Chennai OTR's- Thunder down under:-))

vijay shekar · 12th December 2009, 14:57

Hi Arka,

Can I come over to just watch ???

ex670c · 12th December 2009, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by vijay shekar

Hi Arka,

Can I come over to just watch ???

Hi Vijay,

You can only if you get your Pajero.

We have too many passengers and not enough 4x4s.

Regards,

Arka

vijay shekar · 12th December 2009, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ex670c

Hi Vijay,

You can only if you get your Pajero.

We have too many passengers and not enough 4x4s.

Regards,

Arka

thanks Arka,

though still not sure if I can make it. I shall SMS my plans to you later today. Shall definitely bring my Pajero if I can make it.

vinod_nookala · 12th December 2009, 16:31

Most essential guys, get your jeeps wiper's checked. You will need them as much as your 4wd tomorrow:-)

p.s - I got mine checked today. Hope they will continue to work tomorrow. :-))

2theMax · 12th December 2009, 20:34

Its raining cats & dogs here in Besant Nagar. I bet it's going to be fun tomorrow.

nitrous · 12th December 2009, 23:19

Its raining cats, dogs and elephants now.
Its gonna be treacherous. Have fun, fellas!

Blue Thunder · 12th December 2009, 23:52

The rain seems to have slowed down a bit now...as per weather forecast, cyclone "Arka"... oops ...cyclone "Ward" will be crossing the TN coast between Kanyakumari and Pambam on 13th night. So, I dont think it should cause any problem for us tomorrow.

Blue Thunder · 13th December 2009, 04:30

It is not raining now. Looks like the cyclone is weakening further.
Look forward to another wonderful OTR.

Blue Thunder · 13th December 2009, 06:18

Looks like I am going to be a bit late today...just starting off from home now.

vdiatech · 13th December 2009, 20:24

Guys, hope you had an eventful day with the rain not playing spoil sports and hence no flooding !

I am eagerly awaiting to see some pics. Also, how did Arjun's (just realised he is banned!?) 4X4 perform?

Blue Thunder · 13th December 2009, 23:22

vdiatech, it was indeed a very eventful day today ! No rain at all, the weather was pleasant throughout. Hope pics get uploaded soon. Eagerly waiting for the pics and report, guys !

fiery enzyme · 14th December 2009, 01:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

vdiatech, it was indeed a very eventful day today ! No rain at all, the weather was pleasant throughout. Hope pics get uploaded soon. Eagerly waiting for the pics and report, guys !

+1 too that.

Guys please post pics and videos ASAP.

Especially you Ranjit.

petrol_head · 14th December 2009, 13:25

OTR Report

Location - Palar River Bed (Wallajabad)

We assembled outside Hotel Trident on GST road at 6:45 with overcast skies above us and the prospect of a rainy OTR ahead. With 8 4x4s in attendance we set rolling from Trident by 7 am to see the skies clear up a bit and the early morning sun getting warmer by the minute. It was going to be a long drive to the spot so all vehicles stuck to the convoy and briefly stopped over for breakfast at one of the little establishments on the highway.

The Vehicles in attendance
1.Arka's MM540 (ex670c)
2.Vikram's MG 413 (headers)
3.Senthil's MG 410 (blue_thunder)
4.Doc Jones' 3B (doc jones)
5.Lokesh's MM540
6.Arjun's SPOA'd MM550 (arjunrudra)
7.Ganesh's 500 D
8.Karthikeyan's 3B (propeller)
9.Vinod's MM540 (vinod_nookala)

Luckily for us (inverse applies for Arka

) the skies clogged up again and the weather got cooler with the sun disappearing behind the dark clouds. Though rain was expected it failed to turn up till we were on our way back.

The entry into the river bed was quite enticing with flowing streams of water and huge pools that posed a challenge. As usual the briefing was crisp and clear from Arka with clear cut guidelines and safety procedures for 1st timers. Then after a quick check on the depth of the first water crossing the first Jeep rolled through. Senthil's MG410 had a little bit of an issue with the first crossing but cleared it with ease in its second run.

So we assembled past the entry and then drove up to the first obstacle following the lead Jeep.

A 15 - 20 feet incline at quite a sharp angle of inclination. Again it was about taking turns to clear it once Arka had given the go ahead after assessing the climb. Unfortunately at this point the 500 D started overheating which was the result of a shredded fan. The recovery team immediately left for Wallajabad town in Senthil's Gypsy to pick up an alternate fan for the stranded 500 D. In the meantime we decided to stay at the same location till the replacement fan arrived to ensure that the stranded vehicle was not out of sight. So now everyone had a go at the obstacles with seniors like Arka taking this opportunity to help out the new comers and fine tuning the basics. Arjun's Jeep was quite impressive but for a few issues that can only make it better.

