[sudev]

Originally Posted by ajmat

Frankly Gumball is the wrong name for the event. Gumball signifies being brutally fast, evading law enforcement etc.

Cannonball is the one you are alluding to.

Gumball is generally a drive usually with supercars. But it not about going banana.

Typically 3000km is the route length.

[sudev]

Originally Posted by rdst_1

Can you tell how the penalties for stoppages is calculated?
From what I could tell, if I stop for 1hr then a total of 60kms will be added to my final total.

More or less correct. Either we can compare stoppage time between the two competitors or add distance at standard speed.

Also, just a recommendation, starts should be allowed from both points. That way someone from North could start from Dehradun and end up at Kanyakumari and then make their way back leisurely as per their own schedule, enjoying on their way back.

Then it becomes different for the two sets of starters. Worry not we plan to rotate starts around various points in the country. OR you can have a leisurely strip going out and then compete on way back!

Edit - Also how are you ensuring that it is the same 2 crew members driving all the way through. Is there going to be a camera inside the car?

Something that will be revealed in due course, in the fullness of time ...(reminding me of Sir Humphry Appleby's dialogues)

[sudev]

Standard Entries open for Gumball India 2020. Just a simple competition of driving across India. Can you dare?

Only ten slots on offer on first come first serve basis.

www.gumball.in

#endurance
#motoring
#gumball
#gumballindia
#driving

[sudev]

Sharing a bit of news for 2021...mark your dates for Gumball India

http://gumball.in/gumball-india-2021/

[sudev]

Standard entries close. Only ten slots under late entry available.

List of teams registered by close of standard entries http://gumball.in/close-of-standard-entry/

#gumballindia
#gumball
#DrivingPassion
#endurance
#driving
#motoring

[sudev]

Only two days left for putting in your entry for the inaugural Gumball India.

Join the fabulous endurance drive across India that wil challenge the crews in a way never seen before.

Only for those who dare.

www.gumball.in from December 25th

#gumballindia
#endurance
#DrivingPassion
#gumball

[sudev]

Gumball India brings all the team suppoters, fans and followers unique opportunity for engagement and stay ipdated

Live tracking would be available to registered followers at http://gumball.in/drive-tracking

The actual tracking will become live from Dec 25 from 00:15hr

#gumballindia
#gumball
#DrivingPassion
#endurance

[sudev]

@hvkumar one of the biggest resource for motoring community across the country is also backbone for Gumball India in routing and safety.

#gumballindia
#gumball
#Endurance
#DrivingPassion

[sudev]

Meet the team of tigers making their debut for Gumball India 2020 drive.


Raghuvir, from Ambala, is ex-airforce man. Despite his one leg being amputated he lives a full life. Hold many driving records. Ande now is in competition to win this drive.


His partner Prashant, from Nagpur, is a double amputee, participates in Marathons and play cricket.


Both are truly Indian Tigers. Thanks to initiative by Deepa Malik and Wheeling Happiness

We wish them best for their win. Watch their progress during the entire drive at http://gumball.in/drive-tracking

#gumballindia
#gumball
#DrivingPassion
#endurance
#driving

[sudev]

UPDATE After 15 hours
Alll the crew have cleaned the second checkpoint and now heading towards the third Check point beyond Hyderabad.

It's been 15 hours since they started and they have to do another 45 hours!!!

Gumball India 2020 does require huge effort.

#gumballindia
#endurance
#driving

Live tracking and updated stats at gumball.in/drive-tracking

[sudev]

A team of marshalls is tracking the entire drive from Kanyakumari to Agra at the back end and is able to see the performance as well as location of each participant

All checkpoints are virtual and there is no stoppage required on part of the participants

[sudev]

UPDATE AT 42 HOUR

Journey for competitors continues with endless roads as another night approaches.Gumball India 2020

Most have covered ~2400 kilometres and a night further of driving ahead.

#gumballindia
#endurance
#gumball
#DrivingPassion

[sudev]

Dec 27:
So finally the Gumball India 2020 ended on December 27 at Agra.

Crews covered between 2800 to 3100 kilometres non-stop to reach the finish point just outside Agra and then check in at Courtyard by Marriott for a well deserved rest. While the first crew to check in came good eight hours before the exclusion deadline of 60 hours the last crew to arrive did so with minutes to spare.

It was indeed a creditable drive by all crew to reach the finish.

Performance of all crews is as per attached picture with over all winner being Ashish Budhia and Rohit Kashyap from Ranchi.



Giving a time line story for Gumball India 2020 event. Do excuse while I drift from first person to third person narration.

Apr 01:
No honestly not a fools day joke!

Already COVID had meant cancellation of three events that were scheduled for end March to April period. This included "The Agra Taj Car Rally" which sees participation of 70~80 entries and is a major event in my calendar of organising motorsport, camp out and drives.

With the whole country in lock down and me and my bitter better half strictly confined to the bounds of our apartments it was felt by her highness that this was as good a time as any to do spring cleaning. One of the objects of her ire was my "home office" cupboard filled with scrawled sheets, road book notes, old registers, print out of results and similar papers from event held on for no discernible reason etc.

While cleaning - dumping out papers really - I came across couple of sheets of my old notes where in I had scribbled outlined of holding a cross country Reliability (TSD) Rally from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (k2K). This was a decade (or more) old idea that never saw light of the day as costs and logistics of holding such an event with night stays for participants, marshals for time checks, making road book etc. did not find any sponsorship. In back of my mind the idea never died but implementing it was beyond reality.

I was rudely brought to present by " .... once you have dumped those papers come to this room and help me bring down all the luggage bags. We do not need all these..."

A few days passed that included enduring "with enthusiasm" the housekeeping chores, mandatory Facebook post about yummy gol-gappa / pani-puri she made at home. Seriously they were yummy.


The idea of cross country event kept returning to my mind. Mentally I was making permutation and combinations on how's and why's of such a motorsport competition.

The guidelines that were forming were
1. It could not be a Reliability (TSD) Rally. As this would mean having to first make a complete and accurate survey. Then prepare a road book. AND then cross check the road book for accuracy. Not possible given COVID lockdown and amount (time and money) involved in travel. SO the route had to be open.
2. It could not be a high speed event unless I wanted to see some jail time as organiser (COVID plus general dislike to hospitality offered)
3. It had to have some element that could give brag rights to the participants. Else why would any one be mad to participate in just a drive?
4. It had....

On and on. While lockdown darkness continued...seriously the gol-gappas / pani-puris were delicious.

To be continued....

[Joscyriac]

Very interesting. I love this concept of a cross country endurance race. Can you tell me what's neutralized distance and how does it differ from distance ran?

[sudev]

Thanks for your interest.

Coming to your query in my next post.