Well - if you are feeling a bit fat after christmas - thinking about your motorsport plans for 2007 - think about these nutters who are doing something cool for charity as we gawp at our computers. I have always thought about that trick four stroke powered rickshaw driven by Vijay Armitraj in one of the James Bond films - would probably make fun transport around the Surrey lanes - anyway read the press release below:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
34 teams from 7 countries left Cochin today in 150cc 3-wheeled auto-Rickshaws to take on the first ever Rickshaw Run – a 2000-mile charity adventure across wild Indian terrain ending in Darjeeling with afternoon tea and a game of cricket.
The Rickshaw Run 2006, sponsored by .travel, the new Internet domain name for the travel industry, is set to last around two weeks. There is no system of support or back up for the teams – they are entirely on their own and free to choose their own route to the other side of the sub-continent.
They will face jungles, mountains, shocking roads, searing heat and mechanical failures during the intense journey. The auto-Rickshaws are wholly unsuitable for the task ahead – they are uncomfortable and loud and with only 150cc often described as a motorised mule, ensuring the bar is set high for the intrepid teams.
Event Organiser, Tom Morgan, who is also taking part, says the launch day was a huge success:
“What a great way to start the first Rickshaw Run – the local community gave us a fantastic start day and we played cricket against a local team in Cochin. The rickshaws have already been painted up by the teams and we’re now well on our way to the hill station, Munnar, around 140 km from the start line.”
Most of the teams are heading the same way, but at 1600 metres above sea level they are already tackling dirt roads at night winding up into the hills. The off road conditions forced James and Ben Leith, from Bristol, UK, to make an early stop at a garage for repairs:
“It’s been a great day,” said Ben, “we’re getting the hang of driving the rickshaws but we’ve already had some nuts and bolts coming loose, then the gear cable snapped but luckily we were right by an auto-rickshaw garage! We’re looking forward to the second day…”
Claire Andrews, a travel agent from London, UK, says the reception so far has been overwhelming:
“I am in a convoy with 7 teams at the moment and we’re getting an unbelievable reaction wherever we go, with cars honking their horns and everyone waving. It’s been an incredible start and is obviously going to be a serious adventure.”
The teams were all required to raise the money for the purchase and maintenance of the auto-rickshaws and the event hopes to raise a total of $70,000 for charity.
The vehicles will be donated to a project designed to help poor auto-Rickshaw drivers and their families, co-ordinated by the NGO Darjeeling Earth Group and monitored by international charity, Mercy Corps Scotland. The Rickshaw Run is also being used as a platform to raise awareness of the dangers of HIV and AIDS.
The first ever Rickshaw Run is sponsored by .travel. Established to lift the tourism industry out of the anonymity of the ‘.com’ web, .travel empowers the broad spectrum of bona fide travel-related businesses and organizations to better promote their products and services within their own industry specific space on the Internet.
To follow the Rickshaw Run with live text messaging, photos and video clips from the teams, visit:www.rickshawrun.travel
