23 replies to this topic

[Bondurand]

Sorry if there is already a "please identify this picture" trend. I could not find it. Moderator can feel free of merging my question in it if it exists.

I found this picture amongst tenths of formula 1 and 2 pictures sent to me by a mexican friend that seems to have change his e-mail since.


test

What is this?

The only clue I have is the name of the pic : Kenya Sagoo Sagoo Special 6ub.

The insigna at the front of the car may help?

[D-Type]

I recognise the car. I remember it racing at Nakuru in 1965-66 or so (and possibly also at Embakasi).

it was a locally-produced special for Formule Libre racing. G S [Singh?] Sagoo was the proprietor of a panel-beating business in Nairobi. He produced at least two specials for racing at Nakuru. The first was a rear-engined car powered by a Ford Cortina engine. This went quite well but wasn't fast enough to win. So he then built the car pictured here with a 4.7 litre V8 engine in the back. The engine came from one of the team of Lincoln-Mercury Comets that ran in the 1964 [I think] Safari, or possibly it may have been a spare engine the team left behind. The car was a success and GS Sagoo won the Kenya racing championship a couple of times in it around 1965. As you would expect with a car manufactured in a bodyshop, the cars were both immaculately turned out in a metallic blue colour..

There are a few more details of the Kenya racing scene in these two old threads:Nakuru and African racing

If I remember any more details I'll post them

[philippe7]

Both of your links go to the same thread D-Type, but this is fascinating reading anyway...can't wait to get the link to the other one !

[Bondurand]

amazing !

This forum is a blessed bunch of brain and memories, I can't believe to get such a precise and detailed answer so quick. It's sad that some links and pictures are now down.

Thank you very much D-Type !!!

I guess M Singh should be the bearded gentleman besides the car. So, do you remember who's driving? Or is it M Singh Driving?

BTW, if an editor reads this, I think it would be proper to merge my post in the african racing thread.

[D-Type]

Originally posted by philippe7
Both of your links go to the same thread D-Type, but this is fascinating reading anyway...can't wait to get the link to the other one !

Fixed - I hope.

[D-Type]

Looking at the photo carefully, the person in the car is wearing a suit and appears to be an African. I would suggest that he is a politician or other VIP. The person on the left is wearing overalls, has a beard and long hair and looks like a Sikh. I would guess that the picture shows GS Sagoo and a VIP who has borrowed his crash helmet for the photo.

In Kenya the Sikhs used to remove their turbans to race and wear crash helmets with their hair trailing behind in a ponytail.

[Bondurand]

You're right D-type, looking carefully, the pilot is surely the Sikh gentleman in overalls, and the man in the car is posing for photographs. Maybe I was too happy to think there was a colored pilot in a single seater that early?

Do you remember the colors of the car?

[Geoff E]

Wouldn't the presence of front wings and "wedge" fairing over the engine date the picture as late (rather than mid) 1960s?

[D-Type]

Geoff, you're right - it probably is later. With only four meetings a year (later 4 + 4), in Kenya race cars had a long life. As the 4.7 litre Sagoo was a race winner, I doubt that it would have been replaced by another one. Being a special, it would have been developed in line with contemporary practice. I'm totally baffled by the "6ub" part of the photo reference.
Edit: I did a bit of googling and found the same photo on This site where it is dated 1968. This is later than when I last saw the car in probably 1966 so it is quite likely that it grew wings and a spoiler following Formula 1 practice.

Bondurand, beyond the main colour being red (rather than metallic lightish bluethat i said earlier) I can't remember. It might have had a second colour - if so it was probably white.

Edit: Main colour corrected.

Edited by D-Type, 11 July 2011 - 14:24.

[D-Type]

There's a bit more detail about Gurbux Singh Sagoo and his Sagoo Specials and another photo on the Sikh Heritage site. It's a long way down a long page so doing a "CONTROL F" for "Gurbux" will get you there.

The site with the original picture appears to have vanished into cyberspace.

[kuksees]

Hello everyone,

I realise i am a little late entering this forum but wanted to share something with you. My father, Parminder Singh Sagoo, built and had his brother Gurbux drive the Sagoo Special MkI and MkII in the '60's

We have started a facebook page as well as a blog spot page to recollect some of the old memories and pictures of the events from those memorable days. If anyone has and fond memories and pictures they would like to share please feel free to do so on these pages.

