Engines Warming Up

The engines are warming up, the tyres getting hotter and the tarmac fast disappearning.
Praxy and Johnny did a trial run in the night yesterday, and phew - it's easier to drive blind than to use a rally manual -


This is how a race manual looks like -



The challenges with a race manual are very simple -
1. It does not follow the main route

2. You decide to take a turn or not based on some arrows - I never knew arrows can be so twisted

3. You miss a turn, you will not know how far to come back

4. Marshalls are hidden along the way


Now most of the race - The average speed, taking into consideration about 12 hours of driving, is just about 40 KMPH - This speed how sounds like a cool cruise mode in the city - up here in the ghats - its like taking several twisty turns every 30 seconds at about 60-70 KMPH - Thats like taking a U turn in the cities at 80-90 KMPH - thats what we need to do for about 50% of the time.



Praxy and Johnny being guys never knew what stomach cramps are - but up here, after a couple of hours of driving - the stomach tries to come out of the mouth - hmm...may be thats what they call cramps.



Waiting for the flagoff !



P.S:
1. Getting used to driving with heaters on

2. Hot is cool

3. Praxy working on not to puke

4. The adrenalin is rising

5. Thanks to all the readers - feels nice

6. Special thanks to 'The Goddess" who is helping in getting the blogs up.

Paper-thin lines

 

 

Paper-thin lines - that’s what Day 2 was all about. The day starts making calls to the insurance company to fax the policies, verification of lots and lots of documents including but not limited to blood group proofs, driving and rally licenses, rally registration, vehicle and personal insurance, signing of indemnity reports of all kinds etc… – phew – whoever said rallying was fun – its all work and hardly sounds interesting.

 

Here’s How Ginger Looks Now

 

 

 

 

 

Praxy and Johnny decide to check out Shimla – Both head out to the most famous (and the only one) shopping market – MAAL Road (Praxy says – lots of Pahaadi Maal to…)

 

 

Now Maal Road is somehow strategically placed at 200 ft above ground – with shops, homes and business establishments.  To reach MAAL Road – you need to take a lift – that stops at 100 ft and then shift to another Lift that “flies” you to MAAL Road –

 

Whoa – and the ride cost 7Rs one way.

 

You get everything in MAAL road – from Jaggery to Jewellery, sweets to sheets, shawls to sandals – except that you do not find any finesse in the work at this place. Gives you a feeling that you are walking in Abids (Hyderabad)/ Connaught place (Delhi)/ Brigade Road (Bangalore) – You get the picture right -  that’s it.

 

Irrespective of the non availability of anything that Johnny calls ‘fine work”, Praxy managed to buy 2 shawls, 2 pull overs, 2 pairs of socks etc - you get the picture – He is a crazy shopper – and by far the best MALE window shopper Johnny encountered.

 

Johnny on the other hand, graded “high maintenance” bought a pullover, a shirt and no more (Praxy says – couldn’t find anything his SIZE).

 

Shimla looks brilliant at night as the darkness sets in and lights are turned on.

 

 

 

By this time, Praxy and Johnny finally realize that they need to have some caps to protect against the chilly wind and they evolve into completely new attire. It’s Johnny’s blog, so he gets an extra pic over here. Praxy’s friends, please refer below :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Highlights

1. The car is stickered on both sides with Praxy’s and Johnny’s names with their Blood Groups…
2. Both Praxy and Johnny share the same blood.... group
3. Both share the same DOB (Johnny’s first and only B’day, and Praxy’s official B’day)
4. Praxy is in Gyan give-and-take mode with Firangs
5. Johnny is smiling and happy not to be hearing or giving Gyan (Praxy says, doesn’t have time out of the loooooooong phone calls from someone who no one knows…)
6. I think Butter is available free in Shimla – ever ate Jeera Rice that leaves a trail of ghee on your fingers? This sends Praxy and John searching for fruit stalls for the dinner – and sadly – Shimla is dead by 8 PM – Pitch Dark – Roads deserted.

 

 

And oh, Yes, we drove too… :P

 

 

Camera In Johnny’s Left Hand

 

 

 

Praxy At The Wheel

 

 

 

Day 2 Landscapes

Shimla

Maal/Mall Road Yet Another Sunset... Lunch With Butterflies... (Sorry, Butterflies and Lunch not in picture)

The Rally Cast

Character 1 – Adam – Male – United Kingdom

Adam is taking part in this challenge under “extreme” biking – in simple words – drive all by himself through the x-treme terrain.

 

Bike – BMW 650 CC – Air Cooled – 6 Speed – Petrol Variant (Owners Pride, Johnny’s Envy)

 

He has driven all the way from London, via half of Europe, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and then into Shimla – He drove all along except 22 KM (via a ferry to get into Europe), wait for the pictures to come…

 

Character 2 – Kevin – Male – United Kingdom

Kevin, outspoken and a humorous smoker, is taking a break from being with his wife and wants his wife to chase him for sometime (hmm…. he said that). An avid racer, done the Himalayan trail once before. Kevin is the driver, mechanic, crew etc, and has assembled the Land Rover he drives– for regulations to be met – he has a full time professional photographer as the teammate. There are breath taking pictures and videos of all the races / rallies he has done.

