SAFARI CHALLENGE

Last October, intrepid crews completed a 5000-mile journey around southern Africa on the Classic Safari Challenge

Through Africa in classics

FOR THE BEST PART of a month, last October, machines as old as a 1927 Bentley 4½ Litre pounded through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, reminding onlookers (and probably a few apprehensive neophtye crews, too) that a well-prepared classic car is capable of extradordinary things.

The sixth Endurance Rally Association Classic Safari Challenge was planned by John and Gill Cotton, and the pair plotted a route that included vast expanses of desert, wetlands teeming with wildlife, and the world’s largest waterfall, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The cars were left behind briefly in Botswana as the crews were buzzed into the stunning and remote Okavango Delta by light aircraft to see elephants, giraffes, hippos and more.

By that stage of the event the cars had already covered some 2000 miles on gravel, dirt and the occasional welcome stretch of smooth tarmac, but the finish was still another 3000 miles away. From Victoria Falls the rally headed south, back into South Africa, and then east towards the Indian Ocean and the coastal town of Umhlanga.

The run back to Cape Town via the Karoo, the Garden Route and the Winelands was relatively kind to the cars, allowing drivers and navigators to really savour the last 1000-odd miles of a wonderful event.

First place in the Vintageant category was claimed by Manuel and Irene Dubs, while the Datsun 240Z of Stephen and Samantha Hardwick topped the standings of the Classic class – but there is no doubt that for all who took part the experience of the Classic Safari will live longer in the memory than the results. endurorally.com

Our condolences to the friends and family of Jan Hradecký, who sadly died during the Classic Safari Challenge.