[curiosity]

Originally Posted by speedy

I was there at 10am upto 330pm...i had not registered but drove the track. I guess you came in with the convoy and the lone fortuner standing opp where the participants had parked was mine. i was the last to go on the track too, since i wanted the novices to dig in and spoil the track in order to make it a bit more challengeing for me.

Ohk, So was it your car with the winch? There was an LC too right?

[Anupam]

Folks, where are the visuals, let's have a dekko at the event

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Originally Posted by Anupam

Folks, where are the visuals, let's have a dekko at the event

I saw Monaro CV8 with a camera there. He should be having some.

There are a lot of pics on the FB page of toyota fortuner also.

[speedy]

Originally Posted by curiosity

Ohk, So was it your car with the winch? There was an LC too right?

No mine was a stock black Fortuner (the last car to hit the track, if that helps). The Fortuner with the Ironman kit and Free Spirit (LC) belong to friends.

[Monaro CV8]

A very well organized event by TKM & Autocar.

A big thanks to Tejas for being my co-driver and instructing me on my very first proper off road stint in my T-Fort. Specially with the heavy rains making it more difficult (for newbies like me) to judge the track, we had Allan, Tejas and the gang (EXAMM Team) to help us.

It was a Fortuner Fest right from the Pune Rendezvous point. 15 Fortuners left in a single file towards Automission at Khalapur. On reaching the venue, found a lot more Fortuner's (they were the Mumbai morning Batch). It was one sight to see: at least 30-35 Fortuners in the parking lot!

In this event, learnt a lot of stuff I didn't know about off-roading.
Discovered a few things the car can do in HL & LL modes! Starting off on the 2nd gear from standstill (in LL mode), to the - "look ma! no feet on the accelerator pedal" - while ascending, & "look ma! no feet on the brake pedal" - while descending technique on that steep 40 degrees gradient, to: drifting that BIG CAR on long slushy corners (that was fun); the T-Fort did it all : in awe-inspiring moments.

Ever since I had got my car in April this year, been itching to participate in the Fortuner Boot Camp.

Apart from Tejas and Allan, met a few other T-BHPians too - Speedy and rahultomahawk : with his classic Amber colored Land Cruiser 'Free Spirit'.

Had a long chat with Mr. Hormazd Sorabjee - Editor Autocar India, about crucial it is to get a hands-on knowledge about off-roading in a car, specially when you own one!

Autocar India's Dy. Editor - Karthik & Publisher - Bhavesh were patient enough to smile through till the last Fortuner had its run on the final day of the boot camp.

It was raining heavily that afternoon. I did not risk getting my DSLR drenched to capture the intense shots of the T-Forts in action. However I managed to get a few pics from the sheltered viewing gallery. Pardon me for the limited angles of the shots.

Here goes:

Lined up at the Toll Booth on the E-way. All 4 lanes were occupied by T-Forts.


Once Off the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway, got a feel of things to come. This road leads to the venue.


Lined up in a queue - at the gates of Automission


Lets get down and dirty baby!


What color are my alloys?







Mr. Hormazd Sorabjee - Editor Autocar India


Most Reputable of them all! - The Land Cruiser


A small part of the track - see the steep incline-decline?



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[Monaro CV8]

@ mods: continuing my post here. The last 11 pics came up as links in the previous post, hence putting them up here (along with tags). Kindly edit if necessary. Thanks.








Look who's come to check out the Fortuners Playing!







Jet Sprays cleaning after you're done.


Had a smoko stop on the way back to Pune. Doesn't look like the car's been through a lot of muck & splashes. Thanks to the Jet spray guys!





Earned the Degree


And the Official Merchandise

[amitwlele]

@Monaro - Thanks for sharing the pics. Finally the truck was seen where it belongs. Now back to the boring city roads.

[ajay_satpute]

Originally Posted by Monaro CV8

Earned the Degree

Wow! Fantastic it must have been. The last time we met, you had discussed about this camp and good you made it. T-Fort got a chance to show off its real talent. A video shot from inside the Fort while doing inclines and declines would have been really nice.

[Swanand Inamdar]

Wow, what an account of the events there Monaro! The T-Fort actually went where it belonged. The slush covered Fort looks so in character. You sure must have had fun.
So, now that you've done the basics of off-roading. Whats your take? The T-Fort at places like this, or the Pete'd Octi on the E-Way? Where would you rather be? .

On a more serious note, great account of the event. Makes me want to go to the nearest dealer and get my hands on one.

[tvrspeed12]

Great pics.

We were there on the first day and were in fact the first car to tackle the track. Great fun and a pleasure to meet Alan, Tejas and Manan who was our expert. Manan regaled us with stories of his OTR adventures which made what we were doing feel like childs play.

