Drive Kenya May/June 2015 Issue

ISSUE 5 - MAY/JUNE 2015

KENYA’S PREMIER AUTO MAG

The Shanghai Auto ShowOur pick of the show’s best

The 3rd Jeep Adventure RaidBundu Bashing in Soysambu

The KCB Kajiado Rally

COMPLEMENTARY COPY

The Koenigsegg One:1The world's first Megacar

Dear Reader,

Greetings!

A Word From the Editor

Contact us for more details and options:P.O.Box: 1911 – 00606 Westlands, Nairobi - Email: [email protected] - [email protected]

Tel: +254 718 221 222 +254 732 221 222 - www.drivekenya.co.kePublished By: Triple Two Holdings Ltd. - Editorial Team: Amit Kwatra & Vivek Kothary

Quality Car & Home Care Products Available at all leading supermarkets

ContentsNEWS & EDITORIALS

4

5

8

10

18

21

21

27

The News

First Kabaddi Tournament in EA

The 16th Shanghai Auto Show

The New York International Auto Show

Car Enthusiasts - Walied Osman

The Kenya Car Guy

International Motor Sport Results

The KCB Safari Rally Results

REVIEWS & FIRST DRIVES

7

12

14

The Mercedes-Benz W196 Classic

The Koenigsegg One:1

The Jeep Adventure Raid

THE FAST LANE

16

17

The KTM 250 SX

The Honda CRF250L

IN THE NEWS www.drivekenya.co.ke Kenya’s Premier Auto Mag May/June 2015

Instant Shopping At The Total Kenya Service Station Fore-courts

Total Kenya Limited has introduced an “Instant Shop-ping” system which enables motorists to order items from the Bonjour shops in the comfort of their cars. This concept has become popular with customers who are in a hurry and need to purchase goods from the shops while their cars are being fuelled. Anthony Thuku, the Diversi-fication Manager at Total Kenya, explained, “Coffee and fast moving fresh snacks such as hot dogs, hamburg-ers, samosas and doughnuts at the Cafe Corner in the Bonjour shops are in demand by motorists wishing to stop for a quick snack on their way to, or from work. Other products available include confectionaries, cold drinks, household groceries and a wide range of preferred wines & liquors.” “The Total Bonjour shops offer a range of products which have national and cross border appeal as the brands stocked are easily recognised. These outlets carry a wide selection of merchandise and the snacks offered in all our shops are freshly prepared with the utmost respect for food hygiene.”

Has The Death Knell For Diesel Cars Been Rung?

A ruling from the British Supreme Court on the 29th of April demanded that the British Government reduce nitrogen dioxide levels found in the air by submitting new air quality plans to the European Commission by the end of the year. Environmental campaigners said that high nitrogen dioxide levels, mainly linked to Diesel vehicles, are responsible for a range of respira-tory related illnesses and tens of thousands of deaths a year. There are an estimated 11 million diesel vehicles on British roads today, up from 1.5 million, ten years ago as a result of greater fuel efficiency and a

tax system that favors diesel. Britain now faces millions of pounds in fines for breaching EU air quali-ty levels in 38 out of 43 zones. Lord Carnwath gave a judgment with which all members of the Court agreed. He said: 'The new government, whatever its political complexion, should be left in no doubt as to the need for immediate action to address this issue.' In response the Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motor Manu-facturers and Traders said, "Today's diesel engines are the cleanest ever, high tech filters capture 99 per cent of particulates and NO2 emissions are down 84 per cent since 2000." It is now thought that the re-sale value of Diesel cars in the UK is set to drop by upwards of 50pc as drivers will face disincentives on their use. The ruling, could initially have EU wide implications for the manufacture and use of diesel vehicles in the near-future and eventually at a global level as the court's ruling has now set a precedent.

Project CARS

Car and video gaming enthusi-asts are about to have many, many sleepless nights ahead with the release this month of the highly anticipated Project CARS. Developed by British game developer Slightly Mad Studios, this video game had a unique funding model. Instead of being funded by a tradition-al publisher, Slightly Mad Studios opted for 'crowdsourc-ing' via the community of supporters. Through the purchase of toolpacks, fans could contribute to the devel-opment of content creation. All members will receive a share of the games profits that are made within the first three years.

The game is based on an improved version of the Madness engine which was the basis for the Need for Speed:-Shift titles. The finished product is all about creating a realistic driving simulation where changes in weather and lighting conditions are simu-lated dynamically and to differentiate itself further all tracks and vehicles are unlocked from the get-go. The professional services of Top Gear's former "Stig" Ben Collins amongst others was acquired in the development of the game. 67 drivable cars and over 52 race tracks will be available. Project CARS will be available on Microsoft Windows, PS4, XBox One, Steam OS/Linux and Wii U.

6 DRIVEKENYA.CO.KE | MAY/JUNE 2015

Six teams participated at the first Kabaddi tournament in East Africa held on the 25th of April. RT East Africa is the franchise holder for RANDON Trailers, MAN Trucks & VW Trucks and Buses and one of the main sponsors of the event. We had a few words with their GM, Anoop Singh Sandhu on his passion for the sport of Kabaddi and his role as the Patron for Kenya Kabaddi Sports Federation.

Q) Tell us about your passion for sports?

A) I have always been a keen sportsman but never been a good spectator. I don’t enjoy watching games on televi-sion like football or golf, unless it’s the World cup but I do enjoy being a part of the game and physically partici-pating. I first started playing Kabaddi in 1998.

Q) What is Kabaddi?

A) Kabaddi is a sport which is a mix between wrestling and rugby without the ball, where the raider takes a deep breath, runs towards and tags one of the 4 defenders within 30 seconds, and then runs back to their side. The opposing team must then do what they can to stop the raider from getting back to his side, thus preventing them from scoring a point. To play the game you need an active mind to develop good strategy and this needs to be coupled with brute force, to be able to get away from the


RANDON Trailers Sponsor First Kabaddi Tournament in EA

opposing team.

