[mclaren1885]

I got a call on Thursday night from memo saying he was going for an OTR in the truck and wanted me to join. Since I had no other work I decided to join in. Day started off really bad. Was crossing the road near Kodigehalli junction, somehow managed to slip and twist my ankle really badly. Before I realized I was flat on the road. Tried my best to get up and get onto the footpath, but all in vain. I couldn't move my leg, I knew vehicles were coming from behind but I couldn't move an inch, I was helpless. Nearly after some 15 secs I gathered up enough strength to get onto the footpath safely without being run over by a Volvo. Begin to wonder, first step on the road for an OTR and I nearly killed myself. Would it be wise to go back home?

Before I realized, I am sitting in the truck explaining to memo what had happened. In trying to catch up on the last few months I forget the pain I was going through.



We hit the airport road past Jakkur and I spotted something on my side in the ditch. We stopped and decided to help the poor I10 who had skidded straight into it at around 6am due to a blown tire.



Dwarak sir decides to tow the i10 out, but ends up getting stuck himself.


So in comes the mighty Tata truck to the rescue.


Hrishi says "Hang on, mine is bigger than yours (the engine cc that is). I ain't going to let some Tata 207 take the title of the truck away from my Safari.


Hrishi wouldn't listen to anyone. He was so miffed that the 207 was going to get all the glory that he decides to tow the Xenon out so that his lady in white can bask in all the glory.


Hrishi has a rude shock coming his way when he realizes his white lady ain't got enough oompphh. In comes Hari's brand new 2.2 Dicor to the rescue to tow its sisters out of the mess.


Two Safari's cant get this monster out of this.


So in the end, we put all our genius brains together and chalk out a solution.

In comes the OTR tow machine.


Lesson to all OTR members: If you need a vehicle to tow you out of trouble, have a tractor in the convoy . The tractor pulled the Xenon out as if it was made out of cotton.

[Ym-enjn]

What an adventure, only 2 hours and already so much, can't wait to see what all happened in 20 hours.. Keep posting..

But good you all decided to help the i10 guy, he must have prayed god real hard.. for help..lol. I can imagine the look on his face when he sees half a dozen fully equipped 4x4s coming out of nowhere to help him out.. (Goshh, he should have asked for something real big) I Can't stop laughing man..

[mclaren1885]

So we just completed a mini-OTR even before hitting the main trail. We must have lost atleast an hour here trying to pull out each other. What started out as a rescue mission for the i10 ended up being an adventure for all the Tata trucks .

Siddhu poses with his reliable (probably the only vehicle in his garage) 410. He goes onto say, his 410 would have pulled out the i10 and the Tata's with ease. Show off...


Xenon back on the roads... And its obvious it needs a quick shower.


A front view to hide the mucked up profile.


Amidst all this show off, a certain Scorpio feels left out.


A click of the 3L truck so that Hrishi doesn't feel left out.


The Gypsy is back on the road too.


I am told overcast weather is the perfect weather for an OTR.


We then stop for breakfast. Discussions range from Siddhu's spurious RS to my VTU saga. Idli's, dosas, tea, coffee disappear with a blink of an eye. Little did we know what was in store for the rest of the day. Now its started to sink in that my leg could have suffered more damage then I had imagined. Still I keep my mind away from looking into it.

We then hit village roads and we are finally out of civilization. No cell phone network, no worries. Its just the wild and even wilder rides. The feeling is that of pure bliss....

[memo45_m]

What a experice this whole think turned out to be, man we were just out there recovering each other in line one after the other, but the whole experince has just left some tuanting questions in my mind, and thanks to all the folks for this opportunity, hats off to the spirit you guys carry with you to keep going and going, and the value you carry for everyone else with you, unlike some other so called meet-ups, drives and on/off track events.

[mjothi]

Rahul, that's great writeup. An OTR is always the one that you never planed for

So, its from i10 to Xenon to 3L Dicor to 2.2 vtt and finally the tractor pulled them out is it? Great!

Hari, so you finally got the Black storm

Hrisihi, I guess this is one OTR for you after a long time, if I am right. Good to see you back.

[mclaren1885]

So we finally hit the village roads and then get to the beginning of the trail

We have a small briefing and Vinay says "This is where the trail begins. And its a tough one, so if anyone wants to back out do so now, once you enter there is no way to get out". Everyone gets the message loud and clear.

The briefing reminds me of our track days. Sigh!


A line up of all the monsters just before we ventured into the wild.


The Mahindra v/s Tata battle begins.


Since we all are worried about the OTR capabilities of the Tata trucks, we are advised to stay behind the jeeps. The jeeps come in handy while towing out vehicles I am told.

The KL jeep leading the pack.


Vinay the guide helping out. This trail would have been a nightmare without him.


Our destination is to reach that lake bed you see in the horizon. What beautiful experience this is going to be I tell myself.


Lead kindly jeep!


After a km or so, we re-group to decide the moving order. Dwarak sir explaining to the first timers the nitty gritty of off roading.

Hrishi, threatening memo to uphold the Tata brand name, failing which he would have to face dire consequences. Read, we will leave the 207 stranded in muck and not winch you out, for like ever.


Siddhu I am told is the scape goat at all OTR's. So we send him to explore the way while we sit back and enjoy .




