove

his 300S Maserati into second place and

Dawie Gous took an easy third. The

under 1,500 c.c. class was naturally won

bv Van Der Vyver with Gous second and

Frank Dyason of Pretoria in a Dart Alfa

third. The over 1,500 c.c. class was won

by Lopes with J. Gomes in a Jaguar

XK 150S second and J. Alves in a

Ferrari third.

A. R. HULL.

Autosport, 26 August 1960, Page 304

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 24 February 2022 - 09:30.

[Rupertlt1]

A NEW CIRCUIT FOR

RHODESIA

ON Sunday, 11th September, His

Worship the Mayor of Salisbury.

Councillor Harry Pichanick, officially

opened the new 2.4-mile road racing

circuit at the Marlborough Stadium, just

outside Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia.

This fine track is due to the enthusiasm

of Harry Reedman, M.P., and opens a

new chapter in the history of motor

racing in Africa.

From the start the course slides gently

down the long straight of Watling Street

to the sharp left-hand Gwebi Bend,

and on full bore again along Bantu

Straight, before pulling back for a

tricky swing round Hippo Bend, through

a swinging kink up Selous Slope and

tie Hill Climb. Over the top the road

drops sharply through Duikers Leap

and sweeps left into a full bore bend,

Lomagundi Kraal (pronounced crawl, but

don't you believe it). Shooting the bridge

one quickly positions for the hairpin

and a sharp right turn back into the

straight. The road is 30 feet wide all

the way, widening to 40 feet at the pits

opposite Club House Kopje (hill), which

is one of three natural grandstands. With

safety measures second to none, the

Marlborough circuit puts the Federation

on the International map for future

motor racing.

The opening meeting consisted of five

races, constituting a grand day's sport

under blazing skies and a good omen for

future occasions; now more international

competitors are wanted and they can rest

assured the competition is keen, the

course A.1. and the sport, as ever,

unbeatable.

Results

Blenheim Handicap (production closed cars up

to 3,500 c.c.), 5 laps: 1. P. H. E. West (1,172 c.c.

Morris Minor), 55 m.p.h.; 2. N. G. Matthews

(803 c.c. Austin A30); 3. J. F. Hartley (2,214 c.c.

Morris Six).

Ramilies Handicap (unlimited sports cars), 5 laps:

1. T. P. Peatling (Austin-Healey), 64.8 m.p.h.;

2. C. G. S. McPherson (Austin-Healey); 3. J. G. H,

Watson (Austin-Healey).

Woodstock Handicap (unlimited racing cars),

5 laps: 1. M. Witham (Cooper), 64.8 m.p.h.; 2. J. A.

Shield (Ford Spl.); 3. S. Wellsted (Ford Spl.).

Marlborough Trophy Handicap (unlimited racing

and sports cars), 20 laps: 1. C. W. M. Kirkpatrick

(M.G. TD), 58.8 m.p.h.; 2. J. G. H. Watson

(Austin-Healey); 3. C. G. S. McPherson (Austin

Healey).

Salisbury Handicap (10 fastest cars of day),

5 laps: 1. H. de Jouvancourt (2,660 c.c. Austin-

Healey). 65.3 m.p.h.; 2. J. A. F. de Villiers

(1,098 c.c. Cooper); 3. C. G. S. McPherson (2,660

c.c. Austin-Healey).

WIDE OPEN SPACES: de Villiers'

Cooper leads Tingle's blown M.G. on

the Hill Climb of the new circuit.

Autosport, 7 October 1955, Page 425

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 02 March 2022 - 06:48.

[Derwent Motorsport]

Interesting references to the Peninsular War!  

1172 Minor must have had a Ford side valve fitted.

[BRG]

Interesting references to the Peninsular War!  

1172 Minor must have had a Ford side valve fitted.

Historical Pedantry Alert!

 

That would be the War of the Spanish Succession, fought in Belgium and Austria, not the later Peninsular War in Spain and Portugal.

[Rupertlt1]

R. H. Collinge sends this

picture from Nairobi of himself in

his home-built "Austin 16 chassis

and front end, with A90 engine,

16 gearbox and A70 differential."

Top speed: 112 m.p.h.

B.A.R.C. Gazette, Nov/Dec 1954, Page 345

 

For Cliff Collinge (Flying A) at Brackenhurst Hill Climb see Autosport, 7 August 1953, Page 166.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 29 September 2023 - 19:11.

[Derwent Motorsport]

I wonder how much racing takes place in Africa these days?  North Africa seems a mess.  SA is in dire economic straits, is there any activity in East Africa?

[nexfast]

South Africa might be messy but there is still a lot of motorsport going on there. True, not a local F1 championship like in the 60/70s, however plenty of activity. See here:

 

https://www.motorsport.co.za/

[Gary C]

I now live in Nairobi the only motorsport we have is rallying, be it local clubbie stuff (not much), the East African Safari Classic or the WRC Safari Rally proper. No circuit stuff whatsoever, we have NO circuits!

[D-Type]

I now live in Nairobi the only motorsport we have is rallying, be it local clubbie stuff (not much), the East African Safari Classic or the WRC Safari Rally proper. No circuit stuff whatsoever, we have NO circuits!

A year or two ago, there was also a fairly active Kart scene.  Has this died?

[pilota]

Does anyone have the date for the 1955 Asmara race? Thank you

Nathan

[Rupertlt1]

Does anyone have the date for the 1955 Asmara race? Thank you

Nathan

 

Sunday 25th May 1952.

RGDS RLT

[Doug Nye]

A curious date for a 1955 race...  

 

DCN

[Rupertlt1]

A curious date for a 1955 race...  

 

DCN

Better than nothing! I hoped it might draw attention and smoke out others!

RGDS RLT

[a_tifoosi]

Was there a race in Asmara in 1955? According to Adam Ferrington and Alessandro Silva ("From Voiturettes to Formula 1", page 40): "other meetings followed in Asmara on various street circuits up until 1952".