“Sir here is a 45 year old male presenting with a chief complaint of xxxx..” This is how any student studying medicine presents a case he/she has examined.
Well today I present a case history of myself.
Chief Complaint: Here is a 34 year old male presenting with a chief complaint of sleeplessness since a year, stopping at every garage without any indication, browsing team-bhp 4x4 section nah addicted to it, constantly lost in thought, appreciates the vehicle in the movie than the movie itself (makes wifey angry!), attended an OTR and has come back with a unwipeable smile on his face.
Past history: On searching out the past it is revealed that the patient is suffering from a previous bullet motorcycle addiction and does not look like any rehab has worked. However he seems to have a smile after a long ride on his bike akin to a yogi having nirvana. The present disease is very complex and has many symptoms.
On examination: Found dilated pupils whenever anything related to jeeps are even whispered about. The person who used to be in operatories and clinics is now found to be in garages and gujri’s. His best friends are no longer surgeons and medical suppliers but mechanics and parts dealers. The discussion with friends is no longer about a new surgical procedure or bone grafting but about a new roll-cage or a diff-lock. His friends and family have give up any hope of curing him.
Diagnosis: The patient is suffering from Acute Infectious Jeep Syndrome.
Treatment: Immediate procurement of a Jeep. Attend detoxifying OTR, participate in de-stressing team-bhp discussions. Take up Jeep 'Surgery' as a serious hobby (cant give up regular surgery or there wont be any money for my Jeep restorations!!)
So, when I found out my disease and also the cure, it was a matter of time until I got hold of a jeep.
It was at this time that I told my wife (a doctor too) about my interest in jeeps (as if she already didnt know) At first she was like- "Duh! You mean a old rusty jeep which is always leaking oil? People may mistake you for a taxi driver!!" After showing her the 4x4 section, she realized what I was upto and believe me you as we are building up the jeep, she is keen herself to become an off-roader!
I used to see a lot of war movies and the jeep being a ubiquitous part of it was always an enigma. They could go anywhere, do anything and the soldiers driving it were Oh! So cool! But the jeeps I saw in real life here were nowhere like it. In fact it used to be more of a beast of burden/ people carrier/ associated with a village image. I always felt that there should be someplace where I can find the jeeps I had dreamed about. And then the inevitable happened! I came upon team-bhp and was mostly in the motorcycle sections until one day I saw the 4x4 section thread on Jeep pics. I was like Alice in a Jeep wonderland! I was reveling in the numerous pics of all types of jeeps. I had no idea of the various jeeps and it was during this time I realized the differences between Short Wheel base, MWB, LWB jeeps.
I began to read the from frame-build up of almost all jeeps on our forum.
I searched through various classified sections and even visited many garages. After seeing a lot of jeeps I finally zeroed in on a jeep seller from Bannerghatta Road
He had purchased a lot of 9 jeeps from Govt auctions and was selling them.
I contacted him, went over to his place and saw three jeeps. After going through each Jeep in detail with the help of my friend and mentor, SV Santosh of our forum, I finalized on a 1988, MM 540 DP. (Thanks a lot Santosh
Without you I would never have become a Jeeper)
I paid a token advance to the seller and left. I had to arrange for the rest of the amount.
So, on a cold February morning, I set out from my house in Vijayanagar on my 500cc Enfield Bullet motorcycle to bring home a new member of the family