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The Times of India
August 9, 2012 Thursday
Fun autowallas race from Mumbai to Chennai
BANGALORE
BANGALORE: Through the monsoon-soaked terrain from Mumbai to
Bangalore, Little Miss Rickshaws comprising Pia Brasher, Alisha Hughes
and Ruth Brown are getting plenty attention. "We're elated to be part
of the 6th Annual Mumbai Xpress Autorickshaw Challenge from Mumbai to
Chennai with a stopover in Bangalore today. We're riding through
villages and towns and have been receiving a lot of attention because
people see three women driving a pink auto," says Pia, who teaches in
Dubai along with Alisha and Ruth.
Little Miss Rickshaws are rocking the challenge for another reason too
- they are in the lead with Team Shanti, Thermo's India Express, Valle
Kulla, Team Sunshine and Hit The Road India following suit.
"We're looking forward to our new challenge in Bangalore today - we've
got to give our rickshaw a makeover, Indian style," beams Pia.
Erik Jentges from Thermo's India Express team too, is elated about the
stopover in Bangalore. "One of the team members has a connection with
a club in Bangalore and we're all looking forward to some Bollywood
dancing there before we ride on to finish the race in Chennai. So far,
we've ridden through monsoon rain and had a great journey through the
Nilgiri mountains," says the university teacher from Switzerland.
While Erik and his teammate Thomas Kuhnelt from Germany have been last
once, first once and in the middle of this race a few times, their
main driving force is the opportunity to ride in India and visit
lesser-privileged people along the way. "We've ridden through
colourful towns and met diverse people, even some who don't have a lot
of things, but they've all been very friendly and helpful," he says.
Teams in city today
Keeping with the spirit of the race, all six teams are visiting The
Round Table School, Roopana Agrahara, off Hosur Road, in Bangalore
today. "We partner with the CMS group in Chennai every year to host
this challenge. Along their journey, participants who come from all
walks of life visit Round Table Schools to raise money for charity and
also contribute whatever they can," says Nikhil Bagri, fund-raising
convener, Bangalore Round Table 44.
As these gallant autorickshaw challengers ride on, Armenian filmmaker
Gor Baghdasaryan is travelling with team Hit The Road comprising
Richard Gazarian and Keith King from USA and Canada, making a film of
their journey. "It's turning out to be very exciting for nothing is
going as per their plan. Their auto has been breaking down, they've
been stuck on the road many times, their engine has been replaced once
and they've been last always, except once!" beams Gor.
Hit The Road promises to be a blockbuster with the colours of India,
spanning 1919 km of life and otherwise.
August 9, 2012 Thursday
Fun autowallas race from Mumbai to Chennai
BANGALORE
BANGALORE: Through the monsoon-soaked terrain from Mumbai to
Bangalore, Little Miss Rickshaws comprising Pia Brasher, Alisha Hughes
and Ruth Brown are getting plenty attention. "We're elated to be part
of the 6th Annual Mumbai Xpress Autorickshaw Challenge from Mumbai to
Chennai with a stopover in Bangalore today. We're riding through
villages and towns and have been receiving a lot of attention because
people see three women driving a pink auto," says Pia, who teaches in
Dubai along with Alisha and Ruth.
Little Miss Rickshaws are rocking the challenge for another reason too
- they are in the lead with Team Shanti, Thermo's India Express, Valle
Kulla, Team Sunshine and Hit The Road India following suit.
"We're looking forward to our new challenge in Bangalore today - we've
got to give our rickshaw a makeover, Indian style," beams Pia.
Erik Jentges from Thermo's India Express team too, is elated about the
stopover in Bangalore. "One of the team members has a connection with
a club in Bangalore and we're all looking forward to some Bollywood
dancing there before we ride on to finish the race in Chennai. So far,
we've ridden through monsoon rain and had a great journey through the
Nilgiri mountains," says the university teacher from Switzerland.
While Erik and his teammate Thomas Kuhnelt from Germany have been last
once, first once and in the middle of this race a few times, their
main driving force is the opportunity to ride in India and visit
lesser-privileged people along the way. "We've ridden through
colourful towns and met diverse people, even some who don't have a lot
of things, but they've all been very friendly and helpful," he says.
Teams in city today
Keeping with the spirit of the race, all six teams are visiting The
Round Table School, Roopana Agrahara, off Hosur Road, in Bangalore
today. "We partner with the CMS group in Chennai every year to host
this challenge. Along their journey, participants who come from all
walks of life visit Round Table Schools to raise money for charity and
also contribute whatever they can," says Nikhil Bagri, fund-raising
convener, Bangalore Round Table 44.
As these gallant autorickshaw challengers ride on, Armenian filmmaker
Gor Baghdasaryan is travelling with team Hit The Road comprising
Richard Gazarian and Keith King from USA and Canada, making a film of
their journey. "It's turning out to be very exciting for nothing is
going as per their plan. Their auto has been breaking down, they've
been stuck on the road many times, their engine has been replaced once
and they've been last always, except once!" beams Gor.
Hit The Road promises to be a blockbuster with the colours of India,
spanning 1919 km of life and otherwise.