My Tiago car Ghat Road Driving First time experience on Kolli Hills

Kolli 70 hair pin bend Hill Road driving thrill

I am a first timer for car driving and having bought my Tiago car in Jan 2018, I was getting used to this steed.

The big challenge was driving it on our public roads. Little by little I was getting used to it. All these were done with a safety precaution of sticking a L sticker on the vehicle, so that others know the real driver in me on the public roads. It helped me in getting used to the public traffic. After clocking 6000 kms it's time to GROW UP.

After checking with multiple ghat options from experienced motorists I zeroed in on the 70 hair pin bend road up the Kolli Hills.

We started the Tiago trip with my family at 5.30 a.m. from my home (Cuddalore) on 30 Sept'18 and reached the foot hill of Kolli at 10.00 a.m.

Now it's a butterfly in stomach moment. Stopped for a few minutes and started the hill drive.

With the confidence of the Guardian Angel all along being with me in all my past road trips on bikes, I punched my Tiago's throttle and it was a thrill and also a challenge to complete it safely that too with family.

First few hair pin bends were boggling me. Few minutes into the ghat roads up the hill, the fear on the steep road got snuffed down. The helpful things were; traffic is very miniscule and the hill road is butter smooth.

Then it seemed to be another milestone crossed past. We reach the top in 50 minutes.

The next one and half days were spent on sight seeing many of the places in this hills.

Kolli hill is a not so prominent place on tourist destinations, but the less crowd, humbleness of the polite local people is a good experience not to missed of having a trip up this ghat. We bought pristine honey (₹350/Ltr), fruits and spices and drove down the hill the next day afternoon.

One more bucket list of driving the car on ghat section has been ticked off.

The car performed well and I could well feel it only when it was driven on such a steep uphill road. So far in the past nine months, as I was driving on plains, engine has been breathing below 2000 RPM, wherein it seems to be a normal experience. But on the ghats, I needed to maintain the engine RPM at 2500 or 3000 on lower gear to maintain the climb without knocking the engine. That's where I felt the technology that had gone in the engine inside the car. The engine is so smooth and I felt like it to be a usual drive.

Some captivating moments of the nature as I clicked on my mobile phone camera.....

Having gained confidence of driving my Tiago on such challenging ghat, now it's time to remove the L stickers off my car.

Thanks a TON to all my well wishers for all necessary guidance to push my confidence to do my first ever ghat drive on my car.

Ofcourse one of #TheBlindList has got ticked in my life time itinerary and this is a moment to #SayYesToTheWorld

Jaguar Land Rover Offroad Experience

Thursday 18 Sep 2014
It was evening. I was back to home from my office. As usual it was time to beat the tiredness. What I usually do? After a refresh, turn on the Music on the home PC, hear some melodies. This usually goes for half an hour after which I move on to other routine.

But on Thursday evening, as I was switching on my home PC, my phone ringed. The person on the other end was Shrinidhi, my long time blogger friend. "Hey, are you free this Sunday, 21 Sep? Jaguar Land Rover is sprucing out an Offroading Experience." And, this was a music, more interesting, than what I was going to hear in my home PC!!

"Yeah!! " said me. Offroading that too on a luxury SUV!! I replied him that I would be there for sure. Then the process started with couple of calls and emails from Blogadda who are coordinating the bloggers coming for this event.

The event happened on Sunday afternoon. We needed to be there by 12.00 noon, start with the lunch and go on with the off roading event.

Shrinidhi, Ashwini and myself were to go in a cab for the event venue. We fixed 11.30 a.m. as the the ample time to catch up together at Shollinganallur junction on the ECR and continue the journey in a cab and reach "The Farm" a specialty restaurant at Semmancherry Village on the OMR in Chennai.

Sunday 21 Sep 2014
Yours truly started off from Cuddalore by 7.30 a.m. While I crossed past Pondicherry, I confirmed my coordinates to Shrinidhi.

As planned, I joined Shrinidhi and Ashwini awaiting with the Innova cab exactly at 11.30 a.m. at Shollinganallur ECR junction and we all started off to "The Farm" the venue for the Jaguar Land Rover Experience.

As we already planned, we were on time. We arrived at 12.00 noon.

As we entered into the precincts of the restaurant there was a big change in the scenario. The environment did not seem to be a "buzzing Chennai" but an ever green atmosphere prevailed around. After a photograph, we went in, to join the folks of the JLR India as well as Blogadda.

After a few minutes of getting introduced with the people, I was in for a surprise to meet Tinu Cherian. I have felt his online presence, more than once, be it twitter or facebook through retweets made by others. Met him for the first time. Happenings like this do get me joy which are hard to forget in life. Its a first meeting him.

We all then had some fruit juice. The previous session of off roading was going on. We were told that The Land Rovers have gone into the off roading terrain, which is nearby and should be in the middle of the session. We understood that, it would take more than half hour for the session to end. It was felt that we all can go and have a look.

So, we all went in to the big private farm land by walk...

The big farm land spruced up on more than 60 acres.

There was a big water pool and we got to see a Land Rover entering into it.

It was interesting to see the big SUVs in action at such challenging conditions. The vehicles then went into a bit far place. So we came back to our restaurant area.

An ambulance along with a doctor was available throughout the event. The JLR folks need to be saluted for taking so much of care for their creed.

Pizzas were served hot, we finished our lunch and were ready for our driving session.

The experience was facilitated by Cougar Motorsports, specialists in OffRoad events in India, from "Tata Motors Full Throttle" to "The Himalayan Dash".  After lunch, briefing session by experts from Cougar  as well as JLR started off.

We were explained of the advanced features of the Rovers. We were in for a surprise to know that the vehicle has features such as Hill Descent Control - prevents the machine from slipping / skidding due to hard braking while going downhill. Another control - Terrain Response - can change throttle response and a million other parameters based on the terrain such as sand, rock etc..,

Clear instruction were given to us. As each car was driven by us, there would be an expert driver sitting on the left seat. We should follow our instructor’s command to the letter, if we don’t, the drive experience was bound to be taken over by the expert. Ofcourse, all of us enjoyed the drive, no one was taken off.

 

We were in for a surprise to have Mr.Vicky Chandok, the scion in the Indian Motor Sports scenario. He too explored the off road terrain during the event along with his son Suhail Chandok. It was great time to bump with him here through the LandRoverExperience.

There were 7 SUVs ranging from Land Rover, Land Rover 2, to Range Rover. There were 7 explorers. Each of us were assigned a vehicle along with an expert driver. The people were assigned sequentially from car number 1. But as all the people got off their chairs and went off, I was the only one to be seated and waiting to be called out.

 Ofcourse, I was the last one to be assigned. 

I was the last driver in the convoy. It was a surprise that a top of the class Range Rover Evoque came in for me. 

Sitting inside the cabin, a surprise was that, there was no key below the steering wheel. There was no gear Lever. There was no Clutch. Only two pedals were there - Brake and Accelerator. A rotatory knob on the panel in the left, sufficed a gear lever. A small switch near the knob sufficed the hand brake lever. I was then given instruction to press the left pedal "Brake" with my foot, then press "Start" with my hand. The Rover roared in some sweet music. 

The convoy started off. After driving the RangeRover on the pits and small mounds, the big water pool came in. There were clear instruction on how to take this nearly 5 foot deep water pool. As we needed to drive on a nearly 200 feet long periphery of the pool, it was a quite challenge. As I was guided to turn accordingly along the periphery of the pool, I drove it without any hiccups. 

So far I have been in some car or even bus, plying above stagnant water pools,  I would be sitting inside it though. Water would be splashing off to heights in some rare cases. That looked cool. All those experience was just for a short length of 10 or 15 feet. But not this long.

But, now, I am driving the vehicle and the water is nearer to my hip level on the outside, as I was inside of this RangeRover. 

As my vehicle was into the pool, till the water is 2 feet deep, I was in as usual. But, as the depth increased, the SUV seemed not to be driven but seemed to be sailing. 

I was awestruck a bit on what will happen if water entered to the insides of the cabin. I had brought a spare set of clothes though, my usual practice, whenever I go in for any off roading. But, nothing bad happened. Not a drop of water creeped insides the cabin. ENGINEERING MARVEL!!