 

Character 3 – Sanjay – Male – Shimla – Rally official

You should meet Sanjay – so cooooool – I don’t think any one with his DNA can get worked up on anything in a million years from now – Super efficient in work, extremely warm and behind all that – an extreme eye of detail – The meticulous gate keeper through whom you need to pass to be certified ready for an official scrutiny… - for the car and for yourself

 

HMMMM… JOHN’S BLOG – NO WOMEN! HIMALAYAS DO HAVE AN EFFECT!! :P

 

Character 4 – Jose – Female – From somewhere in Europe

She is the one of the paramedics for the race. Clinical in approach (NAH!) – gives lots of gyan from other rallies and enjoys being a paramedic and drinks OLD MONK.

 

Prakash promised to take care of her – whatever that meant (P.S – He is still married and extremely faithful to his wife)

Guys Who Like Shopping Are The First To Be Taken...

Not Recommended For Those Below 18...

Landscapes From Day 1

Day 1: The Warm-Up

…and things set off! Well, this blog takes off after many days of planning and anticipation for this ay – Travel to the “flag off” point. Meet the team:

Satya Prakash aka Praxy

Married, still adventurous and chief planner in this rally… Self proclaimed ‘great’ driver, hmm well – he is the best storyteller, with a few adventures in Sri Lanka, the Konkan coast and the Malabar stretch – Phew!

Moses John Wesley aka Johnny

Single, Gyan Giver and chief executioner in this race. Is a ‘brilliant’ driver, hmm and well, is the author of this blog, and has a few videos to prove his driving skills, driving adventures around Hyderabad and the Western Ghats.

Sexy Car aka Ginger

Mmmmuah!

The saga begins...

Shipped Ginger about 2 weeks ago. All the time that was saved shipping in advance was lost in waiting in the Delhi Traffic for about 2 hours to cover a distance of 2 KM – Result – the speedometer had lots of work to do.

11:00 A.M Delhi – 35C, sea level

LEG 1 Destination: Chandigarh
Route:Sonepat, Panipat, other pats, Karnal, Ambala Cantt., Kurukshetra
Distance to cover – 200 KM.



Its Praxy at the wheel, who believes that we need to be united on the road – In simple words, one cannot tell if it’s a Left Side Drive or otherwise in India. The roads were black velvet laid out with plush green fields on one of the sides (whichever you choose to refer it as) and with trees on the other side.

Avg Speed – 100 KMPH
Top Speed – 150 KMPH

Before you can start feeling good about such wonderful roads – they come at a toll price of 135 Rs for this sector.
Well, whoever said India had bad roads, please drive from Ambala to Chandigarh, Praxy managed to keep the meter above 120 for a good 30 minutes, if not more, to say the least, they were ‘silk’

2:30 PM Chandigarh – 33.5 C

Time To Refuel Stomachs. On the Menu -

• 6 Butter Rotis (we can cook about 2 kilos of normal sabji with the butter that was dripping off the Rotis!)
• Dal Fry
• Aloo Gobi
• 2 Cool Drinks
• 2 Gulab Jamun

Brilliant Lunch – 65 Rs (yes 65 Rs)
Money saved for eating in Chandigarh – Rs.225
The feeling – Priceless

3:15 PM Chandigarh – 34 C – 500 ft above Sea Level

LEG 2 destination: Nearest fuel point
Distance to Cover – 20 KM

Fueled.
IOC Unleaded 87 Octane – 35 liters



Negotiated multiple ghat turns, some risky accent driver and generally overtook vehicles.

Avg Speed – 10 KMPH
Top Speed – 30 KMPH

4:15 PM Outside Chandigarh -33 C – 500 ft above Sea Level

Leg 3 destination: Shimla (the ascent up the hill and the Ghat starts)
Distance to cover – 120 KM

Its now Johnny at the wheel, driving the way he likes best – playing on the tight curves and ensuring that they are no vehicles in front of his car – It’s just that he likes a clear road ahead. Check out the videos to get a feel.

Avg Speed – 50 KMPH
Top Speed – 80 KMPH

7:15 PM – Shimla – 17 C – 6900 ft above Sea Level

Check into hotel and Blog

Bumper stickers seen today –

• “Peepal ki lakdi chandan se kam nahin, shimla shehar bhi London se koi kam nahin”
• "God Save Me” – written on the rim of the front wheel.......“Owner is God”

Day 1 Highlights:

1. No scratches, No Skids
2. Prakash puked
3. Johnny acted smart
4. Prakash shot some amazing driving videos
5. Photos galore

Where Rubber Meets Road

Himalayas - The Great Wall Of India