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Originally Posted by sudev
(Post 972930)
A Lancia Stratos? I remember in 1982 also there was a Startos but that time the scrutinee venue was Maurya Hotel in Chanakyapuri. If you see the Jeep in background you can get an idea that roof of this was barely four feet(even that?) from the ground. But the engine growl it made was stuff to take you to an orgasmic high!! |
| As you may be aware, the first Himalayan Rally started from Mumbai. At Babourne Stadium. A friend of mine took part with his car attached find 2 pics. The car was owned by Sandy Samuel, my friend and he is seen in the first pic navigating. The guy who drove was Phirose Engineer of Cease Fire fame. Unfortunately they crashed. I found these pics by chance while clearing up. Harit |
| "I wonder what that interesting looking Jeep in the back is. An early Toyota perhaps?" |
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Originally Posted by Hell Kuul
(Post 995834)
"I wonder what that interesting looking Jeep in the back is. An early Toyota perhaps?" That Jeep is featured on page "3" .. its actually a willys wagoneer.. |
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Originally Posted by Spitfire
(Post 995982)
Dont think its that Willys Wagoneer. |
| The Himalayan Rally has to be thoght about the time when this event took place. At that time we were still suffering under the planned economy follies, real Motor Sport was as good as non existant, we did have Indian Formulas but they were ridiculous. Please pardon this, but understand that I went to watch racing in Juhu, the climax was a race betweeen Gondals Maserati (today with Mallya), a special Jaguar home creation (I think that also belonged to Gondal and he still has it) and Mr. Nicholsons's Fiat 125. There was no chance to get real sports cars into India for racing. I personally saw one of the Stalwards of IARC at the airport arrival trying to bring out two rims fitted with Rally/racing tyres. Pathetic local customs rules. There is everything to say about the enthusiasm in Indian motor sports and the creativity to built racing/rally cars. And then came along the Himalayan Rally. There were many foreign entries. Now, I have recollections of many tit bits and will put them on paper. I hope that Mr. Behram can comment and correct if need be because there was earlier another even, the London Sydney Rally and I may mix up some fact due to the fact that this kind of motor sport is not my subject and I do not discuss with others to keep up the memories. These 2 photos posted were taken out by me earlier from a bunch which I had with me because my friend wanted them but now the bunch has to be rediscovered. Having so much valuable junk, I am continuously clearing and will post more pics as and when I find them. Now for the titbits. In one of the rally's a Jeep was entered by Atul Kirloskar powered by a Kirloskar diesel engine. This car was driven by Atul Kirloskar himself. If I remember, this engine was noisy and was not a commercial success. At some rally's Mahindra Jeeps were entered. These had Mitsubishi engines installed. The secret was that Mahindra supplied the defence forces with Jeeps having these engines. They ran very well and were much better than Mahindra's own engines. If I remember, Jeeps first came with petrol engines and dieselisation was an Indian effort. During the 1st Rally, the foreign cars were flagged of first, followed by the Indian creations. Sometime as these cars were flagged off, there was an announcement asking if someone would volunteer to offer a service vehicle to support a certain entry. Just imagine the inexperience and bad planning of that team. During one rally we had our Indian Uncle George trying to sabotage the rally. I think that it was in Rajasthan, the cars were attacked, one German entry had a video camera mounted on the door and this was stolen. The rally became a parade under escort. Uncle George, if I remember correctly was against wasteful expenditure of foreign exchange. In one Rally there was an entry, an Indian owned BMW of Manoj Kasliwal. Sadly, it soon failed after Bombay. At that time it was really an expensive and valuable car. This Manoj also owned a blue Fiat 124 sports, a fantatic car. A Mercedes 450 saloon was imported and entered by a famous car dealer. The idea was to send back a scrap car tarted up but the plot failed and customs caught on. Did something similar not happen with an engine during the east asian run? The earlier rallys were flagged off in Bombay, later on they were flagged og from Delhi. In one rally there was some dispute and Mr. Joginder Singh did not drive any car is that rally though he was present in India. The car photos I put up had a rally prepared engine, by Nicki garage which was probably in Naaz Cinema compound. Minit Seal was the first product promoted by Pheroze Engineer, other than the family biz of suitcases. Lateron came Cease Fire. Unfortunately he is no more. Harit |
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Originally Posted by sudev
(Post 987844)
Wow...Pemiers were a rage then. This was a great news for us just out of college then and the only thing that was happening up north was this event, which passed beyond Delhi. Hardly any Amby's were finishing the events. Some may beg to differ though. |
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