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Originally Posted by fiery enzyme But what about the second day Jaggu? I heard Spidey's lockers got busted on Arka's SS. Plus one vehicle was out anyway on first day. |
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Originally Posted by khan_sultan Boss, the lockers had got busted long before and I did a major part of TPC with a busted locker. Such was our enthu & commitment towards TPC. Anyway we were out of competition on Day 1, SS3 itself. No issues with that. We screwed up big time with our vehicles & (Red3) does not deserve ANY award. Fair & Square. No complaints about that. |
Let me give you the whole story. Khan and myself generally chit chat on things to be done on Spidey to make it more comfortable, clean up the rough edges etc on our long drives to various events. There was a set of pending work, which included a hard top, since we got royally buggered with the Munnar and Pune trip with soft tops. Then on the return from Pune we faced some issues with steering, so it was decided its time to go ahead, and i kicked Khan day in and out to give the car a full mechanical overhaul (which was never done till date) along with the hard top job.
Cabin work happened and at the last day or two the mechanicals were overhauled, in the hurry we forgot to check the lockers. They were misbehaving right from the start of our drive from BLR. But then it was too late when we realized this issue. But since we know spidey's capabilities to a fair extent we decided to push it. Day 1 inspite of a slipping lockers we just flew over the obstacles (we also didn't figure this as an issue then). Score cards are evidence.
SS3 of day 1 itself we knew that we are out of competition. Sidhu gypsy broke spring, which again is our stupid mistake, of not checking the vehicle. That vehicle was not planned to participate, but since the other vehicle had some paper work pending the white gypsy was prepared over a day after being standing idle for 3 months IIRC.
Still we couldn't let it go without giving our best try, though we knew we never stood a chance. We knew that we would lose some 300 + points IIRC with our clueless calculations. We didn't even bother to wait for Sidhu to rejoin us at last few SS of first day (which i feel was a bad idea now lol). Coz our idea was to have fun and forget the competition side. Ask Mohan manning the last SS of day 1, how we were having fun.
While reversing to fill air on the highway, we got first taste of fully slipping lockers.
Day 2, as usual we went full blast, inspite of issues with Sidhu's gypsy and spidey. Marshal's would have noticed the machine gun fire. Then at Arka's SS lockers decided to completely pack up. Please note that this was not due to that obstacle, i can take the challenge, that it is a cake walk for the vehicle. But the abuse of last 4 days of drive taking toll. Still we decided to continue and i was driving, i even attempted few obstacles which i could without increasing the revs.
Then while driving to last SS i figured out that i could do better (without locker slip) with 4H. I told Khan this and he took spidey to clear all the obstacles in 4H, where the previous team was struggling, even with a gypsy.
Hope this explains my stance and views about the terrain. Yes its unfair to compare Spidey with any other vehicle coz the man behind the vehicle has spent 3+ years of time and truck loads of effort on it. To make it one of the most capable offroad vehicle in India. Many who used to pull his legs have started following the same modifications also, that should be proof enough.
Hope this clears your doubt's
EDIT: About second day, Khan said it was good and my reply was better than day 1, just about ok.
Palar is toughest challenge to organize! Period.
Terrain wise its moderate, if you and your vehicle are in ship shape and light you will have a ball of a time. And i atleast envy you guys who have access to this fun place year long