Gearing up for the Indian Auto Rickshaw Challenge

In two days I am going to do the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life. Sure there was the time I accidentally drank a bumblebee when I was 9, and all of those dismally planned business ventures importing saffron and Royal Enfields from India to the USA, but those are going to pall in comparison to my most recent endeavor to race against 20 teams of rickshaw drivers down the coast of Tamil Nadu in order to claim the coveted title of "Rickshaw Challenge Grand Champion".

Starting on Monday teams from all over the world will kick off the Indian Autorickshaw Challenge and begin a slow march across desert plains, remote tiger sanctuaries, former French colonies and ultimately to the point where the Indian ocean meets the Arabian Sea. It is there that my team, Curry in a Hurry, will claim the title.

That is the idea anyway.

The reality is that making it even as far as our first stop in Mahabalipuram will take a miracle. As anyone who has spent more than a day in India will tell you, a trip like this in what amounts to a motorized tricycle could be a suicide mission. Dodging lorries, cows, and MTC bus drivers is only half the challenge. The other half is making sure that when we break down, that we do so within spitting distance of a mechanic.

In the last week our assembled team of rickshaw engineers and aerodynamic experts have been able to test-drive our shaw to scientifically evaluate our chances. We haven't been too happy with the results. Last night in a trip out to Pallavarum, about 17 KM outside the city, and the engine seized on us despite an hour pulling on the starter lever, we couldn't put humpty-dumpty back together again. We hired another rickshaw to push us home. That may not be our last ride of shame.

Nevertheless, with a little grit and determination I think that we still have a shot at the gold. I'm consoled by the fact that even though we may break down every few feet, our opponents will as well. In the end this race may be more about rickshaw maintenance than endurance.

So if you wonder why I'm not updating this website between August 21st through the 30th, it's because I am fighting for my life on an empty roadside. But don't worry, I'll send you some pictures when I return.

(Photo: My wife, Padma, is gonna smoke the competition.)