The man behind the scenes: Shibu aka Jeep Captain.
We (Jeevan, Thomas, Shibu, Nanda, Anil, Rajith and Roy from BBC and other friends) had a great time at the event. Thank you Shibu for taking the pain to put everything in place. Shibu and Anil in Shiyas' Bolero (quite a performer and lives upto the name) started off by around 4 in the morning towing away the CJ3B (JC's new found love) home. Thomas, Nanda and Rajith in his Major took off by 7 in the morning. Think they caught up JC and Anil somewhere close to Mysore.
The Stinger leading the convoy
I hopped on to Roy's bolero with a friend of his. We were late to start off, but it was fun. Roy, your friend Ajith is an interesting chap. Ajith is an old timer with Bullets, BSAs and the Himalayan rides. He will soon join our tribe officially.
I hopped on to Roy's bolero with a friend of his. We were late to start off, but it was fun. Roy, your friend Ajith is an interesting chap. Ajith is an old timer with Bullets, BSAs and the Himalayan rides. He will soon join our tribe officially. We all met up at Meppadi (Shibu's farm is situated there - on the Chembra peak.
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chembra_Peak ). While we waited for the Captain to arrive, we met quite some serious jeepers: Benny and his mechanic Shashiettan along with the acclaimed "Road Dog" owner Jeep George. Those who follow team-bhp/jeep thrills would probably know him. He has hand built a mm540 with independent suspension (coil springs/multi link). Pretty knowledgeable folks. While most of us were high on the 4 H mode lead by none other than our Thomachan, other were busy checking out Rajith's spotlessly clean engine bay. Now, Wayanad is a jeep country and people around would have got thinking we were nuts!
Jeep George's MM540 and Benny's red CJ340.
In the meanwhile, JC and Anil arrived in the MM550. It was like the arrival of a star! All of us were waiting for the man behind all of it to turn up. He is one actually!
Later Shibu told me that the 550 had just been driven back from TVS kochi after some works. Parked Roy's Bolero at the end of the tarmac, and we hopped onto the 550. The drive to the farm house proved to be a good recce for the next day's OTR.
Shibu's estate care taker Maamachan had arranged some nice Kappa and Meencurry for the entire group. Roys' home made beef and pork curry went well with the whole thing. Bonfire, booze, good food, foggy night with a trail of the most capable 4x4 machines around at disposal. wow that was it!
Roy and friend decided to take Shibu's CJ3B for the next day's event. The forest/estate in infested with everything except elephants. We reached the hotel and dashed off after a couple of drinks. Thomas was apparently love lorn over someone. Guess who? The Di turbo.
Woke up the next day to see all the jeeps neatly washed up by the hotel folks. Loved the way the Major looked. Made a stop at the local "Chaaya Kada" to have tea. The guy was hell bend on us having the "podi chayaa" even though we insisted on having a normal one. Speak of mallu's attitude inside Kerala ! Go out of the state and they can be the sweetest people to be around !
Reached the venue in time and there it was. The Thar. Looked good and the specs/drive train/suspension have been debated on t-bhp to death. Something me and Thomas noticed was how the Cat Con screwed up Ground clearance and the placement of the wiper stalk. It was a honour to talk to Mr. Behram Dhabhar. He was so kind to answer all our silly questions despite of being a person of that stature. M&M had organized the whole event really well. The service vehicles carried all the spares, which I came to know from Nanda later on, that it was not the case at Chickmangalur OTR.
The Di Turbo man in deep conversation with Mr. Behram Dhabhar.
It was an exotic sight to see the lawn filled with jeeps of all kind. MM540, 550s, 500Ds, CJ3Bs, Bolero, Majors, Marshals, Invaders and a lone Kaiser (Cj5). The Kaiser was like a hot mistress. Everyone around went gaga over it and wanted to pose with it (that included me too). The tee-shirts, caps and the stickers were distributed and then the flag off happened.
Here's Roy posing with the Kaiser.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Jeep George's MM540 and Benny's red CJ340.
In the meanwhile, JC and Anil arrived in the MM550. It was like the arrival of a star! All of us were waiting for the man behind all of it to turn up. He is one actually!
Later Shibu told me that the 550 had just been driven back from TVS kochi after some works. Parked Roy's Bolero at the end of the tarmac, and we hopped onto the 550. The drive to the farm house proved to be a good recce for the next day's OTR.
