[Abhineet Singh]

Absolutely awestruck with this post. The pics are excellent and so are the videos.

The video in which the Range Rover did some air time was amazing.

Would love to watch detailed videos of this event, with details about the performance of the cars, info on tackling different obstacles, and so on.

Thanks for sharing.

Is there a similar chapter in the North, in the NCR region to be precise?

[Samba]

Originally Posted by Abhineet Singh

Absolutely awestruck with this post. The pics are excellent and so are the videos.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Abhineet Singh

The video in which the Range Rover did some air time was amazing.

Would love to watch detailed videos of this event, with details about the performance of the cars, info on tackling different obstacles, and so on.

I will ask my BHPian friends who accompanied me at the OTR to share the video's, if they have it.

Originally Posted by Abhineet Singh

Is there a similar chapter in the North, in the NCR region to be precise?

For off-roading in NCR region you can contact/pm D-BHPian .anshuman.

Here is his profile link-
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/members/.anshuman.html

[justwheels]

Awesome pics and what a great adventure. It surely is something that can only be experienced being there. For others it's often just mud splashed Jeep pics, but for those participating, it indeed is a different experience. Thanks for sharing.

While I see a lot of posts on tbhp or videos on Youtube on such offroad adventures, was wondering if we in India have offroad trails that can lead to overlanding spots. Like you start the journey from a city, leave the highway, follow a trail and end up at camping spots. Do we have anything of that sorts in India that we can explore.

Apologies for my ignorance as I am just starting to follow the offroad culture and willing to pursue such escapades.

[Samba]

First OTR of 2021 with KO.

Date- 14.03.2021

Place- Pandua

As I have written a lot in this thread about the terrain of Pandua, so skipping that part and going straight to the actions.

Me trying my hand on 3 different 4wd's!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-ichGncRNY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DchkG7x4vYA

BTC of the Duster AWD worked perfectly to take the car out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i2rYF_AFoo

[DogNDamsel12]

Samba, thank you for truly showing where there is a wheel there is indeed a way. I think I have given you a standing ovation in my head quite a few times! (N.B. I was paid to write this! )

On a serious note, that yellow jeep was an experience I am yet to recuperate from. For someone as uninitiated as me, I never knew that gears can have a mind of their own. Just when I needed the full power of the throttle to cross over to the top of the cliff, the car decided to exert its free-will (read: artificial intelligence), and "gearlessly" wheel back down the same way. I tried to bring it back in to gear or jam the brakes, which my tiny, light, Polo-savvy feet took a while getting used to. Everything about the car felt completely raw!

And therefore, I have no shame in admitting that while I did give up climbing inclines for the day after a couple of futile attempts, my surprise knew no bounds when you took the car up all difficult inclines like you would perhaps do with the Duster. The hallmark of who a driver is the incredible person behind the wheels on any car - and I have seen it in no humble measure.

Awesome experience. Best part was the supportiveness and encouragement of every member present!

[OneLivingLife]

Those World War II jeeps caught my fancy. A observed a few of them and I wonder why some of them had as many as 4 gear levers! Were the remaining 2 for front and rear diff locks?
Next time, I would like to try driving one of them on a normal terrain and see how it feels! Also, thanks a lot Samba for your guidance on my first OTR with KO. One thing is for sure. I won't miss the next one as this 4x4 world got me addicted as good as motorcycles!

[Samba]

Friendship day OTR

On 1st August we had a Team-Bhp meet and post meet, we had an OTR at Pandua with KO.

Many Bhpians from the meet joined us in the OTR. For quite a good number of Bhpians it was their 1st OTR.

Just before the OTR we had a mini introduction session, followed by the Do's and Don'ts while driving off the road was conducted by senior KO members.

Post this UBS Sir handed over letters of recognition to few old KO members.
I feel fortunate enough to have my name on the list.

Few pics from this session.

[Samba]

Time for action!

A small video from my Duster's dash cam-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh2_kKXsOt0

No action is complete unless we have a yummy Chicken Biriyani!

[DogNDamsel12]

Indeed a Sunday well spent. Though owing to the extreme heat outside, didnt take much photos.

An important part is everybody had one master or the other guiding them in a storytelling manner.

Sharing the video of my ride.

https://youtu.be/obu-Uq-8dj4

[Samba]

On 26th December, we had yet another friendly OTR with Kolkata-Offroaders at Pandua. This was with a small group of hardly 10 people.
For the first time in an OTR, I carried my DSLR, but it was kept inside the car, not a single pic from my camera this time.

With a small number of people this OTR was fun & we took few challenging obstacles, where the wheel placement & the throttle input was quite tricky. There were inclines on loose sand too.

Sharing a dash-cam footage from my Duster.
The obstacle at 1 min 08 sec was the most tricky one for my Duster. It was a steep incline followed by a steep decline. At the top, there was no space to accommodate a vehicle and the break-over angle of the Duster was also not enough.
So I had to take the incline with an angular approach, which was quite risky. At one point the rear left and the front right wheels were getting airborne and the car was swaying sideways. The BTC helped to give power intermittently to the wheels which had traction. I was very slow and steered to the way the car was tilted. Finally managed to take the obstacle successfully.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F7Z7eClMe4

[DogNDamsel12]

Continuing with Samba's post on the OTR with Kolkata Offroaders on 26 December 2021 - the last OTR of the year.

There were a very limited number of people.

