The Rickshaw Challenge Classic Run 2009 lush new year’s voyage through South India has ended on Jan 8 with all teams making it to the finish line. (with their rickshaws!:)

We are proud to announce that the A-team; Charles Vignoles and Craig Scott are the winners of this year race, which like previous ones was nothing less than spectacular.

Winner’s perspective:

“More than anything else we’ve had a great time driving a ridiculous contraption across parts of India that we certainly would never have seen.  From cities to oceans to mountains, we’ve seen some pretty amazing things. And better yet, we’ve met a lot of really great people. We’ve seen loads of interesting things and this is surely an adventure neither of us will be soon to forget.”

U can read on the A-team Classic Run 2009 voyage here-

http://www.a-teamrickshaw.com

The A-team did not just win the fabulous Classic Run trophy (see image), they have also won a free entry to the Caucasian Challenge: an extraordinary adventure from Budapest, Hungary to Yerevan through the Balkans, all over Turkey deep into the Caucasus.

Congrats!!! To the A -team and to all Classic Run 2009 participants.

By the end of this month, autos from the city will take off on a 1000-km rally into the heart of the south

Deft and tough, autorickshaws of the city have helped us see through several travails. They have withstood bumpy roads, speed breakers and traffic jams. This time around, they are all geared up for another challenge. A test of endurance. The Classic Run Rickshaw Challenge, which will be flagged off on December 29, will see the ubiquitous autorickshaw take the test of survival.

About 30 participants from across seven countries will participate in the challenge, which is being organised by the Chennai Event Management Services (CEMS) in partnership with the Madras Midtown RoundTable-42 (MMRT-42). The first such rally, which was held in 2006, was from Chennai to Kanyakumari.

Aravind Bremanandam, director of CEMS says, “This rally is not a test of speed but of endurance. This is my tribute to the vehicle. It’s also a great way to promote tourism.”

About 14 different teams will work their way across south India in the three-wheelers, touring India and passing through a kaleidoscope of landscapes.

Charles Vignoles, a participant from the A-Team says, “My partner Craig Scott and I are from the US and we are expecting to see India in a way we haven’t seen before. I think the rickshaw will give us a unique perspective of the people and the places we visit. I am looking forward to an adventure, to meeting new people and a once-ina-lifetime experience.”

The challenge is not just an excuse to have fun and explore the unexplored – the participants will have to raise funds through innovative measures to fund the education of underprivileged children. Says Aravind,“ This challenge has an Adopt-a-Village programme wherein teams will have to raise a sufficient sum to meet teaching and medical expenses of schools en route.”

The best part of the challenge is the liberty to decorate your vehicle according to your taste. Charles says, “My friend Jackie Stewart custom-designed my vehicle,inspired by an 80s TV show. I am excited about flaunting it on the road.”

However, he feels that the only hitch will be the language problem. “Communication in India is a constant struggle. However, I’ll manage with a lot of patience and my sense of humour,” he quips.

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is often called The Gateway to South India. Established by the British in the 17th century, the city is known for its rich arts scene. It is also home to Kollywood, the southern Indian film industry.

Poet, painter, photographer and writer Sharanya Manivannan, 23, says the city’s cultural vibrancy gives her all the inspiration she needs for her work. She has just published Witchcraft, a collection of poems, and is working on a novel titled Constellation Of Scars.

When she needs a break, she grabs her camera and goes looking for the perfect shot among the city’s colourful streets, temples, old buildings and beaches.

Click below for full article and tips from Sharanya to exploring Chennai, with or without a camera in hand-

Full article here