After the car was driven to the plains, I was instructed to open the doors, to feel the amount of water that have come in. Some 2 litres of water came out from the insides of each of the doors on the right side. After all the water seeped out, I was instructed to start the journey further.

The next trail was a mud slush. Then a mound came in. Then came a slush. The vehicle was put in different modes. All the controls were taken care of by the computers in the vehicle. Barely the skill of the driver is put into play.

Then there was a stretch which was bit longer and I got the chance to push the accelerator bit harder. It was a good experience. There was another descending mound to be taken now. This was a bit challenging one and so it took more time for the three vehicles before me to queue out.

So far so good, I was rotating the pod in the vehicle to "Drive" and moving the vehicle as needed. Whenever the vehicle wants to be stopped for a long time, I switched the pod to "Parking" and waited. So, I was in the "Parking" mode for a longer time. Since I was the last man in the convoy, a fire lit in me. Why not try "Reverse"? I asked my instructor. He nodded. I then turned the knob to "R" and drove the RangeRover for some twenty feet in the reverse. Ofcourse I was the only person in the group who roved the Evoque in the reverse. A gift for this last man in the convoy!!

Then the Queue in the front had moved out. It was my turn. After climbing down the last mound we came back to the starting point.

Since the RangeRover experience was so awesome, I missed to take a selfie. There was also an instruction to not use our cameras while driving. So, after coming back to the start point, I got my instructor to click me a pic. But, there was a two wheeler guy who was honking continuously from behind. So was the result in my facial expression. After moving the vehicle a bit, he went off, I was bit relieved. My instructor took the vehicle as I came out.

We came back to the venue, filled in our feedback and started off...

This was the fare well click for we the bloggers. The session meant for us was over. But, just having finished our driving, me and Shrinidhi felt something missing. We have never clicked the action packed Rovers to our appetite.

We asked the JLR folks for taking us in some other vehicles during the next session. There was communication back and forth, in the end, we realized that we can't be accommodated in the vehicles. 

We were also told that we can venture into the terrain and do our photography. So we two ventured once again into the terrain to click the next batch of explorers who came in driving into terrain.

The line up of the Land Rover India SUVs for the next batch to set sail into the off road terrain

The pit to test the capability of the SUVs
 

 The marshals awaiting for the next batch to come into the terrain for the offroading.

The first sight of the Rovers coming in to the offroad terrain.

Rover on its three... !!

 The smoke from the vehicle bubbles out of the water.

This is the steep mound with loose mud. The car has a Hill Descent Control to overtake the braking done by the driver. In case the driver over steps the brake pedal, the computer takes control and prevents a skid.

It was a great time seeing all these advanced machines in action under controlled environment. Learnt a bit of intricacies in these machines. 

By end of day, me and Shrinidhi left in the taxi. I got dropped at Shollinganallur junction and caught a bus to Cuddalore. Reached home by 10.00 p.m.

Here is a video made by Shrinidhi...

Don't miss some more interesting photos at my FaceBook album here

A great experience. 

Thanks JLR, Thank you Shrinidhi, Thank you Blogadda.

My Audi Q Drive experience

The Q series of cars are the SUV range from the staples of German automobile manufacturer Audi.  Q Drive is an event conducted by Audi India to showcase the style and ride quality of their Q Range of cars. 

The Audi Q drive happened at namma Chennai from 15 to 17 Nov 2013.  

 

A specially prepared off road track at Sholinganallur saw half a dozen Audi SUVs do some off-road feats. Audi Chennai's customers and enthusiasts gathered for this event. Yours truly got invited for this event; its a moment for me to hone my clicks of these high end luxury cars.

Though I had come to know, Nov 15th to 17th as the event dates, from Audi Chennai, few weeks in advance, the place of the event was not fixed then. So, I could not make a firm plan to go. Though the day 15th came in and 16th too passed by, there were no info for me and I could not get set to go. The last day was 17th, a Sunday. 

