Recently back in Mumbai after a gruelling auto rickshaw driving odyssey, Australian travel writer Sharell Cook narrates her experiences in an exclusive to domain-b
My flight to Chennai, where the Mumbai Xpress Rickshaw Challenge would be starting from, was delayed nearly an hour. This gave me plenty of time to think about what the next couple of weeks, participating in the Rickshaw Challenge, might bring.
I felt totally unprepared. Even more troublesome, couldn’t help fearing what I’d suspected for quite a while India had finally sent me insane. What other explanation could there be for me agreeing to take part in an event that’s billed as a rally for the “clinically insane”? An event that would require me and my team mate to drive an auto rickshaw for 13 days, over 1,900 kilometers and through four states, from Chennai to Mumbai.
Despite living in India for over three years, I hadn’t been game enough to drive a car, let alone an auto rickshaw that I didn’t know how to operate. What’s more, as little as 30 minutes spent in one of those noisy three-wheeled contraptions was enough to irritate my ears and turn my hair into a knotted mess. How would I cope with 13 days in one? I had absolutely no idea. All I knew was that the opportunity was too hilarious and extraordinary to turn down.
The spirit of adventure that brought 27 people from from around the world together to drive three-wheeled auto-rickshaws across India finally culminated at Mumbai’s JW Marriott in on 13 August 2009.
Divided into 13 teams, they braved the city’s infamous traffic travelling from Alibag in the final leg of the 2,000-km four-state rally, which brought together adventure sports, cultural exchange and charity in an innovative format.
Canadians Christy Denike and Jocelyn Turner, who work for the UN, rode the Mystery Machine. When asked what the hardest part of the tour was, they said the Mysore-Manglore route tested their mettle most. Indian food though was not a problem. ”Riding across the countryside passing through villages was a wonderful experience,” said Christy.
The participants also got a chance to check the under-construction school being built by Round Table India, the charity CEMS has tied up with, for underprivileged children. Last year’s event had raised over Rs10 lakh. The motorists also visited Round Table India’s workshop for handicapped women at Vellore.
An auto rickshaw rally titled ‘Mumbai Express’, driven by the motto, ‘freedom through education’, was organized by the city unit of Round Table – 115 organization under the aegis of Mangalore Ladies Circle in the city on Thursday August 6.
‘Round Table’ is an apolitical youth organization, members of which are aged between 18 and 40 years. The organization aims at imbibing among the youth, the noble qualities like service, honour and dignity, at both national and international level.
The organization, under its motto, ‘freedom through education’, strives to provide infrastructural facilities like buildings, basic amenities, educational facilities, health services and other programmes that benefit the children of the primary schools, the organizers said.
Mangalore, August 6, 2009: Who would think one day foreigners from affluent countries will travel in autorikshaws not just within the city but on a long trip from Bangalore to Mumbai? Yes it is right to think, it is happening in front of our own eyes.
Mangalore today received these 27 youths from all over the travelling in 15 custom designed three wheelers. The participants from the 3rd Annual Mumbai Xpress-Autorickshaw Challenge expedition comprising 13 teams, made heads turn as they drove around in 15 colourful, custom-built autorickshaws.
The team arrived here amid high spirit they did not show even an aoerta of fatigue after arriving here from Mysore passing through the treacherous Sampaje ghat and traversing through the bad roads. Answering few questions posed by Mangalorean.com Melanie one of the participants from Australia said “roads are pretty bad but that is how it is in India, it is fun to drive through the pot holes rickshaws are fun to ride especially on a rainy day”.
This Sunday, the amazing Mumbai Xpress will have its inaugural flag-off in bustling Chennai. Come join the fun which will include local celebrities, music, sport tricks, exhibition dancing, and even get a little energized while you are there! Watch these adventurous travelers from around the globe pile into their wacky auto rickshaws and chart off across the country.
The Mumbai Xpress – 2009 , an autorickshaw rally from Chennai to Mumbai, is expected to raise Rs.25lakhs for providing basic amenities in rural schools.
“The funds raised will be used towards 10 projects along the rally route and will benefit over 20,000 students,” said Aravind Bremanandam, managing director of Chennai Event Management Services, the lead organiser of the event. This year’s autorickshaw rally would incorporate a new route covering Mysore, Pune and Mahabaleshwar, Bremanandam said.
Charity function held in chennai:
Actor and Industrialist Arvind Swamy along with’ Mumbai Express’ Chief Coordinator Arvind Bremanandam donated a checque for Rs, 10,57152to Madras Mid Town Round Table 42 in a function held at Koturpuram Adventetious School, Chennai today. This money will be utilized for the schools without any infrastructure facilities.
Aravind Bremanandam, 32, an autorickshaw enthusiast, wants his passion for the “national vehicle” to go global. In 2006, this proud owner of 40 autos began a rally called the Rickshaw Challenge where he provided autos to teams.
The participants— most of them foreigners— included a 70-yearold woman from Canada, a male porn star from the UK, a former Miss Hungary, an actor from Japan and a competitor with a prosthetic leg. About 20-30 teams signed up for the nine-day race from Chennai to Kanyakumari.
The Rickshaw Challenge continued, and there are other races too now: the Mumbai Express (Chennai to Mumbai, 12 days), the Malabar Rampage (17 days), which traverses the Western Ghats to reach Kerala and the Tech Raid (five days), which is a technological and cultural exploration through Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. He hopes to start a Delhi race—the Rajdhani Express—in 2010. “It’s more of a way for people to see India,” says Bremanandam… Full article here
Autos are simple, and so must their games be. Swerve your auto through the city in a race with other autos
Pick up and drop passengers. Earn points, which can’t redeemed for anything.
Auto rickshaw missions, a bit similar to the original ‘Auto’ game – Grand Theft Auto.
