[honeybee]

By some divine chance if I could make it, I would need two things:

The timelines for the OTR (start, assembly at Lonavla, departure for Rajmachi, lunch, return to Lonavla)
Ride in one of the mean machines from and to Lonavla (probably for two)

[speedy]

Originally Posted by Off Roadie

Although you are entitled to your opinion, you have to understand that 2 minds don't think alike. Also in this case most of the novice guys want to try their hand at something challenging. As you have mentioned 'you do not go there with the intention of scratching the car'. Like wise most guys just want to avoid scratches as far as possible, everyone going there knows that if its unavoidable, it will happen. So keep the spirit in mind and keep your words encouraging. We don't need a critique here and its not about guts and glory its about having a good time.

Off Roadie i perfectly understand that two minds are not the same. The point here is people have assumed off roading is all about breaking, scratching a car. I am not saying you go and conquer mount everest in your first attempt, all i am saying is dont assume things seeing the 4x4 events and what regulars do. I dont see an "avoid" in any of the posts, all i see is i dont want scratches. If you think i am critique then so be it and i never said its about guts and glory. Guts is what everyone here have by thinking about soft roading and as far as the glory goes..its for the wannabe's. The good time will come when the fear is out of the mind, till then the mind will not be relaxed.

Originally Posted by siddheshb

Actually, you got that spot on. I do use my Endy on the street, and love the looks it gets.. especially when you tell someone admiring the shiny black beast that it's almost 2 years old. Pushing it to the limits on the expressway, climbing stairs at Zoo Zoo hill, splashing through the water at Dapoli, and jumping off the massive speed breakers on Baner Road are also activities she generally indulges in. Some of them corrode her from inside, some of them hurt her shocks, but that's all part of the game, isn't it? Actually, she does pick up some scratches even when simply parked on the street.

Thats everyday driving for you...

Originally Posted by siddheshb

However, getting a whole rash of scratches on the body simply because you felt like pushing through thick brush, to me, seems a lot of pain for no gain

Its not about pushing through thick bushes..no one likes doing that. I was talking of the normal path with overhanging branches and some tight spots where bushes are too close. What do you then, stop the car and try and back up. I agree with you about lot of pain and no gain..but there are times without pain there is no gain.

Originally Posted by siddheshb

So, yes, to some it might be boring... but I guess there are enough like-minded folks who take pleasure in the simpler things

Its not boring at all..but the attitude and the air on this thread is not exactly one of confidance, it has fear. I did'nt learn and start enjoying Off roading from when i was born..but had the confidance and lack of fear even on my first offroading experience. Simple is good but when done with fear can spoil things too.

Guys dont get me wrong but its concern that i have for everyone here. I treat all the folks here as part of an extended family and if i do come across wrongly then my apologies for the same. I am only saying what i would to even my own brother, if he wants to experience off roading.

[dwaraka]

Good luck for Rajamachi. I guess will be dry and much easier than Monsoon. May be you can use this opportunity to do some recces for monsoon season opening.

[throttleking]

Originally Posted by the VTEC guy

I guess we will be starting early from Mumbai and Pune (6/7 am) hence I would suggest following.
1. Mumbai and Pune team meet at Ramakrishna hotel in Lonavala town (around 9 am). Have break fast at the hotel and then move together to Rajmachi from there
2. Whatever food stuff people bring along with them can be had at a mid way point towards Rajmachi. We will mostly reach Rajmachi in couple of hours including break?
3. Lunch is available from the locals after reaching the vilage at Rajmachi base
4. At 3/4 pm start back the return journey.

I agree, Pawana was a different case, given the fact that there was no place for breakfast. Besides that, I love the breakfast at RK's, and the pithala bhakri you get in Rajmachi village.

Ideal plan should be :

1. Start from Pune at around 8am
2. Park and Breakfast at RK's 9am
3. Leave for Rajmachi at 10am
4. Offroading, breaks, softroading, breaks and photu sessions
5. Look for place to settle and have lunch at 12pm
6. Journey back to Lonavala at 1pm
7. Reassemble at Lonavala at 2.30pm
8. Leave for pune at 3pm

[Off Roadie]

Originally Posted by speedy

Guys dont get me wrong but its concern that i have for everyone here. I treat all the folks here as part of an extended family and if i do come across wrongly then my apologies for the same. I am only saying what i would to even my own brother, if he wants to experience off roading.

See your tone in this post is a lot more supportive/conducive, in the previous one you came across as being a little cocky, hence the replies from Siddesh and Me.
FYI this is the first thing Snow (my scorp's nick name) conquered.



All she had was 2 senior citizens and me for company.


AT Throttle King
Plan sounds good, I am just hoping and praying that I can make it.

[the VTEC guy]

Originally Posted by throttleking

I agree, Pawana was a different case, given the fact that there was no place for breakfast. Besides that, I love the breakfast at RK's, and the pithala bhakri you get in Rajmachi village.

Ideal plan should be :

1. Start from Pune at around 8am

Guys please consider that there are few bikers from Pune including me who will have to take the old Pune Mumbai road hence may require additional time compared to cars using expressway. So bikers may require some lead time.

[throttleking]

Originally Posted by the VTEC guy

Guys please consider that there are few bikers from Pune including me who will have to take the old Pune Mumbai road hence may require additional time compared to cars using expressway. So bikers may require some lead time.

I think we will all take the old highway, what say guys?

[speedy]

Originally Posted by Off Roadie

See your tone in this post is a lot more supportive/conducive, in the previous one you came across as being a little cocky, hence the replies from Siddesh and Me.
FYI this is the first thing Snow (my scorp's nick name) conquered.

My apologies for sounding cocky, but it was concern that maybe came out wrongly.