Unfortunately, we were also the first car (truck? SUV?) to leave the venue and did not figure out how to get the free servicing that my car now needs after the event. I hate to flog a dead horse, but I need to get my prop shaft greased due to it both hitting 10,000km and the fact that at several times during the day my car was fairly submerged.

Can anyone who stayed through the even shed some light. Is there a codeword i am supposed to say to my friendly neighborhood service centre so that he gives me what is rightfully mine?

Finally, Big props to TKM and Autocar for carrying out this event every year. God knows there are very few opportunities for car lovers to indulge in their obsession in india. Events like these are very welcome.

[bhp]

I was there on the second batch on saturday.

A big thumbs up to toyota and autocar for such a wonderful event.
This was my first off roading experience and i enjoyed every bit of it.

@tvrspeed12 -- the organizers will mail us the servicing vouchers/coupons within 2 weeks.

[Monaro CV8]

Originally Posted by amitwlele

@Monaro - Thanks for sharing the pics. Finally the truck was seen where it belongs. Now back to the boring city roads.

Hey Thanks Amit! You're spot on - the trip back to Pune was indeed dull and boring after all that off roading!

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute

Wow! Fantastic it must have been. The last time we met, you had discussed about this camp and good you made it. T-Fort got a chance to show off its real talent. A video shot from inside the Fort while doing inclines and declines would have been really nice.

Well Ajay you asked for it!
Here's the video that Autocar Guys showed us at the Boot Camp.

">
This is a compilation from Last year's Boot camp which was organized at the same venue.
Notice the Incline/ Decline - it was much steeper this year!

In Case the embeded video does not work, please check out the same on

this link

.

Originally Posted by Swanand Inamdar

Wow, what an account of the events there Monaro! The T-Fort actually went where it belonged. The slush covered Fort looks so in character. You sure must have had fun.
So, now that you've done the basics of off-roading.

Exactly mate! To elaborate my point, here are a few excerpts from my various posts on other threads:

Must say - that was refreshing!
Refreshing after all that city driving, highway cruising, yadda yadda yadda..

So all that they say (the TKM guys) is true - this stuff's what the T-Fort is built for!

Realized a few things: the capability this machine has for non existing surfaces, the ability to perform in tough conditions, and that never say never attitude..

Finally it dawned on me, "Well, we had the gun and didn't know how to shoot!"

For all those critics who have been quite vocal about the mundane 'Innova like interiors', here's what I have to say to them - its all under the hood, that's one powerful engine alright..!

Trust me, its worth every rupee you pay for..

Specially while turning at the slushy corners - you tap the foot a little, and the heavy torque in 2nd gear (remember you're in HL mode), makes the car drift. The car slides perfectly and you can easily control the drift too - Enough G Forces to tantalize the adventurous side of you

I've started to respect my T-Fort even more ever since I attended the Boot camp. The car sort of gives you the assurance that its made of valour & steel!

Originally Posted by Swanand Inamdar

Whats your take? The T-Fort at places like this, or the Pete'd Octi on the E-Way? Where would you rather be? .

Now that brings us to your oranges vs apples dilemma..

But yea, truly, once can say - we've got the best of both the worlds..

Originally Posted by Swanand Inamdar

On a more serious note, great account of the event. Makes me want to go to the nearest dealer and get my hands on one.

Well I always told ya - you have the option to complete the family in your garage ! The delivery of the T-Fort is now within 2 months..


Folks, I've taken the liberty to post a few snaps (of the recent Boot Camp) from Toyota Fortuner's Face-book Page.
Disclaimer: These pictures are not taken by me. Respective photos have their respective copyrights.

[Swanand Inamdar]

Monaro- Mate, youve explained the T-Forts abilities to the "T" (pun intended). Very well said indeed - "Finally it dawned on me, Well, we had the gun and didn't know how to shoot!"!

You are right on the family being complete part, unfortunately, that dream would have to wait for a bit longer.

Doesnt that LC belong to a BHPian?

[Monaro CV8]

Originally Posted by Swanand Inamdar

You are right on the family being complete part, unfortunately, that dream would have to wait for a bit longer.

Lets discuss this over our T-BHP breakfast meet this saturday.

Originally Posted by Swanand Inamdar

Doesnt that LC belong to a BHPian?

yes this beauty, The Land Cruiser - "Free Spirit" belongs to our fellow member rahultomahawk

The Free Spirit also had a run on the dirt track. Had a good chat with Rahul that day.

[Monaro CV8]

TKM guys have kept their promise!

This just came in yesterday's mail.



Kudos to TOYOTA!