In recent years Kabaddi is becoming a world-renowned sport with the world Kabaddi League launching in countries all over the world. I would like to think that it’s not long before we are on that list of countries with a World Kabaddi League. We will be participating in the World cup in December and we are hopeful that with the right coaching and dedication Kenyans will be more aware of the sport and will reach new heights.

Q) What is your role at present with the KKSF?

A) My role at present is the Patron for Kenya Kabaddi Sports Federation and my vision is for Kenya to be a formidable force within International Kabaddi and the way forward to achieve this is firstly starting from the ground up. We have implemented with a few schools to teach Kabaddi to students so that they can grasp the concept earlier on and master the complex strategies involved in this grappling sport. We have invited teams from all over the country so we can assess the talent and ear mark new potential to join the national team. Also in the process of negotiating with coaches from India and UK so they can arrive in September and give intense technical coaching for the national team.

GA TRAVEL INSURANCETravel insurance is commonly overlooked by most people and is not very popular mostly due to the assumptions that travelers carry that “nothing will happen.” Others simply take the insurance because it is required during visa appli-cation not knowing that even the most carefully planned trips can turn out to be disastrous and any unforeseen illness or accident can ruin your whole trip.

At GA insurance, we have come up with a travel insurance product that is tailored to your needs and your destination of travel. We offer a variety of plans based on different regions around the world; a students’ plan that caters to students going to study abroad and an inbound cover that caters for foreigners coming to visit Kenya.

Our product offers comprehen-sive coverage with the following benefits and up to different limits depending on the select-ed plan:

1. Medical and emergency assistance which encompasses the following:

-ization abroad

of illness or accident

member

2. Personal assistance services which encompasses the following:

terrorism

3. Losses & delays

4. Personal Accident ( 24hours)

This covers you in case of death and permanent disability arising from an accident

5. Trip cancellation and Curtailment

This benefit covers you against financial loss occurring from cancellation or curtailment of a planned trip

CONTACT US TO GET YOUR TAILORED INSURANCE SOLUTION: P.O.Box: 42166 - 00100 Nairobi | 4th Fl. GA Insurance House, Ralph Bunche Road

Tel: (020) 2711633/4 | Mob: 0721 677 273 | 0736 711 633 | 0786 555 555 | Fax: (020) 2714542 Email: [email protected] | www.gakenya.com

CONTACT US TO GET YOUR TAILORED INSURANCE SOLUTION: P.O.Box: 42166 - 00100 Nairobi | 4th Fl. GA Insurance House, Ralph Bunche Road

Tel: (020) 2711633/4 | Mob: 0721 677 273 | 0736 711 633 | 0786 555 555 | Fax: (020) 2714542 Email: [email protected] | www.gakenya.com

The Mercedes-Benz W196 was a Formula One racing car produced by Mercedes-Benz for the 1954 and 1955 F1 seasons. This car set a new standard in Formula 1, winning nine of 12 races and two-championships through the 1954 and '55 seasons. All but one of them at the hands of the Argentine maestro Juan Manuel Fangio, regarded by many as the greatest racing driver ever. The other went to Stirling Moss. Firsts on the W196 included the use of desmodromic valves and direct fuel injection, innovations which were way ahead of the competition. The W196 has a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine that is front mid-engined, with its long longitudinally mounted engine placed just behind the front axles instead of over them to better balance front/rear weight distribution. This engine initially generat-ed 257-hp and eventually 340-hp.

The W196 that Juan Manuel Fangio drove was auctioned a few years ago for a mind-boggling £19.6m (Ksh 2.74 Billion). A spokeswoman for Bonhams, the auctioneer, was quoted as saying: "This is the only Mercedes-Benz W196 in private hands. It is the only surviving Mercedes-Benz W196 to have won not just one Grand Prix, but two."

The Mercedes-Benz W196 Worth over Ksh 2.74 Billion.


“The W196 won 9 of 12 races entered and captured the only two world championships in which it competed.”

The Audi Prolouge Allroadfro

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e

SHANGHAIAUTOSHOW

The Audi Prologue Allroad with its sumptuous looks and luxurious interior has been designed with the future develop-ment of the A4 and A6 Allroad in mind. This Prologue concept launch now joins the original coupe, Avant wagon and the autonomous version. The Prologue concept series is an early look at the design and technology that Audi plans to introduce across its entire range of cars. The design of the car is based on a body that's supposed to handle rough terrain. The Prologue Allroad has a turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 and an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Audi boasts that the Prologue Allroad goes from 0-100km/h in just 3.5s.

The Lexus ES200editorial team remains mixed on the new spindle grille, with some liking its dark look and others saying that it overwhelms the look of the vehicle. The ES200 has seen an evolutionary change over the 2015 model. The ES200 will boast a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.

The Mercedes-Benz Concept GLC Coupe The new Mercedes-Benz Concept GLC Coupe is Mercedes' answer to the BMW X4 in the now increasingly fragmented new car market. It's got a sleek low-sweeping roof alongside stylish 21-inch wheels. The GLC Coupe is expected to become the successor of the GLK and the company's seventh production SUV. The 4WD GLC Coupe has an AMG derived bi-turbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine mated with a nine-speed 9G-Tronic auto transmission. The engine generates 362-hp and 384 lb-ft.

The Chevrolet FNR ConceptThe Chevrolet FNR Concept really stole the Shanghai show for us with its vision for the future. Developed at GM's Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center this vehicle has some crazy looks and truly futuristic tech. With dual "drag-onfly" swinging doors it has an open cabin layout inside that can transform into a lounge style setting when in autonomous mode. So yes, this car is designed to self-drive through the use of roof-mounted sensors that map out the environment. The FNR powers itself through magnetic hubless wheel electric motors and it has a wireless auto-charging system. To start the FNR, the designers have installed an iris recognition system!


