Malcolm Gladwell's famous book "The Tipping Point" tells us that there are 3 kinds of people needed to start off a revolution.
The Maven (the pundit whose knowledge on a topic surpasses everyone around),
The Connector (the guy with all the contacts) and
The Salesman (the guy who sells the idea of the revolution to everyone around). When the 3 meet, a revolution takes place.
Our little "revolution" story starts off when The Salesman met the Maven. This was not their first meeting, but as cherished as ever. They were at the Maven's house, chatting over some delicious tea and jalebis. Here's how the conversation went:
Salesman: Sir, you're so well known to the country as the ultimate authority on Jeeps. You travel everywhere, teaching off-roading and handing out jeep tips to anyone who asks. You have told me about people in Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi and many other places - who have flourished under your wings. Most of these people are also Bhpians.
Why is it so that we never get to hear of your students in Kolkata? Maven: Well, thats not entirely true. I do have a team here. Its small, but they are a dedicated bunch. And I have my sons.
Salesman: Yes, but how come we don't hear of OTRs you organize here? There are solitary people who take advice from you, but
where's the group visibility?
Maven: You see, I won't disagree that people here are slightly more lax than other cities. Someone has to take the initiative to get together people and make an OTR worthwhile. I'd love to organize something on a group level. But get me the group first!
So the salesman promises the Maven that he'll get him a group, and leaves. Over the next few weeks, he keeps calling up the Maven to organize an OTR. (He still has no idea where the group will come from). Maven answers his calls with patience, promises him something will come up, but nothing surfaces.
Finally, one Friday evening, as the Salesman is coming home from office, the phone rings. Its the Maven.
Maven: Are you aware that we have a community called Jeepthrills?
Salesman: Yes sir, of course. Why?
Maven: Well this Sunday we are organizing a Jeepthrills OTR event. Its a workshop (as opposed to a full scale excursion) since we'll be doing basic offroading, and want to teach new people. Would you and your "group" care to join?
Salesman: (Whooping and hollering internally but maintaining a most civil demeanor on the call
). Of course sir. Just give me some time. I'll get together a few people and come to your place on Sunday.
The Salesman then takes stock. First up, his wife. She had been to the Maven's place earlier, took interest in everything related to jeeps, and had a lot of respect for him. She was also interested to actually go offroading.
Second, his friend and colleague Joseph (NOS Power). The guy had accompanied him during his first visit to Maven, and was an equal fan of all things jeep.
Third, the young designer Ayan. Brilliant sketch artist, eager to learn, one who had bugged him to be taken to the Maven's place one day.
Err, umm, that makes 4. Who else?
Not having any other option, the Salesman calls up the Connector, Bhpian Planet_Rocker. Tells him to inform everyone that an OTR event is being organized. Planet faithfully does the same. The next day, the salesman goes to work as well, calling up all the Kolkata bhpians he has numbers of.
To cut a long story short, the much looked forward to OTR happens on Sunday. Except The Salesman's usual 4 suspects, only 1100D turns up to form the group.
(At this stage, you must have figured out that the Maven is UBS, and the idiot salesman is me). On with the event report then.
The first OTR report from the Kolkata chapter of Tbhp:
The Morning
The day starts with the group gathering at UBS' house in Liluah. Its a not so chilly winter morning as NOS Power, Ayan and 1100D reach by 8.30. The only man in the group who has to bring his wife along reaches, naturally, an hour late
.
The place is chock a block with activity. Seven Jeeps have been lined up, and Pavan and the other mechanics are rechecking the rides to see everything is in order. There are guests other than the 5 bhpians, some of whom are also going on their first OTR. UBS and his 2 sons, Adi and Vidyun, are overseeing everything.
Here's a pic of the 6 beauties intended for the OTR. Left to right:
1. Rani, a petrol Willys and one of the oldest in UBS' stable.
2. Raja, another petrol Willys and UBS' lucky charm jeep. This one has only HT tyres and is used regularly, but UBS says his OTRs wont be complete unless Raja accompanies him on them.
3. The famous 1942 Willys that did the Great Arc Rally. This one is a tiger, kitted out with a powerful winch and a lot of OTR equipment.
4. Another petrol Willys. I think this one was just called "HIM".
5. The ex army 550. I completely lost my heart to this machine. It was fully restored, with new MRF Sandgrip tyres and a snorkel. I felt like a million dollars just sitting in it.
6. The ex WHO MM. They call it "WHO"
7. Another govt MM that was functioning as the support vehicle.
You can see UBS addressing (L to R) Anirban in the green shirt, Joseph, me, my wife Sanchayata (completely hidden behind my girth) and Ayan. The guy on mobile walking in the foreground is Pavan, UBS' trusted mechanic.
Raja, the lucky charm Jeep Raja and the Gung Ho jeep
Also accompanying us were 3 most interesting ladies. First, UBS' grand daughter, the cute 4 yr old Mahi. Second, Mrs UBS, the most charming hostess one could come across. Third, UBS' mother-in-law, the 82 year old "Nani".
