The Classic Run Makeover Challenge

 

 
Unusual, but balloons are a great addition.
 

 
Fantastic team name, fantastic decoration.
 

 
This would definitely attract some puzzled stares…
 

 
Scary name, not so scary design.
 

 
A brave choice to drive round India with those flags!
 

 
An all-round great concept, particularly when the team also dressed as lifeguards…
 

 
An intriguing mix of concepts… Valhalla meets Hawaii.
 

 
Nobody would miss this ‘shaw driving past!
 

 
Another very noticeably rickshaw!
 

 
And finally, a great rickshaw design with great makeover additions.
 

 
 

Day 10

 

 
The final day is a short distance day but the road and the traffic was expected to delay their arrival at the final destination in Trivandrum. At the beginning of the day we had photo shoot for the Travel Scientists and it was helped by the teams of Classic Run. Some of the teams volunteered to stay for the shoot. It took those teams 2 hours before they could start form Kanyakumari. As expected, the teams started at 11 am.

 

 
The highlight of the day was a small mishap by Team 13 Mitra Firm who drove the rickshaw in to the ditch by missing the curve. Fortunately he survived without hurting himself. We planned the finish by 4.30 at the base hotel PUB and it was delayed by Team 15. Again we had to wait for them and when they entered the PUB it was a big clap for them. With that Aravind started the finish ceremony. The Bonkers trophy was awarded to Team 4 ‘The Death Shaw’, the charity award was given to Team 11 ‘the B-Team’ and, most importantly, it was announced that the Champions were Team 1 ‘The Tuktators’.
 

 
Thus the first event in the calendar was completed successfully and we shall next meet in April for the Malabar Rampage 2018. Until then it’s goodbye from the organizing desk. See you!!!
 

 

Day 8

 

 
As the distance was short, all the teams took their time before they could leave the hotel. This day was like an illusion act of a magician. I could not remember any event on the day as all the teams reached the base hotel safe and hit the bar as usual. I started about 2 pm from Thoothukudi and reached the base hotel in Tirunelveli at around 4 pm. There was a small drunken brawl with the locals with a team member but all was fine: it ended up in many crazy selfies with the locals involved.
 

Day 9

 

 
If you look at the google maps the route to Trinelveli to Kanyakumari (the Southern tip of India) is straight forward drive in highway. But we had detour the rally route through Papanasam. The Main attraction is Manimuthar dam, which was unfortunately closed due to bridge damage in the recent heavy rains in the district.
 

 
All the teams had to drive through a tiger reserve and eventually everyone agreed that it was the most scenic route of the rally. Team 15 met with a small accident but luckily there was no damage for both the parties and they continued driving. Team 7 had their fuel mix wrong and the mechanics had to reach them to make them drive back on road.
 

 
The final destination is a wonderful hotel in Kanyakumari and teams viewed the sunset of Kanyakumari in the Sunset point. The day as usual finished at the pub of the base hotel and it was probably the longest day for all the teams.
 

 
 

Day 7: Pongal Challenge

 
Day 7’s activity was kept as a surprise for the participants and only during the daily briefing were things revealed to them. We had planned a Pongal festival in Bremajothi farm at Sayarpuram and for the earlier part of the day we gave a small tour of close-by Tiruchandur and Manapad. As it had been a long day before, all the teams had a chance to relax. Some teams skipped Manapad tour and drove straight to farm, reaching there before 2 pm, about half an hour before the schedule.

 
All the teams assembled at 2.30 pm at the farm and found the arrangements ready for them. The quiet and natural set-up of the farm did not fail to impress all the teams. Aravind and his wife Gayathri came down at 2:30 pm and by 3 pm all the teams were briefed about the activity. Aravind and Gayathri handed over the dhothi and sarees for the teams, while locals were on-hand to help everyone wear them properly! After they got ready we had a photo session and after that it was time for the competition.
 

 
The Pongal event has always been a grand event and it attracts lot of media attention. Finally, after an hour and half the teams lined up for the Pongal competition results. The judging team (pictured above, in tense discussions) had to arrive after that and it took about 6.30 pm to have the results. Team 1, The Tuktators, won the competition for the taste, consistency and presentation.