“First held in 1985, Auto Shanghai is the nation's oldest auto exhibition, and is considered as an important major international auto show. Due to the greatly expanding presence of foreign brands in the Chinese markets, Auto Shanghai has become one of the premier international auto shows alongside Detroit, Frankfurt, Paris and Tokyo.”

The 2015 Jaguar XFfro

m th

eThe new Jaguar XF is all aluminium now, the switch from steel to aluminium has seen the XF shed 132-pounds for the RWD model and 265-pounds for the AWD model. The styling is evolutionary over the previous XF with changes made to the headlights and taillights most discernible. Two engine options are available, both 3.0-liter supercharged V6's. One generating 340-hp and the other 380-hp for the XF S. Jaguar estimates a 0-60mph time of 5.1s. Jaguar has added

The RAV4 HybridToyota's stable. This hybrid is a bigger and fresher version of the 2016 RAV4 model. The RAV4 hybrid comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine along with an electric motor at each axle. This engine design is based

33mpg.

NEW YORKAUTO SHOWINTERNATIONAL2015

The Kia OptimaWith a full redesign the Kia Optima certainly created a stir in NY with its unibrow "tiger nose" grille and futuristic look. Kia claim the new body is 150% stiffer than the outgoing model and this will improve handling considerably. Engine choices include a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder, a 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder and a 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder. The first 2 will be mated with a 6-speed automatic and the 1.6 with a 7-speed dual-clutch. Kia also touted the attention it paid to make the seats more comfortable.

The Subaru STI Performance ConceptSubaru introduced the STI Performance Concept and it said that this concept was designed to “showcase for the engineering prowess and tuning capability of STI”. This vehicle features a racing engine developed for the BRZ Super GT race car along with unspecified upgrades to the chassis, suspension and aerodynamics. Subaru also mentions that these cars will feature more extensive modification options from the factory version than previously was the case. Modification options should include the suspension, performance, chassis, braking and aerodynamics.


“The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show that is held in Manhattan. The show has been held annually since 1900. Before the show opens every year, several auto companies debut new production and concept vehicles for the press.” -Wikipedia

KIA Media

autoshowny.com

The Koenigsegg One:1 was introduced in 2014, at the Geneva Motor Show. Only 6 of these cars were made plus, one prototype. It's the world's first example of a Megacar. Why a Megacar? In Koenigsegg's own words, "The hp to kg curb weight ratio is an astonishing 1:1. This is the “dream” equation, previously thought fo as impossible when it comes to fully road legal and usable sportscars. On top of this, the One:1 is the first homologated production car in the world, with one Megawatt of power, thereby, making it the world´s first series produced Megacar."

The Drool FactorT h e K o e n i g s e g g O n e : 1

An astonishing power-to-weight ratio (1341hp to 1360 kg) of One:1

One of the most incredible aspects about Koenigsegg, as described by Car and Driver, is that, "All the engineering and design is based here; every carbon-fiber part is molded and baked on-site, including components like seat frames and wheels; and the cars are painted and trimmed here. The engines are also built and dyno-tested here. Everything is done by hand, and everything seems to take eons. Assembling the body shell from 400 separate pieces, takes 600 hours. Just painting a car takes between 800 and 1200 hours, depending on the finish."

The Koenigsegg One:1 was introduced in 2014, at the Geneva Motor Show. Only 6

Megacar. Why a Megacar? In Koenigsegg's own words, "The hp to kg curb weight ratio is an astonishing 1:1. This is the “dream” equation, previously thought fo as impossible when it comes to fully road legal and usable sportscars. On top of this, the One:1 is

Here are the specs on this engineering work of art:

Power output: 1 MW (1341-hp) at 7500 rpm – rpm limiter @ 8250 rpm Max torque: Transmission: Specially developed 7-speed dual clutch, 1 input shaft transmission with paddle-shift.Engine: Koenigsegg aluminum 5.0-Litre V8, 4 valves per cylinder, double overhead

Wheels: Koenigsegg Aircore™ carbon wheels with centre locking.


One of the most incredible aspects about Koenigsegg, as described by Car and

is molded and baked on-site, including components like seat frames and wheels; and the cars are painted and trimmed here. The engines are also built and dyno-tested here. Everything is done by hand, and everything seems to take eons. Assembling the body shell from 400 separate pieces, takes 600 hours. Just painting


One of the most incredible aspects about Koenigsegg, as described by Car and Driver, is that, "All the engineering and design is based here; every carbon-fiber part is molded and baked on-site, including components like seat frames and wheels; and the cars are painted and trimmed here. The engines are also built and dyno-tested here. Everything is done by hand, and everything seems to take eons. Assembling the body shell from 400 separate pieces, takes 600 hours. Just painting a car takes between 800 and 1200 hours, depending on the finish."

On a bright and cheery Saturday morning, a large group was assembling at the Hillview Shell station off Wayaki way. United by their ownership of gleaming Jeeps, Grand Cherokees, Wranglers, Trailhawks and Dodge Challengers. Truly a sight to behold.

As the participants fueled up on coffee and a light break-fast, complementary Garmin Navigation Systems were fitted to their readying vehicles. Enabling them to keep on the flagged out track that had been preset on the Garmin’s map system in the days prior.

A briefing of the days’ events was delivered by the DT Dobie team comprised of Phillipe Delunsch, the Sales and Marketing Director and Stavros Diamantidis, GM of the Mercedes and Jeep Divisions. With formalities out of the way, the convoy eagerly set out towards the steep decent of the Rift Valley escarpment and onward to the Soysambu conservancy. Where the adventure raid awaited.

Upon leaving the tarmac, drivers were encouraged to begin using the traction control settings in their vehicles. With the patches of lake sand and black cotton soil that the trail brought us through, the sand, mud, and rock Jeep traction

control settings came in handy. The confidence of the drivers visibly grew as they tackled the unfamiliar terrain.

