| Re: 'SUV Extreme' Offroad Competition - 1st March, 2014
Hey Guys,
This was my first ever Off-Road competition. We assembled at our camp for the event, the Odour resorts, Chennai - Pondicherry ECR on 28th Feb evening. Parked-in were vehicles high and low, some for war, some for support and some just to pose. Nice place to stay, dine and chill.
We had a comprehensive driver's briefing, rules explained, handbooks with map distributed, queries quenched and then it was time for the TOSS. The competition had Special Stages SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4(technical SS), SS5, SS6 & SS7. Each stage had five obstacles and SS4 was a vehicle recovery without winch. Our team got the last pick. We started at SS7.
Our Team:
The men were Vishnu Rajam(experienced off-roader, our team captain), Doc Rinku George(his second day off the road, but an unbelievably good driver), Mahendran(experienced off-roader, our spotter, tech support), Abhisheik(experienced off-roader, our spotter, tech support), Arun (off-road enthusiast, done a couple of SUV Off-road excursions).
Our machines were:
(1) Ford Endeavour - Ironman4x4 2" liftkit, Bolt-on Bumpers, Aux lights, Offroad rims, 33" Maxxis Bighorn 764s.
(2) Mitsu Pajero - stock adjusted torsion bar. I repeat STOCK. Tyres were Yoko Geolander AT 275/65R15.
(3) Mitsu Pajero - stock adjusted torsion bar, swastik fabs winch bumper, swastik fabs rock slider, milemarker sec12 winch, 31" 10.5R15 Maxxis Bighorn 762s.
Good morning, March! Extreme Time!! Our assembly point was the Pavanjur Farms. We were joined in by some media crew as well. The convoy drove into the Palar river bed and each team went to their respective stages.
We started at SS7.
SS7:
The following were my observations of the stage. The entry was a very soft sand patch, one climb was at an angle, a decent over a rock which meant 'do it slow', couple of soft sand patches, two closely laid flag poles which compelled three point turns and very shallow slush. I have previously been at this place during the excursions, but the place was totally different. There were few changes in the terrain itself and the marshals kept our wits on the edge with the placement of the flag poles. Since our vehicles were majorly stock, we did it with extra caution, but sailed through the stage.
A lot of cross country driving and following the map took us to SS5.
SS5:
As it was being set up when we reached, this stage was extensive. Had a lot of tall climbs, a lot of double bumps, few water bodies that were better left unstirred. This was yet another place I had been during the excursions, but the direction, order of what we had done previously were intelligently changed. This meant that a climb that I thought I was familar with, now became a decent. It was very important that I dont get over confident, rely on our spotters and get the job done. And we did it.
Close by was SS3.
SS3:
Oh! The marshalls really used their brains on this one, literally. All I saw was twists and turns like the image of a human brain. Flag poles were so close, demanding curves, short run ups and angled decents. At first I thought the poles were impossibly close. Then I reminded myself that one of the competitors vehicles was a huge Nissan Patrol. The marshalls would have obviously accomodated that. So instead of complaining, I started plotting options in my brain to go through the weave forward or backward. Regardless of my strategy, when it came to the edge, I opted to rely on the expertise of our spotters. We went in one vehicle behind the other, took our time, but finished it. I felt the main challenge in this stage was to be dynamic. We had to be quick on the run up, but careful enough to go through the poles. Also on an angled decent, the vehicle begins to move sideways and we need to plan the tolerance to avoid the pole.
Had to do some driving and reached stage1
SS1:
This was by far my favourite stage. It challenged the ramp over angle, had steep climbs, very steep broken decents. Encouraged, adviced by our experts Mahendran and Abhisheik I went in following Vishnu on his endy and Doc George on his stock Pajero. We sailed through most of it and I saw Doc George needing assitance to go through a decent. It was a very steep decent and the departure was broken too. So most certainly one wheel would have to be in the air till it reached for ground creating a scary roll. It was very important to follow the spotters instruction rather than rely on instinct. One of our vehicles had to redo two decents because they were assisted. We had ample time, so we did it again and it was a 'thumbs up' for our team on the stage.
Stage 2 was close by.
SS2:
I have to say that the marshalls of this stage took extra care to plot the challenge. The stage starts with a water crossing and a huge ascent, beyond which was the devil's nest. The marshals explained it as patiently as they could, but we couldnt see it laid out. We headed into the stage, probably a little too confident. The endy went through 3obstacles and began searching for traction. Too confidently, I went in without a spotter over the first climb only to realise there was a second bump which got me beached. Two vehicles stuck, doc george had to come around to pull me out. We lost on time. With both spotters working over time now, we gave it a run, but still couldnt complete the last obstacle. Left the stage with a little incomplete feeling.
I have to mention that just to add to the aesthetics of the stage, one of the marshals had his red thar half submerged in the water. Haha! It was guys on their camp chairs, a thar close by and another thar half underwater. You should've called this stage 'The Hunt for the Red October'. Cheers!
Then it was a long drive to stage 4.
SS4:
The challenge was called vehicle recovery without winch. We had to have one SUV parked on the climb, while the other SUVs had to pull this SUV over the obstacle. We chose to pull Doc George's vehicle coz we felt the other two vehicles had MT tyres and Doc's would be the lightest. We decided to tie the strap in a straight line, pulling in series. It took some effort, pumping the throttle, wriggling the wheel, every bit of what I had learnt from the excursions and Doc was free!
Driving to stage 6, we were all on our edges. It was the last stage for us.
SS6:
This was pure rock with very little soft sand and a little water. Talk about wheels on the rocks, it could get real tipsy. I had been here once before, but that was only on one portion. The way the flags had been set up was totally different and challenging. The fourth flag of this stage was way too challenging, so the marshals gave us the freedom to skip it if we wanted. We went in through the same order - Endy, Doc's Pajero, my Peggie77. Eyes totally on the spotter, our body's gyro clock was switched off. We made it through 3. Vishnu decided to give 4 a go while Doc and I went straight for 5. I got stuck in the sand and couldnt make it on time. In the meanwhile, Vishnu got stuck on 4 and couldnt make it out on time. Doc made it through 5. Finally we called it a day.
It was a day well spent, we got back, chilled out. The next day it was time for the score card and had an award ceremony on the lawn.
The SUV extreme was a day well spent with men and machines on God given turf. Though I had been on some of the very same locations a couple of times, there seemed to be infinite changes. It was too dynamic. There was a change in the terrain itself, the flags were laid differently, there was a competitive spirit. I cant wait to go to the same place again to see what new changes I can see. Having said all that, I thank our team Vishnu, Mahendran, Abhisheik and Doc George who kept the enthusiasm high and controlled so that none of our vehicles suffered any damages. Infact Doc George's Pajero was a thoroughly stock SUV and went through without a nudge, which only meant that the obstacles were definitely 'do'able.
A huge note of appreciation to the organisers, the marshals, the sponsors, fellow competitors and everyone who made it possible. | 
7th January 2014, 10:14
(5)
Thanks