Shibu's estate care taker Maamachan had arranged some nice Kappa and Meencurry for the entire group. Roys' home made beef and pork curry went well with the whole thing. Bonfire, booze, good food, foggy night with a trail of the most capable 4x4 machines around at disposal. wow that was it!
Roy and friend decided to take Shibu's CJ3B for the next day's event. The forest/estate in infested with everything except elephants. We reached the hotel and dashed off after a couple of drinks. Thomas was apparently love lorn over someone. Guess who? The Di turbo.
Woke up the next day to see all the jeeps neatly washed up by the hotel folks. Loved the way the Major looked. Made a stop at the local "Chaaya Kada" to have tea. The guy was hell bend on us having the "podi chayaa" even though we insisted on having a normal one. Speak of mallu's attitude inside Kerala ! Go out of the state and they can be the sweetest people to be around !
Reached the venue in time and there it was. The Thar. Looked good and the specs/drive train/suspension have been debated on t-bhp to death. Something me and Thomas noticed was how the Cat Con screwed up Ground clearance and the placement of the wiper stalk. It was a honour to talk to Mr. Behram Dhabhar. He was so kind to answer all our silly questions despite of being a person of that stature. M&M had organized the whole event really well. The service vehicles carried all the spares, which I came to know from Nanda later on, that it was not the case at Chickmangalur OTR.
The Di Turbo man in deep conversation with Mr. Behram Dhabhar.
It was an exotic sight to see the lawn filled with jeeps of all kind. MM540, 550s, 500Ds, CJ3Bs, Bolero, Majors, Marshals, Invaders and a lone Kaiser (Cj5). The Kaiser was like a hot mistress. Everyone around went gaga over it and wanted to pose with it (that included me too). The tee-shirts, caps and the stickers were distributed and then the flag off happened.
Other dignitaries at the venue. 
A CJ 
How can I miss the Bolero.. 
The smart M&M Service team. 
Our 5x4 Major, pilot Rajith and navigator Nanda for your eyes wonlee!
Briefing and Flag-Off we go! 
We had to drive some 20 odd kms on the highway. We soon reach the 1st trail. It was supposed to be slushy with some nice incline.The entrance looked quite un-assuming with cardamom plantations on both sides. There was one green mm540 with a free flow exhast which sounded good but was smoking like hell. It was like that pesticide smoking machine. This thing broke down every now and then and we had to push it in the slush to start (some issue with the alternator). There was this brand new 4x4 Scorpio vlx in the group. I wouldn't take a 14L vehicle for an OTR, but then oh boy, the driver knew his stuff. A 4x4 Bolero (the black one) had broke the foot steps and the wheel arch, but not a single scratch on this thing. We were just the ones ahead of the Bolero most of the time. Every time the driver floored, I loved the XD3P whine.
Once upon a time, a navigator went missing!
One of that numerous smoker episodes. We wondered if the 540 ran on coolant/brake oil rather than diesel.
It was another 20 or so odd kilometer drive to trail 2. We were back on the smooth rubberized NH. Now I know why 4x4 enthusiasts avoid tarmac like plaque. JC and Anil caught up with us somewhere. Man, the 550 has an amazing road presence. The drive was too slow and the marshals wouldn't allow us to pass them. Reassuringly, they were waiting for the rest to join the convoy. That's when I took note of Stinger and its addictive exhaust note. It overtook the entire convoy quite non-chalantly like an mad elephant on musk over a dose of Red bull.We were greeted by a steep climb at the entrance. From a distance, we saw the Thar jumping up the hillock like a Kangaroo with a rocket bolted on to its belly. As we proceeded, we were greeted by grasslands. When others were busy calculating the approach and departure angles, JC for the kind of extreme off roader he is, wasn't contend with the challenges thrown up that he started uprooting trees and huge boulders. He let loose the devil in him followed by Benny and company and I was busy clicking away. I guess, that was the moment of enlightenment. I too need a 4X4.
The grasslands and the tiger on prowl !
Say cheese !
6 comments:
I really appreciate your love and enthusiasm towards Bolero which is a tough off-roader and can be run on every terrain and plain.
Greetings Bangalore Bolero Club.
I am looking for engine parts on a 1958 Mahindra Jeep engine no: DT28286, model no: MM800DP-4WD-RHD.
Can you please assist us
email: delangemichael5123@icloud.com
Kind Regards
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Its such a great post & good services done by this club.Play School in K Narayanpura | Preschool in Thanisandra | Play School in Kothanur | Best play school in Nagavara |
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