The History of The Classic Safari

1953

The Classic Safari has its roots in the original East African Safari Rally, which was first held in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It quickly became one of the most prestigious and toughest rallies in the world, attracting top international drivers and teams. Over the years, the rally has gone through several changes in format and organization. In 2003, the East African Safari Classic Rally was established as a separate event to revive the spirit of the original rally and cater to classic car enthusiasts.

Notable Drivers

  • Bjorn Waldegard

  • Ken Block

  • Baldev Chager

  • Ian Duncan

  • Stiq Blomqvist

  • Patrik Sandell

  • Jayant Shah

  • Rob Collinge

“Just imagine driving from New Jersey to Montana as fast as possible–all on dirt roads. We drove 250 to 400 miles a day, and no two days were alike.”

— Mitch McCullough

“I’d thought I’d done some rallying, It turns out I’ve never done a rally.” 

— Patrik Sandell

“Go as fast as you can when you can see. Slow down when you can’t.”

— Ryan Champion