 
After that the teams had their dinner given by Aravind and being dark we decided to drive them in convey to the hotel. It all ended up superbly and without a hitch we reached the hotel and the teams made it to the pub to finish their day. Knowing that the next day’s drive was pretty easy all the teams were in super relaxed mood that night. Those who burned the oil late into the night were Team 2 ‘the Hasselhoffs’, Team 4 ‘The Death-Shaw’, Team 6 ‘The Valkyrie of Valhalla’, Team 7 ‘Vibes Spice’ and Team 8 ‘Curry me to the Alter’ are the fantastic bunch. Known for their long night drink parties. they continued the habit in Thoothukudi as well.
 
 

 
 

Day 5: Rest day at Madurai

 
The beautiful temple city town of Madruai was the place where the teams had their deserved rest after the long night parties. Even though the teams got up late no one missed the chance to visit the Meeneakshi amman temple there.
 

Day 6: Madurai to Thoothukudi

 

The short day is piece of cake for all the 15 teams. In fact some of the teams had their best moments in Thoothukudi (also known as Tuticorin), driving around the small town having a lot of fun with the locals. So far the Classic Run is going well and let us has the glimpse of the finish in the next report. Until then you can follow our page for more updates, until then bye from me.
 
 

 
 

Day 2: Chennai to Puducherry

 

The costumes of the participants made the first day extraordinarily colorful and gave a happy mood for the first day on road. Again the briefing was done by Aravind and teams left the base hotel within half an hour after we finished the briefing. There we go, Classic Run 2018 was officially flagged off and we were off on road. All went fine for the first day and I saw a couple of teams in Mahabalipuram, mentioned in day sheet. Alambari fort was closed as there were some issues with the locals.
 

Team 15 (Temoji), had no clue how they had to navigate in spite of briefing and they came as the last team and it was 7.30 pm when we finished the day in Puducherry. The other teams strolled to the beach to enjoy the end of the day. Over beers some stories of running out of fuel and minor break downs were discussed. The mechanics attended the overnight complaints and preparation for the next day went smoothly.
 

Day 3: Puducherry to Thanjavur

 

Being the longest day of the entire rally, teams were warned enough and the highlight of the day was again Team Temoji. At around 4.30 PM, I received a call from them and they had completely lost their way and detoured more than 40km. But everything fell into place as they were guided by some locals and the Chennai Garage team lead them after the town of Kumbakonam. Yet another day finished in the base hotel which had an extraordinary swimming pool. Beers by the pool, that’s sounds luxurious, doesn’t it?
 

Day 4 Thanjavur to Madurai

 

The big temple in Thanjavur was the first challenge for the participants. On my drive I met few teams at Tirumayam fort and the pictures taken at there were awesome. Special mention to Teams 11 (the B – Team) and 14 (Ripped and wrecked). Another no problem day ended up at Madurai and teams had their new year’s party… it was a long night for most of the teams! Let the fun begin. I would like to wish all the readers and regular followers of Rickshaw Challenge a Happy New Year!!!
 

 

Day 1 — Practice in Chennai

 
In the Rickshaw Challenge calendar the all-new 2018 started on 28th December 2017. Before we move on to the events, I would like to share a few interesting facts as to why the Classic Run is special. In 2006 when the founder of the Rickshaw challenge conceived the idea of taking his friends to an event like this, his primary focus was party for 10 days. So the basic element of this rickshaw challenge is built on is fun and party. However, driving on Indian roads is not a party. It’s very stressful especially if you are from the developed nations of Europe and America. Having said that, after 12 years Rickshaw challenge remains one of the most well organized trips in India. The evidence is the happy participants!
 

 
This particular event is also most special because we get to visit Tuticorin, the birthplace of Aravind Bremanadam founder of Rickshaw Challenge. His extended family gives the special treatment to all the participants of Classic Run, the element we will be missing in all the other rallies in the calendar. This year we had a slight dip in the overall participants, as we have only 15 teams compared to 20 last year. Even though there is no specific reason for this, the smaller number will give us good opportunity to take care of the participants more personally.

 

 
On the first day, the registration table is laid at the base hotel at 8am and the teams started registration at  am. Within no time, all the teams fell in place and registration was over before 10.30 am. The lone contender Pushkar Mitra of Team 13 Mitra firm, who participated in the Tamilnadu Run 2017, did not turn up and he planned for the start day on 29th from Chennai. The rest of the teams had briefing at 11am and it was done by Aravind himself. Once the briefing was over the teams headed to the practice ground and as usual we had our training session for 3 hours and all the teams were confident enough to take the Indian road.
 

