When the faithful descended on Parel last Sunday, there was a prayer on their lips.
Instead of the Yamahas and BMWs, the Vespas and the Kinetics were doing the running at The Gulf Monsoon Rally
When the faithful descended on Parel last Sunday, there was a prayer on their lips. They had come from Nashik and Pune and even from Jammu and Kashmir and they wanted no rain on this parade. It was the 19th edition of the annual Gulf Monsoon Rally, where 32 passionate rallyists were fighting for more than a podium finish.
The race had every ingredient to make it a thriller, except for the speed demons. For, instead of the Yamahas and BMWs, the Vespas and the Kinetics were doing the running.
But, it wasn’t about speed, or winning, or about reliving the romanticism of scooter rides. The rally was about grit, partnerships and about remaining committed to the scooter
Kersi Patel, 64, was the eldest competitor. “When I was younger, I used to take part to win, but now I just do it for fun,” says Patel. His greatest satisfaction now is not about being on the podium, but about completing the race. “I get this huge adrenaline rush whenever I ride and that’s what brings me here year after year.” Having organised a football match on a kinetic, the Patels set great store by their sporting credentials. Kersi’s son Rustom, the second runner-up this year, does not think racing is a part of his life. It is life.
“Racing is my hobby, it is my career and it brings in the dough.” Rustom had made his intentions clear at a pretty tender biking age, winning a national championship in the demonstration category when he was six.
Among all the men, Vinod Rawat strived, and succeeded, in not looking the odd one out. Rawat, who had lost both his legs at six years of age, fought, and surmounted, every obstacle to enter the rally. In these circumstances, he considers finishing the course an achievement. “I faced many a rejection. They made me unhappy and disillusioned, but this race has put me on a par with everybody. It’s the beginning of my journey from being ‘handicapped to handsome’.”
For Sailesh Gala , 46, who’s participated in all 19 editions, the rally is now a family ritual. Though son Nikunj, who has been here the past two years. finished a creditable seventh this time, Gala Sr had to retire in the final stage. Time to pass on the baton, it seems.
Manjeet Singh Bassan and his Vespa, who have won the race for the past four years, did the honours again, zipping through the 74-kilometre course with a minimum penalty of 31 minutes and 49 seconds. Shamim Khan on a Kinetic Flyte, finished third.
Manjeet, who also does rock climbing, said of the win: “I believe practice makes a man perfect, so I practice hard and try and remain as fit as possible.” Planning and winning is his mantra for success, which is possibly why he was able to negotiate the muck and wily bends and scoot to victory.
The Gulf Monsoon Rally is the brainchild of motor sport enthusiast Shrikant Karani, who is founder member of Sportscraft. The organisation has made it to the Limca Book of Records for successfully organising hundreds of motor sports events across the country, “Many people come up and ask me to organise bike races. There are plenty of bike races but a dearth of scooter races. This competition is novel in its own way and I would like it to remain that way.”
h_ansari@dnaindia.com
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