As the convoy circled Lake Elementaita, they were led to a shady spot where a bush lunch and refreshments awaited them.

Newly invigorated, the Jeep owners were led down the final stretch to the Adventure Raid track where the real fun began.

DT Dobie - Raising the bar in customer care

The Jeep Adventure Raid










Steep declines, river crossings, sand pits and off camber turns were just some of the features on the track that had been marked out by the DT Dobie team. This was relayed to the eager drivers along with the appropriate traction settings that should be used to tackle each obstacle, as they lined up to take their turn on the challenging track.

On the extreme descents that the track brought, drivers got to try out the Jeep Hill Descent Control, some for the first time. This setting helps monitor throttle, speed and braking, assisted only by the drivers steering. For many of the drivers who had only used the SUV’s “auto” setting, seeing their cars comfortably tackling this extreme terrain was a satis-fying and empowering experience made evident by the increasingly confident manner in which they rounded the track.

After several hours, a second, more extreme part of the track was opened as the finale. Even with the experience of the days driving behind them, drivers approached this insane hill descent and sandy hill climb with caution. Yet amaz-ingly each Jeep model completed this portion of the track successfully to the cheers and applause of the fellow partici-pants.

As dusk set in and the last enthusiastic driver was ushered off the track, the convoy made its way to the final destina-tion of the day, their overnight lodgings at the Lake Elementaita Serena Camp. With the stunning view of the lake and the sleeping warrior hill in the distance, the drivers, Jeep owners, and families met again for a closing ceremony by the DT Dobie team. This was crowned by a prize-given ceremony which rewarded participants for various notable (and often amusing) achievements during the day.

This unique event is raising the bar in the auto sector Customer Care and After-Sales Service and asks big ques-tions of rivals. Let’s hope that this is a new trend, which will provide a more rewarding experience for new car owners in Kenya.








The KTM 250 SXKTM is one of the few companies out there that still invest a significant amount of money into developing its 2-stroke engines. According to KTM, "the 250 SX is regarded as the motocross motorcycle with the best power-to-weight ratio and the lightweight 2-stroke engine scores highly with unrivalled performance, packed in an extremely light chassis – a formi-dable rival for the costlier 4-stroke competitors." The KTM 250 SX weighs in at a light 95.9kg. This, along with its compact chrome molybdenum steel chassis and excellent ergonomics, helps to deliver impressive off road performanc-es. The KTM 250 SX also includes front and rear WP suspen-sions, Brembo brakes, together with lightweight wave brake discs and 7.5-Litre polyethylene fuel tank. KTM, in conjunc-tion with Dunlop, developed the all new Dunlop Geomax MX 52 tyres for this bike. The new tyres are said to offer perfect traction with top performance. The seat is equipped with a durable foam core, said to offer greater rider comfort and stability. All SX models are equipped with the extremely sturdy, tapered Renthal Fatbar 827 handlebar that features an offset specially designed to meet the demands of motocross. A new DDS clutch with diaphragm spring and the wear-free steel cage has also been fitted to the KTM 250 SX engine with the result being that this ensures more traction and protection for the transmission. The 2015 KTM 250 SX is another solid addition to KTM's off-road lineup.

QUICK SPECSEngine Type:

1-cylinder 2-stroke engine,

water-cooled, with reed intake and exhaust control

Engine Displacement:

249cc

Frame: Central tube

frame made of chrome molybde-num steel tubing

Chain: 520 X-ring

Transmission:5 gear, claw

shifted

Bore x stroke:66.4mm x 72mm

Dry Weight: 95.9kg

Clutch: Wet multi-disc clutch

DDS / Brembo hydraulics

Shock absorber:WP Suspension 5018 BAVP DCC

Brake system: Disc brakes,

brake calipers on �oating bearings

Forks: WP Suspension Up Side Down

4860 MXMA CC

Fuel Capacity: 7.5 litres

A formidable rival for the costlier 4-stroke competitors.

Suspension travel Front: 300 mm

Suspension travel Rear: 317 mm

Brake discs - diameter Front:

260 mmBrake discs -

diameter Rear: 220 mm

Top Speed: 97km/h

Seat height: 992mm


Photographer: Schedl R.

The CRF250L was designed by Honda as a dual purpose bike . Honda says that some riders sought competition level off-road performance, while others wanted a practical, convenient bike for daily urban use and a tough weekend off-road bike. Thus, was born the CRF250L! It's been devel-oped with a keen eye on dimensions, ergonomics, low weight and the long travel 43mm Showa USD forks and Pro-link rear suspensions make it equally at home on city streets and coun-try trails. The CRF250L is reported to have a smooth and consistent torque at low rpm, which aids in rear wheel traction and rider feel, while the rpm performance is excel-lent throughout the rev-range, for a very balanced and usable power delivery. The chassis is constructed from steel. The twin oval-section main spars and semi-double cradle provide excellent strength for off-road riding. The frame can support 2 adults and the guards are situated above the rider's foot pegs to protect the frame from boot scuffs. The braced handlebar and flat seat reportedly provide an upright and relaxed riding position, with plenty of leverage for bike control, and the 45° turning angle, either side, give a tight turning circle. The CRF250L’s digital instrument cluster contains a fuel meter, with built-in clock and twin trip func-tions. A compact, lockable toolbox is sited at the base of the rear fender and the slim fuel tank holds 7.7L for all your on and off-road riding fun!

The Honda CRF250LMaking weekdays more convenient & weekends more enjoyable.


