| Rally Roundup | Classic India Rally 2013
over 400km; quite a distance on European
roads in modern cars; quite an adventure in
this corner of the world in something like
a 1955 DeSoto FireFlite. The route takes in
Pokran and Jodphur before returning to the
luxury of the Imperial Hotel. This is a notfor-profit event and any surplus funds get
donated to local charities. OK, so it’s probably
not cheap, but the joy of exploring the Jewel of
the Empire in your own classic – and without
having to suffer Belgium – makes it more than
worthwhile. Sign us up!
Conrad from ROARR explains Indian beaurocracy;
Officials in India are one big soap opera. Our cars were held up because we had not arranged for
the AA India to sign our permits. Another day another signature. So on the day the cars were due
out of containers our agent and I sat in the AA office and waited and waited. Then when the time
was right we were called into a very big and important looking office to meet the head man. To
chit and chat with him and drink a lot of chai. Talk revolves around how great India is; discuss the
booming economy; our cars; our family; what we love about India. Eventually, after a good hour or
so, it was time for business.
We had by then become the best of friends and the permit signed in about one minute. With
the AA on our side the shipper and I then proceeded to repeat this chatty and amusing charade
with the Customs Officers, the Car Inspection Officer, the Head of Operations and the dock's Police
Officer. So 8 hours of chat and chai for five signatures. It does not stop there. Once the cars were
out of the containers, each and every officer, including many off their officer’s wives who came to
the docks especially, all wanted a drive. They didn’t get one.
24 | MotorPunk July 2013