Raid De Himalaya 2011. Chronicling the Great Indian Drive.

evo · 17th August 2011, 10:58

One rainy afternoon in Kolkata, a friend of mine calls me "Raid de Himalaya ke liye chalega?" After retrieving my eyeballs from the floor , I rapidly said a lot of words. Post which he said "I gather you mean YES"

And thats how its happening. We are going as Official/Volunteer and will help out in whatever they want us to.

We intend to drive from Kolkata to Delhi and then on to Shimla. I have driven Kolkata-Mumbai-Goa-Pune and Kolkata-Shillong but never in North India. And what a way to begin the North Indian bit of it ! Nothing less than the Raid!

The object of the thread is to chronicle the pre, during and post phases of the Raid from preparation to participation et al.

I would also be grateful for any advice provided to a relative newbie ( The only Rallies that I have participated in are 2 at Shillong and some Speed Run esque things)

sudev · 17th August 2011, 11:54

Always good to being from beginning.

Why would you need advice for rallying. You are going as a volunteer/official. The DCOC manual that would be handed out to you would lay down everything that is expected from you and the crazy time schedules that you need to meet.

Just be prepared with a good vehicle and low temperatures that you will face at high altitudes.

MileCruncher · 17th August 2011, 14:16

Congrats Evo! I'm sure its going to be one hell of an experience.

I would also like to volunteer for Raid De Himalaya but don't know how. Any info on that regard will be helpful

Cheers

evo · 17th August 2011, 14:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

Always good to being from beginning.

Why would you need advice for rallying. You are going as a volunteer/official. The DCOC manual that would be handed out to you would lay down everything that is expected from you and the crazy time schedules that you need to meet.

Just be prepared with a good vehicle and low temperatures that you will face at high altitudes.

Thanks Sudev , yup, I heard about the crazy scheds from one of my co drivers !

The vehicle is a Safari 4x2 which is about a year old. Knowing TATA`s slightly iffy reliability record, any particular spares to be carried?

Also do we need Underbody Protection? Also, about snow chains, is there a place where I can rent them from?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Congrats Evo! I'm sure its going to be one hell of an experience.

I would also like to volunteer for Raid De Himalaya but don't know how. Any info on that regard will be helpful

Cheers

You have to get the form on email, fill it up and voila !

Twinn · 17th August 2011, 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo

The object of the thread is to chronicle the pre, during and post phases of the Raid from preparation to participation et al.

Congrats Buddy!!! I shall stay glued to this chronicle

. Hope you have the best adventure in this drive.

BTW what mail are you talking about regarding the voluntering process??

evo · 17th August 2011, 22:27

@Milecruncher and @Twinn

I`m not too sure, my friend sent me the form. You have to mail the organisers and let them know of your interest I suppose. And then they`ll send you your form.

OT : @ Twinn. When you say Scotland of India, do you mean Shillong?

guptavis · 18th August 2011, 00:15

WOW! good for you! ill look into the volunteering form too. Can you ask your friend how he got it?

MileCruncher · 18th August 2011, 02:32

Thanks Evo for the info!

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo

OT : @ Twinn. When you say Scotland of India, do you mean Shillong?

AFAIK Scotland of India is Coorg!

phamilyman · 18th August 2011, 02:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo

The object of the thread is to chronicle the pre, during and post phases of the Raid from preparation to participation et al.

Boss,

Dil maange more. This is a teaser - you gotto give us a bit of the real thing in the first post as well!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Thanks Evo for the info!

AFAIK Scotland of India is Coorg!

AFAIK, both sides claim that moniker as their own - India being as large can have 2 scotlands inside it, no?

evo · 18th August 2011, 07:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Thanks Evo for the info!

AFAIK Scotland of India is Coorg!

Oh, I never heard of that before, thats good to know, we folk from Shillong always thought we were called Scotland of the East . But as phamilyman says below, we`r cool enough to have two of em !

Quote:

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Boss,

Dil maange more. This is a teaser - you gotto give us a bit of the real thing in the first post as well!

AFAIK, both sides claim that moniker as their own - India being as large can have 2 scotlands inside it, no?

Aye aye sir, but as yet there is nothing more. I will put a pic up of the Safari which will (hopefully) see us through thick and thin and then will keep it updated as things happen.

These are the expected temperature ranges there

Shimla - 5 Degrees to 10 Degrees
Dalhousie - 5 Degrees to 7 Degrees
Manali - 1 Degree to 3 Degrees
Leh - (-5 Degree to -17 Degree)
Rangdum - (-10 Degree to -15 Degree)
Srinagar - (-2 Degree to -5 Degree)

phamilyman · 18th August 2011, 08:28

oh okay, stupid me. Then you should just park this in the assembly line till things rev up a bit - we're what about 2 months away from the raid, no?

sudev · 18th August 2011, 08:34

@Milecruncher : The best way to volunteer is to write in to organisers few months in advance of the event and they would put you on database of potential volunteers. The facts like if you volunteered before, you have your own radio set, GPS etc. and your vehicle are important. For instance for Desert Storm we give preference to people who have 4WD vehicles.

evo · 18th August 2011, 09:59

@Sudev : Is there any place in Delhi/Shimla where we can rent the snow chains or should we just buy them ?

