(16 Apr 1976) Start of first leg of East African Safari Rally
lead in: the twenty-fourth east african safari rally got off to a bad start on thursday (april 15 '76). tropical rains lashed sections of the 5,000 kilometre (3,000 mile) course and two-thirds of the drivers had to abandon the race almost before it had begun.
commentary: but everything looked bright and sunny as the sixty-five starters revved up their engines and prepared for the start, each one confident that he would finish the whole gruelling 5,000 kilometre (3,000 mile) course, which is reputed to be the toughest in the world.
kenya's vice president, daniel arap moi, was there to welcome the participants, and to give the cars an official send-off. spiralling costs worldwide have meant that the rally has attracted about one third fewer entrants than in previous years. neighbouring uganda, however, has felt the pinch even more: on wednesday (april 14) president amin cancelled uganda's easter rally because of lack of petrol and oil supplies.
vice president arap moi himself flagged off the first cars with great enthusiasm. although top rally aces from italy and scandinavia are taking part, predictions were that the heavy rains and difficulties of the course would favour local drivers. local vetran driver joginder singh, here being wished the best of luck by vice president moi, is one of the betting favourites.
joginder's car was number 8-a factory-entered colt lancer. for the team award, the sturdy peugeots were expected to survive the mud better than the faster lancias.
difficulties include wild animals-drivers were warned that if they met an elephant on the road, the elephant would have right of way-every time.
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