Family drive

Four children join Cecil Beharry on annual safari

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Cecil Beharry is looking forward to some very special company on his sixth safari across the Pakaraima Mountain in Guyana, starting on March 22. His four children - Stuart, Craig, Jill and Clint - will be with him on the journey he has done twice as a passenger and thrice driving a Land Rover Defender 110 TD5.

The Beharrys will not be in one vehicle on the long, family drive. Craig, the sole member of the quartet of siblings living in Jamaica, will be driving a 70 series Toyota Land Cruiser 2 which was acquired specifically for the trip at a government auction - in much the same manner and condition that the Land Rover was bought.

In an interview with Automotives last year, Cecil said, "My Land Rover is like a big prize for me. I got it in 2009 at a Government auction as an unserviceable vehicle. I bought this Land Rover not knowing if it would ever run again, not knowing what was missing."

For the Land Cruiser, he said, "It was like history repeating itself." The vehicle was bought in February 2012 and getting it in shape for the journey across Guyana was done over the rest of the year. Work included putting on a roof rack, rebuilding the engine (it had done 170,000 miles), putting in a differential and gearbox and slipping on Maxxis Buckshot mud tyres (which the Land Rover also wears).

"It was a complete restoration," Craig said. There have been no changes to the Land Rover for this run.

The tyres are not the only things the vehicles have in common. They both use diesel fuel for their turbocharged engines. The Defender has a 2.5-litre engine and the Land Cruiser comes with a 3.0 power plant. "You don't want gas in these (safari) situations. You want the torque," Craig said.

Jamaican flags

Both vehicles will be part of a convoy of about 25, but the Land Rover and Toyota will have an accessory that the others won't - a pair of Jamaican flags at the front. Just in case replacements are needed, there are two sets for each vehicle.

The Land Cruiser was bought specifically for the safari and, originally, the plan was for Cecil and Craig to go. That has changed over time. Now, the intention is for all the siblings to have a turn at the wheel, Cecil pointing out that Stuart has had experience with driving Humvees in the US Marine Corps. Jill has driven the Land Rover most of the way to the Cinchona Botanical Gardens, which are between 4,500 and 5,500 feet high in the mountains of St Andrew. Craig and Cecil have already put the Toyota to the test on the challenging Cinchona climb.

Ironically, Cecil did not teach any of his children to drive. And Craig pointed out that "Stuart and I learnt from bikes. We have been riding all our lives. When it came to cars they just said 'the clutch is here' and so on. We adjusted quickly. All three boys are good dirt-bike riders," Cecil said.

no strict plan

The family was last together physically in June 2011, and Craig said "we are making a joke, how we are going to cope in a car for 10 days straight". There is no strict plan on who will ride in a particular vehicle, that decision left to the mood of a particular day.

A mechanic and a cook will be added to the party in Guyana.

There will be no rushing on the run, as there is no competition involved. "I hope to be able to keep up with him. It is the first time. It is a companionship thing," Craig said.

There is an addition to the accustomed journey this time around. On the return journey the Beharrys, along with many of the other vehicles on the safari, will go to the Lethem rodeo. "You will have Guyanese and Brazilian vaqueros there. Many people from Georgetown will be there. People will be coming from Brazil," Cecil said.

The vehicles have been shipped, SeaFreight being major sponsor, and Cecil leaves for Guyana today, while Craig leaves on Thursday. Although the 2013 safari has not yet started, there are already thoughts about 2014. "We will see how it goes next year. A lot of folks are planning for next year. A few want to come with me, others say they would get cars," Craig said.

And Cecil said "I am doing one trip at a time. August coming I will be 69. When I go and come back I will see how I feel and if I will go back".