[nix1976in]

Thanks Sudev, am thinking of planning something in September...hope it works out.

[tsk1979]

Speaking of shortcuts, as far as downhill goes, most taxis like qualis etc. do it. For some shortcuts, during dry season,I have seen Tempo Trax do it.
For the Tanglang La shortcut(which we missed), I know for a fact that buses do it downhill!

[sudev]

@tsk1979: Yes downhill but fun is trying it against the laws of gravity. Stomach churning stuff.

[tsk1979]

Yup, it sure is. I had more stomach turning that you can imagine.
I was going up the first shortcut chugging along in first low.
Near the end to my horror I notice that the recent road laying has lifted the tarmac a good 6 inches from the height of the offroad track, I start building momentum to tackle the steep slope, and then I hear the shrill blast of an airhorn. An army 4x4 is coming downhill on the main road(his direction perpendicular to mine), and is in no mood to slow down. I stop, clutch pressed, foot on brake on the very very steep end part of the shortcut.
As the truck passes, I lift my foot off the clutch, and the clutch stays down.
I am like "whoa", and suddenly clutch comes back up with a jerk., and I am spinning wheels, the safari starts drifting sideways, and possiblity of cartwheels down the gata loops looms.
I stop, give steering input, and gently climb up the last part.
I am facing the wrong direction as I come on the road, and have to go down 50 meters, to find a suitable place to take U turn. fortunately no issues at the other shortcuts.

[sudev]

Had a fun event on 30 May at Delhi. Summer Sprint 2010 (check out FaceBook for this group).

The duty of finding the route and laying down the track was done by me. Check out the GV drift in this video at around 1:03
Summer Sprint | Facebook

The fun was driving through the scrub jungle and doing cross country drive while the initial route survey was done.

[Guna]

Amazing stuff, what most of us keep dreaming but never execute.
I don't know if someone has already told this; Maruti should make Sudev their brand ambassador for GV, real life ambassador.

[sudev]

@Guna: If you purchase a SUV and then do not use it to explore then it is just money down the drain. I dare say that I have driven to places in my M800 20 years back that even normal guys with jeep would like to avoid. Keep the attitude and dream on!!

[alka]

He keeps dreaming on - I have a "sautan" in form of this GV but some how he cons me in to doing these wonderful trips.

Do not even ask the places we have got stuck in and how we managed out.

[sudev]

Did the Rally of Mughal Road in June. Simply awesome experience. Have written a full thread about it.


Mughal Road is under construction and links areas of Poonch/Rajouri directly with Srinagar. The 85kms road will make the task easier residents of this area as the current connection via Jammu is almost 450kms long!!

The "road" right now is 4x4 delight and nightmare for others. See this not so difficult stream to cross:



That is when you see it from the other side:


The flow from glacier melt is tremendous. One could feel the GV slipping on the stones underneath and buffeting against the current. Here is shot of same with a Gypsy:


Watch some amazing videos on HIMALAYAN* MOTORSPORT My GV is shown crossing this stream towards the middle of second days video coverage.

The old sarai that was used by Mughal rulers on way to Kashmir vale.

[sudev]

Doing recces for finding routes for Desert Storm is one activity that is very enjoyable. You get lost and struck in sand a lots of time. At that point it is curses all around and sweat but at end of the day it is funny recalling such incidents.



This is area between the triangle formed by Jodhpur, Barmer and Jaisalmer. Trying to do cross country on a river bed.

And of course some opportunities to experiment with photo skill.

[nilanjanray]

Sudev, amazing!

What do you do to prevent scratches when passing through trails that have scrubs/bushes on both sides? Just wince, ignore and pass on?

I finally got a Fortuner (wife vetoed the Vitara), and am getting scratches when going through narrow, bush-lined trails.

I know you had done extensive recce using the Fortuner. What is the feedback regarding the middle row seats?

[sudev]

The scratches from thorn bushes are just surface deep and usually a water wash and a wax rub keeps the paint good. Not totally scratch free but good enough unless you give it a real close inspection.

Middle row in fortuner is tolerable but the back row is never used. In fact that is folded away to keep the lots of stuff that we end up carrying.

Do post some pics about off road excursions.

[sudev]

You do not have to go distances always to find fun and action. Yesterday went on a recce for an off road event that takes place next weekend. Just at edge of Gurgaon is interesting country that offers so many off roading and camping alternatives.


Here I am taking the Grand Vitara down a steep dam embankment. A tight left turn and straight down at a very steep slope in to slush.


Getting struck is par for the course. That is why it makes sense never to do off roading alone. When you get struck the others can pull you out or go and get help.

[Dry Ice]

Hey Sudev, did you get stuck here? In the pic, can't see you trying enough! Or was it that the getting stuck bit and the pic are not related.

I say not trying enough coz the front wheels have turned quite a few times in the slush, the back wheels are still sitting pretty! Not using the 4wd?

[sudev]

This was after getting struck and waiting for others to winch me out. Interesting observation about rear wheels sitting pretty and not mud splattered. Probably it could be because the other tyre at rear was the one spinning uselessly and this one did not move dues to no diff locking available at rear.