ProSports JK Tyre King of the Hills – Chamundi Hills
Today while one talks of R15’s and Ninja250’s, where the lap timings are getting shorter and when reliability is an assumed must - of all the Indian made machines Royal Enfield ceases to be a choice for high speed sport.
In spite of outstanding achievements by a few stalwarts like Sachin, Prashi, Nitin and the likes, on RE machines and all the “electrical gadgetry” that the new RE’s sport, the average RE enthusiast is still weary of competing at professional events other than an occasional track day. After all, at the core, the RE is still a machine from the 50’s which is as unpredictable as a bull on steroids.
In continuation to the effort to revive the Royal Enfield motorcycles in the Indian motor sports, a few of us, especially Rohan convinced the authorities and succeeded in participating in what could be a foray for RE in the modern day motorcycle racing.
PROSPORTS JK TYRE – KING OF THE HILLS
The organizers ProSports were kind enough to entertain our request and include RE as a separate class for this hill climb event. The event was later accredited with a sponsorship by JK tyre - a much needed publicity. The event though was faced with challenges was only delayed by a couple of weeks and finally took off on the 16th Feb 2008.
Not all who registered were able to take part, but 6 Bullets headed to Chamundi Hills that morning – some to win, some just happy to take part.
Kalkat and I were the first to reach the venue to find the arrangements well in progress. A trial run down the track confirmed my fears – debris strewn across the path at every corner. Those monster four-wheelers were let loose the day before for practice runs and the boys did their best to unearth every rock and stone on the way.
We were soon joined by Sachin, Rohan, Mamada, Dipesh, Monica and Snigda. Dipesh’s Endeavor was soon converted into a make shift paddock and the first to go were the Royal Enfield’s.
The sprint is an uphill climb of 2.8Km with jagged rock hill on the left and the concrete rampart on the right. The crowd had gathered all along the course on either side as they would in a rally.
Though we were given a practice run, all of us queued at the start line with the thought of having to go at our flat out best on a relatively unfamiliar turf.
Sachin was the first to go followed by Rohan. The wait had my pulse going but as I lined up all the noise and scuffling around muffled itself into silence. As they say - when the clutch drops, the bullshit stops! Had a good start and rode to the best of my abilities only to have my chain guard snap at one of the sweeping lefthanders. The unsettling experience had me straighten and slow down to cross the finish line rattling like a string of tin cans on a Bellandur tractor.
I was soon joined at the finish line by Muthu, Anand and finally by Kalkat.
pic by Dipesh
The timings are as follows
Sachin --- LB 500 --- 2.08
Rohan --- LB 500 --- 2.11
Kalkat --- LB 500 --- 2.19.85
Aditya --- CI 500 --- 2.27
Anand --- LB 500 --- 2.29.22
Muthu --- LB 500 --- 2.29.85
The winners were presented with ice hockey style towering trophies by the much respected rally guru Mr. C K Chinnappa
(The trophies are worth the win if not for any thing else :-) as Ukridge would say “by Scott they are huge!! a sure thing to impress them ladies”)
It was unanimously decided to celebrate the victory in Gudalore near Ooty. What followed was a beautiful ride through the Bandipur/Mudumalai forest range and a happy banter with friends on top of a hill among tea plantations.
More pictures - courtsey Dipesh
YOU CAN FORGET WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING WHEN YOUR KNEES ARE IN THE BREEZE – a wise guy
Labels: aditya, bulladi, chamundi hill, hill climb, king of the hill, motorcycle, PROSPORTS, race, rally, Royal Enfield
posted by Addy @ 1:55 AM
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