Anyway, so once the crowd had gathered and checking completed, UBS asked us who wanted to drive which jeep? It was like children in a candy store getting to choose their favourite.
Anirban succumbed to the charms of Rani. Joseph and Ayan chose the WHO jeep.
I was in love with the Army MM550. I firmly declared I would drive it. UBS warned me that the vehicle had a clutch problem (hard as a rock) and wayward steering, but I was steadfast. So what if your loved one has a few blemishes?
In the leftmost car, UBS with the 3 lovely ladies in his life. Next car, yours truly and his truly. Third car, NOS Power and Ayan.
Anirban driving Rani. Seated next to him is Hemmings, a Bangalore Jeepthrills member who was part of this workshop. Adi all gung ho on his favourite Jeep Vidyun just checking everything is in order (or was he just searching for his goggles? lol)
So the convoy set off. We had strict instructions to keep the order and not to overtake. Thats what we did, sticking to Joseph's tail and seeing UBS stick to mine.
Driving the MM was a delight. The rock hard clutch and steering were giving my muscles much needed exercise (why don't they design steerings that need to be operated with the belly? I could lose some serious weight). The commanding driving position made me feel like a king. People were overtaking us, then turning around and giving us awestruck looks. The car was the star, or was it?
Our first stop was a Dhaba outside Dankuni. This belonged to Ghanshyamji, a fellow jeeper and one of the nicest people we met. He had recently bought an MM and done it up for OTRs. As we sipped chai at the Dhaba, his monster rolled in.
Vidyun checking out Ghanshyamji's ride
Most interesting was the smoothness of the engine, and the funny seats. Also this was the first time I was seeing JK sandgrips in the flesh.
Pose Value
At the dhaba, we had a briefing session on offroading. UBS warned us not to show josh, and be wary of mother nature. He designated Adi as our captain for the day, and told us what kind of stuff we were about to encounter. The 5 of us listened like kindergarten children.
(I have pics of the briefing , among many others, on my other camera. Will put them up tomorrow).
Some pics of the cars at the briefing site.
Anyway, from here the convoy proceeded towards a village in Baidyabati. Traffic on old Delhi road was nice, and I could finally sense the MM talking to me. The convoy proceeded at a slow pace, the snarl of the diesel and the tyre noise settling us into a lull.
At one place we stopped to buy water and refreshments. This was at a stall just off the highway. The inquisitive locals came to ask us what was going on. UBS promptly told them that we were shooting for an action movie, the vehicles would be used for stunts, and my wife was the heroine.
We finally reached the OTR spot by about 12 in the afternoon. It was a small hillock beside a shallow river, across a bridge.
Stage 1
The first course was a Supari khet. A narrow steep path went down into the khet, took a snaky route. You then had the choice of climbing up via the same path, or make a full circle and come up via a steeper, broken path (I think 1100D has a very good pic of the latter slope).
Captain Adi and Hemmings go off to recce the route
They stroll around a bit down there, then decide its all safe for the newbies, and climb up again
This is followed by all of us taking our jeeps down there. UBS and Adi marshall the whole event with an iron hand.
I am at the wheel of the MM. In front of me is a 25 foot slope. I cant see the ground beneath. It will be my first descent.
UBS instructs me at my first climb down. "Have faith in yourself, and faith in the machine. Put it in 4L, engage first, and roll down with no pedals pressed. The car will take care of you"
I do that. The grin on my face is unbelievable as the car completes the descent with no drama.
10 mins later, I'm lined up for the ascent. By this time everyone has decided that I have to take the latter (steeper and broken slope). Adi hollers in my ear "Aniket, just put the car in low, gear in 2nd, and give it full throttle. Its not so difficult as you think"
I take a deep breath, look at the climb, and zoom off. The MM executes a perfect climb, and in no time I'm back on level ground. I let off a whoop. I'm an offroader now!
(Unfortunately, the supari khet stage didn't last long. The owner got wind that we were playing in his turf, and he shooed us out) On we were to stage 2.
Stage 2
Stage 2 really wasn't for the newbies, only Adi and Vidyun showing us what the jeeps are capable of.
We were standing on the river embankment. The river, shallow as it was, was a good 60-70 ft below. There was a small mud island in the middle of the river. We first sent a guy to recce on foot. He climbed down, walked across (water level was really low) and went on the island.
Then Vidyun climbed down with Rani. Drove across the water And went on to the island
Satisfied, he turned around, gunned the throttle and made a dash to climb up. The jeep climbed up about 20ft, then slipped down below. Another attempt, and same result. It was actually the soft mud at the edge of the river that was taking off all the momentum from the wheels of the jeep.
Vidyun surveying the situation
We knew then that we would have to winch him out.
(to be continued)