Once Siddhu gives a thumbs up, the ordeal begins.

[hgnishanth]

hey guys

I made a mistake when I started this thread. I think the name should read "Bangalore - CHIKKABALLAPUR OTR (02nd Oct 2009) - The Unforgettable OTR! "

Sorry about that.

Thanks roshan for pointing it out.

MODS if you can change the please do so.

Will update lots more pics and videos today evening.

Cheers

Nishanth

[Lukeskywalker]

Well, it was a first time for me and my Safari, it was a good way to learn what your vehicle is capable of. But what impressed me the most is the never say die attitude of the off roaders, hats off to all the organisers and the guys who sweated it out in the muck and rain till late in the night. I salute your spirit guys.
Now kindly bring on the pics.

[mclaren1885]

The non-eco friendly convoy!


Siddhu's reaction on mention of marriage & dowry in one sentence.


The first hurdle the truck had to face.


Jeep slides its way out.


The poser!


No one knows what Shah was trying to do behind the bushes..


The 2.2L ditches the 3L and makes its way through first.


Siddhu does some work, once I promise him to get him a girl who'd give him 3Cr dowry provided he loses 3kgs .


A couple of shots of the Xenon!




Guys, sorry for not being able to click pics of others vehicles. Due to the severe pain in my leg, I couldn't stand for long. Just clicked pics of vehicles immediately ahead/behind us. Lots more to come.

[Ashley Nair]

Excellent and impartial writeup. Hope we will see the antics of Mahindras and Tatas soon and their offroading prowess tested and compared!

[hgnishanth]

sorry guys count post the pics till now.. here are the pics.

1.Roadside recovery attempt of i10 byt Dwarak


2.Xenon went in to help and got stuck!


3.Hrishi trying to pull out the Xenon. Later Hari joined in and the
TATA Safari's tried pulling out the other TATA Xenon.




4.Then comes along the Big Brother of Offroaders.'THE TRACTOR'! It easily pulled out the Xenon and the i10.



5.The line up before the trail actually began.


6.Roshan's 540 tackling a hurdle. The trail for most part was ok, but no one could have imagined what lay in wait along the trail for us!!

7.Hari / Rehan / Rajesh tackling the hurdles along the trail.

8.Rajiv's green gypsy sat on a stone, was pulled out by the Xenon.

9.Monish in the Xenon and our mm 540 tackling the trail.

More pics and Videos to follow..

Cheers

Nishanth

[mclaren1885]

We come across a small stream.

The Jeep opens the account.


The running advertisement for TBHP soon follows .


Hari makes sure I get this one.


This stretch was really beautiful and no pics can describe the scene in front of our eyes. At one point one of the Jeeps I think started to slide towards the stream. Must have been scary.


If only someone had carried some tents, we could have camped right there.


Everyone takes a break to soak in the scenery.


While Shah continues to show off his add car .


A pan shot from 4 images.


Up until now, the trail has been hassle free. Couple of times the Xenon and a few other vehicles did get stuck but were towed out easily. Just when I thought how hard can it really be....

[hgnishanth]

1.Rehan / Dwarak sir / Hrishi on the trail




2.Rajesh's mm540..



3.Rajesh and Roshan's jeeps..







4.Dwarak Sir / Shanawaz / Roshan / Rajesh on the trail







5.Roshan & Monish on a stopover..


6.Rajesh in his mm540 crossing the stream along the trail..



cheers
Nishanth

[dwaraka]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

Dwarak/Vinay pass me on the road to OTR and say "there is a car lying in a ditch some 1/2 KM behind. Should we go and help him and pull him out?" I think for a second and say "OK".

I think we spent some 1 hour there only to find that not only we could not move the i10 but also get the xenon stuck big time. A tractor came to pull out both the xenon (that too after 2 safari's puling in serial could not move the xenon an inch) & i10.

Yes, one of the most adventurous OTR's that I have been to.

One biggest mistake done by me while pulling the i10 was, i put the gypsy in 4 WD , but forgot to lock the free wheeling hub. Else, atleast could have moved the i10 a bit.


Overall, the OTR was real fun, exhaustive, exhausting, hungry looking people, dry day .

Thank you all for support in keeping my engine running and towing upto chikkaballapur after my fuel got empty.

[mclaren1885]

So after a km or so, we come across a slightly bigger stream. A couple of gypsy's and jeeps tackle it with ease. I jump out of the Xenon onto the jeep so that I can capture a few clicks.

Xenon finally gets a shower.


Hari is standing in line wondering "Mera number kab aayega?".


Mera number aagayaaa. Hari heads for a bath next.


What happened next is NOT fictional. Hari pulls up next to us and someone comes with a packet of mixture. Hari extends both his hands out. So Mr.X (cant remember who it was) pours nearly half the packet into Hari's hands and leaves. Hari is wondering how to eat, while Hrishi, memo and myself realize we just got ourselves a plate to take the mixture from . We needn't have to take trouble to hold the packet or pass it around or waste energy in taking out the mixture from the packet. Hari was holding his arms outstretched, all we had to do was make him stand still and not let him run away with what was the first particle of food we managed since we had breakfast.


After everyone's cleared the small stream we continue to explore the forest carefully trying to make sure that we don't destroy any saplings.


Until we hit this dead end....