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SAFARI PROJECT |
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The World’s Greatest Rally 22 November – 1 December 2009
Datrats have been commissioned to project manage preparation of a Datsun for the 2009 East African Safari Classic by BCBS Motorsports of UK. The car will be driven by Joey Ghose of UK and navigated by Dennis Schumacher of Perth, Australia. Component sourcing and specification planning is already well advanced , with input by a range of specialist suppliers for the safety cage, suspension system and drive train . The supplementary regulations restrict the vehicle choice to pre 1976 manufacture, with component choice limited to those allowed by the EASC regulations, parts homologated for the vehicle with the FIA or those modifications allowed by FIA Appendix K regulations. A lot of work goes into planning the vehicle, with the emphasis for these vehicles on reliability, with sufficient power. Datrats will be providing service for Joey and Dennis during the event, with the management vehicle being manned by by local rally experts. Datrats would like to express our thanks to Joey and Dennis for this opportunity to have a part of a truly great experience. THE SAFARI "It is probably the toughest road test in todays world". The course has around 4500 kilometres of corrugated "bony" (without padding) machine - killing, driver and navigator punishing bush roads. The roads vary from sea level to 3500 metres in temperatures that often reach 50 degrees Centigrade. It rattles race cars to destruction, heat the components to destruction and grinds their drivers and navigators to shivering abstraction. It is an event where the the successful are not merely finishers, but are survivors of the East African Safari Classic. Compared to a World Championship Rally, the Safari course is a tough, gruelling and arduous course. In World Championship Rallies the roads between competitives are often fast, smooth highways. In the safari the roads between competitives may be rougher than the special stages, making but the Safari one long 4500 kilometre special stage. There is no respite from the grind The safari stared as a challenge between friends Eric Cecil and his cousin Neil Vincent back in the early 50's. They were sick of circuit racing and wanted a challenge so it was stated "If you will organise an event where we get into our cars, slam the door, go halfway across Africa and back, and the first car home is a winner, I’ll be in it." This was in 1953 and the safari rally was born. The first rally was called the "Coronation" rally to Honour the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II. It became a yearly event from that time on till 1972. Since the original safari concept, there have been many events designed to emulate the same level of challenge on each of the major continents. In Australia the Redex trials of the 1950's and the the later round Australia trials followed on using the safari formula. These events proved to be very popular with the cars capturing the imagination of the general public in the nighly news bulletins and reports in the papers.http://www.redcentretogoldcoasttrial.com.au/rctgct/History.asp?showMenu= An example of the determination and skill that must be displayed is shown in this shot from the official East African Safari web site in 2007. 
click to enlargeIf you look at Bjorn Waldegards left front lower control arm it can be seen flapping in the breeze while he is still maintaining a blistering pace. This typifies the toughness of the competitors in this worlds toughest event. For a really good read on the history of Datsuns in safari competition look at this site.
To be continued -
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