[ex670c]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

Arka, maybe you could also upload the SS based points & also the time for each team at that SS along with the pictures you are posting.

That will give readers a context and can co-relate the the pictures of that SS with the points to get a sense of how the teams tackled the terrain & time taken etc.

Hi Shahnawaz,

Sorting the pics are a time consuming affair, getting the Team by SS Score will take even more time.

I will up load the Day#1 Score Card after finishing the pics from Day#1 SS6 & SS7.

Regards,

Arka

[ex670c]

Hi Guys,

The Fourth Set of Pics from Day#1 SS5.

Regards,

Arka

[headers]

While the pics are keeping this thread busy, let me add some brief description of the Special Stage 3 [SS3] managed by Ranjit and me.

SS3-Day 1 - Ranjith and Vikram

The SS3 was the first SS after the technical SS.

The SS was to have 5 entries and 5 exit points and we had some interesting options available to us.

1. Give long climbs that brings the best out if man and machine.
2. Give water pits that only sink in and not otherwise.
3. Give a couple of good climbs and have a couple of easy ones - This we felt would bring some relief to all competitors as they wont go back disappointed after our SS.

We also had some interesting options of some short climbs which enhance the vehicles articulation as well as maneuverability.

The exits were marked offset to the entry points so drivers need to think, mentally plan the route to do it at first shot!! to get the best time.

Some of them did while many did not!

The 1st obstacle was a sharp 45 degree incline landing on a table top with a steep 60 degree descent, a little offset to the left. The drivers were to enter through the blue flags and exit through the red ones.

The 2nd was a small 25 deg climb with a 30 deg descent with the entry and exit offset, this time to the right.

The 3rd obstacle was a small slush crossing and exit through a mild sand dune. This was a straight entry and exit.

The 4th obstacle was the reverse of 2, but at a different location and with a left offset.

The 5th obstacle was a small sand dune, on reaching the top of the dune, turn and drop right through the red flags and proceed to the start / finish line.

The time to do all the obstacles was 20 minutes and most of the competing teams did it under 10!

And most of the teams scored full marks at our SS-Day 1

[ex670c]

Hi Guys,

The Last lot of pics from SS5.

Regards,

Arka

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by ex670c

Hi Guys,

The Fourth Set of Pics from Day#1 SS5.

I couldn't make head or tail of water obstacle (red flag 1) at this SS-5. IIRC, Bala told us during the SS briefing that water is just till ankle depth. But it turned out to be lot more. Infact we were wondering if giraffe ankles was what Bala was refering to about water depth.

I went in at an angle, to exit at an angle from the flags, and found the Gypsy leaning to one side and when I went straight through, to climb up the water and up the mound, then found that it was literraly impossible to make it.

Then Bala appeared and told to take a different path and that helped. Just see Gypsy pictures & also of the Black jeep after that for visualization.

Personally, as I said before, I loved this SS. Very nice

[fiery enzyme]

Hi Khan,

I walked it in the morning before the start and it was just above ankle deep. I guess the weight of the vehicle made it settle more, not that I'm too light .

Since it was not a climb and you don't get points for it anyway, I asked you to skip lest everyone will waste time there. Prithvi and Siddu did not attempt it. I told them before they entered climb 1.

Everyone skipped it.

In hindsight, I should have made that climb 2. None of the vehicles including LC could have made it easier. In fact it can only get tougher.

would have made SS 5 a lot more interesting.

[Venom_rider]

Let me slip in a quick summary of my experience as a Marshal on SS6 & ISS on Day2 before Arka starts to upload pictures of SS6.

This was my first experience at a super large OTR (This was the toughest competition at that...) & it was overwhelming to see 13 teams from all over south India with their wonderful machines. TPC '11 atleast for me was one of the most rewarding experiences ever. It was treat to watch man & his machine thrash it out, endure the heat & beat the obstacles. Congratulations everyone who played a great role in making this event a huge success.

As marshals petrol_head (Vijay) & I were manning the SS6 on both days of event. Though the rough area of SS was chosen in advance, the recent quarrying of the place had changed the landscape quite a bit & we had to setup the course on the fly, the very same day. We had teams: 6-1 PrabhuAV (540), Pradeep (Thar CRDe) & Preetham (MM540) & 6-2 Benji (CJ3A), Tinku (CJ6), Kurian Kurian (LC 80Series) open the stages on day1 and day2 respectively. To be honest, the course that we setup was certainly aggressive but not something that was impossible to conquer either.

Day 1 consisted of 5 ascents and descents with very short & rutted run up. Getting the right momentum, ensuring that your vehicle doesn't get beached on the crest & understanding the offset of descent (Flag Position) was crucial here. Be aggressive and you will pay the price... 3 Gypsys & a 540 burnt their clutch while trying to tackle the climbs. Teams that took a minute or 2 to plan fared much better that the ones that went straight in.

Day 2 again consisted of 5 ascents and descents with a couple of tight 'figure of 8' climbs. The approach for each of the climb in itself was an obstacle :P. The spotters role here was absolutely crucial as many teams missed a few obstacles completely & lost points. Jeeps with good inherent articulation did have an advantage to get near the climb however the high revving Gypsys could do the climb itself much faster.

ISS Day 2 - The Individual Special Stage was like the icing on the cake. Total spectator sport sort of event... not mandatory for everyone to participate, but was driver oriented time-based competition. Everyone who participated & the audience had a blast! It gave a good insight about every drivers / rigs abilities. Eventually the ISS had a nail-biting finish, with Sidhu taking the first place, closely followed by Viji & Mhd. Ali.