QUICK SPECS

Engine Type:Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke DOHC single cylinder

Engine Displacement:

250cc

Bore x stroke:76.0mm x 55.0mm

Compression Ratio: 10:7

Transmission: Constant mesh 6-speed return

Torque:22.0Nm @ 7000rpm

Power: 17.0kW @ 8500rpm

Clutch: Wet multiplate

with coil springs

Rake/Trail: 27.6 degrees/113 mm

Average fuel consumption: 3.1

L/100km

Fuel Capacity: 7.7L

Kerb weight: 144kg

Seat Height: 875 mm

Front tyre: 3.00-21 51P

Rear tyre: 120/80-18 62P

Front Suspension: Telescopic (Inverted) 43mm diameter slide

pipeRear Suspension:

Swing arm (Pro-link suspension system)

40mm diameter cylinder

flickr.com/m

iguelbrown

Front Brakes: Hydraulic disk (256-mm brake

disc/2-piston caliper)Rear Brakes: Hydraulic

disk (220-mm brake disc/1-piston caliper)

Walied Osman studied Electrical Engineering in the U.S. His exposure to art came from working in the art moving business for 15 years, connect-ing with museums, galleries, collectors, and artists from around the world. His last great memory of this world was working on the first ART BASEL exhibitions, handling the works of Picasso, Giacometti, Dali, Miro, and many other great masters.

DriveKenya) Tell us more about yourself and your background?

Walied) As an Afghan-American witness to the 9/11 attacks in my home city of New York, this event altered the course of my life. The business owner that I had become wanted answers and I would go to seek those answers in Afghanistan. During this time I produced a documentary film called “Afghan Stories” which featured on HBO and collaborated with other artists in video art productions in Kabul. While Afghanistan felt like home, home was dangerous. While dangerous though, this is where I met my future wife, Isabelle D’Haudt, and my future destination with her the Rift Valley in Africa. In Africa I first arrived in Burundi which was a good surprise. It brought one of my films, ‘L’artiste du Burundi’, the best music and editing award at the International film festival of Bujumbura in 2012, organised by Alliance Française.

DriveKenya) When did you first start sculpting cars and planes together?

Walied) I began with just working on deconstruction of a Cessna 404 to make art and furniture out of the parts. A friend asked me to make some office seats using old VW beetle seats. I went to search for seats and just couldn’t really get them from junkyards of Eastleigh, but one of the guys there told me he could sell me a whole VW. It was a bit more than what I want-ed to spend, but I figured I could do something else with the rest later.

One day in July 2014, I had parked what remained of the beetle next to the nose of the 404. There it was the proportions were just about right and then I went to work. I went through many different concepts before it has become what it has become.

Also, that old Bug not only provided office seats, the car, but three other art pieces for the upcoming show. I recycle, deconstruct, and then complete reconstruction of different forms.

One of my favourite quotes is that, ‘Nothing is lost, nothing is created, all is transformed’. This was Lavoisiers’ wise packaging of the ideas of the Greek philosopher Anaxagore from Clazomènes, formulated in the 5th century BC.

DriveKenya sits down with Walied Osman, who is an Afghan-American Multi-media artist known for his artwork made from old planes and cars.

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Walied Osman studied Electrical Engineering in the U.S. His exposure to art came from working in the art moving business for 15 years, connect-ing with museums, galleries, collectors, and artists from around the world. His last great memory of this world was working on the first ART BASEL exhibitions, handling the works of Picasso, Giacometti, Dali, Miro, and many other great masters.

DriveKenya) Tell us more about yourself and your background?

Walied) As an Afghan-American witness to the 9/11 attacks in my home city of New York, this event altered the course of my life. The business owner that I had become wanted answers and I would go to seek those answers in Afghanistan. During this time I produced a documentary film called “Afghan Stories” which featured on HBO and collaborated with other artists in video art productions in Kabul. While Afghanistan felt like home, home was dangerous. While dangerous though, this is where I met my future wife, Isabelle D’Haudt, and my future destination with her the Rift Valley in Africa. In Africa I first arrived in Burundi which was a good surprise. It brought one of my films, ‘L’artiste du Burundi’, the best music and editing award at the International film festival of Bujumbura in 2012, organised by Alliance Française.

DriveKenya) When did you first start sculpting cars and planes together?

Walied) I began with just working on deconstruction of a Cessna 404 to make art and furniture out of the parts. A friend asked me to make some office seats using old VW beetle seats. I went to search for seats and just couldn’t really get them from junkyards of Eastleigh, but one of the guys there told me he could sell me a whole VW. It was a bit more than what I want-ed to spend, but I figured I could do something else with the rest later.

One day in July 2014, I had parked what remained of the beetle next to the nose of the 404. There it was the proportions were just about right and then I went to work. I went through many different concepts before it has become what it has become.

Also, that old Bug not only provided office seats, the car, but three other art pieces for the upcoming show. I recycle, deconstruct, and then complete reconstruction of different forms.

One of my favourite quotes is that, ‘Nothing is lost, nothing is created, all is transformed’. This was Lavoisiers’ wise packaging of the ideas of the Greek philosopher Anaxagore from Clazomènes, formulated in the 5th century BC.

Applying this old chemistry idiom, recycling is central to my work. The frenetic recycling circle begun with the plane cabin and all it contains, from hooks to cabin spotlight. Used cars and palettes entered in the dance as main elements to a now diversified range of raw materi-als. Wanting more from art than aesthetics, advocacy or concept, most art pieces include functionality: mainly furniture or lighting; and in this case a car. It is worth noticing that all was locally sourced and made of recycled materials from Kenya.

DriveKenya) What is your current project and what does it involve?

Walied) Other than creating new works, the car is an ongoing development that I would like to functionalize with Eco-friendly power and performance to ride for long distances. Of all my pieces of art this one gets the most attention because of the “wow” factor it causes with kids of all ages. I guess the automobile is still more popular than “ART”, but it is art! Cars are works of art and this is another unique piece of art that moves: Art in motion.

DriveKenya) How did this project come about?

