INDIAN AUTORICKSHAW CHALLENGE

34 men, 7 women and 2 kids were set out in 16 auto rickshaws from Besant Nagar Beach, Chennai on, THE INDIAN AUTORICKSHAW CHALLENGE 2006", 'An Amazing Race For The Clinically Insane' after the inaugural opening of the annual event on the 21st of August. Indian Auto Rickshaw Challenge 2006 was organized by Mr. Aravind Kumar, an Indian based in Hungary, who, earlier this past year, participated in the first annual Budapest-Bamako Rally, an 8,000-kilometer race from the heart of Central Europe to the heart of West Africa. Ejji and Bhamini helped as organizers from India, and the First Indian Autorickshaw Challenge 2006 was a big global success.

Adventure tourists and enthusiastic participants have tested their endurance, navigating skills, and auto rickshaws for this one-of-a-kind trophy. The participants rode across a distance of over 1000 kilometers, crossing 12 districts and 1 union territory. The competitors completed daily stretches of up to 200 kilometers while making their way through monsoon rains, crowds, uncertain roads, and other typically Indian obstacles. Each stage of the rally was opened by a prominent personality, including regional celebrities, and several stops featured unforgettable parties!

Ian Bayles and Rachel Bayles of the team Pukka Tuk Tuk are the world's first Auto Rickshaw world champions. This glorified team won the hearts of the organizers for their perseverance by them and their brimming enthusiasm. They've were lauded for their meticulous attention to details during the rally, punctuality and their warm behavior. The rally started at Chennai and reached Mahabalipuram at the end of day one. The following day, participants continued the journey along the east coast of India, and concluded the day in Pondicherry. The third stop was Tanjore, after which participants stopped at Madurai on the fourth evening. They rode on to the port city, Tuticorin, the following day. Their next destination was Courtallam, where participants enjoyed the spectacular water fall scenery! After a week of hard riding and awesome challenges, the rally ended at Kanyakumari, where participants celebrated their accomplishments with a party unparalleled anywhere else in the world!

Participants were given challenging tasks in each day's itinerary. To become the Auto Rickshaw Rally World Champion, participants had to complete the tasks specified before the flag went down that day. These challenges and tasks make the IndianARC the first and most unique endurance rally of its kind. Participants reached Kanyakumari on the 27th August, after a week of unforgettable adventures and parties!

13 of the 16 participating teams in this past year's event were international. Congatulations to the winning team Pukka Tuk Tuk declared the "Auto Rickshaw Rally World Champions". And thanks to their sponsors Ceat and Elements Hostel. Another winner of the IndianARC were the children of India, as sponsor proceeds from the rally benefited local charities in providing better education to them.

THE INDIAN AUTORICKSHAW CHALLENGE (IndianARC) had programed two rallies in 2007. The MUMBAI XPRESS RALLY 2007 from Chennai to Mumbai in August and THE CLASSIC RALLY from Chennai to Kanyakumari in December. Vist www.indianarc.com for further details.