MileCruncher · 18th August 2011, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

@Milecruncher : The best way to volunteer is to write in to organisers few months in advance of the event and they would put you on database of potential volunteers. The facts like if you volunteered before, you have your own radio set, GPS etc. and your vehicle are important. For instance for Desert Storm we give preference to people who have 4WD vehicles.

Sudev Saab: I'm ticking two boxes as of now - 4WD and GPS. But I think having a pick-up truck can be beneficial as I'll be able to carry a lot of luggage, nick-nacks and other essential items in the load bay.

Can I hope positively for Desert Storm then

Cheers

evo · 18th August 2011, 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by phamilyman

oh okay, stupid me. Then you should just park this in the assembly line till things rev up a bit - we're what about 2 months away from the raid, no?

I want to share whatever happens pre the raid too, so will just do that till things rev up.

17th August 2011, 10:58	#1
evo BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kolkata/Shillong Posts: 780 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	Raid De Himalaya 2011. Chronicling the Great Indian Drive. One rainy afternoon in Kolkata, a friend of mine calls me "Raid de Himalaya ke liye chalega?" After retrieving my eyeballs from the floor , I rapidly said a lot of words. Post which he said "I gather you mean YES" And thats how its happening. We are going as Official/Volunteer and will help out in whatever they want us to. We intend to drive from Kolkata to Delhi and then on to Shimla. I have driven Kolkata-Mumbai-Goa-Pune and Kolkata-Shillong but never in North India. And what a way to begin the North Indian bit of it ! Nothing less than the Raid! The object of the thread is to chronicle the pre, during and post phases of the Raid from preparation to participation et al. I would also be grateful for any advice provided to a relative newbie ( The only Rallies that I have participated in are 2 at Shillong and some Speed Run esque things)
	(1) Thanks

17th August 2011, 11:54	#2
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Re: Raid De Himalaya 2011. Chronicling the Great Indian Drive. Always good to being from beginning. Why would you need advice for rallying. You are going as a volunteer/official. The DCOC manual that would be handed out to you would lay down everything that is expected from you and the crazy time schedules that you need to meet. Just be prepared with a good vehicle and low temperatures that you will face at high altitudes.
	() Thanks

17th August 2011, 14:16	#3
MileCruncher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MH01 Posts: 4,235 Thanked: 592 Times View My Garage	Re: Raid De Himalaya 2011. Chronicling the Great Indian Drive. Congrats Evo! I'm sure its going to be one hell of an experience. I would also like to volunteer for Raid De Himalaya but don't know how. Any info on that regard will be helpful Cheers
	() Thanks

17th August 2011, 22:27	#6
evo BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kolkata/Shillong Posts: 780 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	Re: Raid De Himalaya 2011. Chronicling the Great Indian Drive. @Milecruncher and @Twinn I`m not too sure, my friend sent me the form. You have to mail the organisers and let them know of your interest I suppose. And then they`ll send you your form. OT : @ Twinn. When you say Scotland of India, do you mean Shillong?
	(1) Thanks

18th August 2011, 00:15	#7
guptavis BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: chandigarh Posts: 339 Thanked: 66 Times	Re: Raid De Himalaya 2011. Chronicling the Great Indian Drive. WOW! good for you! ill look into the volunteering form too. Can you ask your friend how he got it?
	() Thanks

18th August 2011, 08:28	#11
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,642 Times	Re: Raid De Himalaya 2011. Chronicling the Great Indian Drive. oh okay, stupid me. Then you should just park this in the assembly line till things rev up a bit - we're what about 2 months away from the raid, no?
	() Thanks

18th August 2011, 08:34	#12
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Re: Raid De Himalaya 2011. Chronicling the Great Indian Drive. @Milecruncher : The best way to volunteer is to write in to organisers few months in advance of the event and they would put you on database of potential volunteers. The facts like if you volunteered before, you have your own radio set, GPS etc. and your vehicle are important. For instance for Desert Storm we give preference to people who have 4WD vehicles.
	() Thanks

18th August 2011, 09:59	#13
evo BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kolkata/Shillong Posts: 780 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	Re: Raid De Himalaya 2011. Chronicling the Great Indian Drive. @Sudev : Is there any place in Delhi/Shimla where we can rent the snow chains or should we just buy them ?
	() Thanks