Sunday being an off day from work, 17 Nov was a day for me to enjoy an extended sleep. I got off from my sleep by 8.00 a.m. rather than the usual 5.00 a.m. on work days. Its time to enjoy the full day at home. As there was no buzz to me, I did not give a thought on the Audi Q Drive. The only itinerary for the day was to get my Royal Enfield Bullet back from my mechanic. It was ready after all the required service and tunings, the previous day. After an hour of finishing off my morning routine, enjoyed a hot brew of coffee while browsing through the day's newspaper. This has been my usual way on a week's off. It was after an hour, something struck my head to check the mobile phone. My mobile gets sms whenever my FaceBook inbox gets a message. 

A sms had arrived at 12.20 a.m. as my FB had received a message from Audi Chennai; its an invite for me to attend the Audi Q drive. The venue is Taj Gateway on the OMR at Sholinganallur in Chennai. It was  9.30 a.m. that I saw this message. This day had three schedule: 9.00 a.m., 11.30 a.m. & 2.30 p.m. The last one at 2.30 p.m. has the probability for me to dash to.

The place being a 4  hour bus journey for me and the time being 9.30 a.m. its too tight a schedule. Though I was still a cat on the wall on whether to go for this Q-Drive, I made sure that the batteries of my camera & mobile phone are plugged in for recharging. Before I could decide on going, I just went to take a cool bath in the shower. My anxious mind definitely needed a chill to decide on what to do next. Go? Or Drop?

The message had a perk, that, I was extended to experience driving the cars as well click photographs. My day's actual plan of bringing back my Bullet from the mechanic is now a cat on the wall. He would be opening his shop just for delivering my Bull. So, coming back after a refreshing bath, I first called my mechanic to know whether he has left his home to arrive at his shop. He quips that, he is about to leave his house. I then decided not to take the bike and postpone it by a day. I asked him to stay home and let him deliver my bike the next day. He nods.

Now I firm up that I am dashing to Chennai. Being an auspicious day of Karthigai Deepam, my wife was busy making the food. I could take the food only after the prayer ritual is finished at home.

It was a sprinter of sort for the next one hour. As the batteries were getting recharged, I hot press my shirt; After a hard search, I located my back pack, threw in the camera, an extra charging unit for the camera and mobile phone and ear phones. The battery is still getting recharged, though; Ensured my wife fill a litre of water in a bottle  and put it inside my back pack. Grabbed a piece of cotton, made it wet and finished cleaning my shoes. Now came and sat before the computer to check my FaceBook. Ensured that everything is ready, that too, this quick, just within an hour !

Now, my wife gives me a shout out that lunch is ready. The next 15 minutes, prayer ritual was finished and I push the food down my throat and ready to go;  Wear my attire and whiz to the shoe stand and finally I am ready to go.

Now its a rush hour sort for me. While the clock struck 11.00 a.m. I successfully caught the bus to Pondicherry. I was more than relieved! After Pondy I hopped on to the ECR route bus to Chennai. As the clock crossed 2.30 p.m. the bus neared the Sholinganallur junction on the ECR. I alight and go into the road leading to left to get into a bus or share auto to go to Sholinganallur junction on the OMR to reach the hotel Taj Gateway.

But, all that captivated me was a Audi Q7 car parked on the sides of the road with few people inside. From the lot of mud on all sides of the vehicle, I was sure that the folks inside should have been off from the previous Q Drive event (11.30 a.m). I went near them and had a pep talk. Found that they are personnel of Audi Chennai and have just left off from the 11.30 a.m. schedule. They seemed to be heading for lunch. From them I got the Where? and When? of the 2.30 p.m. schedule and caught a MTC bus and went to the Sholinganallur junction on the OMR.

After alighting from the MTC bus, as I turned to the right, I got to see “GATEWAY” which was clearly visible though it was far away. After a few minutes of walk, I reached the Taj Gateway. The hotel is awesome and I arrived at the hall hosting the Audi Q Drive event.

Later came to know that Ms.Pawan was the person heading the marketing team and she was the one communicating with me so far through FaceBook. She had gone for lunch. I was then guided to the place where snacks and tea were being served. After topping up my half empty stomach with veg puffs and tea, I come back and get settled to see the video of the Audi cars being shown on a screen.

Later I walked through the hall to do few clicks. There were few miniature cars kept in a table along with Audi branded merchandise such as back packs, caps, etc., I then settled on a chair to view the film on Audi cars cruising the Himalayas. It’s a WOW moment, to realize that these cars are capable of climbing those challenging heights!!

Later Ms.Pawan comes in and I get introduced. She passed instruction to her people to get me registered to drive the Q cars of Audi. After filling the form and handing out my driving license for copying, I was issued a wrist band. People who are going to drive the cars at the event were needed to wear the wrist band as a distinct identification. 

I was eying this Q Drive event just to click the higher end Audi cars while they do off road adventures. But my desire got me a lucky chance to drive them too! A first time experience in my life. 

As far as off roading experience is concerned, I had gone as a co-passenger on my friend Siva’s Mahindra Classic Jeep some 5 years. It was rocky off road drive on the rocky ravines of Tada. But higher end luxury cars, that too driving them, have neither be my chance so far. I have seen them at a distance. Thats all. Not even touched them!

The event started with a briefing about the Q-Drive...

Two racing champions M/s Aditya Patel and Gaurav Dalal pitched in to give the participants on the hows? and whats? of driving.

From the briefing, I got to know few new things...

• Your hands should hold the steering at the 9'0 and 3'0 clock position.
• In the event of you, crashing your car, there are so much of explosives in front of you. Seat belt prevents you getting thrown into those explosives.
  So, always wear a seat belt.
• The head rest in the driver seat of a car is not for resting your head. It is to safeguard the back side of your head in case a collision happens from behind.
• The steering should not be too far away. Your arms should be about 90 degrees while you are holding your steering. If not, move your seat and make yourself get into the correct posture.

The information on the right way of driving was really useful.

There were about 12 people ready to take on driving the Qs.

We were all guided out of the hotel to a place where six cars comprising Q3, Q5 & Q7 were parked. We were given choice to either drive or sit as a co passenger.  I made it a point not to opt for driving, rather observe others driving so that I could do my clicks.

I got into the pilot car driven by the former national racing champion Gaurav. I sat in the seat behind the navigator Aditya Patel, an ace racer. The convoy started off. Instructions from Aditya, for all the people behind the wheels came in through the radio.

After a ten minute drive on the Chennai roads, the convoy got into a place which had a vast open ground with slush, a moat, plenty of pot holes and a big pool of mud water on one side. A perfect and complete off road experience awaited us.

All that is needed to test the off road skill were presented to us. Now, the pilot car entered into the first test - pot holes; then all were needed to do sharp curves; drive into slush and make their way back and stop at a point where there is a slope leading to the mud water at a depth of about 5 feet. 

Now one by one, the cars were made to do the maneuvers. 

 

While the cars turn into downward slope, the front right wheel would be at a position below and the rear left wheel dangles at a feet or two above the ground. This is the when I became awe struck. After that, the cars needed to be driven into the muddy water and finally come back to the starting point.  

Now, the churning on my stomach got a little rest as the car stopped at the start line for the next round.

Then all people were asked to change their seats. I wanted not to drive immediately. I was eager to freeze the puzzling moments of the faces of people who are taking into the challenging experiments for the first time. But then Gaurav suggested me to try the pilot Q5 and then I photograph the adventures. This seducing offer changed my mind and I switched off my camera, pushed into my pocket and readily entered into the driver seat of the Q5.

At the first moment I was in for a puzzling moment. The key which were usually provided on the right side below the steering was not there in this car. Though I was used to driving cars, I am a newbie to such an advanced machine. I was in for a perplex.

Luckily Gaurav reaches to my side, opens the door and gives me the instructions.

How to start the car?
Gaurav signals me to press the brake pedal and press the key which is located on the dashboard on the left side below the steering. Now the beast comes to life with its engines churning a music. The engine sound was similar to a split air conditioner machine getting switched on.

