Mahindra Thar CRDe

Off-road pandemonium

WWHAT BETTER WAY TO kick-off the monsoon season than the Mahindra Adventure Off-Road Trophy challenge. Our Thar was up against 15 loony drivers in loonier Thars, ready to wade through the rains and crawl over terrain at 19 Degree North in Lonavala. For the competition, we had mud terrain tyres on for the challenge and that’s that, so going by the intimidating 15 parked up the hill, I was looking at a tough day ahead. But that’s an off-roader’s life, there’s always a mightier off-roader around.

The trophy challenge was divided into three broad categories – stock, modified and the women’s category. I had swapped the all-terrain tyres for a set of Maxxis Bighorn mud tyres the day earlier so the Thar was more capable now, and to my luck, it wasn’t considered a major modification, allowing me to enter the stock category. Vehicles with a snorkel, winch, suspension upgrade or engine mods were categorised under the modified category. There were two RFC-spec vehicles in the modified category too, which added a little spice to the competition.

Each participant had to clear four challenges christened – the Crab, the Quarry, the Hill Climb and the Rocky Drop. Each challenge was specifically designed by the Mahindra Adventure team with steep rocky descents, sharp turns, water fording pits and articulation. The four challenges tested the skills, ability and endurance of the driver, spotter and their 4x4s as well.

This was a first for me. I have dabbled in a little off-roading in the past at the Mahindra Off-Road Academy, but this was a serious off-road competition and I had to bring my A-game. I did not go completely bonkers with the Thar, as I had to drive it to work the following day. Nonetheless, I still gave it my best shot. The last off-roader to a challenge is usually the one who picks the short straw. The track was messed up by then, even more difficult than its original condition at the beginning of the challenge. So going last wasn’t a good idea. The Crab challenge involved getting through a steep decline, a sharp right through slush, and up to the finish. Even with four-low and the mud tyres, the Thar was slipping and sliding all over the place, the right hand turn was through a slush pit that was dug deeper by the purpose-built Thars that went through it before me, and just getting through somehow was a huge sigh of relief.

The Quarry – water fording through a deep pit, was pretty much the easiest. The path was narrow though so taking the correct line and precise (relatively) throttle control was important. A few inches off and the Thar would be afloat. Next up was the Hill Climb - a slushy path and a 60-degree incline. Forget