Mahindra Great Escape: Mandawa

It was finally time to get out of the city and head towards this little town called Mandawa in Rajasthan. Never having been there in the past got me curious and a quick Google later, I was duly informed that this place is out in the middle of nowhere and apart from some fresco paintings in a Haveli; the area is known for its dunes. Eureka! Dunes. After all, I was heading out for the 'Invitation Only' Mahindra Great Escape, which amongst our circles is touted to be one of the most fun events off tarmac available in our country.  Maybe I'd pay a visit to the frescos later, but the number one priority on my mind was to get some serious 4x4 action.

Incidentally, the Mahindra Great Escape is a non-competitive, off-road rally that was originally designed to encourage Mahindra customers to test their vehicles on terrain other than tarmac. As the event evolved and its popularity has grown, the event is now considered one of India's premiere off-roading events and is hosted in various locations including Munnar, Coorg, Siliguri, Goa, Chandigarh and Mandawa where off roading enthusiasts gather to put their vehicles to test against the terrain and elements. Apart from this, Mahindra also hosts the Annual 'Invite Only' Great Escape which is in fact the ultimate off-road extravaganza.

Now, having been on numerous other Great Escape events in the past, I was pretty sure that this event would also be similar in nature and offer a decent amount of off-roading adventure. Thanks to my passion for jeeps and a small but educating rallying career, my fundamentals about driving off-road were in place and I was set to take on whatever might be thrown at me.

A great meal, a good night's sleep and an early start are staple to any Great Escape, and this event was no different. The cold desert morning was ideal time for the organizers to inform the participants about the various course instructions, a safety briefing as well as driving tips. Finally it was time to hit the dirt. Literally!

About 50 Mahindra vehicles were set to make their way through the 40 kilometer course that had over 25 kilometers of driving in the sand. Amongst the vehicles present, there were numerous Scorpios, a few Boleros, a Mahindra Legend, and a number of Mahindra Thars. I was keen on getting behind the wheel of a Thar, for not only is it the latest Mahindra vehicle to hit the market, but it also boasts of having the best capabilities in the sand. My wish was granted and I was all set to pilot a brand new black Thar through the desert.

Making my way to the first obstacle on the course, a sandy hill climb, I was about 10 cars behind the lead vehicle, so I had to wait and watch as each vehicle made its way to the top. Some of them had to make a few attempts before conquering the climb and this only made me a little nervous. However, when the time for me to make the climb finally came, I decided to go with a four wheel high selection and accelerate up the sand hillock in second gear. As I accelerated forward I realized that the vehicles that had gone before me had dug two solid ruts into the hillside and I was mentally prepared to either bottom out and get stuck or at the very least lose my momentum and have to downshift to first gear to make the climb in a single go. My fears were laid to rest for the Thar just accelerated up the climb tossing sand in every direction possible but not once showing an ounce of defeat or the lack of power. Conquering the climb I had a newfound positive attitude for I was assured that this vehicle could just about go anywhere I wanted it to.

Now, many a times I have told friends that when it comes to off-roading, the vehicle can usually handle the obstacles, it is the driver that needs to have the nerve to take on the task at hand. I had already received a first hand lesson in judging the Thar and its capabilities, but I was sure that I will not repeat this error in judgment again.

As I navigated my way through the course, I encountered a number of steep climbs and even steeper descents. Each challenge seemed to pose a greater level of skill requirement and I must add that the instructors were more than helpful in ensuring that we were making the right selections in order to take on the various scenarios. On one particular descent, I was told to put the vehicle in four wheel low and first gear. What looked like an almost vertical drop was genuinely tackled without me even having to use the brakes! The Thar just eased its way down and all I had to do was ensure that the front wheels remain straight. Piece of cake again, but let me tell you that a slightly wrong judgment and a reflex to turn could result in the vehicle toppling over onto its side. One of the main rules of off-roading is never under estimate a challenge and make sure that all precautions have been factored in prior to attempting the challenge.

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After tackling the course, and a rather challenging one at that, it was time to enjoy one last spin in the Thar on a specially designed Autocross circuit! The circuit had its series of turns, cones, ditches and sand to make it a rather exciting time trial event. As per the rules, each of us was given a trial lap and then it was the main run that was timed. I managed to get a respectable 36 seconds, but I did hit a cone and each cone hit costed an additional 5 seconds, so I closed my lap at 41 seconds. Others came and went and the winner however managed to blow everyone out of the water with a stellar 28 seconds lap timing! Never the less, it was a fun end to a glorious day in the sand.

On the whole, the Great Escape is exactly what its been designed to be; the perfect escape from the city to enjoy a day out tackling the elements in a rugged 4x4. It's the test of man and machine as well as the camaraderie amongst contestants that truly makes this an enjoyable event that one wants to return to year after year. As an event it has evolved to new heights and this year's course was one of the best I've driven on. I hope Mahindra continues to challenge the skills of off roading enthusiasts in the many Great Escapes to come.