A Manly Day

Living as the only brother of two older sisters your whole life (all four years so far) can have its ups and its downs, like this:

I think I was more worried by the expression on Ian's face than I was about the fact that he was wearing a dress. He looks like he's enjoying it way too much. With these lovely photo ops becoming all to common, I decided to take things into my own hands and take this boy on a really manly outing.  About a week ago the East Africa Safari Rally Classic was passing right by Kijabe, down in the valley below us.  This was part of a 4000 km race that ran through Kenya and Tanzania.  What makes this "classic" is all the cars in the race are about 30 years old or older.  When I told Ian we were going to a race to see some fast race cars like "Lightning McQueen" he was on board and ready to go.  We packed up the truck with our chairs, tarps, and all the gear we needed for a real African bush breakfast and headed off.  We pulled out about 6:30am to get down to the course area and find an ideal spot to see some action and get some good pictures. ...

We found a nice spot right next to a rather deep mud hole.  With the recent rains the course was pretty sloppy in places which always make for some great photo ops. Not to mention that it tends to slow the cars down so you get a really good look as they pass by.  We set up the tarp and table and made our bush breakfast of eggs, sausage, cinnamon buns, bananas and coffee and chai.  Ian enjoyed every bite as we awaited the arrival of the first car. ...

It wasn't too long after breakfast the first car arrived at out watering hole.  It was Bjorn Waldegard and his son Mathias. Bjorn is a legend in the East African Safari Rally.  The father son team eventually went on three days later to win the rally.  He was one of the few drives that barley lifted his foot off the accelerator when he hit the water.  Great start to the rally, just what we wanted to see. ...

Bjorn Waldegard

That's a camera mounted on top.

Each cars location was tracked on Google Earth
 in real time during the race.

We even had a visit from one of the team's chase helicopters.
He  landed to tells that one car was stuck about 1km down the course from us.
About half our group took off to pull them out of a rather large hole.
Ian went along to "help" as well.

Ian's favorite car in the race was car number 1.  Driven by Ian Duncan, a local Kenyan rally favorite and hero.  Our Ian was so excited that there was a driver with the same name as him.  He kept asking when he was going to come by again. He hasn't quite grasped the concept of point-to-point racing as opposed to track racing. Since the race Ian's asked about 20 times (a day) when we can print a picture of Ian Duncan's car and take it to Nairobi so he can sign it for him.  He desperately wants to meet Ian Duncan in person.  Looks like I have another outing to do soon. ...

Ian Duncan

In my efforts to have a manly day with my son, the poor living dress-up doll of his two older sisters, this car came along.  Its' the all female team of Khan and Irwin.  I won't mention that they were the last car of the day.  Maybe they stopped to ask for directions. Also the only car with a tow rope fixed and ready on the front. Hmmm. Nothing against female race teams, I'm just sayin'.  I'll give it to them though, they did finish 29th out of 52 who started the race. ...

All in all it was a great day.  Ian had a great time.  That's him on the roof of the Landie scouting with binoculars for the next car to arrive. If the pictures don't speak loud enough of his approval listen to what he says at the end of following video clip. ...

This was shot on the frist day the cars passed by. 

Thus the rain.  They came by again two days later, 

that was out breakfast outing.

I have to say Ian's favorite part of the day, (okay mine too) was when we got to take our turn rallying through the mud hole on our way home.  Maybe Ian Duncan will want an autographed picture of me now. Or better yet, maybe Ian and I will be the next father son team to run the rally.