Advent of Himalayan Rally

Advent of Himalayan Rally

Nagpur, August 28: There was a new entrant in Indian motor sport arena in 1980. The Himalayan Rally Association, under the chairmanship of Nazir Hoosein, brought to India its first international event -- The Himalayan Rally.

Eight years after the Himalayan Rally was held, a man made his way into the Guinness Book of World Records by traversing the Himalayas from Myanmar (Burma) to Pakistan.

The record-holder, Mehernosh Mavalwala's trekking activities in and around Manali, Leh and Ladakh put in his mind the idea of a motor sport event to the highest motorable point in the world at 18,380 ft above the sea level -- the Khardung-la pass.

It took 10 years for Mavalwala, president of the Vidarbha Automotive Racing Association, to gather around him like-minded people and the first attempt, albeit not as a competitive motor sport event, was held in 1998. The role of former organising secretary of the Great Himalayan Rally, Anil Pandit and vice-president Nazir Chagla has been a great help for the organisers.

Last year, the Great Himalayan Motor Race was conducted as a part of Ladakh Festival. The event was given a recognition by the Guinness Book of World Records as the race conducted on the highest motorable road in the world, surpassing the Pike's Peak Hill Climb in the US.

It has been a great achievement for VARA, an infant club located in a small metro, bang at the centre of the north-south and east-west access of India.