Why did you decide to sign up for the Rickshaw Challenge Malabar Rampage 2019?

A friend who had been living in Goa mentioned it and it sounded a suitably ridiculous way to introduce myself to India. I’ve always wanted to do a rally and had been thinking of signing up to do The Adventurist’s ‘Mongol Rally’; after doing this however, those grandiose plans are on hold as it isn’t called a Challenge for no reason!

What did you expect and what did you get?

I expected the tuk tuk to be like driving a motorbike and to have plenty of time to meander around the roads enjoying the countryside and the people. Clearly, my rational and irrational mind need to have a chat because the reality was a cantankerous tin can that did not want to get into gear, needed biceps of steel to crank the engine into life and my team mates and I must have been pretty slow and faffy because we never felt we had time to meander and enjoy the countryside; every day was a race to make flag down with some hurried stop offs on the way to at least try and take part in the challenges. I still don’t know why we were so slow!

What was your scariest experience on the road?

Getting caught in the late afternoon rain that led into a storm that led into lightning hitting a tree that fell and blocked the road. This meant one very long traffic jam that meant we were late for flag down and had to drive in the dark with one insipid front light, one tiny little windscreen wiper that tried its best to give a clear view but without street lamps, it was frightening to drive along still with people running across the road dressed in dark clothing, cows still ambling about and the buses that still careered along with no concept of others being on the road too.

What was your most positive experience during the Malabar Rampage?

The people. We had a spectacular first day breakdown that meant standing around in the dark in some back alley (thank you google GPS for that helpful detour). The residents were initially bemused by our arrival, dressed as we were in our ‘Breaking Bad’ yellow jumpsuits but they soon came out with tool kits, phones and offers for us to sit inside their houses with a fan, have a drink and meet their families. Coming from London where even making eye contact on the tube is a faux pas, this was a refreshing change and a lovely one too.

How many breakdowns did you have and what did you learn about fixing a rickshaw?

I think our tuk tuk was broken from day one (and I’m not just saying that to excuse our bad driving) but the clutch was incredibly difficult to use on the first day and we broke down countless times – usually in the middle of a busy junction. Eventually it was a local man who came to our rescue and pointed out our clutch needed fixing. The mechanics from the Rickshaw Challenge were called out and they fixed it and all was well until we came across a festival in Alleppey which meant GPS took us on a weird and wonderful back alley detour that involved paths of sand – which the engine took a dislike to and then conked out. I learned absolutely nothing about fixing a rickshaw except it would appear you can take the odd screw from random parts of it in order to fix certain things…like the clutch. When it comes to the engine having a hissy fit – game over. It’s time to call for help!

Describe India in one word or sentence, which doesn’t include coconut or coconut tree!

Sensory. All five senses enjoy India – whether it is smelling spices in the air (or petrol), seeing the colourful silks and beautiful landscapes, touching the food on your plate (no cutlery in many places), hearing the strains of that glorified lawnmower you’re driving and tasting what is essentially an Indian takeaway twice a day every day.

What is your most “only in India” experience?

We captured a wonderful moment whereby we were coasting along NH66 with the sounds of Kylie and Jason warbling ‘Especially for You’ when we came across a cow walking up ahead. Now, I don’t know whether it was the love song playing at the time or delirium from spending so many hours cooped up in that sweatbox but we all thought the back end of the cow had a certain sensual swagger about it which seemed fitting with the song. Maybe you had to be there. Maybe we should have drunk more water that day.

Do you have any recommendations, any good advice for future participants?

Pack lots of those horrible ‘traveller trousers’ (you know the type all the Gap Yar students wear) and cotton tops. You will SWEAT and then SWEAT SOME MORE. Also, pack gloves as those sweaty hands of yours will struggle to grip the handlebars, patience (maybe xanax?) and ensure you take along team mates whom you love greatly, can be honest with and with whom there are no cracks in your relationship. This is an incredible experience – you will learn a lot about yourself and others, see and do wonderful things but it is challenging (or maybe that was just us) and if you are tired and can’t get the tuk tuk to start on a hill, you need people around you who will stay calm and be supportive – not scream at the gods for giving you the foolish idea that this was a good way to spend a week. Because I didn’t do that. No siree.

1. How long have you been the head organizer of the Rickshaw Challenge?

Everyone has the luxury of so many things and we act superior or inferior according to what you think, how much you have. But , time is  equal to everyone. In 2014 , I ran a rally called Deccan Odyssey with just one rickshaw team. I drove a Rickshaw (tuk tuk) in that rally and that is when I felt I a wanted to head this. Chronologically speaking, I joined as the GM of the company from the first day. It was in 2010 September. The first rally I did was the Tech Ride with 7 teams. Following with a rally called Nortland tuk tuk , for a security company called Bears (if my memory serves me right). This all started with a drive for a friend’s wedding with Aravind (Mentor, Tutor and a friend.)
So it is 6 years of averaging 5 rallies per year. Definitely more than 30 of these rallies including some exclusive events for corporate clients.

