Petrolhead since the age of 6! Hello everyone
It is not everyday that one gets to become a team bhp member. Ha ha. I have had my own ups and downs. But the good thing is that finally I am here.
I have always had a fascination for automobiles ever since I was a little kid. Things really took a turn when one day my father; I don't know what got into his mind; got me a copy of auto car India. I was six then. I very clearly remember the main article on Skoda Octavia 1.9 tdi by hormazd sorabjee. Octavia had just been launched at an equivalent price of 6 lacs and Skoda was contemplating coming to India. First time I saw that a car can really be so beautiful. I mean growing up all we had around was ambassadors, fiats and the Marutis. I was floored. Still have that magazine.
I guess this has something to do with genes and I can say I inherited this from my father and grandfather. My grandfather had a std rover 2000. A great car and looker. Later ambys took over. My father was so fond of driving that he would buy a new car every two years. I still remember sundays, when dad would take out our fiat, fill up the tank and head onto one of the highways in any direction. We had relatives in himachal and jammu so ended up exploring the north. Drive till the tank was nearly finished, fill up again and drive back. I loved those long drives. Stopping at fuel bunks, eating at roadside Dhabas, stopping at train crossing and watching trains go by; it was an occasion in itself.
Then we got a Maruti van. Spacious and modern my dad said. Life was fun in the eighties.
Sadly in 88 we sold our car and dad was even contemplating shifting from Punjab. But somehow we didn't. Meanwhile I grew up. Education and fees came up. I would sneak out with my friends and drive their cars. Life moved on. Finally it was 2003, I was into my third year in Mbbs when we brought a car again. The mighty Hyundai santro. It was a pre worshipped one, had 40,000 on the odo. Dad said he bought this to teach me how to drive. The only occasion when dad ever scolded me was when I scratched both sides of the car. Driving is not easy. My dad got the car painted three times. So pathetic I was then. Anyways life moved on and so I progressed . Had that car for 4 years then dad bought another santro. A silver deluxe model. Power windows. I was the designated driver and the Sunday drives continued onto become weekend drives. Drove that around for nearly 1.7 lac kms when the car had a freak accident and was totaled. Dad was returning home after dropping me off at the college. He remained safe. So floored was he with the safety of the modern monocoque chassis that we bought a third santro- a white erlx- 2007 till present. And it has been my best buddy since. Has stayed with me in ludhiana, delhi, Gurgaon,chandigarh, Kanpur, Amritsar and now Jalandhar. I finished my MS surgery and after a few jobs and residencies moved on to govt medical college Kanpur for my super specialization in open heart surgery and bypass but the santro remains my humble companion and has clocked 1.5 lacs on the odo and still going strong. Dad always said- your car is like your second wife- take good care of her and she will take good care of you and how right was he.
Came across team bhp 5 years ago while looking up a review on XUV5OO. I was very excited. I read many reviews on this forum. The best thing was and I also told Gto about this- these reviews and experiences were written by people like me. Who loved cars from their heart and wrote this out of pure passion. This is why this forum is so honest and true. A group of like minded people. Life moved on, struggles continued till I settled in Jalandhar and finally decided to join team bhp. And here I am.
I still love my santro. It has taken me places up to Jispa and keylong and still going strong. Would never sell it. But with family now am planning to upgrade in the near future, a decision I will take later but with help from this forum.
As you can see, everyone s life is a journey. We all struggle, ride over hiccups and potholes in search for the elusive ride into the sunset, carrying over burdens and feelings along. And as my santro has taught me, life is all about the journey.
Thanks everyone for their time who reads this.
Hopefully it will be a good journey from here.
Keep revvin.
knrn |