---

After all the debate about boring Club events and various complaints about poor member support the run to Magadi must have been a record - nearly 100 people including children participated! There were also eighteen classic vehicles and it was probably one of the most successful events the club has organised.

The event started at the Westlands Chequered Flag Petrol Station and most vehicles were on their way by 9:30am. Notable heroes were Guy and Jill D’Olier who had motored from Naivasha in their Rolls, leaving at 7am and Alexander von Braunmühl and Simon Christie who decided to participate on motor bike and side cars, though the Hero (in fact Heroine) of the day award must be given to Mrs. von Braunmühl who loyally rode with Alexander when there was space in a support car. Surely that was beyond the call of duty! Other interesting cars included Patrick Greenaway’s immaculate Ford ‘A’, Manjit’s Chev and it was very nice to see a good turn-out of four Johnny Wroe vehicles, all immaculately prepared as usual, and all full of youngsters (excluding Johnny who is only young in mind!). Unfortunately at the bottom of the Ngong Hills the International’s gearbox failed and poor Johnny ended up doing what he so often does - having to sort out the situation and not having much of a day. His support was very much appreciated though. The only other mishap on the way down occurred to JP who forgot he was in a British car and not a Citroen. A combination of over-enthusiasm and absent brakes saw him leave the road at high speed and do some fairly serious damage to his Metropolitan. Most fortunately neither he nor Mercy were seriously injured, though our sympathies go to Mercy who had cuts and was rather shaken.

It was an oppressively hot day and surprisingly there were not more overheating problems. With my car going well it was a great drive - interesting, challenging and a good road (by Kenya standards, anyway!), though all participants welcomed the facilities of the Magadi Club including the bar with cold drinks and importantly, the swimming pool. Not everyone brought their costumes, including three young and pretty Swedish visitors who said that in Sweden they didn’t need them. They were informed that nobody minded how they swam, though to the disappointment of many participants they decided to stay dry! The Magadi residents were very welcoming and we much appreciated their hospitality.

Finally, thanks must be given to Hans Grüber whose idea it was and for coordinating with the Magadi Club. He only gets 8/10, though, as he brought the start into some confusion by not turning up on time. It appeared his Mercedes failed to work (though I thought Mercedes always worked) and he later came in his Volvo. The event’s success shows that it is a formula liked by the membership and more events of this nature will therefore be arranged.

Alec Davis