Greetings to all,
My name is Rico van den Hurck. I live in Kenya for almost 25 years, but have the Netherlands nationality.
I like to introduce myself using the template provided on the website.
1. see above for my name.
2. I was born on setember 18 in 1948, which makes me 64 years 'old'.
3.I live just outside a medium sized town in Western Kenya, called Kitale.
4.My mother tonque is Dutch, but I speak English, French, German and a bit Kiswahili and Amharic
5.I make a living by training drivers and mechanics of NGO's. Trainings are always done at the location where the ngo is active, mostly in otherwise unaccesible places.
6.I am maried, my wife is Kenyan and together we care for 8 adopted children.
7.I am not a member of any other 4x4 club.
8. I currently have a gen.2 LWB Pajero exceed, parked with a non-functioning auto box, after fitting a 4m40 Delica engine (which is not really a straightforward job).
I also have a Toyota FJ 40 of 1973, a Morris Minor Pick-up of 1958 (without engine and box) and a rolled Suzuki Escudo.
My daily transport is a 24 year old Toyota Surf.
9.My current modification (if you can call it that):I fitted a very nicely running Delica 4M40 motor.
10.I like to make and fit a roofrack and towing device (Big family, see above)
11.I am looking to buy a Land Cruiser HZJ 78 (fittingly called a troop carrier).
12.Previously I had several Land Rovers 109 and 110, but I prefer driving above spannering on my daily runabouts. I also had a Hilux single cab diesel and a Mercedes LAK 315 model 1963. Finally I had a number of Range Rovers which I converted to Merceds diesel engines and than sold to make a living.
13. My last trip was in South Kivu in DR Congo. Before that I was in the extreem North of South Sudan and before this in Boma National Park also in South Sudan. All these were actual trainings for NGO drivers, which get me on and off the roads in the most remote places.
14. My favourite (future) destination would be a safari from Kenya to Cape Town and back, not using the same road twice.
15.My hobbies are photography, making furniture and having a drink with friends.
16. I live at 0 59'56.34"N 34 59'55"E
17. I have traveled in Africa since 1986 but have no idea about how many Kilometers, but quite a lot. I have good skills in vehicle recovery; defensive driving (on and off-road)bush repairs and general maintenance and repairs.
18. Photos will follow at a later date.....
I travel quite a lot and frequently to areas where there is no net work (yes, these places still exist) so I will not always be able to quickly respond to any messages.
Kind Regards,
Rico van den Hurck
Kenya.
Welcome here.
The Defensive Driving Skill that you mention is truly a very important one, especially in Africa, and something that very little people understand properly, even here in the cities of South Africa.
CATS
The Defensive Driving Skill that you mention is truly a very important one, especially in Africa, and something that very little people understand properly, even here in the cities of South Africa.
CATS
2009 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS (Gen4) - Casper (Starting to grow on me)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
Hello Cats,
defensive driving is absolute very important for drivers as is preventive maintenance for mechanics. Both consepts seem to be pretty alien issues in this part of the world.
Never mind, it gives me something to work on and this is often very satisfactory. I love my work and even introduced a driving style which I call 'progressive driving'. Not to confuse with agressive, but it is also not too far removed from it. Many drivers I find too timid which results in very slow progres and easily being intimidated by roadconditions or other drivers. Anyhow, we may find time to discuss this another time.
Thanks for your response and 'talk'soon.
Rico.
defensive driving is absolute very important for drivers as is preventive maintenance for mechanics. Both consepts seem to be pretty alien issues in this part of the world.
Never mind, it gives me something to work on and this is often very satisfactory. I love my work and even introduced a driving style which I call 'progressive driving'. Not to confuse with agressive, but it is also not too far removed from it. Many drivers I find too timid which results in very slow progres and easily being intimidated by roadconditions or other drivers. Anyhow, we may find time to discuss this another time.
Thanks for your response and 'talk'soon.
Rico.