Walied) The former owner of Cheki, the late Carey Eaton, wanted to use this car as a marketing showpiece for his company events, but that, with his death, did not materialize.

The idea was to place an electric motor in the car and have it recharge via solar panel on top or a station. This is still the plan.

DriveKenya) What are some of your future ideas?

Walied) I have lived with my wife Isabelle, in Nairobi, Kenya for the past 3.5 years and also share a home in France where we are heading next. We plan to open an atelier in Southern France to expand our creative, environmentally-friendly activities and collaborate with other artists.

We also collaborate on furniture design and concepts for limited production, for example we've created the shark line of lamps through our design experimentations. Currently only 8 have been made of various materials. We've also created a Nose Cone Coffee table. This is the actual nose of a Cessna 404 turned upside down and heavily modified to create a simplistic and functional design for reproduction in various trims, colors and bases.

DriveKenya) How can people find out more about your work?

Walied) I have an upcoming exhibition at the Alliance Française, Nairobi this May for the month and the car will be the highlight of the show. I am a very, very low tech guy when it comes to the internet, I’m trying to manage this e-mail: [email protected]


Applying this old chemistry idiom, recycling is central to my work. The frenetic recycling circle begun with the plane cabin and all it contains, from hooks to cabin spotlight. Used cars and palettes entered in the dance as main elements to a now diversified range of raw materi-als. Wanting more from art than aesthetics, advocacy or concept, most art pieces include functionality: mainly furniture or lighting; and in this case a car. It is worth noticing that all was locally sourced and made of recycled materials from Kenya.

DriveKenya) What is your current project and what does it involve?

Walied) Other than creating new works, the car is an ongoing development that I would like to functionalize with Eco-friendly power and performance to ride for long distances. Of all my pieces of art this one gets the most attention because of the “wow” factor it causes with kids of all ages. I guess the automobile is still more popular than “ART”, but it is art! Cars are works of art and this is another unique piece of art that moves: Art in motion.

DriveKenya) How did this project come about?

Walied) The former owner of Cheki, the late Carey Eaton, wanted to use this car as a marketing showpiece for his company events, but that, with his death, did not materialize.

The idea was to place an electric motor in the car and have it recharge via solar panel on top or a station. This is still the plan.

DriveKenya) What are some of your future ideas?

Walied) I have lived with my wife Isabelle, in Nairobi, Kenya for the past 3.5 years and also share a home in France where we are heading next. We plan to open an atelier in Southern France to expand our creative, environmentally-friendly activities and collaborate with other artists.

We also collaborate on furniture design and concepts for limited production, for example we've created the shark line of lamps through our design experimentations. Currently only 8 have been made of various materials. We've also created a Nose Cone Coffee table. This is the actual nose of a Cessna 404 turned upside down and heavily modified to create a simplistic and functional design for reproduction in various trims, colors and bases.

DriveKenya) How can people find out more about your work?

Walied) I have an upcoming exhibition at the Alliance Française, Nairobi this May for the month and the car will be the highlight of the show. I am a very, very low tech guy when it comes to the internet, I’m trying to manage this e-mail: [email protected]

1) What was the most challenging problem you faced in the last one month?

(KCG) - My most challenging problem with vehicle diagnosis in the last month has been an engine problem with a four cylinder Toyota engine. The vehicle

and while braking the engine would

might be a problem with the idling sensor located on the throttle body or a

eliminated the possibility of either one of these.

The cylinder compression tests were

unusual readings for all of these with a hissing noise at the radiator. To exam-

head only to notice that it was a mix of an incorrect cylinder head gasket, and silicon partially blocking the coolant

and assembled it using assembly lube instead of silicon.

the timing belt, and advanced the timing by 5 degrees from top dead

manual. After completion, the engine was idling normally at 800 rpm and

cut corners by the previous repairer caused hours of diagnosis and unwant-ed repair bills.

To s e n d i n y o u r q u e s t i o n s t o t h e K e n y a C a r G u y C o n t a c t : i n f o @ d r i v e k e n y a . c o . k e

Your Questions Answered!

Each month, our car guy gives yousolutions to the problems you face with your car.

We asked KCG to give us tips for our readers regarding tyre maintenance. He gave us information about tyre

month with more to follow in our next issue.

(KCG) -

and least expensive ways to increase fuel

and commercial vehicles. Correct tyre

tyre information sticker indicating the correct pressure to load-ratio can be found in the driver's side door pillar.

As a general rule of thumb, anything that rotates in a vehicle must be balanced. This includes engine components such as the crankshaft and the harmonic balancer. Similarly the wheels in a car must also be balanced. Balancing is the removal or addition of counter weights to the wheels to allow them to move with an even mass

wobbles, vibrations (both vertical and lateral), hops which cause drive distur-

-anced tyres also contribute to premature tyre wear. Tyre balancing should ideally be done every time tyres are rotated but with our road conditions it is recommended that this be done more frequently than usual to get the best out of your tyres.

i n f o @ k e n y a c a r g u y . c o m

Defending champion, Marc Marquez won his first race of the MotoGP season at The Circuit of Americas in Austin, Texas held on the 12th of April. The second round of the MotoGP season was held on this 5.513km track for only the third time. Marquez started on pole position, in what was forecast to be a wet race yet the sunny skies begged to differ as the lights went, and was swiftly overtaken by Italian Andrea Dovizioso at the first corner. The 22-year old Spaniard then recovered and overtook Dovizioso on the 5th lap of the 22-lap race and pulled away thereafter to win the race by 2.354 seconds and register the 20th win of his GP career.

Italian rivals Dovizioso and Valentino Rossi were then left to battle for second position over the course of the race. Rossi was actually in front with 7-laps to go but Dovizio-so overtook him as Rossi had too much wear on his front tyre leading him to finish in third position overall.

