Autozine September

Two big events prove that Kenya's motoring scene has come of age. These are the Total Motorshow and Access Kenya Concours d'elegance. And age is a central, unpronounced theme with the two. While the Motorshow showcased what new car dealers have to offer, now and in future, Concours, coming up later this month will be a contest of the oldies; cars and bikes.

But even with the veritable feast for the eyes at the Motorshow, there are several car models that enthusiasts would love to see in Kenya. These are world beaters in their own right. Our reporters picked the top six models 'missing in action', and sought justification from the dealers why they aren't on sale locally.

The Concours d'elegance, in the meantime, is gearing up for its historic outing at the Nairobi Racecourse on September 27, when it'll be screened live on TV for the first time in its 39 year history.

Did you know that there are 1.3 million cars in Kenya? With an estimate population of 40 million, this means we've like one car for 30 people. No one knows the ratio of cars to number of licensed drivers and this would be important to the newly-launched National Roads Safety Council in mapping out remedial plans to stem road accidents. Can, for example, these licensed drivers tell the difference between the sounds made by worn out brake pads and a broken front bumper panel?

Having a basic understanding of how a car runs - and accompanying ability to diagnose simple mechanical flaws - I believe, can go a long way in preventing accidents. If you can tell that your front, left suspension has little play area and is about to collapse,   minimise your speed. Our newest column, Car Doctor, seeks to answer all your motoring questions and in the process, increase your knowledge about cars. The answers are given

by a professional mechanic. If you've been scratching your beard over a nagging motoring problem, Car Doctor has all the answers for you.