The second obstacle was in a lot of ways trickier than the first with a higher and steeper incline followed by an immediate 15 feet decline. While everyone took turns to perfect the climb and improve with every attempt a few of us were constantly watching over the 500D and looking out for the Gypsy's return. This was where Karthikeyan's vehicle started failing to charge. After a lot of permutations and combinations, we finally plonked in the battery from Arka's 540 and decided to keep the engine running.

In the meantime Doc Jones, Lokesh and Vikram set out to find the next spot and drove away towards a spot with water pools. After checking on the depth of the pool Doc tried driving through it in Lokesh's 540 only to realize that it was not what it had appeared to be. Only the photos would be able to explain this. So lets wait till then.

In the meantime Senthil, Ali and Ganesh returned with a fan and finally managed to get the 500D rolling. Recovery on the 540 was painfully difficult but quick. Immediately afterwards we see Arjun's 550 stuck in the approach path to the third obstacle. After recovering this vehicle the convoy moved towards the exit point as we were hungry and dirty with the destination being Adventure Zone 40 kms away. The drive back was eventful again. Senthil's Gypsy had a punctured radiator. This was attributed to the horn that got dislodged and struck the fan. The shards struck the radiator and hence the leak. This was sorted out in a jiffy and we moved on. The 3B started having pump problems and hence the last vehicle in the convoy stopped and Ali got to work on the vehicle while the rest headed towards the camp site. When all attempts failed we were left with no choice but to tow the vehicle back to the camp which was still 30 kms away.

Finally we had lunch at 5:30 pm. It was a long day but we enjoyed it as much as always. A few new climbs and few water crossings, recovery, spot repairs, contingency planning, learning and a whole lot of 'serious fun' all packaged into one day. This is a just a gist of the Sunday OTR. The photos should do the real talking.

starter · 14th December 2009, 13:29

Dear Petrol Head,
Thanks for starting this.
It is exactly what i was waiting for. Wondering why so much silence

I read Arka's post on Arjun's thread and that was already a teaser. Please do post some action pics as well.
Cheers,
Deepak

headers · 14th December 2009, 15:06

I humbly request Doc_Jones to pen his POV

Cheers
V

12th December 2009, 14:57	#241
vijay shekar BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: chennai / hyder Posts: 68 Thanked: 22 Times	Hi Arka, Can I come over to just watch ???
	() Thanks

12th December 2009, 16:31	#244
vinod_nookala Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,737 Thanked: 430 Times View My Garage	Most essential guys, get your jeeps wiper's checked. You will need them as much as your 4wd tomorrow:-) p.s - I got mine checked today. Hope they will continue to work tomorrow. :-))
	() Thanks

12th December 2009, 20:34	#245
2theMax BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 337 Thanked: Once	Its raining cats & dogs here in Besant Nagar. I bet it's going to be fun tomorrow.
	() Thanks

12th December 2009, 23:19	#246
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Its raining cats, dogs and elephants now. Its gonna be treacherous. Have fun, fellas!
	() Thanks

12th December 2009, 23:52	#247
Blue Thunder Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Right here . Posts: 1,657 Thanked: 386 Times View My Garage	cyclone is weakening ? The rain seems to have slowed down a bit now...as per weather forecast, cyclone "Arka"... oops ...cyclone "Ward" will be crossing the TN coast between Kanyakumari and Pambam on 13th night. So, I dont think it should cause any problem for us tomorrow. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Blue Thunder : 13th December 2009 at 00:02. Reason: adding image
	() Thanks

13th December 2009, 04:30	#248
Blue Thunder Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Right here . Posts: 1,657 Thanked: 386 Times View My Garage	no rain now It is not raining now. Looks like the cyclone is weakening further. Look forward to another wonderful OTR. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Blue Thunder : 13th December 2009 at 04:32. Reason: added image
	() Thanks

13th December 2009, 06:18	#249
Blue Thunder Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Right here . Posts: 1,657 Thanked: 386 Times View My Garage	Looks like I am going to be a bit late today...just starting off from home now.
	() Thanks

13th December 2009, 20:24	#250
vdiatech BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 414 Thanked: 10 Times	Guys, hope you had an eventful day with the rain not playing spoil sports and hence no flooding ! I am eagerly awaiting to see some pics. Also, how did Arjun's (just realised he is banned!?) 4X4 perform?
	() Thanks

13th December 2009, 23:22	#251
Blue Thunder Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Right here . Posts: 1,657 Thanked: 386 Times View My Garage	vdiatech, it was indeed a very eventful day today ! No rain at all, the weather was pleasant throughout. Hope pics get uploaded soon. Eagerly waiting for the pics and report, guys !
	() Thanks

