As I was away on an official trip since the OTR I couldn't chirp in my appreciation !!
The drive down from Hyderabad to Chikballapur
Absolutely fantastic road. Almost glass smooth except for a few diversions. The CJ3B in petrol was a delight. Felt like an electric car and was able to clip at a steady 80 effortlessly.
Participants
What fun meeting so many deeply passionate offroaders. All you guys made this event so special. The easy atmosphere, with everyone focused on having fun made the event so special. New friends and many more OTR's now to look forward to
It would be unfair to name a few and miss many whom I met in the course of the event. Some were familiar from TBHP and many new friends. This really is the best part about any activity. New friends you make !
Organisers
What a fabulous bunch of people. I was totally bowled over by the sheer thoughtfulness of so many of you who were behind the organisation of the event. Its the little details which really showed how genuinely you folks wanted everyone to not just have fun but be msot comfortable doing so.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the camping site. Shamianas, neatly laid out bedding with pillow and blanket. Chairs to sit around and the toilets ! Wow guys. Ceramic wc's in the wilderness with water ! You guys are in a different league and I must say you put many in the hospitality industry to shame.
Later at the camp fire I sat back in awe as surprise after surprise unfolded. So thoughtful to organise the potatoes, the butter, the foil, the salad ! Nothing went unnoticed guys ! The warmth with which you guys shared in food and drink making sure everyone was looked after was truly amazing.
Special thanks to Vivek and Dwarak for making the campfire evening so special.
I was totally bowled over by the sheer commitment of the Srinivasans in making sure everyone felt at home. The effort made by Mrs Srinivasan to make coffee for all of us was deeply appreciated.
So many small touches which showed the organisers gave so much personal thought to making the event enjoyable.
The food was excellent and served ontime.
The cars
Drool drool all the way. I expecially loved Sirish's Defender and Tanzeem's Patrol. Gorgeous machines
Sirish was a riot post a few drinks and I must say Sirish you are one heck of a perceptive guy, very sharp and am sure a very quick learner. He kept the Hyderabad nawabs entertained for a long time with his hillarious accounts of his experiences on the trail. Sirish we'll have a public hanging of that Marshall who asked you the price of your Defender as you hung in a life and death situation
What a blast we had hearing your stories.
All those cars with the Maxxis tyres looked like they were going to war. What an aggressive tyre! The trio of the Scorpios and the Patrol on the highway is a menacing sight.
In all the meaty beefy Terminator style offroaders my CJ3B looked like a kitten !! Honestly. She's so quaint compared to the other offroaders.
But did she surprise me!! That Hurricane under the hood should go into the hall of fame of engines. I had reservations about where the rebuilt motor could handle the strain of the drive down from Hyd and the trail but was I surprised!
Throughout the trail the temp guage stayed planted below 80deg and the torque at the wheels was so fluid and adequate that it handled all the obstacles on silent tick over. It was such a pleasure to drive this car. Now I know why so many people across the planet feel so passionate about the Jeep. Its a wonderful machine and so minimalist !
UBS (it was such a pleasure to meet and spend time with you) tells me the older Go Devil engine has an even more linear power delivery and awesome offroad. It was fun listening to the tale of how it only had to be someone like Arka who took the challenge of scaling a 60 deg incline and did so triumphantly while everyone believed the car would flip over as the 60 deg rating is beyond the car's limit! My guess is Arka's trick was to hit the incline at a speed pushing the car toward the incline and preventing it from flipping back ! Had he done this at slow speed their worst fears may have been confirmed. Arka correct me if I got that wrong.
Arka there's never a dull moment with you around and I really enjoyed your quips. I am very serious about what we discussed about multiple events across the country to fill the calendar and Shams and I will set the ball rolling for something around Hyd. We will need your help to choose a special trail. I have the locations more or less in mind and am trying to work through the forest dept to officially allow us to explore
Sanjay it was a pleasure meeting you again. And thanks for the weight when I needed it ! Lets please work on making the western ghats expedition a reality.
Behram bhai, lets see the Thar onroad soon. I really think you have a great vehicle in the offing and like I said its first important to make it a commercial success before we get the version we offroaders desire. Please make MLD standard on the version you release with 4x4
This is a bit of a hurried report but so much more happened in those three days we spent travelling down, enjoying the event and driving back.
On the way back from Bangalore I opted to rise early and hit the road at 5:15 am. On account of liquid consumption no other nawab was willing to rise so early.
Top down as I headed out of Bangalore alone and clipped at a steady 80 all the way upto Kurnool, there were moments when as the sun rose and the earth turned golden, the hurricane hissing ever so silently under the hood, cold crisp air and the smells of a country I deeply love, I was ecstatic that I had participated in the Bangalore Annual OTR.
I loved every moment of it and the biggest surprise for me was, not an ounce of my body ached after the 1500 km sojourn. Its got to be the petrol. The sheer refinement of the car now made this whole trip so deeply enjoyable.
The CJ3B in petrol is divine. Thanks guys for a great time and hope to see you all soon