Thanks and looking forward to hearing more from you all

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/gr...id=288528593770

http://sagoospecial....n.html?spref=fb

[bradbury west]

Welcome.
Roger Lund

[D-Type]

Karibu!

[Matheen]

This is amazing, what a small world. Welcome Kuksees paji! Had many a dent repaired at City Panel Beaters back in the day. Distinctly remember a single-seat racer lurking in the workshop. Was the 4.7 from a Mustang Cobra? There was someone called Dogra who still has the Mustang bodyshell but claims he sold the engine to someone who used to race.

Also remember visiting Embakasi as a young lad but only recall saloon car races and the 'pedal kart', lol. Do any circuits remain in Kenya?

Edit: The links in your first post in the 'Nakuru' thread work fine: http://sagoospecial....n.html?spref=fb

and: http://www.facebook....id=288528593770

Edited by Matheen, 23 February 2010 - 22:11.

[D-Type]

I think the 4.7 came from one of the Lincoln-Mercury Comets that ran in the 1964 Safari - either from one of the cars or from the spares the team brought with them.

Nakuru circuit certainly doesn't exist any more it's been built over. I am 95% certain that the Embakasi track has also been built over as I can't find any trace on Google Earth, but I am not absolutely certain of the location. Curiously, it appears that Langa Langa still exists but hasn't been raced on for over 50 years. Any websites about contemporary motor sport in Kenya seem to talk of rallying or karts but no track racing.

Edited by D-Type, 04 May 2010 - 20:01.

[kuksees]

Amazing - i honestly did not expect your replies so soon. Great to hear from you and Asante Sana Paji.

I left Kenya in 1999 and still have family there. Gurbux (Kugi) is still there and running City Panel Beaters.

Unfortunately there are no longer any circuits running in Kenya. Embakasi was chopped up into lots and is totally overrun with new industry - Nairobi has grown significantly. There are a few smaller Go Karting tracks that are in use, these mainly run the smaller under 100cc and centrifugal clutch four strokes on tighter and shorter tracks. I raced Go Karts at the Nakuru Solai Track in the early 90's - that track has also since ceased to race.

Rallying, Autocross, Buggy Racing and Cross Country racing are the main forms of Motorsports still active in Kenya. The East African Classic Safari has been revived and has become extremely popular, they always have a full entry list.

[Matheen]

Some photos off their facebook page (not sure if this was their own car, or one built for someone?)

Edited by Matheen, 27 February 2010 - 20:01.

[Fred.R]

What is the gearbox ? the uprights are fabricated ? exellent thread

[kuksees]

Some photos off their facebook page (not sure if this was their own car, or one built for someone?)

This was the car they Designed, built and raced themselves.

Remember there was no Factory involvement whatsoever - they put together 2 cars the SSI and the SSII then wound up winning the championship.

[kuksees]

What is the gearbox ? the uprights are fabricated ? exellent thread

The first Gearbox used was a Porsche box which was not strong enough and would break. The gearbox that was finally used was one a Coloti gearbox from Italy.

[D-Type]

kuksees,
Have you any idea who is sitting in the car? Is it perhaps Pat Neylan, who is described on the Sikh Heritage site as Gurbux's main rival?

[kuksees]

kuksees,
Have you any idea who is sitting in the car? Is it perhaps Pat Neylan, who is described on the Sikh Heritage site as Gurbux's main rival?

The person in the car is Allan Job and his family. Allan was a great friend who worked for East African Airways. He helped bring parts when they were required from overseas. Tyres, consumables or any other new part / technology that they had heard of.

Unfortunately Allan was not a driver and did not compete in any races. This picture is dedicated to him and his family for the great help they provided is the success of the car and its races.

Cheers

Kuks

[ChrisJson]

kuksees:

Is Iqbal Sagoo who finished second in the East African Safari Classic Rally
together with Björn Waldegård last year related to you?

[kuksees]

kuksees:

Is Iqbal Sagoo who finished second in the East African Safari Classic Rally
together with Björn Waldegård last year related to you?

Hi Chris,

Iqbal is not directly related to us. We have some distant relations.

Cheers

Kuks