14th December 2009, 13:25	#253
petrol_head BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Madras Posts: 234 Thanked: 60 Times	OTR Report Location - Palar River Bed (Wallajabad) We assembled outside Hotel Trident on GST road at 6:45 with overcast skies above us and the prospect of a rainy OTR ahead. With 8 4x4s in attendance we set rolling from Trident by 7 am to see the skies clear up a bit and the early morning sun getting warmer by the minute. It was going to be a long drive to the spot so all vehicles stuck to the convoy and briefly stopped over for breakfast at one of the little establishments on the highway. The Vehicles in attendance 1.Arka's MM540 (ex670c) 2.Vikram's MG 413 (headers) 3.Senthil's MG 410 (blue_thunder) 4.Doc Jones' 3B (doc jones) 5.Lokesh's MM540 6.Arjun's SPOA'd MM550 (arjunrudra) 7.Ganesh's 500 D 8.Karthikeyan's 3B (propeller) 9.Vinod's MM540 (vinod_nookala) Luckily for us (inverse applies for Arka ) the skies clogged up again and the weather got cooler with the sun disappearing behind the dark clouds. Though rain was expected it failed to turn up till we were on our way back. The entry into the river bed was quite enticing with flowing streams of water and huge pools that posed a challenge. As usual the briefing was crisp and clear from Arka with clear cut guidelines and safety procedures for 1st timers. Then after a quick check on the depth of the first water crossing the first Jeep rolled through. Senthil's MG410 had a little bit of an issue with the first crossing but cleared it with ease in its second run. So we assembled past the entry and then drove up to the first obstacle following the lead Jeep. A 15 - 20 feet incline at quite a sharp angle of inclination. Again it was about taking turns to clear it once Arka had given the go ahead after assessing the climb. Unfortunately at this point the 500 D started overheating which was the result of a shredded fan. The recovery team immediately left for Wallajabad town in Senthil's Gypsy to pick up an alternate fan for the stranded 500 D. In the meantime we decided to stay at the same location till the replacement fan arrived to ensure that the stranded vehicle was not out of sight. So now everyone had a go at the obstacles with seniors like Arka taking this opportunity to help out the new comers and fine tuning the basics. Arjun's Jeep was quite impressive but for a few issues that can only make it better. The second obstacle was in a lot of ways trickier than the first with a higher and steeper incline followed by an immediate 15 feet decline. While everyone took turns to perfect the climb and improve with every attempt a few of us were constantly watching over the 500D and looking out for the Gypsy's return. This was where Karthikeyan's vehicle started failing to charge. After a lot of permutations and combinations, we finally plonked in the battery from Arka's 540 and decided to keep the engine running. In the meantime Doc Jones, Lokesh and Vikram set out to find the next spot and drove away towards a spot with water pools. After checking on the depth of the pool Doc tried driving through it in Lokesh's 540 only to realize that it was not what it had appeared to be. Only the photos would be able to explain this. So lets wait till then. In the meantime Senthil, Ali and Ganesh returned with a fan and finally managed to get the 500D rolling. Recovery on the 540 was painfully difficult but quick. Immediately afterwards we see Arjun's 550 stuck in the approach path to the third obstacle. After recovering this vehicle the convoy moved towards the exit point as we were hungry and dirty with the destination being Adventure Zone 40 kms away. The drive back was eventful again. Senthil's Gypsy had a punctured radiator. This was attributed to the horn that got dislodged and struck the fan. The shards struck the radiator and hence the leak. This was sorted out in a jiffy and we moved on. The 3B started having pump problems and hence the last vehicle in the convoy stopped and Ali got to work on the vehicle while the rest headed towards the camp site. When all attempts failed we were left with no choice but to tow the vehicle back to the camp which was still 30 kms away. Finally we had lunch at 5:30 pm. It was a long day but we enjoyed it as much as always. A few new climbs and few water crossings, recovery, spot repairs, contingency planning, learning and a whole lot of 'serious fun' all packaged into one day. This is a just a gist of the Sunday OTR. The photos should do the real talking. Last edited by petrol_head : 14th December 2009 at 13:28.
	() Thanks

14th December 2009, 13:29	#254
starter Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,127 Thanked: 903 Times	Dear Petrol Head, Thanks for starting this. It is exactly what i was waiting for. Wondering why so much silence I read Arka's post on Arjun's thread and that was already a teaser. Please do post some action pics as well. Cheers, Deepak
	() Thanks

14th December 2009, 15:06	#255
headers Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Greater Chennai Posts: 4,667 Thanked: 559 Times	I humbly request Doc_Jones to pen his POV Cheers V
	() Thanks

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