Speaking at the end of the end of the race, Marquez said: “It’s been good weather, everything has been fine with the bike, it was a perfect race. I was able to get a good rhythm and I am happy for this victory after my mistake in Qatar. This was a good chance for me to win again and the US is a good place for me, lots of left corners”

Argentina MotoGP Results


Yamaha M

otoGP M

edia

Valentino Rossi leads the Championship, though by a slim margin of just 1 point. Speaking at the press conference later he added that on paper, Austin is the worst track for his Yamaha YZR-M1 and that he likes Argentina and was hopeful to be more competitive there.

Top Results Argentina:1. Valentino ROSSI (ITA) Yamaha 41’35.6442. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (ITA) Ducati +5.6853. Cal CRUTCHLOW (GBR) Honda +8.2984. Andrea IANNONE (ITA) Ducati +8.3525. Jorge LORENZO (SPA) Yamaha +10.1926. Bradley SMITH (GBR) Yamaha +19.8767. Aleix ESPARGARO (SPA) Suzuki +24.3338. Pol ESPARGARO (SPA) Yamaha +27.6709. Scott REDDING (GBR) Honda +34.39710. Maverick VIÑALES (SPA) Suzuki +34.80811. Danilo PETRUCCI (ITA) Ducati +40.20612. Jack MILLER (AUS) Honda +42.65413. Hector BARBERA (SPA) Ducati +42.72914. Loris BAZ (FRA) YMH/Forward +42.85315. Stefan BRADL (GER) YMH/Forward +43.037

22








Defending champion, Marc Marquez won his first race of the MotoGP season at The Circuit of Americas in Austin, Texas, held on the 12th of April. The second round of the MotoGP season was held on this 5.513km track for only the third time. Marquez started on pole position, in what was forecast to be a wet race, yet the sunny skies begged to differ as the lights went, and was swiftly overtaken by Italian Andrea Dovizioso at the first corner. The 22-year old Spaniard then recovered and overtook Dovizioso on the 5th lap of the 22-lap race and pulled away thereafter to win the race by 2.354 seconds and register the 20th win of his GP career.

Italian rivals Dovizioso and Valentino Rossi were then left to battle for second position over the course of the race. Rossi was actually in front with 7-laps to go, but Dovizio-so overtook him as Rossi had too much wear on his front tyre, leading him to finish in third position overall.

Speaking at the end of the end of the race, Marquez said, “It’s been good weather, everything has been fine with the bike, it was a perfect race. I was able to get a good rhythm and I am happy for this victory after my mistake in Qatar. This was a good chance for me to win again and the US is a good place for me, lots of left corners”

Austin MotoGP Results


Yamaha M

otoGP M

edia

Valentino Rossi leads the Championship, though by a slim margin of just 1 point. Speaking at the press conference later he added that on paper, Austin is the worst track for his Yamaha YZR-M1 and that he likes Argentina and was hopeful to be more competitive there.

Top Results Austin:1. Marc MARQUEZ (SPA) Honda 43’47.1502. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (ITA) Ducati +2.3543. Valentino ROSSI (ITA) Yamaha +3.1204. Jorge LORENZO (SPA) Yamaha +6.6825. Andrea IANNONE (ITA) Ducati +7.5846. Bradley SMITH (GBR) Yamaha +10.5577. Cal CRUTCHLOW (GBR) Honda +16.9678. Aleix ESPARGARO (SPA) Suzuki +19.0259. Maverick VIÑALES (SPA) Suzuki +38.57010. Danilo PETRUCCI (ITA) Ducati +41.79611. Hiroshi AOYAMA Honda (JPN) +47.19912. Hector BARBERA (SPA) Ducati +47.33913. Nicky HAYDEN Honda (USA) +56.48414. Jack MILLER (AUS) Honda +56.73115. Alvaro BAUTISTA Aprilia +57.372








Mercedes-AMG returned to their winning ways at the Chinese Grand Prix after Ferrari's unexpected win in Malaysia two weeks prior. Lewis Hamilton took home his second victory of the season ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg and the 35th win of his career. Hamilton maintains his lead at the top of the Driver Standings with Sebastien Vettel who came in third at Shanghai in the second spot overall. Fans were denied a thrilling finish as the Chinese Grand Prix officials made a hash out of clearing a stricken Toro Rosso car on the main straight towards the end of the race. The late safety car eradicated any possibility of what was looking like a fight to the finish, at the end of the race, with the leading drivers separated from each other by just a few seconds.

Mercedes' fantastic on-track performance was unfortunate-ly overshadowed by a simmering feud between its two star drivers. At the end of the race in Shanghai, Rosberg accused Hamilton of poor sportsmanship by driving slower than necessary, thus forcing Rosberg to spend much of the race defending his second-position from fellow German, Sebastien Vettel, driving for Ferrari. Rosberg asserted that Hamilton only thinks of himself and not about the team. Hamilton defended himself by reminding his teammate that it was not his job to "look after" Rosberg's race. A very strong case can be made to defend Hamilton, that he did infact pick up the pace once he was requested to do so by his team.

17-year old Max Verstappen continued to impress with some courageous and skillful overtaking. Verstappen threw his car into corners, kept it well balanced and powered out

Shanghai F1 Results


Red Bull Media

without losing traction or locking the tyres. Most teams had a long list of positives to work with on the flight to Bahrain with the exception of McLaren who continue to have a dismal season with Jensen Button crashing into the backside of Pastor Maldonado.

Lewis Hamilton had another brilliant race in Bahrain. The Mercedes-AMG driver had his fourth pole position of the year and his third win of the season. So relaxed, confident and in tune is his driving that many pundits think he's already heading for his third championship win this year. Hamilton had a perfect start and led the field for most of the race, relinquishing it only during pit stops. The only real incident he had occurred on the last lap when his brake-by-wire system malfunctioned but he crossed the line a handy three seconds ahead of Ferrari's Raikkonen.

