[kasli]

Its very difficult in today's time to have an idea and actually put it into execution. A bunch of us last drive met and discussed a trip to a place outside Bombay. The decision was made for Mahableshwar and vola ! The plan was on for putting it all together. The first was to get hold of like minded enthusiasts and the sms went about with the idea.

Amol was kind enough to use his good offices in securing a weekend where rooms were available at the Aristrocratic Mahableshwar Club. As there were limited rooms it was on the first come first basis and the first 15 who confirmed were sent all the details.

We had Mr Dhondy with his three cars Rolls, SL and Fiat. Our very own Bulldogji with his Buick Super 1949, Scooby with his biscayne, Mr Jetha with his Phantom 2, Mr Ashish Kadam with his Ford Jeep, Mr Dossa of the VCCCI with his Dodge, Morris 1948 with his Morris 1948, Mole with his 180 D ponton, Mr Dnyanesh with is 190 Ponton and me with the Packard. The drive was put under the VCCCI umbrella and we thank them for the support.

The departure was decided at 6 am on the 24th Feb , 2012 but like all Indians we departed at Indian standard time and headed straight for Poona hotel Sayaji for where breakfast was arranged. Except for certain un expected delays like a jam at the toll naka at 8 15 am was a shocker. slight over shooting of the stops enroute and a jam on the ghat also was little surprising.

Post breakfast and we realised that one car was not working upto standard was left behind for it to be fetched to be taken back. We left all together and a straight to Mahableshwar. A few glitches on the way and off we all went to the hills. Lovely weather greeted us . The rules of the club were informed and a wonderful weekend began.

Come Saturday we all went across to the golf grounds for a round of snaps and the line up snap. It was good fun . The children went across for horse riding and the Strawberry farms for picking strawberries and scooby was declared a true Pro. A lot of car talk across generations but over all too much talk.

The Sunday 26th Feb, 2012 got us to just check all the cars before breakfast and off we went after a fill up at wai and emptied the only pump there of every drop of fuel and back towards poona for lunch at Sayaji. A nice afternoon lunch near the poolside with a cool breeze and off we all went.

On the way back I think we just went so fast and comfortably reached back home and I am sure most of us reached before six that day.

A wonderful journey completed and next one already planned on the cards. Alibaug calling !! Shall send a sms for dates suitable and a preferred long weekend again two nights three days plan over all.

Some snaps and the scan of the article in Business Standard Motoring of April 2012 with permission from the editor of the Publication.

Cheers

[kasli]

scanned Article of Business Standard Motoring of April 2012 of the drive with permission of the editor of the publication. Attached in PDF and JPEG

Cheers

[the mole]

A very well organized drive, kasli did a great job planning everthing from the stopovers to the superb black and white film show at the clubs historical ballroom. Something that kasli forgot to mention is that the drive was 630 kms! And must say the all cars performed well considering that it was not very cool post 10am. As kasli mentioned this was only a trial run to see peoples intrerest in doing endurance runs and i must say that the level of interest sparked was amazing. Hopefully kasli will continue to take initiative and conjure up more such endurance runs. Cant wait for the next one. Will surely load some more pictures of the cars rumbling around on the streets of mahableshwar later in the day.

[kasli]

Some more snaps taken by Uday .

Cheers



Speeding RR .. You should see this car move













Everyone admiring the beauties.



MAHABLESHWAR clubs very own corn dessert . It baffled everyone who did not know about it.

Cheers

[the mole]

Some more Pictures from my end, the Club Mahableshwar is a 120+ yr property an ideal setting for any vintage car event. Some more pictures from my end.

[mbz180]

Originally Posted by kasli

Its very difficult in today's time to have an idea and actually put it into execution. A bunch of us last drive met and discussed a trip to a place outside Bombay. The decision was made for Mahableshwar and vola ! The plan was on for putting it all together. The first was to get hold of like minded enthusiasts and the sms went about with the idea.


Cheers

This is amazing. It's really exciting to see the level of enthusiasm that all of you in Bombay take to actually use the cars for meets and that too up the Western Ghats.

