Joginder Singh (rally driver) facts for kids
Joginder Singh, pictured in London in the 1990s alongside the restored Volvo PV544 (KHT 184) with which he won the 1965 Safari Rally
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  Kenya |
| Born | 9 February 1932 Kericho, Kenya |
| Died | 24 October 2013 (aged 81) London, England |
| World Rally Championship record | |
| Active years | 1973 – 1980 |
| Teams | Mitsubishi – Mercedes |
| Rallies | 8 |
| Rally wins | 3 |
| Podiums | 2 |
| Total points | 0 |
| First rally | 1959 Safari Rally |
| First win | 1965 Safari Rally |
| Last win | 1976 Safari Rally |
| Last rally | 1980 Safari Rally |
Sardar Joginder Singh Bhachu (born 9 February 1932 – died 24 October 2013) was a very successful rally driver from Kenya. He was famous for his amazing driving skills in the 1960s and 1970s. People often called him "The Flying Sikh."
Joginder Singh won the famous Safari Rally three times. He won in 1965 with his brother Jaswant, driving a Volvo PV544. Later, he won again in 1974 and 1976, both times in a Mitsubishi Colt Lancer 1600 GSR.
Joginder Singh's Rally Career
Joginder Singh was the oldest of ten children. His parents were Kenyan Asian migrants from the Punjab region of India. He went to a boarding school in Nairobi, Kenya.
He started working as a mechanic in his father's garage. He later gained more experience at other places. In 1958, he became the first patrolman for the Royal East African Automobile Association.
Joginder Singh was the first Sikh driver to win an international rally. He was also the first person to win the Safari Rally three times. This is why he earned the nickname "Flying Sikh."
The Safari Rally is known as one of the toughest rallies in the world. Many cars often drop out of the race. Joginder Singh was incredibly consistent. He finished 19 out of 22 races he started. This is a truly amazing record!
In 1968, 74 cars entered the Safari Rally. Only seven teams managed to finish the race. Joginder Singh was part of this special group, known as the "Unsinkable Seven." The other teams got stuck on the Mau Escarpment.
Joginder Singh did not start racing until he was 26 years old. But he quickly made up for it. He won over sixty races in the East African Rally Championships. These championships took place in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Besides his three Safari Rally wins, he also finished in the top five three times at the Southern Cross Rally in Australia. He was named Kenya's Motor Sportsman of the Year twice, in 1970 and 1976.
His first Safari Rally win in 1965 was very special. It was the 13th time the event was held, and his car had the number 1. Both of these were thought to be unlucky at the time. However, Joginder and Jaswant had great luck. They won with a Volvo that had already raced 42,000 miles!
Joginder Singh lived in the United Kingdom for many years starting in the 1980s. He also lived in Canada. In 2002, he was a special guest at the 50th Safari Rally. He was also chosen as a patron for the Safari Classic in 2007.
Joginder Singh passed away in London on October 24, 2013, at the age of 81. He died from heart failure.
The Flying Sikh Nickname
The nickname "Flying Sikh" became very popular for Joginder Singh. A book about him, titled The Flying Sikh, was published in 1975. It was written by Roger Barnard and Peter Moll, with pictures by Mohamed Amin.
This book shared details about his early life and racing adventures. An article in the Daily Nation newspaper mentioned that the book described Joginder Singh's father as his biggest inspiration.
Major Rally Wins
Here are Joginder Singh's wins in the World Rally Championship:
| # | Event | Season | Co-driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22nd East African Safari Rally |
1974 | David Doig | Mitsubishi Colt Lancer |
| 2 | 24th Safari Rally |
1976 | David Doig | Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR |
