Baby bomb- My humble M800

Went for a short drive last night just to remind my self what fun actually is in a diminutive, humble, turbocharged Maruti 800.
This is actually my very first car which trickled down from my father to me. After using it for over 18 years it lay parked up with infrequent use and when it was time to sell we got a measly offer and so I decided this is the car that I would race as I was planning a comeback anyway.

So we stripped away the old engine and gearbox and procured a MPFi 5 speed M800 engine and gearbox at an exchange value of Rs. 16,000 including the ecm & wiring and got to work. On its first outing a week after she was ready at the 2007 Speed Run at Mumbai she clocked 16.9 secs with me sleeping on the line for a second. At that time she was Nitrous powered and carrying her full weight with no lightened panels. She wowed everyone with her potential and there was no looking back thereafter.

She was then upgraded with a turbo charger, still runs stock lowered suspension, stock brakes and yet no lightened panels and clocked 1m25s at KMS in the 2007 season. Navaz Bathena in her J Anand Track prepared Baleno was clocking 1:20s at that time. Loads more potential was realized as we could add an inter cooler, uprated brakes and suspension and use lightened door, fender, hood and boot panels all round. Unfortunately this never happened as the 2008 season never took off due to various reasons.
This year she did a 1:41 at the Race to the Clouds Hillclimb at Nandi Hills but for a glitch in the timing equipment I'm sure it was closer to 1:36. this event was exactly 20 years since the last time I drove there clocking 1:57 in the very same car!
My quest for the fastest M800 may never end as today she gives the BIG guys in their esteems & Baleno's a run for their money with a 0-100 time of 9.0secs.
I will never stop pushing her to new limits and newer pastures and ultimately wish to turn her into the Concept you see below. Maybe a 1.1lt engine from the Wagon R. Maybe. Soon. My humble 800.

Day 20 - Blog, blog, blog

Blog, blog, blog is all I hear from my partner Pavithra instead of her usual hello!

Well to be honest I've been busy trying to tie up all the loose ends at work prior to our departure to Bombay.

It's the P mantra now - Planning, packing, posting, purchasing, plotting and last but not least producing. So now I only wish Blog was a Plog and it would have got done.

The one thing I try not to miss is my Sunday RC drive as its the next best to the real thing. That's Prabhakar in the pic topping up my Baja prior to its next run. Its a relaxing and action packed hobby and I'm addicted. Don't miss the tracks in the background where all the action takes place.

Back to business.
Planning- We now have 3 plans in place and have to keep in mind the current floods in Gujarat.
Packing - Don't know yet what the organizers will be providing, and so have kept everything on standby ready to go.
Posting- Is happening on Twitter, Facebook and Orkut and we're trying to drum up followers. It looks fair now as everyone is on equal footing and we're keeping tabs on the competition.
Purchasing - My faithful Nikon just went kaput after over 6 years of dedicated 24/7 service and i'm on the look out for a replacement. Just purchased a Fenix torchlight and its wow!
Plotting - No no its not the wicked kind, but, just maps.
And finally Producing- Our own video with loads of inputs from my inhouse actor, director, partner - Pavithra.

Its all happening and its action packed. Ole!

Day 13- Honeymoon then + 24yrs = TGDC now.

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Now playing: Mary Hopkins - Those Were The Days My Friend
via FoxyTunes

Social networking and especially TGDC has once again bought together long lost friends.
What started as a harmless conversation bought back a flood of memories. Here goes -

Bhavin Lakhani
July 21 at 7:20pm
hey harish by any chance u from banglore? Do u know / remember Jayesh Kotecha?
and congrats for being in top 100.
i couldnt make it though had everything (744 votes) but no blog.. cheers

Harish Kukreja

July 21 at 8:06pm

Hello Bhavin,
Yes I'm from Bangalore, yes i do remember Jayesh Kotecha but he disappeared about 15 or so years ago. Thanks. Its not just the blog. There are people in the Top 100 with 30 votes and no blog.
Bhavin, bhavin....I'm trying to get you. Were you studying here? Mahalaxmipuram...the name is very familiar.

Bhavin Lakhani

Today at 12:23pm

wow... Bingo.... so u the same Kukki as jayesh would call u. im sure u wl not remember me as we just met once and that also for a vvv short period but u left behind a terrific memory... I was on my honey moon with my wife roop. jayesh brought u to meet us in yr red maruti 800 red color n u took us for spin in that... going full blast in 1 way lane fr opp direction n than just before headon collision with coming bus u took spin turn n turned back.... lolz.... u were professional in doing that that time in 1986..... im not surprised.... whats yr contact nos? jayesh will love to get connected with u. he is in Porbander. settled grown more bigger in size n age and having fun... i'm in mumbai. so whats yr chances of top 10 in TGDC?

Harish Kukreja

Today at 12:57pm

Hello Bhavin,
You bring back a flood of memories. My driving hasn't changed much and is still wild. 1986 you say? I was 20 then and 43 now. Its been a long long time. Yup I have played that trick on several people and am still stuck with the name 'Handbrake Harry'.
I would love to get into the Top 3 and hope I have done a good enough job to get me there.
I'm aware that Jayesh had settled in Porbander but there was no contact. My numbers are 09886016031 and you could mail me on harishmkukreja@gmail.com.
Thanks for remembering.
Regards,
Harry

Bhavin Lakhani

Today at 1:33pm

Wow to get connected after almost 24 yrs.. wow... and just fr looking at yr pic on TGDC page... some flashback memory etched in mind.... wl call on u later in the day. How do i start marketing u for top 3 slot? ask me.. tell me../ take my help.. im resourceful.. how do i become in yr follower team>? u will be in mumbai soon. so make a sure point to call n meet..... we were on our honeymoon... u were young sure so were we... u came in late evening with jayesh wearing a cap n Tshirt n red car and jayesh knew my passion fro rash fast driving so he said we must take a spin with u......lolz... some incidents remains etched in memory... Jayesh wl love to talk to u (i guess) his no is 09327823678... call him n gv a surprise...lolz... cheers and i wl be looking fw to cu taking 1 million kitit... u married? guess surely.... ah lots to catching up to do... im on YM: advent62, gtalk: advent62, MSN: advent_62@hotamil, orkut: advent62
Thanks + Regards

Bhaven Lakhani

Thought it would be interesting to share. 20+ years is a long long time and Bhavin must have a fantastic memory to just recognize me from a photograph on TGDC. Good day.

Day 12- Tuesday

Good news.

All documents sent and verification OK received. I guess that takes us to the next slot.

Tiring day at work but the good thing is that the physical exercise is on.

Waiting expectantly for the Top 20 results now that our documents have been verified.

Pouring over maps double checking everything to ensure its all good. List of things needed on the trip. I'd like to share mine with everyone. You might call it eccentric but my motto is "Be prepared" for the worst. My list includes Rain-X and even a separate cloth just to clean the windscreen & headlights so that it does not leave any oil stains. Basic medication, lots of water, biscuits & emergency rations. Raincoat check, Umbrella - check, torch-check, cell, camera, laptop chargers, hmmm Pen, pencil, markers, maps, cello tape, WD-40, disposable bags so we don't leave a trail of garbage from Bombay to Bombay. Basic tools, alarm clock....its seems endless but very very essential stuff. Its easy with me as I have a separate Travel kit which is ready to go.

A good pair of soft comfortable driving shoes for those long hours in the drivers seat, loose comfortable clothing and if it was my own car a new set of wipers, spare bulbs, fuses, spare tyre-check, compressor-check, puncture kit-check, jack & tools check.

Take care everybody and all the best getting to the Top 20. Good night.

Day 11- Monday

Started day by catching up with all pending issues at work. must have checked into the TGDC web site a 100 times before results were announced on the dot little knowing that they would make it so complicated especially with a slow connection today. Took a good 15 minutes to confirm that we had indeed made it to the Top 100.
Dashed of an e-mail to all our family, friends and well wishers thanking them for their support with which we would not have made it in the short 7 days since we commenced on our profile.

Looking forward next to making it to the Top 3. The onus is on us the participants now.
We are positive. We've done a good job.
Thank you friends, family supporters and even fans. Thank you.

Day 9 - Relax

A more relaxed day with no TGDC errands and not much work too so I decided on a break and took off to a friends farm in the afternoon.

Pavithra was busy at an exhibition all day. Yet there's no time to relax as there's so much to do especially when plan B is not happening on Google map as its not accepting minor destinations. So its back to old style navigation skills with pencil and ruler to get the distances right.

looking forward to Sunday as its RC car day and I'm looking forward to driving my Baja in the morning. batteries are charged and she's ready to go.

Maybe I'll write something about safe driving and what precautions one must take in low visibility driving situations. More tomorrow. Good night.

Day 8- All done.

'Give us this day our daily blog' Ok. I'm trying to do this everyday even though its new to me. The final countdown for TGDC applicants and although it was a hectic day we managed to complete all the required formalities and post our map, Plan A & Plan B and our details for the Drive. Votes were at 265 plus prior to the closing hour with 25 testimonials. We basically have 2 plans for many reasons. 1 is if any other competitor has a similar plan. 2 is if need to change it due to several factors. 3 is to go into the beyond and off the beaten track as you would put it. Plan B will have to be executed the old fashioned way with maps and navigation skills as Google Maps does not accept minor destinations. By this we mean to achieve a lot more by proving the Cedia's capability on lesser roads. We propose to use State highways, backroads and no roads to circumnavigate thru 4 Game Reserves and National Forests through tranquil locales and dense forests. Plan A is mentioned in detail on our TGDC profile. Until tomorrow. Hakuna Matata.

Day-7

Work, work, work. So many things to do, and only one Harry to do them with. A hectic day with Bank work, urgent shipments, consignments to be despatched, e-mails to respond to, innumerable calls taken and made. If this is a description of 'Up to the neck' well then today was a perfect example. Its the first time I've ended the day with a dead cell phone battery. Got home only at 1am and was too drained to do much else and hence the late posting.

However, Plans for the BIG trip are now more concrete. We hope to (Fingers crossed) cover the Royal Palaces in the North and their immaculate collections of Vintage cars and Heritage heirlooms. Private haveli's in Bikaneer? We are going to make it a Connoisseurs delight.

We have 2 travel plans in place and will make it solid once more details are in place. Bombay - Pune - Indore - Rajasthan - Gujarat - Mumbai is one

The map's ready and should be in place this afternoon. the Votes are trickling in steadily....More later. Good day

Day -6

Windfall - an unexpected, unearned, or sudden gain or advantage.
A newspaper article today put me in touch with some of my long lost contacts in the Automobile world from the rest of India. Now what would you call that but a windfall.

We're all ready to put up our tentative plans and map tomorrow morning. Tiring and busy day today with a desperate need to catch up with some sleep. Caught up with some other competitors profiles to check what we would be up against and think we are in a good situation to get Top slot. Knowing so many people has not helped us gather tons of votes but what we have is worth its weight in Gold. Managed to touch 212 Votes & 21 testimonials. Guess in today's world people are too busy to look into such things except for very close friends and family who know what we are up to.
That reminds me - Recycle. There was a time when we used to fix things but unfortunately even in India there is a change where in we are replacing things instead of fixing them. There were times when rusted Fiat car doors were patched and fixed and today a dented door gets replaced. Have we stopped to think why and what the repercussions could be? The simplest thing that comes to mind is that the skilled Tinker just lost an opportunity. More scrap was generated. More raw material got used. Why? Can we put a stop on wasteful excess?
Think! 'Waste not, Want not'
Good night.

Day 5

Work kept me busy although I think Pavithra did a good job of garnering us some votes and testimonials which currently stand at 176 votes and 18 testimonies.

As there's not much to write about I'd like to say something about myself -
My association with cars & motorsport started very early. Since childhood actually and I think my first drive was when I was 11. Thereafter I used to regularly sneak out the car by myself for a drive around the block and have it parked outside ready for my dad to take it to office. Although I have dabbled in other businesses the Automobile has never really left me and sort of runs in my blood and I have always done something concerning cars and motor sport.
The Lancer prior to the Cedia was one of my favorite cars and I had recommended it to several friends and family probably because of its WRC heritage. personally I felt it was a good looker and very solidly built especially the suspension mounts and the under chassis. Although under powered compared to the the other cars available here during that time she held her own by handling like a dream. I have worked extensively on both Lancers and Cedias as they are my personal favorites.
Personally, I prefer the 2008 Cedia Sport to the present one as the new grille does not do it justice and makes it look older and more Baleno-ish when viewed head on. The Sport by itself with its longer bumpers, tinted headlights and carbon textured dash is an awesome car even today. The blue Lancer adorns a kit designed and built by me and the White Cedia is fitted with a full compliment of under chassis braces which give it brilliant handling. I presently own a 1989 Mitsubishi Pajero which is in immaculate condition for its age and race a Turbocharged Maruti M800 called 'Baby Bomb'.
Currently, I work with exotic cars sourcing and supplying Tuning kits and Power upgrades and import certain very niche automotive products.

Day 4

India. Royal, heritage, culture, distance, travel, road, car. can all this be put into one sentence? Yes, its possible and that's what we aim to do.

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Now playing: Andy Williams - Love Story
via FoxyTunes

A more complete day now but commitments are not yet forthcoming as we still are not confirmed to travel. We have a name to our theme now - "TGDC Royal Heritage Destinations". The Heritage is going to be there for us to visit and write about but, We need the people who preserved them too to make it a worthwhile trip.

The map is almost ready but i guess I'll wait a while to disclose it officially.

As presumed Pavithra had a busy day with friends and family and did her religious visits for blessings on her birthday.

Work was hectic but I did manage to squeeze off a few more mails and calls to make our Challenge possible.

On the Voting front, it presently stands at 146 votes and 14 testimonials. Slow & steady....Wins the race. But we need some more Pace and thats going to be our job tomorrow. Hope to cross 225 atleast.

Some more pictures to give you a hint of our challenge

Signing off for now. Over & out

Day 3- SUNday

What can you expect on a Sunday? Working people don't check mail today. Maybe we would get a few lucky votes from the people who only checked in on weekends. Its a steady trickle of votes and we've hit 127 till now with 12 Testimonials. All of which are not actually testimonials and some might have to be deleted.

Have been making my calls and shooting of mails to ensure that everything ticks like clock work have realized how important 'Connections' are. As we mentioned yesterday our 'theme' for the Challenge is "Heritage & Royalty" as both seem to be fast disappearing from this country.

Plans on the route are underway and we should be able to put our map up prior to the deadline on 15th July 2009.

Sundays are Fundays and that's just what I did. Headed out with my RC car to meet the rest of the Boys with their toys for 2 hours of dirt n' fun.

I'm not overly worried about the Votes & testimonials as Pavithra seems to be doing a good job about reminding everyone to Vote. I just hope to have all my 'Tentative' permissions in on time as the actual trip and the dates are not final.

Day 2

12 July 2009
Day 2 was dull, lifeless and boring with votes just trickling in at turtle pace. Was it because it was a weekend? We think so.
Anyway, our plans our underway and we shall be putting up our map and plans late Sunday night.
Pavithra's will be bringing in her birthday tonight and I don't expect her back on the desk early tomorrow.

Although we had 3 theme trips on the anvil we are going ahead with what we think is the best and call it Royal Heritage Collections. You could take a hint and guess what we are getting at.

More tomorrow as there's lots to do.
Good day

Day 1. What a day

10 July 2009
Day 1

And what a day it turned out to be. Got 79 votes and 5 sorry make that 6 testimonials. Thankyou Mazda. Loaded our travelogue pictures, Blogged for the very first time today and got this in the mail -

Hi Harish Kukreja,
We are happy to inform you that your application has been featured on our website. You are now amongst the few great applicants who have got a big chance of being in the Top 100 to Top 9 to Top 3 to the winner of the contest.
We suggest now you rally for votes and testimonials. And also keep on improving your application to impress the jury.
Wish you trunk loads of luck !
Cheers,
Support Team
Mitsubishi Cedia Sports The Great Driving Challenge

What more can 1 ask for? Thank you all.

Looking forward to your Votes & testimonials to make us stronger contenders. Yahooooooo! Click on the link below folks. Don't be shy now.

http://www.greatdrivingchallenge.com/application/1246723028577376/

TGD-Choice of Partner

At first it was understood that all one needed for The Great Driving challenge was a partner. Those are easier to come by than what was actually required. (From the opposite sex) So I set off on my quest by letting it be known on Facebook.
A day went by and then 2. Nobody wanted to go! Then eventually i got a late night call from a common friend.
Pavithra, he said a RJ and actress was looking for someone to partner on this expedition. We met the next day, introductions done, we realized that we had lots in common and loads of common friends! Its a sMall world they say and it was proven. So here we are putting our plans in place, gettin fit and scheming things. Being late comers we are probably the Unofficial Tortoises of the event and have just 7 days to put everything into place. Hectic calls are being made. Official appoinments regarding our 'theme' being put in place. So far so good. Alls well that ends well they say. Got our fingers crossed.