2. How did you come to join?

For quite some time, I was busy with my college days, then bachelor life, then work life… When married life has finally crash landed, I took it positively and started working for the company I initially worked for. It was a workplace with great atmosphere, but some sort of emptiness was there. That sort of time Aravind and I spoke over the phone and decided to drive down from Chennai to Trichy for a wedding. I would consider this my drive up.

3. Tell us about the craziest participants!

The moment they press the button Pay, they go crazy. There is some sort of established feeling the rally completion gives you. That has taken shape automatically with good hearts and positive process. New friends, lots of bad ass stories. Off the road it is wild drink party stories and on the road it is sort of a mix of scary and joyful stories. Strange enough, some teams were lost on the first day and found on the finish. Didn’t even bother to ask what was going on.

4. What is the most spectacular story about a team getting lost?

Nothing is to beat the story from the first rally of my career. The day I lost my way and did not estimate the distance and destination. It was the day from Chitradurga a beautiful old fort town, to Raichur and it was a penultimate day. A team had lost its way and by the time I found them, it was almost 3 pm. Then it quickly became dark before we reached the town  Bellary. We had around 80 km to close the day, the decision was made by Aravind (we had two cars) and he persuaded the lost team to join us. The mess is about GPS technology. They landed up in wrong state, on bad roads and their vehicle wasn’t working. From Bellary I hailed a auto rickshaw driver for the way and drove it. I reached Raichur at about 12 midnight. The team of two Girls from Wales were caught up by Aravind and they were short of fuel for both vehicles and they had to sleep at a gas station. I remember these guys made it to the hotel by 7 am and started in another 2 hours and they finished the rally in their own  style.

5. What is the biggest trouble participants ever got into?

Accidents, detained by Indian police, suddenly the road getting washed away (diversion) and most recently a Local Bandh (when every shop and event closes) in Kerala. The recent past always stays fresh in mind. 2015 Malabar Rampage, day when we need to travel from Kolikode  to Mangalore. After a long drive from Aleppey to Kolikode on the previous night, teams were informed to load with fuel to tackle the 100 Km drive out of Kerala borders as all the gas stations would also be closed. Again, I got the distance wrong as it was actually 150 km to border. Finally we all made it but teams were frustrated till they got to a bar at Mangalore to celebrate a participant’s birthday.

6. What do you like most as Head Organizer of the Rickshaw Challenge?

It is the versatility  of the participants and their view of India has always kept me puzzled and interesting. Conducting it has become a ritual with several like minded people.

7. What is the greatest challenge as Head Organizer of the Rickshaw Challenge?

As I answered the last question, it is the puzzled surprise of conducting the Rally, is a challenge as well.

8. Please tell us a bit about the team which supports you!

Initially I had five people working for me. One cash and accounts staff, a designer, vehicle organizer, a Rickshaw Challenge coordinator (gathers up inquiry and converts them to clients)  and a cook. The Coordinator was a lady who was well into her pregnancy that time, so she left the wagon early. Then it was only Guy Zucker. The designer and the account coordinator are husband and wife. The accountant had some medical problems and she quit followed soon by her husband. Seenevasan, a close associate during my printing days, joined and he grew in to a solid position by his experience and single mindedness. First person who I hired for the team is Saker, who came as a contract worker, asked for job and joined as a mechanic. His values and relentless work could fill pages. The other two guys who joined with him as tinker and helper, left after couple of rallies. Before the start of Chennai Garage, we ran a workshop at the basement  in the old office. A special mention about Mr. Jaganathan (senior consultant), who gave me lot of professional insight to the work. He was instrumental in creating the Garage set up. Today we have a staff of 40 people working for the organization. Growing in a great path and looking forward to take the challenge of employing 1000 people. Special mention about Suba, Armugam, Satheesh and Babu (who are not working with me at present); with out them, Challenges would not have been broken.

9. Why should people participate in the Rickshaw Challenge?

It’s life changing. Wandering in India is a tutor to one’s conscience. It’s fun, it’s exciting and It’s CRAZY.

10. A random story you will always remember?

Mumbai Xpress 2011 is the most memorable event not because it was fun – it is because it taught me what I need to work on to make it simple. On the whole rally the earliest when I would have reached the hotel was 10 pm. The toughest part was  the first day on road, from Mumbai to Alibag. I had 40 km to Alibag and the gate road started from that point. It was an up hill drive, and two teams where with me with various complaints at 9 pm. As neither of them had functioning headlights, they decided not to drive. I employed Saker and another helper to drive both of them and started the rest of the route. In another 10 minutes, we received a call from another team and they had complaints about headlights as well. Finally the Innova picked them up and proceeded towards the base hotel. So, myself, Saker and the helper with three rickshaws. On the way, one by one, they stopped working with clutch problems. We parked them on the side of the road and luckily one vehicle made it to hotel with all three of us. Then we took the Innova and drove down to repair them and drove it to the destination. Throughout the rally, I had lot of breakdowns and towing become a constant thing. To add up the woes, a team lost control and almost flew with their vehicle into a ditch. To be frank, one of the most scariest sight I would have seen my whole life. Thank God that nothing happened to the participants and eventually made to the finish. Stay warned will be my word to all the future perspectives of rickshaw challenge.