 
The first drive on Indian roads from practice ground to Base hotel was successful for everyone, but there was some drama as Team 15 were a little late to the hotel. They had got a little lost, but they managed to navigate their way back eventually. All had gone well on the day and everyone had a great time at the welcome party at Elements Hostel. All teams had left on time responsibly as they were sensibly focused on being ready to face the next day, where they would hit the road for real!
 

 

Chennai

 
Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is Tamilnadu’s capital and by far the largest city in the state. One of India’s major cities, it’s a perfect first stop when visiting India. Not quite as crazy as the very largest cities, and a little less “showy”, there’s still lots to do. You have to have a stroll along Marina beach (pictured above), the longest natural urban beach in India, and see nearby Fort St George, a relic of the city’s colonised past.
 

Pondicherry

 
The second stop on the Classic Run provides a chance to experience a very different atmosphere. Pondicherry (now officially known as Puducherry), is technically not part of Tamilnadu: instead it is located on Union territory, ruled by central government. In fact, Pondichery was French territory until the mid 20th century, and when it comes to cuisine, architecture, and overall feeling of the place, their colonial legacy is still very apparent today.
 

Thanjavur

 
The third city we visit is Thanjavur, the religious and cultural heart of Tamilnadu. One of India’s oldest cities, you can see relics of ancient empire, alongside impressive modern temples. Of particular note is Brihadeeswara Temple, a treasure of Indian architecture, over a thousand years old. The city is filled with life, famous for painting, music, and dance.
 

Madurai

 
Madurai is a city of temples, and it is impossible not to be impressed by the many intricately designed gopurams which tower over historic sites. An ancient city, which once traded with Rome and Greece, it has long been an important center for Tamil culture. However, the city is also flourishing in modern times, and it bustles with energy, especially during festival season.
 

Tuticorin

 
The Pearl City, Tuticorin, is Tamilnadu’s gateway to the sea. Also known as Thoothukudi, it has been an important port for centuries: once ruled by the Pandyan kingdom, it was taken over by the Portuguese, Dutch, and then British. Make sure you try the speciality of the city: the famous Macaroon!
 

Tirunelveli

 
Tirunelveli, variously known as Nellai or, historically, Tinnevelly, is located on the banks of the river Thamiraparani. Once the capital of the Pandya kingdom, there has been a settlement here for over two thousand years. The city’s most famous site is the impressive Nellaiappar Temple, dedicated to the god Shiva.
 

Kanyakumari

 
It’s easy to find Kanyakumari on a map: it’s located at India’s southern tip, and was known in Colonial times as Cape Common. Surrounded on by the Laccadive Sea on three sides, Kanyakumari offers fantastic views, particularly at sunset. It’s also home to many religious monuments, like the Vivekananda rock memorial (pictured above) and the Kumari Amman temple.
 

Trivandrum

 
The final stop on the Classic Run Rickshaw Challenge is Trivandrum, officially known as Thiruvananthapuram. This is the capital of glorious Kerala, known as “God’s own country”, the third state we will have visited. The city is blessed with a phenomenal location, between hills and ocean, and there are too many fantastic beaches to count. With its strategically useful position in the very south-west of the peninsula, Trivandrum has a long history and some great buildings to show for it: check out Kowdiar Palace (pictured above) and Padmanabhaswamy temple.
 
 

 

Tamil Nadu

 
The Classic Run kicks off on December 28th in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is India’s fifth biggest city and is packed with history, though the first stop for sightseeing will likely be Marina beach (pictured above), the longest urban natural beach in the country.
 

 
Once teams are trained in the art of handling a rickshaw, and prepared for Indian roads, it’ll be time to set out to explore Tamil Nadu. Participants will see incredible countryside, the glorious temples of Madurai, and fantastic ocean views from the southern tip of India at Kanyakumari.
 

Union Territory

 
The time in Tamil Nadu will be briefly paused when the Classic Run spends a night in the Union Territory of Puducherry, often better known as Pondicherry. This is one of five areas in India that are not technically states, but are in fact ruled directly by central government.
 