As there was nobody else, I was in for a dismay. Luckily an experienced personnel took his occupancy into the car. Now I am relieved of my panic. He gives instruction that I should never use my left foot; only my right foot should be used; either on the accelerator to push the vehicle forward or on the brake to stop the movement. It was now I turn my head below to look on what are the controls provided. I was in for another surprise; there were only two pedals – accelerator and a brake; the usual third pedal on the left extreme i.e. the clutch is not there! I now become fully aware that I am sitting inside a car made my German Engineers!


Then I try to shift to first gear. Another surprise awaited me. What seemed to be a gear was not a gear. It is a shifter and we needed to press the switch and shift it to the mode we were needed to. I was asked to shift it to "F" (Forward)

Then, I pressed my right foot on the accelerator gently, the car moved forward. A wonderful experience. First time I am driving such a sophisticated higher end luxury car.

Whenever I take on a new kind of vehicle, be it a two wheeler or a four wheeler, I make it a point to first check its brakes. Its my habit. This adds my confidence level and it is also a safe practice too. Now as I touch the brake pedal, the car comes to a sudden stop with a jerk. Ohh! I have pressed it harder. Then I get used with the CAR. Now as I further pressed the accelerator, the car moves forward. Then I try the steering. After turning it to right and left I get used to it. Now familiar with the accelerator, brake and steering I am more confident and ready to go.

I then drive the Audi car above the specially designed pot holes and then make a turn as instructed.  The car was so much comfortable. What looked like a big pot hole on the slush to my eyes, do not seem so big when my car was moving on it. Then came the slush and small pools of mud water. Though I was expecting it to be hard to drive the car through those obstacles, the vehicle moved in with so much ease.

Wowww! Its too nice experience.

I was in the line for taking up the real test of maneuvering into the 5 feet slope. My mind was in for a mystery. What if I am not doing it properly? What if I topple the car?

As the two cars before me crossed past the challenging course, it was my turn. I moved the car to the right little by little. As the front right wheel was going downwards into the slope, my stomach is again in for a little churn. But, apart from the car being in an angle, I did not feel any thing awry. Instructions came in through the radio to turn either left or right and I followed them. At one point, the car is very high on its left and too low on its right. It was an awesome experience.

After moving it for a few feet, I was asked to turn right and into the mud pool. The pool is so much of slush and I was having fear that the car would get struck.

But none of the cars got struck in this mud pool. Real SUVs!! 

As the mud water receded, there was a slope on the left through which I needed to go to the place where I started. Having experienced all the challenges, turning to the left on to a upward slope is now a much easier task. I turned to left and pressed the gas and the car moved into the place where I wanted it to be. 

A first time life experience. AWESOME!! THRILLING! 


Then I stopped the engines and came out of the car. The experience of driving by sitting inside the car was similar to sitting before a play station and playing a car game. So much of sophistication & comfort.

But now as I come out of the car and stand at its front, it still give me a beastly look. Another person climbs in and turns the steering. As the huge wheels make a turn to its side, it seem to be a mammoth task being done by the driver inside the car. But having experienced myself, it was actually a child's play! Is that the professionalism of the German Engineering? Is it the "Truth in Engineering". Yes, it really is!

The first time SUV driving did not seem so hard as I was expecting it to be...

I moved a little away and stood aside on the ground to prepare for my photography. It took few minutes to the understand the pattern of the people experiencing the off drive. Then my clicks got me some interesting adventurous photographs.

After a few minutes, my mind pesters on why not try another time. Now, a car comes to the home position and the person goes off. I saw it being idle for so long. I go and try another chance. Now, I find it more amusing to drive the same course. Its less challenging and more of thrill. I completed it with much ease.

After some time, many customers of Audi Chennai arrived and waited taking turns for experiencing the off road drive.

At last my shoes were full of mud after the event.

Every one of us were ferried back to the Taj Gateway hotel. Had a hot tea sitting near a table. A surprise awaited me when I was presented with a photo that was taken just an hour back. 

The photograph was so good. The Audi Chennai people were too courteous to provide the photos in my pendrive too.

Though there were many probabilities for an untoward incident in such a kind of event, the folks behind the show were too professional in handling the show. Thanks folks for making this event a memorable experience.

Thank you Pawan! A great time with your Audi Chennai team

There were many photographs which I took. Please do visit here to glimpse the whole set in my FaceBook album.