Finally I made up my mind to share my experience with my team at Team BHP… I know I am not a good writer but will try to make it good, Mods please edit my posts if you think they cannot match standards of our community, because I am not so good in describing things in English.
But before starting: Hey, I am not a newbie now, just noticed: I am a Bhpian, Good reason for me to smile. Thanks a lot.
Year 2008: Somewhere in the month of May, I was standing in a market of Sangrur with some of my friends, we were planning for a drinks night, and suddenly we saw an Esteem Car with Raid De Himalaya stickers… Oh, it was looking so cool and nice. I ran after that car and asked the driver what is Raid De Himalaya? Is it a race or just a long driven rally? Etc. etc. etc. His reply was I am not owner of this car and this car belongs to my Sir Mr. Rajesh Chalana, he is a regular rally driver and belongs to Ganganagar, I got his number and called him, such a nice guy, he might receiving these kind of queries from lot of people but still he gave me time.
Now the target decided: First question how to get into it?
I searched the web for Raid website, checked each and every page (link) in the website, my first finding was: Rally is very costly. I tried to raise funds, but failed. In the meantime RDH 2008 passed.
Year 2009: Month of April, Everything was set, raised some funds till now, Studied almost all the things, got experience from other rally drivers by again and again calling them, my biggest strength my Dad game me permission not only to participate but also promised me to pay Rs. 50,000/- for Raid but a black day of my life came. Dad Expired. Sorry Let me stop for some time, will try to write later.
Year 2010: Everybody in my family, friends, office and circle knows that I want to participate in RDH but due to one reason or the other I failed. One day my Boss Mr. Amarpreet asked me to check Team-BHP, what is Team-BHP? A website where someone was selling a rally ready Esteem Car, OK I was searching for a car and found it on Team BHP. But let me study what else is here, Oh my God, this site is full of information, how I missed? First point is becoming a member of Team BHP and did that in first attempt and chooses my name as Passiontodrive.
While searching and studying our community I found my partner Neeraj, he was also looking for some partner but with some experience in rallying, I too was amateur but we both joined hands and now the journey starts.
Category we decided: Adventure
Vehicle we decided: Gypsy or Esteem
First thing what we did is we paid the entry fee, now what about vehicle? Neeraj found Mr. Amanpreet Ahluwalia from web, and we contacted him and ordered a gypsy.
Gypsy: Army based disposal vehicle, modifications required were:
1. Roll Cage,
2. Basic Strengthening
3. Rally Cabin
4. Two Spare Wheels
5. Rally Seats
6. Auxiliary Fuel Tank
7. Sump guard etc.
8. Circuit Breaker.
9. Fire Extinguisher.
10. Complete engine overhauling
11. Paint job etc. etc. etc.
Order given, amount transferred, but you know the strangest thing:
We haven’t met personally, not only we and Aman, but even me and Neeraj. Good. This is the height of faith and we all maintained the same faith till end. Good Show Neeraj, Aman and Jatinder too GOOD SHOW.
(Pictures Sent By Aman on regular intervals)
Next part is completing documentary formalities: Very hectic job and that too in the absence of Neeraj, Sometimes I need some information from him but as he in US and this time must be sleeping but what to do, I need to call and I called and this guy is so amazing that while sleeping deep he answered all the queries without wasting even a moment. Special thanks to my company I was not so busy in my job and we completed all the formalities in time.
My first visit to Noida at Aman’s place. This is first picture clicked by my mobile for Raid.
I met Aman for the first time; I haven’t seen so many gypsies under one roof before that. Met some more rally enthusiast. Want to share their names but can’t say they want me to do so or not.
We used to call each other on daily basis; my mobile bill was rising due to long ISD calls to US (Neeraj) and STD calls to Noida (Aman).
Aman promised us the delivery of vehicle in August 2010 and he is a punctual guy. He did it. Oh my God. Very difficult to identify is the same vehicle? Great, Wonderful, Awesome etc. etc.
Now shopping starts: but before that I would also like to thank Mr. Sudev Brar (team BHP) I read almost all the posts and specially his thread “My Mougal Road Rally”. It helped me in planning all the things in right way and right time. Sudev Sir Thanks again. We made a list of necessary stuff required, starting collecting small things was not so easy.
Biggest question: Navigation?
Adventure category is all about TSD (Time, Speed and Distance Calculation). We know nothing about navigation, and again Sudev Sir stepped in, he decided to train amateurs like me. I attended the one day session and you cannot imagine my feelings at that time, I was feeling on top of the world. We have Good Vehicle, we are good partners, we have completed all the formalities, we purchased all the necessary stuff, we purchased GPS, Neeraj booked his ticket from US to India and more important we know how to navigate.
Note from the Team-BHP Support Team: Please use the "edit" button if posting within 30 minutes of the first post, instead of creating another back-to-back post.