 
A former French colony, Pondicherry is rich with European influences: in architecture, cuisine, and the generally relaxed vibe of the place. Explore the various juxtapositions on offer: of Tamil and ‘Latin’ Quarters, of Temples and Churches, and of glorious beaches running alongside pristine ocean.
 

Kerala

 
The Classic Run only reaches Kerala on the final day of its journey, but all participants are encouraged to stay longer to soak in all this state has to offer. Eat the incredible food, enjoy the many beaches, and relax in what is likely India’s most tranquil state.
 

 
We stay in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala’s capital and largest city, but we also recommend heading north to the famous backwaters, the historic trading city of Cochin, and the sensational scenery of the Western Ghats.
 

 

Day 9: Monkey Business

 

 
Leaving Tirunelveli, the route quickly became quite a challenge, with the many hills to climb. There were plenty stunning views to admire, but participants had to concentrate on keeping their rickshaws (and their weak engines!). Narrow roads and tight turns tested the teams to the limit, and some of the vehicles couldn’t handle the pressure. However, the breakdowns were quickly fixed by the ever-reliable Chennai Garage boys.
The teams were heading to India’s Southern tip at Kanyakumari. On the way they stopped at Sorumutthu, where participants were instructed to take a photo; not the easiest task, when the place was filled with pilgrims. After this everyone headed to the Papanasam Dam and then on to Manumuthar Falls, a traditional spot where locals bathe. Teams had to be careful though; leaving their rickshaws unattended to even a brief moment meant risking the chance of hijack by monkey! These tricky characters seemed very keen on the team’s brightly coloured vehicles, searching for food and even trying to snatch a first aid kit!
And finally they reached Kanyakumari, famous for its “Sunset Point”, where it’s possible to watch the setting sun or rising moon behind three seas at once: the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. Reaching the tip of a continent is always a special moment, but the teams couldn’t relax yet: they still had one day left to go.
 

Day 10: Superman to the rescue

 

 
And so on Day 10 the Classic Run teams headed North-West towards Trivandrum (officially named Thiruvananthapuram) the capital of the beautiful state of Kerala. However, the state unfortunately has recently banned all alcohol, meaning no champagne at the finish line, and thorough checks at the border. The day’s journey, a rather short 90km, was mainly along stunning beach road. There were several breakdowns along the way, but all were swiftly dealt with, including the miraculous arrival (pictured above) of “Cooperman”, ready to save the day at the last moment! When teams arrived they were surprisingly confronted with a pack of journalists. However, the Classic Run wasn’t the reason for the media frenzy, it turned out Kerala’s Chief Minister was holding a meeting nearby.
 
And so the Classic Run was over: congratulations to all the teams! We hope you had an incredible time, and maybe we’ll see you on a Travel Scientists adventure some time in the future. But first, the results from the final award ceremony…
 
 

Classic Run Winners: Magic Bird

 

 
Throughout the Classic Run teams were set many tasks to earn points, as well as being rewarded for inventive and extravagant costumes. The winners of the overall prize where Team Magic Bird, a newly-wed couple from the United States, who continually impressed with their various outfits and commitment to the challenges! Their title of Rickshaw Challenge Classic Run 2017 champions was well deserved.
 

Bonkers Award Winners: Cock & Pullet

 

 
However, that wasn’t the only award given out. Equally cherished is the Bonkers Award, for the team who are just that little bit crazier than the rest. There was tough competition, but nobody can doubt that the Cock and Pullet team, from Australia, livened up each day with their very recognizable costumes! If travelling 1000 km in Southern India dressed as a cock isn’t bonkers… what is?!
 

Charity Winners: World Teacher Aid

 

 
The final prize of the Rickshaw Challenge Classic Run was the Charity Award which was deservedly run by Team World Teacher Aid. Amy, Carey, and Irene (from Canada, the US, and Kenya) raised an astonishing $12,0000 for charity. Amy is the founder of World Teacher Aid (a Canadian charity dedicated to improving education in the developing world), Carey is the charity’s Operations Manager, while Irene is the founder and director of World Teacher Aid’s Kenyan partner organisation VICDA. Many congratulations to their team, and everyone else on the challenge who raised money for charity. It’s great that the Rickshaw Challenge was not only a fun adventure, but will help the lives of children in India and elsewhere!