I hope you agree that pictures make things look far easier than they actually are and in practicality you need to have a clear focused mind that concentrates on the path and not other things. It maybe a way i see it too and thats what i was trying to convey. Soft roading does include light obstacles, climbs and decents, which do require focus from a person doing it for the first time. I am sure with experienced folks guiding everyone will have fun.

Here is my Fortuner and Thar on their maiden OTR trips.

[siddheshb]

Speedy, offroadie, those are awesome pics... Would love to post some of Samara's baby steps too here, but let's keep this about Rajmachi for now... for those really interested in some of the stuff she's been up to, do visit my Ownership thread.

As an amateur, here are some learnings from mistakes committed (and thankfully, recovered from):
1) Wading into a lake is fun - but make sure you never slow down and let the water get into your exhaust pipe. Dapoli was scary - when the lake turned out much deeper than we expected.
2) Climbing stairs is fun - but remmeber, most stairs are NOT built to carry a SUV, only tiny human beings. Caving in is a huge posssibility.
3) Wading into slush or swampy mud with a SUV full of screaming kids is fun, as long as you are sure your 4L can pull you out - OR you have a earthmover on stand by. Once stuck, pressing the pedal to the floor will only compound the problem, take it real slow and easy, letting the tires gently roll you out.
4) Going up the hill is easy, getting down is easy - the worst part is reaching the top and knowing you have no way of turning around without exposing the SUV to a very real possibility of turning over sideways and hurtling down the hill to the cemetary ominously staring at you from the bottom of the hill... as we figured out on the South slope of Vagator hill.
5) And finally, after all that fun, there's no time to relax and ponder - because washing your baby down to her squeaky clean avataar is a lot of hard work.

Look forward to getting some useful tips and learning some techniques from the experienced folks... something I have sorely missed on my solo adventures.

I have never been to Rajmachi myself, but I have heard a lot. With all those SUVs lining up, we should get some amazing pictures. Samara is a sucker for pics. Samara loves splashing water, and jumping... so if there's undulating terrain with gentle humps, I am sure she'll love to get her 4 feet up the ground... Baner road is fun, but too obvious if you set up cameras for pics If there's any chance of small springs or lakes, that sounds fab too. And once we reach Rajmachi, who knows, maybe she'll be in the mood to brush aside the undergrowth and clear the path for the other babies behind?

Made some very good friends in my first TBHP meet (Pavana), and I look forward to meeting them, and more, soon!

Originally Posted by throttleking

I think we will all take the old highway, what say guys?

I agree. It's a lot more fun than the expressway.

[ssh1979]

Siddhesh, kudos!!!!! I give you a score of 150% on the "taking initiative" parameter

Sad that I couldn't join. I and Endeavour333 would have been there if we were in the whereabouts, giving Samara company.

And man, what a group that has already formed!!!

I just can't wait for the pics and especially the Endy vs Fortuner report

[siddheshb]

Originally Posted by ssh1979

I just can't wait for the pics and especially the Endy vs Fortuner report

Guderian Sir will hate me for this, and Monaro might side with him, but as far as I am concerned, the Endy vs Fortuner shootout has a foregone conclusion

On a more serious note, I would very much like to push the Endy as much as I can, and see how it performs against the Fort!

[Maverick79]

Tried despartely, to spare me for my Wife's cousin's marriage. All the efforts in Vain.
Got to attend it in Hyd, on 11th. How unfortunate to miss such a wonderful meet.

Will be badly missing the Classic and BD sir.

[nawalsingal]

Originally Posted by Maverick79

Tried despartely, to spare me for my Wife's cousin's marriage. All the efforts in Vain.
Got to attend it in Hyd, on 11th. How unfortunate to miss such a wonderful meet.

So kids will be without headmaster this time? or ? It's second smiley in my case(Sorry, only two per post allowed). Really wanted you to be a part of this. Anyway, can't argue with HM, can we? Hope there are no more dropouts.

[Endeavour333]

Originally Posted by siddheshb

Guderian Sir will hate me for this, and Monaro might side with him, but as far as I am concerned, the Endy vs Fortuner shootout has a foregone conclusion

Meaning??? Ok just remember that when you're going through a slippery area, some left foot braking while being on the throttle will help a lot with traction. The added resistance makes the torsen multiply the torque required to overcome the braking force 3 times and transfers that to the other wheel. The fortuner does NOT have a torsen differential in the rear! So use the torsen to your advantage! The Endy will have more grip on a level surface that the fortuner. Even when a wheel is in the air and you need more traction use the left foot braking technique to get more traction.

If you are stationary and have wheels spinning here's what you do:

1) apply left foot brake firmly
2) apply a good amount of throttle while gently easing up on the brake
3) the more braking force you use the more torque is transferred to the wheel that has grip so don't ease off the brakes too much. Go with about 50% throttle and slowly ease off brakes only until you feel forward motion. Then once you get moving again you can release brakes. (FYI, when the transfer case is locked, handbrake and normal brake will act the same except hand brake is much much weaker. So just use normal brake)
4) be amazed as you start to see forward progress

Also even on a slippery flat slope, a little left foot braking goes a long way to adding traction. The engine is more than capable of overpowering the little brake pressure and climbing the slope. Finally don't forget to use 4L if needed. 3rd gear Low = 1st gear High. 4L 1st gear will also give you the torque to overpower strong braking force.

Good luck and let us know how it goes

[nanduchitnis]

No offence meant. I maybe wrong.

I wonder if SUV's like Endy/Safari/Fortuner are built for hard core off roading. IMHO Jeeps like the Thar maybe the Landy are the vehicles for this sport.

Besides these SUV's you guys own cost upward of 20 lakhs where as the Thar is some 8 lakhs!

Will be a topic to talk with Behram Sir and you folks during the MEET!

Rock on guys, cant wait for the meet to happen!