15 replies to this topic

[ihrishi]

How often does a dream come true? Well, I can see one of my wildest dreams come true. Hold your horses, im not off for a weekend with Ms Kaif. Its something even better.

I am participating in a car rally. And not just any one day car rally, it?s the prestigious Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm rally, from 12th Feb to 20th Feb 2010. I will be navigating a Fiat Punto, being driven by Manoj Vaidya. There will be participants from professional teams, the Indian Army, and journalists among other privateers like us...

It sure is going to be a very sharp learning curve, as well as a very different experience. I had never imagined participating in a real rally before. The fun has already started, with the planning and preparation for this. There is a lot of paperwork involved in this, like getting rally licenses from the FMSCI, certificates from the doctor, indemnity bonds from the lawyer, insurance from the broker?.you get the drift.

Paperwork is one thing. The actual challenge will be when driving over sand, water, beaches, dry lake beds, near the POK border, next to an extinct volcano somewhere in Rajasthan. Some of these things are on moonless nights just to make things interesting.

Well, we did some amount of beach driving & changing the tyre practice among other things, but that story I will leave for another day. ;-) Just hoping that we don?t face something like that in the real deal, where a tyre is supposed to be changed in 3 mins.

I still am to get used to the peculiar world of Tulips and Time Controls and CAST's and Road Books and Speed Sheets. But slowly and surely, am getting there. Most of my work is mathematical. It is my responsibility to ensure that we are at right place at the right time. So the most important tool for me is?a calculator. And pencils, markers, erasers and sharpeners. :-)

I am not going there just to participate. I am going there, and will give it my best shot for a podium. So, wish me well, and hope that I come back with a rally classification.

From what I understand, the organizers are going to update the positions of each car real time. In case you are interested in following our progress, visit the link below:

Itinerary is as below:

12 & 13 February 2010
From: 1000 hrs At the Scrutiny, DLF Place, Saket, New Delhi
14 February 2010
From: 0800 hrs At the Ceremonial Start, DLF Place, Saket, New Delhi
15 February 2010
From: 1800 hrs At Hotel Laxmi Niwas, Bikaner
16 February 2010
From: 1800 hrs At Hotel Fort Rajwada, Jaisalmer
17 February 2010
From: 1800 hrs At Camp, Bhuj
18 February 2010
From: 1800 hrs At Camp, Bhuj
19 February 2010
From: 1800 hrs At Hotel Radisson Plaza, Udaipur
20 February 2010
Rest day
21 February 2010
Drive back from Udaipur

More details here:http://desertstorm.motorsport.in/

[avinrichards]

wow.! this is really exiting !

All the very best man.! Keep us posted !

[razorBlades]

whoa! nice ihrishi all the very best mate!

[ihrishi]

THanks mates. But how do i keep u updated on the latest happenings??

[dman]

All the Best Pal... Just Aim for the Horizon... If there is any ..

[razorBlades]

ihrishi said:

THanks mates. But how do i keep u updated on the latest happenings??

a twitter account? if using mobile gprs u can post here

if nothing works, an sms would be great! i'll post the updates here for you

[ihrishi]

razorBlades said:

a twitter account? if using mobile gprs u can post here

if nothing works, an sms would be great! i'll post the updates here for you

I was planning to post end of day updates on my blog via a mail... no idea if GPRS will work there, though.

Alternatively, will try facebook thro SMS.

I think i have ur number, will send u those too...

[ihrishi]

Ok, update...
In all probability, the daily updates of the rally will be covered on Motoroids. So keep visiting

Cheers!

[avinrichards]

^^thats even better

in anycase drop in your twitter account . we will update from that too

[razorBlades]

cool.. cant wait! ihrishi all the very best again m8!

[satyenpoojary]

Woah! A car rally!
That is one awesome insane way to go crazy!

[nav75]

Punto power is with you guys. Go beat the competition to pulp.

Good luck.

[ihrishi]

Whew. Am back. Awesome experience.
We came in 4th position.

Now for sorting the pics and the trip log...

[razorBlades]

ihrishi said:

Whew. Am back. Awesome experience.
We came in 4th position.

Now for sorting the pics and the trip log...

great news ihrishi.. your first rally and 4th pos awesome!!

[satyenpoojary]

First rally and almost the podium! Woah! Neato!