On November 9, 2011 a reception marked SARK's 40th anniversary. The Surinaamse Auto Rally Klub (Surinamese Car Rally Club) combined the event with the announcement of the results of the 35th Savanne Rally that was held last weekend. The Airco Hal in the KKF building in Paramaribo was decorated for the occasion in savanna style with jungle plants, savanna sand, palm trees, and typical landmarks such as a replica of the watchtower in the OP Savanne and a car dashboard as a lectern. Over a drink and a snack visitors enjoyed an exhibition with photos, publications and regulation booklets of the old days.
SARK: The Surinamese Car Rally Club
Apart from rallies in and around Paramaribo, the country's capital, annual events are held in the dozens of savannas that characterize South America's smallest country, located along the north coast of the continent. The savannas form the transition zone between the Amazon rainforest, which covers 80% of Suriname, and the Atlantic Coast.
Two multi-day rallies in 1970 led to the foundation of SARK on January 27, 1971 and its anniversary was celebrated on various occasions throughout 2011. Of particular note were the opening of the clubhouse in April and the inauguration of SARK's savanna terrain last weekend during the 35th Savanne Rally.
History of the SARK
In his speech, SARK's president Antoine Brahim looked back on four decades of navigation rallying in Suriname. Rally driving in Suriname started in the 1950s when the country was a colony of the Netherlands. As the TRIS (TRoepenmacht In Suriname; army troops in Suriname) practised on the savanna they organised rallies in the outback, such as the Fajalobi Rally and the Red Cross Rally, the latter being a fundraising rally. Rallies were also organised by enterprises such as The Surinamese Bauxiet Company, Bruynzeel and Mariënburg.
They were one-day events, generally held on Sunday. The first nightlong rally was the Fajalobi Rally in 1969 and the first two-day rally was organised in 1970 after a ferry connection was established on the Marowijne River between French Guiana and Suriname. Thirty-eight cars started at 3:00 a.m. to drive from Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana, to Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname.
On November 7-8, 1970 Suriname's first Savanne Rally was organised, which would evolve into SARK's most prestigious annual event. This year, 75 Surinamese teams and 21 foreign ones (Brazil, Belgium, French Guiana, the Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Dutch Antilles) participated in SARK's 35th Savanne Rally.
Navigation rallies in the 1980s and 1990s
In the 1980s many new rallies were organised among which the DSB Rally, SLM Rally and Billiton Rally. Several of them have developed into annual events that have existed until today. The "War of the Interior" (civil war) and economic crisis between 1985 and 1995 were the reason for seven cancellations of Savanne Rallies as well as numerous city navigation rallies. The period 1991-1995 is remembered as SARK's hibernation.
From 1995 on, all rallies made a comeback and have been growing ever since. During the last decade SARK has extended its connections to neighbouring and overseas countries. Surinamese teams have participated in rallies in Brazil and Trinidad & Tobago while a growing number of international teams are discovering the fun of Suriname's annual 4-day Savanne Rally in November.
The Surinamese Car Rally Club and the future
"The coming years we will focus on the growth and continuity of SARK," Antoine Brahim states. "We will work on further internationalisation towards the Guianas and beyond, the restructure the SARK regulations, and the professionalization of our organisation. I have faith in SARK's future and look forward to a new and adventurous 5th decade with lots of rally fun. At SARK too we like to say, 'Life begins at 40'."
sources
- De Sarkograaf, number 69 - november 2011
- Interview with Antoine Brahim, president of SARK
- Speech by Antoine Brahim during the reception on November 9, 2011
Karin-Marijke Vis - Karin-Marijke Vis is a bilingual writer (Dutch-English) who has been traveling in Asia and South America since 2003.
