On the two occasions that Italian Massimo 'Miki' Biasion won his Safari Rally titles in 1988 and 1989, one thing remains vivid in his memory — the distressing sight of a jumbo helplessly stuck in the mud.
Biasion was competing in one of the Safari Rally editions when he saw an elephant struggling out of a muddy hole.
Touched by the situation, he immediately put aside his thirst for glory and decided to help the jumbo out of a difficult situation.
"I have won two editions of the Safari Rally here but Kenya's wildlife and beautiful scenery have always made me want to return to Africa again and again," Biasion said.
He adds: "However, my greatest experience was when we met an elephant struggling to overcome a muddy patch."
Adventurer in the mud
Biasion had to radio his team who spent hours trying to free the animal. "We had to radio our service team and spent about 8 hours trying to help the elephant out of the mud," Biasion recalls wistfully.
He adds: "Finally, we managed to free the elephant and let him into the savannah. It was a very special experience.
"The Kenyan meetings have undoubtedly provided the toughest test with its combination of bad road conditions and the added expectation of the crew meeting the wildlife on stage.
The Italian is a special guest at this weekend's East Africa Mini Classic rally, which was launched at the Woodlands Hotel in Nakuru.
Biasion admits the rally, which runs until Sunday, makes him nostalgic about his heydays.
" The Safari of the 80s was such a hard drive. I am happy that organizers in Kenya have taken the initiative to retain the tradition that made the Safari the toughest motor rally event j the world," he says.
He is optimistic about reliving past experiences in Kenya by savoring the sights and sounds the country has to offer.
"I am also excited to see some very good organization by the team and I'm looking forward to the sightings of wild animals on the stages this weekend," Biasion remarks.
The Italian joined deputy Nakuru County David Kones in flagging off the Mini Classic.