Ferrari are improving race by race and they pushed the pace hard to challenge Mercedes. Raikkonen who started in fourth, quickly overtook Rosberg at the start by Turn 2 to take third position but lost it on lap 4 when Rosberg overtook him with some aggressive driving on Turn 1 where he slid underneath and pushed the Ferrari driver wide. At this point Raikkonen looked like he'd be heading for fourth as usual but because of his medium tyre option he quickly began to close the pace on the leaders in front. On Lap 41 after his last pitstop he was 16s behind Raik-konen. Within 10 laps that gap was down to 3s. As luck would have it, Nico Rosberg's car suffered the same brake-by-wire fault as Hamilton but 1.5 laps earlier and his Mercedes ran wide. This allowed Raikkonen to race by for second place.

Rosberg had a good race apart from the incident at the end, he never challenged Hamilton for the lead but he showed real aggression on track when overtaking both Raikkonen and later Vettel on Lap 9 in the same manner. The rest of the midfield battle didn't really develop as hoped.

Bahrain F1 Results


Red Bull Media

A fun point to note about this race was the sparks that the cars are producing this year, the spectacular night race at Bahrain really emphasized them. The sparks are produced by titanium skid blocks underneath the car and have been consciously introduced this year to make the sport more attractive for viewers.

25

Kris Meeke scored his maiden WRC victory at XION Rally Argentina on Sunday to become the first British driver to win a world rally since 2002.

The Northern Irishman headed Citroën team-mate Mads Østberg by 18.1sec as the French manufacturer claimed its first 1-2 finish for almost three years. Elfyn Evans completed a great day for Britain by taking his first WRC podium.

The late Colin McRae was the last British winner at Kenya’s Safari Rally and mentored 35-year-old Meeke through the early part of his career.

“The one guy who did most for me isn’t here to see this. This is for Colin. He helped my career out at the very beginning. He supported me financially through to the world championship. Without his support I wouldn’t be here,” said an emotional Meeke.

He led the four-day gravel rally for all but a handful of kilometres in his DS 3, ending a torrid start to the season in which he crashed in the first three rounds.

He ended the first leg with more than a minute’s lead and measured his pace over incredibly rocky conditions which sidelined many frontrunners to finally reach the top step of the podium on his 58th start.

Østberg fought a fever and an early engine problem to

Argentina WRC Results


Red Bull Media

Red Bull Media

secure his second consecutive runners-up spot. He climbed to second in the championship standings behind Sébastien Ogier, who finished a lowly 17th after fuel injection issues.

Evans survived final stage suspension problems in his Ford Fiesta RS to finish 3min 27.4sec behind Meeke, conceding a minute as he nursed the car through the test. It was a fitting farewell for the current Fiesta RS, which will be replaced by a new evolution at the next round.

Czech driver Martin Prokop matched a career-best fourth in another Fiesta RS while Dani Sordo recovered from the electrical problem which stopped him last night to over-haul Khalid Al Qassimi for sixth in the final stage.

WRC 2 winner Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Diego Dominguez, Gustavo Saba and Federico Villagra completed the leaderboard.

There were just two stages in today’s final leg, but the famous roads of El Condor provided a sting in the tail to a gruelling weekend.

Jari-Matti Latvala retired from third with fuel supply problems in his Volkswagen Polo R during the first pass of the test. Team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen and fourth-placed Thierry Neuville both crashed out after hitting the same rock in the repeat run.

Source: Red Bull Content Pool

KCB Kajiado Rally 2015


Photo Credit: Pete Mayes

Ian Duncan won the KCB Kajiado Rally held on the 3rd of May. Duncan, a six-time KNRC winner, navigated by Kavit Dave won in a Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX. The event was characterized by inclement weather and long delays with the rally being initially cancelled, as parts of the course were impassable. KMSC, the organizers of the race then re-routed the rally which was also extended by one day to allow for the completion of the race. The race saw quite a few high profile names withdraw including current KNRC champion Baldev Chager, Carl Tundo, Quentin Mitchell, Tejveer Rai, Onkar Rai & Alastair Cavenagh.

The race itself was graced and opened by Japanese Kenjiro Shinozuka, a former winner of the Safari Rally in 1995, when it was still a part of the World Rally Champi-onship. The leaders standing changed thrice in the race with Rajbir Rai atop in CS1, Duncan taking the lead in CS2 & CS3, Raaji Bharji then took the lead over CS4 & CS5 before being involved in an accident on CS7 which led to his withdrawal. Duncan effectively held the lead from CS6 till the end at the Athi River Quarry Super Special with Rajbir Rai finishing second in the Ford Fiesta R5. Jaspreet Chatthe who won the KCB Safari Rally last month finished third overall at Kajiado and maintains his lead atop the overall KNRC leadership standings with 76.5 points. Ian Duncan moves to second on 56.5 points with Rajbir Rai on third with 39 points.

PROVISIONAL FINAL RESULTS

1. Ian Duncan (EVOX) 1:02.26

2. Rajbir Rai (Ford Fiesta R5) 1:02.59

3. Jassi Chatthe (EVOX) 1:03.40

4. Jas Mangat (EVOX) 1:04.26

5. Izhar Mirza (EVOX) 1:08.07

6. Jasmeet Chana (EVO9) 1:09.51

7. Dennis Mwenda (EVO9) 1:09.59

8. Eric Bengi (Toyota RunX) 1:13.39

9. Murage Waigwa (Subaru GC8) 1:14.01

10. Asad Khan (Subaru N10) 1:14.55

11. Steve Mwangi (Subaru N10) 1:15.51

12. Nadeem Kana (GC8) 1:16.08

13. Jansher Sandhu (EVO9) 1:16.55

14. Hussein Malik (EVO6) 1:17.08

15. Sammy Nyorri (Toyota RunX) 1:18.41

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Drive Kenya May/June 2015 Issue