Predator Stage
Today we start with SS-18, because was the most interesting SS of the day. And because I spent 3.5 hours to capture it well. However, as I walk in, I discover that the photos are fogged. The lens looked clear, the photos are still fogged. What happened? Condensation on the sensor.
So I removed the lens and stood airing the mirrorless body, trying to dry out the condensation on the sensor. Lucky me, there was no action for a while because the last vehicle that entered was waiting to be recovered. Half an hour later when the next vehicle drove in, the condensation had dried out.
First I see a Thar coming through. What you see below is the first obstacle after following the trail marked by the bunting tape on the left. After riding a hump, the vehicle needs to make a very 90 degree turn.
After that was done, they need to get down a 5ft drop. I am thinking it shouldn’t be a challenge, just straighten yourself along the drop and just roll down. Then I see the co-driver climbing up to remove the sand ladder. Curious that....
Then things get really bizarre. He places the sand ladder (that is not needed in the first place) at 45 degree angle across the drop.
It is one of the cardinal rule in offroading that you should never go cross axle into a drop. It is the sure recipe for a rollover. I was sure driver is going to refuse that crazy maneuver. But he doesn’t.
They continue to persist in this madness for a while before realising it is not going work. Then they break another cardinal rule. Never turn away from the tilt. They do, the driver is asked to turn away from the tilt and he does.
It takes another 2-3 minutes before they realise they need to winch out of the situation they put themselves into in the first place.
As expected, they run out of time while trying to recover from the self goal, and end up with a DNF. Once they clear out of there, the next competitor comes in with full vigor. However, before even reaching the first obstacle, they need to pass by a tree on the right side, literally brushing against it. But they give a wide berth to that tree, and try to climb the wall on the left side. Next moment the vehicle was lying on the side.
However, they had a certified recovery expert (Tejas of Offroad Junkie) in their support team. So it was time to witness how a recovery is done by the book. The tow rope was not just connected to the body, but had encircled the whole vehicle for better control. At first the driver turned on the engine, but it resulted in too much white smoke.
Meanwhile, I noticed something strange, the rear winch cable was not even slotted through the fairlead.
Notice how the vehicle is also anchored to the tree to stop it from running away if is was not in gear. Also take notice of the tree which has been brushed hard from the earlier vehicles while passing by. This one tried to avoid that and experienced a worser fate.
The vehicle is finally on its feet. It is clear from these pics that he moved far away from the tree, climbed the side and induced the unnecessary tilt.
At this point, the driver was still confident of continuing in the SS, apparently he still had time. But as he turned on the engine, that confidence starts to go up in smoke, literally… and he takes a DNF.
Next competitor comes along and passed the tree without any drama and reaches the 5ft drop point. In my two hours of waiting, I hadn’t seen anybody get past that point. The co-driver gets out and signals the driver to get down sideways, just like the earlier Thar. Those of us sitting at the gallery seat to this drama loudly groaned in frustration… But, there was hope. The driver refused that instruction. The next two pics are not in focus, my camera was having some trouble.
Instead he decides to straighten the vehicle along the drop and roll down in reverse, a very sensible technique. But in his attempt to straighten, he broke the bunting tape. Next he does something very strange. As he was unencumbered by the nominal bunting tape, he drives completely out of the track and sets himself straight for a clean reverse roll down.
And he rolls down very easily and cleanly. But the damage was already down. He had taken all 4 wheels out of the track and there by disqualified himself. They get the DNF too.