Road Rash Eh? – Rickshaw Run

Road rallies thrill us, and bike rallies take us to a newer high. But an autorickshaw run? Well, this humble three-wheeler is totally out to change the way you think about rallies and races. Adventure is the key word. Barring age, sex and any other characteristics, this ‘race’ is out for the young – the young at heart, that is!

If you thought ricks are meant only for the roads, think again. This half-a-horsepower machine is for the off-roads. From deserts and barren land to the lagoons and the hills, it’s all-terrain all the way.

Started in 2006, the Run has three, two-week sessions annually. People fly in to drive this mad machine all over the Indian subcontinent. The best part is the ‘un-route’. It is like this: the organisers give you a 5,000km route with a beginning and an end. What you o in the middle of the route is entirely up to you! The adventure is yours to decide. It gives you the freedom to do what you want, as well as enjoy the ride. For example, this year’s Spring Rickshaw Run is from Cochin to Gangtok. Between the two destinations what you do is your concern. The team that first makes it to Gangtok wins.

Each Rickshaw Run is kicked off and closed off with a massive party and ceremony followed by a game of cricket against the locals. In order to be a part of the Run, you need to raise £1000 for the official charity. It is distributed among various charities in India.

The rules of the Run are simple: You’re on your own. If you’re stuck somewhere, the ‘unstucking’ part is done by you yourself. No support trucks there! And, you need to return the ricks after the Run; that means if you damage them, you gotta pay for that, too. The Don’t-Come-if-You’re-a-Wimp rule is a good enough one. It might not exactly be the perfect, oh-so-sweet holiday you and your spouse have been looking forward to. So this run is outta bounds for the lil wimps. Make sure you’re ready to be stinky and sticky, and can be on the road for two weeks. Need to get your nails dirty and your palms muddy!

The organisers, The Adventurists is run by the League of Adventurists International Ltd, an award winning company based in the UK with branches around the world. A force for global mischief and global good one might say. They’ve won the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2007 for being a sustainable organisation with a clear social purpose.

The Adventurists are also crazy about rallies in other parts of the world, too. So if you think you’ve explored India, grab one of their other offers.

Also read www.rickshawrun.com