EAST AFRICAN CLASSIC SAFARI RALLY 2025 - DAY 07
East African Classic Safari Rally - Car #33
No Rally Plan Survives…
First contact with the course, the conditions, or the reality of the circumstances.
As those who know us best can imagine (and attest), we went into each day, each section, and each service period with a plan. But as in virtually all aspects of life, often times the plan is simply overcome by events.
Such was the case yesterday, Day 8 of the 9 Day East Africa Safari Classic Rally, with our #33 Glen Edmunds Advanced Driving / Vehicle Dynamics Institute, SSS Rallysport prepared Datsun Violet GT.
While the day started out according to the plan our team - which includes Glen Edmunds, John Roberts, myself, Jeff and Ronnie Boite, Steve Nzeki, Wamae Karanja, along with support from SSS’ Scott Armstrong and Pali Sudle, had evolved over the course of the previous 7 days of the rally (based on our growing compendium of knowledge snd experience with the car and the course), it quickly became apparent we would have no choice but to “shift on the fly” (pun intended).
This was due to the fact that at the end of the first 50 km road section leading into the first competition section, the car had developed a throttle off handling issue. A quick check of the front suspension found what we felt may have been the culprit - worn tension arm rod ends. Unfortunately, with SSS Rallysports’ spare parts inventory being mostly depleted, and the rod ends on the only spare rods we had were incompatible with those on the car, we had no choice but to swap out the entire assemblies on both side, resulting in the car getting to the start of the competition section later than our assigned start time.
Upon arrival at the start of the section Glen reported the issue throttle off steering was still there, along with an emerging issue with getting power to the ground. After a brief discussion, the decision was made to run the section, albeit at much lower speeds to preserve the car. The thumbnail sketch of our plan beyond that was that once the section was completed, we would reassess and, quite possibly, return to the main service park to get the car sorted, and take the time penalty for missing the next section.
By that point in time, our team was focused on doing what was necessary to make it to the end of the rally, simply because we hadn’t come this far to only make it this far. And while the stage was particularly challenging to run at reduced speeds, Glen and John were laser focused on preserving the car.
Despite being stuck for a time in a sandy, dusty section of the track, they managed to get the car free and continue. But then, with just 20 km to go until the finish of the section, disaster struck as the car crested a brow at just over 25 kph and Glen eased off the throttle to avoid getting airborne and the left rear axle shaft broke. With power being transmitted through just the one acle, the veered sharply right off the course, through a stand of heavy vegetation and into a rock strewn clearing.
The crash bent the rear axle housing, a rear lower control arm, and some of the steering components. And just like that, in the blink of an eye really, and given the lack of spares and lack of time needed to attempt repairs, our rally came to a rather inglorious end.
While it wasn’t how we planned for our effort to conquer the world’s toughest classic rally to end, given the challenges we overcame, the laughs we shared, and the camaraderie we created, we wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything.
To paraphrase a famous quote, as far as we’re concerned, it is far better to have rallied and lost, than to have never rallied at all!
Author: Joe Autera, Car #33 Team Manager