Engines roared on day one of the SJOBA rallyWarning:Motorsport is dangerous. Almost everyone at the SJOBA rally had it swinging around their neck like a dogtag. Okay,so it's an occupational hazzard,we agree rallies are a risky fare,but "no other sport has that mad adrenalin rush and over the edge vantage point," rallyst from Delhi,Shuchi Thakur gears up for some extreme action. Desert Storm winner,Shuchi makes for the handful of women rallyst. Here for the SJOBA rally,she drives on with passion,and "at no time is it boring. There's a different high every time we hit the track," says Shuchi who is also a designer at an advertising agency. Meanwhile,assistant producer and anchor with all-women channel Focus,Sharmistha Singh takes a quick look at her log sheet and calculations. "This is my second rally," says the petite girl who,despite the usual family resistance,joined rallyst and businesswoman Vibha Mehrotra and jammed the accelerator. "We are part of the all women's team," Vibha joins in,excited with this new adventure. "It's a crazy extreme sport,there are physical and social speed breakers,you are after all stepping into a male-dominated arena,but when you've survived the mad traffic of Delhi,you can rally anywhere," they laugh,taking on the thrill and challenge. It's a huge learning ground,for the sport not only tests skill,but your patience level too. "You've got to be calm and have a strong presence of mind else you'll lose out," says Vibha while Sharmistha gets comfortable with an equally tough job of navigation. "Maps,numbers,calculations,log sheet,track record..navigator's job is demanding," she says. Agrees one of South India's best navigators from Mangalore and businessman Ashwin Naik. After 'showing the way' to about 17-18 rallysts,he's buckled up with five-time winner Suresh Rana for SJOBA. "A rally track is unlike a Formula One track. While Formula tracks are five to six km and count the laps,rally track change every kilometer. You've got to know the degree of every corner,every turn,every bend,speed bump,check post and overall terrain. As a navigator,taking notes is the most important aspect 'cause no rally is complete without taking a round of the track,familiarising with it and jotting down points. Then come in calculations,maps,especially in TSD events (time,speed,distance) where there are hidden check posts," Ashwin's on the alert. A biker before he became a navigator in 2000,Ashwin plans to stick to the passenger seat. The engine roars,the rubber burns and the tracks blazes with fire as rallysts take their wheels and navigators buckle up. Marshalls from the Army zip up in red suits and walk past,young first timers check their vehicles while families take the best seat in the house - the bonnet,and cheer on. "Concentration. Control. Cool. This sport requires one to stay calm for every turn counts and that's how make your time too," says star rallyst Suresh Rana. What started as a test drive has turned into a passionate profession for Rana who now wants to try winning the rally with a normal car and not a Gypsy. Also,he has his eyes on the Malaysian round. "Darr ke aage jeet hai," he smiles. Finally,we meet up with the veteren,Sunny Sidhu who has been rallying since '93. "My advise would be safety first,and don't for over or beyond the limit," says Sidhu who suffered setbacks in recent rallies when his car gave up. "You can't expect to perform all the time.it's frustrating and you do get angry,but that's rallying," Sidhu feels it's time that government and sponsors back the sport. "Everything is centered on cricket. Rallying has come of age and it's a serious sport which requires skills and guts. It should have a solid backing." Anyone listining?
