Kurji leads Pearl rally first leg
Sep 12, 2005
OVER the years, motor rally-watching has gradually crept into Kampala revellers as a favourite pastime. The scene at last Friday’s Pearl Rally sprint was no different.
By Jude Katende
OVER the years, motor rally-watching has gradually crept into Kampala revellers as a favourite pastime. The scene at last Friday’s Pearl Rally sprint was no different.
A mammoth crowd that gathered to watch spectacular noise and fireworks from the cars’ exhaust pipes turned out in all sorts of fashions.
As usual, some fans were not the least bothered about which car was doing wonders on the popular Lubiri double circuit, but about the prices of drinks and feasting their eyes on the girls in hipsters.
The belles were aplenty in a rally of their own dubbed “optical nutrition.†The sprint ended unexpectedly early at 4:30pm, as muchomo roasters and beer dealers cursed in disbelief with the idea of making huge losses glaring at them.
Beer went for between sh2,000 and sh2,500 while mineral water and sodas went for between sh1,000 and sh1,500. Some dealers slashed the rates later, but most fans left immediately and a few stayed to have some quality time in the bushes with their latest catches.
Although a serious downpour seemed imminent, “witchdoctors†took care of it and the sprint went on as surrounding areas like Kibuye flooded.
In a Mitsubishi Evo 4, new kid on the block Ettore Storchi, son of an ex-local rally driver, Giovanni Storchi, sent shock waves to other contenders as he took on Sanya in a Mazda.
Desh, Lalani, Lumala and Rwakataka also impressed. ARC title contender, Riyaz Kurji didn’t disappoint, but his rival did. Munna Singh drove boringly slow and irked many fans.
The Saturday sprint was the first leg of the rally that ended yesterday. Riyaz Kurji, who drove a Subaru Impreza, was in the lead followed by Ponsiano Lwakataka.
Music blared on and kept some fans busy dancing. Musicians Mesach Semakula and Grace Ssekamatte graced the do albeit ‘backstage’ in “optical nutritionâ€.
OVER the years, motor rally-watching has gradually crept into Kampala revellers as a favourite pastime. The scene at last Friday’s Pearl Rally sprint was no different.
A mammoth crowd that gathered to watch spectacular noise and fireworks from the cars’ exhaust pipes turned out in all sorts of fashions.
As usual, some fans were not the least bothered about which car was doing wonders on the popular Lubiri double circuit, but about the prices of drinks and feasting their eyes on the girls in hipsters.
The belles were aplenty in a rally of their own dubbed “optical nutrition.†The sprint ended unexpectedly early at 4:30pm, as muchomo roasters and beer dealers cursed in disbelief with the idea of making huge losses glaring at them.
Beer went for between sh2,000 and sh2,500 while mineral water and sodas went for between sh1,000 and sh1,500. Some dealers slashed the rates later, but most fans left immediately and a few stayed to have some quality time in the bushes with their latest catches.
Although a serious downpour seemed imminent, “witchdoctors†took care of it and the sprint went on as surrounding areas like Kibuye flooded.
In a Mitsubishi Evo 4, new kid on the block Ettore Storchi, son of an ex-local rally driver, Giovanni Storchi, sent shock waves to other contenders as he took on Sanya in a Mazda.
Desh, Lalani, Lumala and Rwakataka also impressed. ARC title contender, Riyaz Kurji didn’t disappoint, but his rival did. Munna Singh drove boringly slow and irked many fans.
The Saturday sprint was the first leg of the rally that ended yesterday. Riyaz Kurji, who drove a Subaru Impreza, was in the lead followed by Ponsiano Lwakataka.
Music blared on and kept some fans busy dancing. Musicians Mesach Semakula and Grace Ssekamatte graced the do albeit ‘backstage’ in “optical nutritionâ€.