Desert Storm - 2013

I sit here in the lobby of Fort Rajwada Jaisalmer overhearing chirping birds and chatter of checking out goras; probably off to another picturesque location of Rajasthan. It is silence after the mayhem. We had to bow out of DS 2013 rally yesterday due to reasons you'll be made aware of shortly. WE over here refers to me (driving first time in Desert Storm) and my navigator Sarbat Singh Dhillon (navigating first time in a rally) with competition number as 39. 

It has been a rally filled with variety of experiences, majority of them being first time. Each SS (Special Stage) had its own share of adventure and story. I try to pen-type it herein.

SS1 - The first stage started in the middle of the night. At the flag off, my navigator was too busy waving and gesturing to the clicking cameras then setting up his navigation devices - as a result no soon did we start, my navigator was lost. I was driving blind on the tracks whilst yelling at my navigator, who after a while got his bearings straight. The stage saw us pass through stuck cars, failed cars, lost cars and what not. For that matter we too were lost for a bit, but managed to recover. We completed the stage in good time.

SS2 - The second stage started around 0330 hours in morning. 2 kms or so into the stage we were negotiating a hump, the call from my navigator comes late and we land into one crazy heap of soft sand. Stuck badly, we tried to extract by hand, by shovel - but no good. Perspiring badly, we waved a couple of cars to help extract us but none obliged. One good soul who did, had his car's starter burn out in the process. Eventually, a nice hearted couple from Delhi doing Enduro pulled us out with their Toyota Fortuner. We lost more than an hour in the stage.

Stage completed, transport section saw us having two flats and we reached check point with hanging sword  of no spare wheels.

SS3 - This 4 km stage was designed to get you sand stuck and the verdict was to save the clutch and take it easy. Our start being late (no. 39) by the time we reached, the sand tracks were finely honed (by previous cars) as stuck pits. We had trouble climbing the first dune, but finally made it through on our 5th try. There was no stopping us then and we finished the stage well. Over here, I would like to compliment the organizers of DS 2013 for designing a stage that would put any decent off-roading event to shame. The experience was immensely rich and exhilerating.

SS4 - The 91 km stage was combined track of the night stages and man it is so easy (comparatively) to drive during the day. It was long and we completed it, lost and found many times - but completed it. By the end of it, we had broken right rear leaf spring and so replaced.

SS5 - The early morning 65 km stage was good as we were rested the previous night after continuous onslaught of ceremonial start and 4 stages over 36 hours. On completion the front left leaf spring was broken and so replaced.

SS6 - Mid day 91 km stage and a mix of everything - sand, gravel, rutty, dips, dunes and what not. It was getting hot, so was the engine and so was the driver. 1.5 kms to the end, straight stretch (WRC style) and I was going flat out. One mistake, and next I knew our legs were in the air as were all the 4 tyres. Came out, and straightened with help of another car in no time. But engine woud'nt start, as oil came out through filter. Took an hour's time to figure out the issue, cleaned spark plugs which now had engine oil in them and started again. Lost more than an hour there.

SS7 - Day 4 of the rally and all we wanted now was to complete the rally. The stage passed through National Park and what beauty....outstanding would be a modest word. Flat out stretches and man were we having fun. My frist time navigator by now had honed his role and was giving excellent calls. 50 kms into the stage and we had sudden loud noise coming from the front. Opened up to see if there's anything stuck underneath - nothing - the noise was coming from the engine. BAD NEWS man. Clearly something wrong had happened in the power house and all we could do was to slowly drive to the flying finish. Opening the lid, service crew had similar grim expressions and I knew the game was up. Never went into SS8 and returned back to Jaisalmer.

Today we plan how to get both car and us back.

DS 2013 - has added to me and I am happy and thank blue skies for overlooking us.

Next time.

Damaged Goods awaiting extraction