Hi Guys,
Sorry for the delay.
The preparation for the BAOTR2012, started in earnest, in Sept.2011. The Terra-Tigers look forward to this event, as premier OTR event in INDIA.
Sept to November, we were rallying the team together and making the necessary preparations.
Diff-Guards, Skid-Plates, Petrol Tank Guards, T-Case Guards, tow-ropes, recovery points, preparatory OTR and the usual
Our Plan was to leave Chennai on the 26th Jan, assemble at Motel Highway and then Drive to Krishnagiri and re-group, then head toward the OTR spot.
Since we made in to Krishnagiri, 12:30AM and some confusion related to the Lunch Point most of us crossed Hosur, we decided to cut across the NECE Road onto the Kanakapura Road, and catch up with the BODA’s.
We stopped at Hotel Vaishnavi Palace, a regular post OTR watering hole back in 2005-2006 Off-road season. We had lunch and met up with the Gulbarga Off-Roaders.
A few Kms down the road we gathered at the Assembly Point and were allocated the Vehicle No.s and sorted in to convoys.
The Drive to the campsite refreshed my memories about the good’ol days of Off-Roading around this region.
There was a slight delay and after a necessary route correction, we reached the campsite, parked our vehicles, fought with other off-roaders for our sleeping allocation, and then it was business as usual.
Time to catch up with the who’s who of the INDIAN Off-Road scenario, and friends from various other Off-Road regions.
Dinner and socializing done we got ready for the Day1 Trail.
Day#1 Trail#4
Since all the TN Boys were together, we were sent of to Trail#4.
The highlight of this trail was Climb No.1 & Climb No.2
Climb#1 was a 50-60ft incline with a few twists and a lot of turns.
Most jeeps made it up 70-80% before they were winched out, and the entire process of 20 odd vehicles took a 3-4Hrs.
The trick was to increase the speed slightly before every steering correction, to make it right to the top.
Otherwise the LAMBDA hydraulic Winch was put through a thorough test.
But the Off-Roading gods were demanding their sacrifice and not being the one to incur their wrath, I promptly sacrificed a Goodyear G90 7.50XR16 LT Tyre.
They were still not satisfied and a Thar CRDe decided to offer a Continental AT.
But we had incurred their displeasure, so most of us had to be winched up or winched out.
Had a chance to drive Harish’s unique MM550XD, with Andy Rao’s spotting, was fun driving another JEEP.
After re-grouping at 1500hrs we decided to continue on the trail and make another attempt at Climb#2, which was not possible as a groups attempt because the LAMBDA Winch support headed back to camp.
We requested the senior Marshals, that only Winch and or Locker Equipped vehicles will give it a shot, keeping the time considerations in mind, we had to be back in Camp by 1830.
The first Vehicle up the climbl was a Red MM550XD with Front Lockers and Maxxis Bighorns and a winch, Ashok & Vivek (papaboost) made short work of the trail.
The next vehicle was a Mahindra Major with 4.88 diffs and Maxxis Bighorns, went up without a fuss.
Mhd.Ali decided to head up in my MM540XD, and he just walked up, but walking up was not enough, so he decided to back up and walk up faster and even that wasn’t enough, so he tried to modulate the throttle, turn the steering left to right even that wasn’t working, the vehicle was climbing up but not crossing over the crest.
So I decided to share his predicament and took over, Siddu and Chetan were now spotting me through and a tried a few different lines, but the result was the same, I was climbing up and not crossing over the crest.
So I tried 2nd Low to get some speed and the vehicle stalled, it was then I realized, a little bit of speed (momentum) will help, but how to get momentum and carry it over 2 Right and 2 Left hand bends, all the while climbing up on loose rocks and dried earth.
Start from the beginning, at the bottom, so after reversing yet again, down to the Second Left Hand Bend, decided to slot into 2nd Lo a see if the vehicle moves, it did, so I backed up some more onto a flatter ground and started in 2nd Lo and gave it a bit of throttle before the 2nd Right hand bend, this gave me enough momentum to speed up the last bit, and was too fast for the spectators to react, but that was just enough to reach the top and negotiate a rock and Tree to make a U-Turn and start getting back down the climb to camp.
On the way down, my JEEP was caught in a side slope and was winched out by Vivek & Ashok, and then we head to Camp.
At Camp we decided join the OTR Night-Life. So a Bath was mandatory, for such an occasion, a few of us decided to high jack the toilet area and took a nice cold bath outside the Chem-Toilets, reason being we could use more water, and someone could pour water on us, and if need be scratch our backs.
Bath/Wash done we changed and head out for Dinner and a superb Barbeque managed by Prithvi.
Got to spend time with the BANGBROS (Mumbai off-roaders) Allan, Ankit, Ravi, Manan, Soumya & Prasad. It was nice catching up with them especially Prasad’s animated descriptions and explanations.
Spend some more time warming up at the Bonfire, before calling it a Morning.
Day#2 Trail#3
Started of on a easy pace, since 50% of the Off-Roaders and their vehicles decided to head back.
Trail#3 was a technical Trail with a lot of careful steering and some lovely sheet rock climbs.
After the Trail we went to camp and packed and headed back to Camp. On the way the wheel Bearing on one of the Chennai MM540DP with SFRA acted up and Vivek promptly helped us in procuring a SFRA Bearing and allowing use to replace it in his well equipped garage.
We reached the hotel at 2115hrs and the last JEEP arrived from Vivek’s garage at 2145.
After that it was a night out at the Filling Station.
A few points which will help in making things easier.
1)Separate Trail for Winch Equipped Vehicles i.e tougher Trails
2) ID with Meals & Goodies details which can be punched/ticked/scored, hence the onus is on the Participant to get his meals & goodies, and if lost no one else can avail the same.
2) Increase the entry fee, and use the additional money for a few more Chem-Toilets and some washing area. (poles and canvas sheet enclosures).
It was a very memorable off-road, and a extremely well executed event with a lot of effort put in by all involved.
THIS IS THE BEST OFF-ROAD EVENT IN INDIA.
Regards,
Arka
PS - Pics will follow