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The Concours d’Elégance (French for a ‘competition of elegance’) is a car competition that dates back to the 17th-century in France. French aristocracy paraded horse-drawn carriages at the time and it has since morphed into a competition for cars and motorcycles. Cars and motorcycles entered into the competition now are either vintage or classic and are judged according to their appearance. Concours d’Elégance events are held in the world with the biggest one being the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California.

The Kenyan Concours d’Elégance was founded in 1971 and has been held every year since. It is organized by the Alfa Romeo Owner’s Club Kenya and is sanctioned by the Kenya Motorsports Federation and the FIM Africa. This event has grown to be the biggest motoring event in Kenya and it attracts 10,000 visitors on average.

The competition registers upto 70 cars and 40 motorcycles to take part in the competition each year. The number of entrants sometimes exceed this number but by a small margin because all the entries have to be judged individually which takes time. The minimum age of cars entered into the competition is 10 years and 3 years for motorcycles.

The competition has the following classes:

1. Utility vehicles (including old style four wheel drive vehicles, double cabs,
mini buses and pick-ups and light trucks up to 2 tonnes).
2. Utility vehicles (made in 1990, or earlier)
3. Touring cars and station wagons up to 1,000 cc.
4. Touring cars and station wagons from 1,001 cc to 1,300 cc.
5. Touring cars and station wagons from 1,301 cc to 1,600 cc.
6. Touring cars and station wagons from 1,601 cc to 1,800 cc
7. Touring cars and station wagons from 1,801 cc to 2,000 cc.
8. Touring cars and station wagons from 2,001 cc to 3,000 cc.
9. Touring cars and station wagons from 3,001 cc to 4,000cc.
10. Touring cars and station wagons over 4,000cc
11. Rally, or racing cars (in rally, or racing trim).
12. Open sports cars (convertibles with folding roofs)
13. Veteran, vintage and post vintage cars made up to December 31st, 1940.
14. Street motorcycles up to 350 cc.
15. Street motorcycles from 351 cc. to 650 cc.
16. Street motorcycles from 651 cc. to 900 cc.
17. Street motorcycles from 901 cc. to 1,200 cc.
18. Street motorcycles over 1,200 cc
19. Trail and Enduro motorcycles
20. Competition motorcycles (including racing, motocross and trial bikes).

To win in each class a competitor needs to earn points in as many areas as possible. Originality is not taken into consideration in the assessment of Concours entries. The scoring is done by judges who examine every single part of the car and award points depending on the condition of the car. The points are awarded as follows:

A. Cars

1. Underside – Maximum 40 points
2. External Finish – Maximum 80 points
3. Interior and Boot – Maximum 60 points
4. Engine and Engine Compartment- Maximum 60 points
5. Roadworthiness – Maximum 6 points
6. The following points will be allocated for age:
10 years old and under 11 years old 10 points
11 years old and under 12 years old 11 points
12 years old and under 13 years old 12 points
13 years old and under 14years old 13 points
The allocation of points for age continues along these lines up to a maximum of 40 points
for vehicles which were made 40 or more years ago. Vehicles which are over 40 years old
will receive 1 point for every 10 years in excess of 40 years.

B. Motorcycles

1. External Finish – Maximum 50 points
2. Engine and Mechanical Components – Maximum 50 points
3. Trim – Maximum 50 points
4. Roadworthiness
5. The following points will be allocated for age

  • 2 years old and under 3 years old 0 points
  • 3 years old and under 4 years old 3 points
  • 4 years old and under 5 years old 4 points
  • 5 years old and under 6 years old 5 points

The allocation of points for age continues along these lines up to a maximum of 40 points
for motorcycles which were made 40 or more years ago. Motorcycles which are over 40
years old will receive 1 point for every 10 years in excess of 40 years.

Other than the cars, the event has some extra attractions such as:

  • Kid zone
  • Auto expo
  • Car clubs exhibitions
  • Model Aircraft displays

This year’s Concours will be held on September 25th at the Nairobi Racecourse. A record 28 entries from outside Kenya have been entered into the competition. Among the star entries include a 1949 Bentley MK VI owned by Roger Tanner, Paul Chemngorem’s 1962 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia and the 1972 Mercedes Benz 450SL classic rally car owned and prepared by Marzio Kravos. Motorcycles include the 2001 Honda Shadow of Prateek Singh Gulati and Sandeep Gill’s 2002 Yamaha Vista.