Sardar Joginder Singh Bhachu (9 February 1932 – 24 October 2013) was a successful endurance rally driver in the 1960s and 1970s. Popularly known as “The Flying Sikh”, He won the Safari Rally three times, in 1965 driving a Volvo PV544 with his brother Jaswant as co-driver, and in 1974 and 1976 driving a Mitsubishi Colt Lancer 1600 GSR
He is still a household name half a century after he carved himself a name by raising dust storms and churning mud on East Africa’s rugged highways and by-ways. To date, boys still mention ‘Jogida’ or ‘Jogida Sing’ whenever they see a car speeding away.
In Kenya, even for children who never witnessed his exploits on the road, Joginder Singh is synonymous with speed—breakneck speed.
The legendary Safari Rally champion Joginder Singh Bhachu passed away peacefully in London aged 81 last Sunday, Mashujaa (Heroes) Day. The undisputed king of the road succumbed to heart failure, leaving hundreds of thousands of his fans around the world in shock
and mourning.
Poignantly he died on Mashujaa Day, underscoring the fact that he was Kenyan hero.
Joginder Singh developed heart problems about ten-years-ago and underwent bypass surgery. He lived a quiet life in retirement with his family in Surrey, south-east England.
According to close family sources the octogenarian died in London at his son’s house. He had complained to his son of severe discomfort and was put on a sofa to relax but passed on ten-minutes later.
Annals of history
Famously known as “Simba wa Kenya” and the “Flying Sikh”, Joginder Singh was the star of many generations of motor-rallying fans in Kenya and East Africans living around the world.
He entered the annals of history as the first Kenyan Sikh driver ever to win an international rally, and also the first man to win the gruelling Safari Rally three times.
Born in Kericho, Kenya on February 9, 1932, he was the eldest of ten children of Sardar Batan Singh and Sardarni Swaran Kaur.
Joginder was educated at a boarding school in Nairobi. His first work experience was as a spanner boy in his father’s garage. He gained further experience as a mechanic in other organisations before becoming the Royal East African Automobile Association’s first patrolman in 1958.
Joginder zoomed into the history books by winning the world’s toughest motor rally, Safari Rally, in 1974 and 1976, competing against the cream of international rally drivers when the event was part of the World Rally Championship.
Joginder first entered the 13th edition of the then East African Safari Rally in 1965 with his brother, the late Jaswant Singh as the co-driver, in a second hand Volvo which was earlier driven by Tom Trana in 1963 and 1964 and had already clocked 42,000 km.
The two brothers drew the number one position for the start, considered to be unlucky, but they remained number one throughout the event that ran through Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and made history after they finished at number one.
Joginder was outstanding as one of “the unsinkable seven” finishers of the 1968 event in which 74 crews started but only seven finished. The victors were also hailed as “The Magnificent Seven” after the Hollywood cowboy film released around this time.
From then onwards, they got plenty of sponsorships and Joginder went on to win the world rally event in 1974 and 1976.
Joginder’s record of 19 finishes in 22 attempts was an unprecedented feat for the Safari Rally in which finishing the event was once considered a greater achievement than winning other world rally events.
He was honoured as a special guest at the start of the 50th Safari Rally in 2002, and was appointed a patron of the Safari Classic in 2007.
Any visitor to his home in Surrey would marvel at the trophies, certificates, books, newspapers, magazines and documentaries chronicling his victories in motor rallies around the world.
Joginder Singh has left behind a legacy that has charmed across continents and his powerful persona and escapades as a daredevil rally driver will probably never find an equal in another century, for none came even remotely close for decades after he hung his driving gloves.
Outclassed the best
He always exhorted promising rally drivers to follow his example of being a teetotaller and urged them to break his own record.
Tributes have been flowing from the Kenyan diaspora across the world. Former Nairobi journalist Kul Bhushan, the doyen of motor rallying reporters, who covered the event for 26- years until 1990, for newspapers including The Standard said, “Joginder Singh achieved the legendary status of a national hero in Kenya and remains unmatched as a rally driver who outclassed the best of the world during the Seventies.”
Ken Kenny, of the London-based UKenTV said, “He will remain an icon in the world of Safari Rally. I salute you Joginder Singh.”
Philip Hotton said, “Can remember seeing Joginder in action, amazing driver. RIP, Joginder.”
Bradley Downer of East Grinstead, said, “RIP. I have many fond memories of watching Joginder race as a kid.”
Jane Lesley Walshe of Bedfordshire, said, “RIP Joginder Singh, many childhood memories shouting for you at EA Safari Rallies, from a hill or roadside. Remember you well.”
Asin Lalji Noorani of Dubai, said, “RIP. A legend you were. I grew up in awe of your courage and skill.”
Retired Dar es Salaam newspaper photographer Narendra Gajjar, now living in Canada, said he remembers photographing Joginder on many occasions in his 25-year career and each time it was a photo session to remember.
Priceless hero
“A much-loved hero of all Kenyans, he died poignantly on Sunday, when Kenya celebrated MashujaaDay. Fondly known as ‘The Flying Sikh’, Joginder Singh was also a consultant for the Himalayan Rally and took part in this event as well,” wrote the Hindustan Times of India.
Career of Joginder Singh (rally driver)
The eldest of ten children born to Sardar Battan Singh and Sardarni Swaran Kaur, first generation Kenyan Asian migrants from the Punjab region of India, he was educated at a boarding school in Nairobi. His first work experience was as a spanner boy in his father’s garage, and he gained further experience as a mechanic in other organisations before becoming the Royal East African Automobile Association’s first patrolman in 1958.
The first Sikh driver ever to win an international rally, and also the first man to win the Safari Rally three times, he was fondly known as the “Flying Sikh” for his exploits behind the wheel. Although Ugandan rival Shekhar Mehta has more outright victories in the event, Singh’s record of 19 finishes in 22 attempts is an unprecedented feat of consistency in what has been long regarded as the world’s toughest rally, where the attrition rate can exceed 90%.[3] He was even one of the so-called “Unsinkable Seven” – the only crews in the 1968 event who were able to reach the finish at Nairobi when the rest of the entire field of 74 were stranded on the Mau Escarpment along the western rim of the Great Rift Valley.
He had no motorsport experience until he was 26, but made up for his late start by eventually accumulating over sixty wins in the East African Rally Championships in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Aside from his three wins on the Safari Rally, he also scored three top five finishes in the Southern Cross Rally in Australia in the 1970s, and was twice awarded Kenya’s Motor Sportsman of the Year title (1970, 1976).
His historic first Safari win in 1965 proved to be a triumph against expectations and a defiance of superstition. It was the 13th running of the event, and his car was given the number 1 which was at that time considered an unlucky number in the Safari. Nevertheless, there was only good fortune for Joginder and Jaswant, despite piloting the same Volvo which factory driver Tom Trana had used in the 1964 Safari and which had clocked up 42,000 competitive miles on its odometer before the Bhachu brothers’ victory.[2]
He spent many years as a resident in the United Kingdom from the 1980s and lived in Canada. He was present as a guest at the opening of the 50th running of the Safari Rally in 2002,[2] and was appointed patron of the Safari Classic for 2007.
Joginder Singh died of heart failure in London on Sunday 20 October 2013, he was aged 81.
Flying Sikh
Singh was called the Flying Sikh in a book by Roger Barnard, Peter Moll, which was illustrated by Mohamed Amin. Published by TransAfrica Publishers in 1975, this 109-page book gives an account of his early life. An article in the Daily Nation quotes the book describing Singh’s father as his inspiration.
Joginder Singh (rally driver) WRC victories
| # | 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 |
