EAST AFRICAN CLASSIC SAFARI RALLY 2025 - DAY 04

Car #33 after having it’s door taken off it’s hinges by a fellow competitor

Sometimes its Not the Conditions, its the Competitors

One phrase you here a lot as drivers, co-drivers, and team managers/car chiefs survey the condition of their cars after each competition is “well this is Africa”. And by and large, here on the East African Safari Classic Rally, that is the best explanation for suspension components being bent by holes big enough to swallow small cars, dense brush that tears fender flaps, mirrors, etc. off of cars, and thick, billowing clouds of dust (have I mentioned the dust?) that makes it all but impossible to the hazards on the course.

But sometimes its not the conditions, its an overzealous competitor whose excitement clouds their judgement, much like the billowing dust clouds a drivers vision (have I mentioned the f$&king dust?).

Such was the case yesterday afternoon with our Glen Edmunds Advanced Driving / Vehicle Dynamics Institute Datsun Violet GT, prepared by SSS Rallysport. While queued up prior to the start point for the 3rd and final section of the day, a driver ignored the directive of the Stage Commander, and tried to jump into the start point ahead of our #33.

As luck would have it - bad luck, as it happens - the driver misjudged the space between their car and the open drivers door on our car, and snapped both hinges clean off.

While Glen Edmunds and John Roberts did their best to maintain their composer, and attempted a expedient repair with “100 MPH tape”, the Start Commander (and rightfully so, deemed the car unsafe to enter the stage and advised the Stewards to assign us a notional time for the 3rd stage, based on our pace in the two earlier stages.

While certainly appreciated, it didn’t do much to ease the frustration and aggravation, as it added more work to the list the crew needed to accomplish during the extended 6 hr service period today, the designated “rest day” for the Rally.

As I write this, with 30 minutes left in service period, the door is back on, the clutch assembly has been replaced, all fluids have been changed, electrical gremlins continue to be chased, side view mirror glass replaced, brake pads replaced, seat belt harnesses adjusted, padding replaces, fuel level checked, etc., etc…and of course, the dust has been cleaned to the extent possible (I do believe I’ve already mentioned the dust, ‘ay?)

I suppose the only thing left to say is “this is bloody Africa, man”

Author Joe Autera - Car #33 Team Manager