As always UBS Sir was the grandmaster, while Adhiraj Singh (Addy) and Vivek Arora were the mentors. UBS Sir, in his usual kind-natured way, encouraged people to take on tasks that were often outside one's comfort zone, and anytime anyone got stuck he would not hesitate to get down on all fours to help the vehicle out. Both Addy and Vivek also are very enthusiastic guides, who show the way with their great offroading skills and knowledge of the vehicles.

https://youtu.be/86HHJGC7LR4

https://youtu.be/PvvrvyXbO0U

UBS Sir was also kind enough to let me drive a bespoke jeep that he has built. How these machines are built leg up has always enthralled me, and UBS Sir is explains some of the concepts so simply and beautifully.





I was not the only one to ride the jeep, though! At every KO offroading I have seen notebooks and stationary being distributed to the local kids. This one was no different. One of the kids actually asked Sir if he would give them a ride of the jeep. He happily complied, letting half of the kids hop onto his car and the other half getting into the AJ that Samba was driving.





And below are some of the photos to show the fun that we had yesterday. Though a location we have frequented this year, this terrain changes its hurdles quite often.

[Samba]

Monsoon OTR's are always fun. Slush, inclines on wet sand, ruts formed by multiple attempts to clear an obstacle, always make it more tricky!

This Sunday (24th July) we had a short friendly OTR with Kolkata Offroaders at our usual playground in Boinchi near Pandua.

Our earlier plan was to try out a different spot near the Mundeshwari river bed, but a small recce few days prior to the OTR revealed that, during monsoon the water level is much higher, so it wont be safe to venture there.

Instead of taking my Duster I drove a jeep this time. At places I could fiddle with the Jeep, which is not possible with the Duster.
Toggling between 4H and 4L depending on the obstacles added some invaluable off-road experience.

The line up



Long wheelbase, loose sand, no differential locks, hence stuck!



Sandip da posing for his Facebook profile pic?





Winching the V-Cross out.



This was effortless for the V-cross. A correct throttle modulation in 4L, 2nd or 3rd was all it needed.



The jeep glided through as well!





Left the throttle at the wrong place, hence stuck!



Easy sailing by Sumit da!



Splash, splash and more splash! It's monsoon!







Stuck! The vehicle is not straight on the slush.



Capturing splashes are a photographers delight!



Winching the Pajero out. Later the Pajero crossed this stretch with a better line.



Vicky da with all his swag!



Adhiraj da, taking a steep downwards obstacle followed by an upward climb. Even the approcah angle of the jeep fell short over here! It scrapped, but Adhiraj da made it.





The same obstacle was also tried from the opposite end, but it was not successful. Due to the dip the front bumper was scrapping and there was no place to build momentum, plus the loose sand on the incline had no grip!



Thanks to Bhpian Arindam_xeta for capturing a video of me taking this same obstacle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEpPNx9hkmY

[Samba]

Another Sunday, another OTR!

But this time the destination was new. The place chosen was BegorMukh. This place is the separation point of Damodar & Mundeswari river. Yes, this was a drive on the river bed!

The place is located near Jamalpur in Hooghly district, which is approximately 65 km from Dankuni toll.

The route taken was Dankuni- Mahisha - Dhaneakhali- Dashghara - Begor Mukh.

20 vehicles participated in this OTR. The OTR was Split into two halves. In the first half we entered the river bed from one place. Been there for 3 hours, had lunch and the team ventured the river bed from another side. I was a bit unwell, so I participated only for the first half. There were Bhpians too, hope they will add up the actions from the 2nd half.

We met at CCD Signur at 8am. Had our breakfast and proceeded to the spot in a convoy. The convoy was split into two parts, having 10 cars per convoy.

The introduction part and the small briefing on what to do, and what not to do was done by UBS Sir, Adhiraj Singh, Vidyun Singh & Bhpian 1100D aka Anirban Ghosh.

We had to cross a bamboo bridge to reach the spot. This was the first time I drove a car on a bamboo bridge! I was a bit skeptical, but once I was on it, it felt strong and stable. Locals said, even trucks ply over that bridge!

When we drive on a river bed, loose sand, muddy water, a bit of slush & some water crossings is all we can expect, & we got it all! Those who craved for a bit more, figured out few obstacles too. Mainly the Thars and the Jeeps attempted the obstacles, as any car with a longer wheelbase would have got beached out.

The pics were majorly clicked by Bhpian Mountin_Deep aka Dyutimoy. I was lacking energy to get down and click the pics. He have done a brilliant job.

The man, who needs no introduction.



At CCD Singur. The Harrier and the SBK was not a part of our group.



Convoy no 2.



The briefing and the introduction part.





My Duster along with Bhpian Sandman's Vcross.



Looks to be fun!



The bamboo bridge we crossed!



Bhpian Burnout in action.







Marengo needs no new introduction in Team-Bhp!





Bhpian Topshe in action with his 7 days old/new Thar!











Me, wading through the river.













Adhiraj Singh driving his Fortuner.













Sharing a couple of videos of my Duster & from my Duster!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUS2mNAehcg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MdBJwaEKU

[topse]

It was a such beautiful experience and memories all together, I can’t describe in words. I am still so much mesmerised that the scenes from the OTR event are still giving me adrenaline rush if imagined. Hats off to all the organisers for making such an event and giving us opportunity to test the true potential of our beloved machines. All beautifully taken photographs. Only thing missing is all participants together in a single or multiple frame. Many are still missing in the pics.

[apollo_1999]

A well-spent Sunday indeed!!
It was my first OTR experience and it was absolutely exhilarating! I can't wait to do it again! OTR adventures are a great way to unwind and rejuvenate over the weekend with family and friends.
Not only do they provide a break from the mundane routine of daily life, but also present an opportunity to appreciate nature and experience exciting challenges. Moreover, OTR adventures foster teamwork and communication skills as everyone comes together to overcome obstacles and solve problems.

Here are Some photos from my end.