Glad to know that all you guys had just as much fun as we did hosting.

Until we see you in your home turf...

Cheers!
Goutham

[fiery enzyme]

Marshals: Ganesh and Bala

Teams:

I got a chance to interact with these teams closely as they were tied to me and Ganesh on both day 1 and day 2.

5.1 - Manzoor, Renjith P & Jose (MM540, CL340, Invader)

Excellent preparation, mind-blowing spotting. In fact I would stick my neck ahead and say they were the best in terms of spotting/co-ordination in TPC 2011. If the spotter says go, the driver does it. No questions asked.

I learnt a lot watching them.

Also worth mentioning is how they were able to fix their breakdowns expertly and quickly and carry on.

5.2 - Arun, Santosh & Satish (CJ5, MM540 & CJ3B)

I would give this team my heartfelt thanks for carrying the spirit of TPC and the sport of offroading as a whole in the two days they spent with me (literally). They had two broken vehicles, one on each day and had to sit the whole day in SS 5 and still I did not see one frown on their faces. They kept us, the marshals in good humor in fact.

I really hope to see them next year better prepared.

Day 1

Day 1 comprised of five climbs just like the other special stages, however the highlight was climb 1 and climb 5.

Climb 1's entry was perpendicular to the climb and a very steep descent.




The trick was to angle it correctly and not power through the descent. Most of the vehicles tried to power through the descent and bottomed out in the V pit. This resulted in them getting stuck. Once you are stuck it is almost impossible to turn and exit. The angles are too acute.







Later on, competitors who were able to slowly take the descent set the angle right and power up on the ascent were able to make it albeit with a few tries.

Mahendran did this climb most impressively in a single go. Mahendran in fact just flew around the whole SS.

Climbs 2 and 3 was a very simple up and straight down. They were intentionally simple because 1,4 and 5 being tougher (thus everyone escaped from the water pit )


Climb 4 was not very steep but had to be taken at an angle. Basically it was a valley in the table path that was broken down. Vehicles had to come from the side and climb onto the path at an angle. For the drivers who applied little bit of technique, this was easy. As you can imagine almost everyone cleared with this in one go.



Climb 5, ah this one was actually a two in one. Vehicles had to come in take a steep ascent and an immediate descent but wait, the exit is another climb angled at least 40 deg left.







Note the exit in the background.

Most of the vehicles had trouble clearing the first ascent, that is until the LC came and leveled it.




Sigh.

On a serious note, you had to give it to Kurian Kurian. He wouldn't give up.

My personal favorite for climb 5 is Khan Sultan.

Day 2 To be contd....

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by Venom_rider

Let me slip in a quick summary of my experience as a Marshal on SS6 ....
................
Day 1 consisted of 5 ascents and descents with very short & rutted run up.

Oh, loved this SS also. The runups needed to be small & the crests on top were acute and I saw few vehicles getting beached. A very nice SS. I enjoyed this one

Originally Posted by fiery enzyme

.....
5.1 - Manzoor, Renjith P & Jose (MM540, CL340, Invader)

Excellent preparation, mind-blowing spotting. In fact I would stick my neck ahead and say they were the best in terms of spotting/co-ordination in TPC 2011. If the spotter says go, the driver does it. No questions asked. .....

. As I mentioned earlier also, this team spotting was just toooooooooo good.

The essence of spotting was at display through this team: Spotter in total control of the situation & the driver blindly following the instructions of the spotter. And oh yes, only 1 spotter and not multiple people shouting this way, left, right , front back....

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

.....From what I saw & heard from others, Mansoors team had the BEST spotters & the person in the blue shirt was just amazing. I saw him on the individual SS and the way he was controlling the spotting/driver was immaculate. Just tooooooooooo good. The best I have seen -- blind faith by drivers in the spotter & the spotter in total control

I suggest that from next year onwards there be a prize for the best spotting team award. After all, spotters play a HUGE role in TPC and can be the difference between completing the SS & getting stuck.

[ex670c]

Hi Guys,

Pics of SS6, manned by Vijay K (Petrol Head) & Goutham Gopal (Venom Rider).

Regards,

Arka

[fazalaliadil]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

As I mentioned earlier also, this team spotting was just toooooooooo good.

The essence of spotting was at display through this team: Spotter in total control of the situation & the driver blindly following the instructions of the spotter. And oh yes, only 1 spotter and not multiple people shouting this way, left, right , front back....

khan_sultan,

The driver' s trust on the spotter is paramount. If the spotter and driver connect, there is no language required between them as an unseen communication channel takes over.

Congratulations Team Mansoor. Hope to be in your team in 2012 for the supreme spotter.

Imran Soudagar was a hell of a spotter in AKC and EXAMM, got me through many times.
Regards,

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Bangaore Offroad Development Authority!

Sounds very government like. Who is the chairman here ?

[headers]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Sounds very government like. Who is the chairman here ?

I guess Jaggu is the Chairman - He was the most relaxed of all during TPC2011.

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Sounds very government like. Who is the chairman here ?

Originally Posted by headers

I guess Jaggu is the Chairman - He was the most relaxed of all during TPC2011.

No Chairman business, only Directors in B.O.D.A! infact all are directors And no we don't plan to recruit any worker bee's.

[ex670c]

Hi Guys,

The Last set of pics from SS6.

Regards,

Arka