Kudos to both Kasli and Amol for taking the classic car scene to new heights and I'm looking forward to reading all about it in BS Motoring.

mbz180

[the mole]

Originally Posted by mbz180

This is amazing. It's really exciting to see the level of enthusiasm that all of you in Bombay take to actually use the cars for meets and that too up the Western Ghats.

Kudos to both Kasli and Amol for taking the classic car scene to new heights and I'm looking forward to reading all about it in BS Motoring.

mbz180

Prithvi, Who knows one day we might just ship our cars to Kolkata and expect you to lead us to Darjeeling
Here are some more cars, deftly tackling the original British Macadam roads still in existence in private areas of the Club

[kasli]

Some sights on the way back including a stop for some coffee on the way back,



Still plying on the hills



Stop for coffee and some rest on the return



Mustang ? Whose no idea




A recently purchased herald being driven without seats

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by kasli

A recently purchased herald being driven without seats

I remember you posted this pic. even earlier. Aah so no seats as well, eh?

Looks like the guys realised it just then so they're looking down!

But jokes apart, I hope this car gets its much-needed attention soon.

The willys station wagon I think has been a regular sight in Mahabi (or another one like it? pics. have been posted earlier but twas not in the Black & Yellow taxi colours)

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear Shyam - this Jeep station wagon is based in Wai. I had spoken to the owner, he does not want to sell.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[Bulldogji]

Anirudh, yesterday I heard some disturbing news. I was told that you took an amount from VCCCI to hand over to the Paige family, the amount being unspent amounts from our Mahableshwar trip, whereas the unspent amount was much less, thus causing a loss to VCCCI. Since this suggestion was originally mine I feel responsible. Please therefore clarify with VCCCI and let us refund the amount VCCCI claims was wrongly taken by you. I am quite willing to give the amount as a donation to VCCCI as we certainly would not ask the Paige family to return what we happily gave. For future drives please do not involve VCCCI or any other club as it needlessly creates bad blood. What was a really enjoyable drive has now left a very bitter taste at least in my mouth.

[scooby05]

I was the courier for this amount. I can only say that VCCI would NOT give the amount, if it thought, it had spent it already on the drive. There were some services etc missing from what was committed, moreover some people did not turn up. Anyway It is best and reccomended that Anirudh settle the matter amicably, I Trust Him. If there is anything I owe, please pm and i shall chip in.

[Bulldogji]

Hi Scooby, I am in complete agreement with what you state. However, VCCCI claims that Anirudh insisted on taking away the amount in the absence of the VCCCI office bearers, and quite frankly this sort of talk disgusts me . Therefore I want to donate whatever sum VCCCI thinks was wrongfully taken. My name also is being muddied in this matter for reasons unknown , to me at least, hence my offer to donate the excess amount supposedly taken by Anirudh and close this sordid chapter once and for all. But the drive, planning, participants, ambience etc was great. Lets not stop just because of this.

[the mole]

I agree with scooby, I don't think Anirrudh would forcefully take something away, why would they allow it! In any case all expenses were made by cheque. So were all payments by people.I don't think it should be too difficult to sit down and audit the whole trip spending once for all. Maybe bulldogji, scooby, me and Anirrudh can sit and iron out these things in the weekend. If we owe anything to VCCCI I agree we should pay them back, but please note that the club has charged for people who did not turn up. Hence there may be a difference in perception of what they think what the expense should have been and what it actually was.

Meanwhile a second run is being planned, I am sure all have learnt lessons and this trip will be even better.

[kasli]

Thoroughly surprised but not alarmed at this. I have gone to the Vccci office personally and sat and explained the whole accounts . to this statement of forcefully taking this amount is rubbish . in the previous post i mentioned is " that the accounts and file has been handed over to Vccci " it was sent to their office and I am sure they have audited the same also before handing over the payment to us. . The last rupee was put in an envelope and handed across with all xeroxes and originals of the accounts. The room payments were made by them by cheque while all of us paid Vccci .

The accounts paid to the Paige family is against the services which were not there. The sum of this total which was paid by all of us is what was handed across to the family against each participant. This excludes Vccci family.

Hope the above is clear. I am ready to sit at any given time to clear this confusion.

The second one is planned and surely will be held without any club involvement .