Rickshaw Run - Winter 2009

So we've got a team together to go. Three rally drivers and one wife.
For those that don't know what the Rickshaw Run is, we start from the southern tip of India, we'll drive all the way up the eastern coast to Calcutta, then cut inward and drive around Bangladesh and into the foothills of the Himalayas. In the course of two weeks in only a 3 wheeled scooter taxi. 150 cc, 2 stroke wonder. Anyhow, just finished an initial version of our website. We're going to be selling lots of stuff and doing lots of fundraising. It's a charity event and we have to raise $2000 for charities, plus our $1500-1800 a piece plane tickets, plus our other expenses. But it will totally be worth it.
http://www.teamzusa.com

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Grant Hughes

I'd suggest a power upgrade...maybe from a wrecked Hayabusa or similar.

That looks like...something I wouldn't do. Go for max early at the Alcan 5000? Yeah. Baja 1000 in something less inappropriate than a motorized rickshaw for the task? I can see that.

Still, sounds like a wicked awesome adventure!

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Andrew Steere
Lyndeborough, NH
KB1PJY

Well hell, anyone crazy enough to go from the southern tip of India to the Himalaya's has my support. ONce you post how to donate, I'll even kick in a couple bucks.

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It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favour of vegetarianism, while the wolf remains of a different opinion.
William Ralph Inge

TANSTAAFL

Looks like an awesome adventure dude! Have fun and tell us all about afterward!

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http://www.max-attack.com

Grant,

Woo Hoo! What a hoot!

Organize a "slow race" while your there too. Who ever goes slowest on flat ground wins:

1. Cars must begin rolling from a stopped position under there own power.
2. No putting on the brakes at any time.
3. Slowest car wins!

Bonus: Any driver that gets out of his car while it's moving, runs aound it and climbs back in without stalling gets free beer from the other drivers.

I used to win these in a 1928 Model A Ford until some cheater showed up with a 1960 VW beatle and turned his idle way down.

Rich Smith

ps: Don't forget your kidney belt!
pss: HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vorpal_Rally Wrote:
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> Well hell, anyone crazy enough to go from the
> southern tip of India to the Himalaya's has my
> support. ONce you post how to donate, I'll even
> kick in a couple bucks.
>
> menja bé, caga fort i no tinguis por a la mort!


the $2000 donated to the charities gets donated through here:

http://www.willwemakeit.com/

the charities are Mercy Corps and Frank Water Projects and more info on them can be found here:

http://www.teamzusa.com/charity.html

and for more info and a bit of hilarity:

http://rickshawrun08s.theadventurists.com/index.php?page=faq

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-Mark
www.nocoastmotorsports.net

Was just looking at the Team Info Packet. This is the disclaimer right at the beginning.

*** WARNING ***
This is a genuinely dangerous thing to do. The website is written in
a light hearted fashion but you cannot underestimate the risks
involved in undertaking this kind of journey. Your chance of dying is
very high. Medical facilities are often very poor and road safety
standards are appalling. Some past teams have been involved in
road accidents and your chance of survival is very low if you are
involved in anything but very minor accidents. Temperatures and
humidity alone can cause serious illness or death, not to mention
altitude sickness. You really are on your own. If it all goes, wrong,
that's it, tough. In short, do not undertake this lightly.

All the above taken into account it is incredible fun, you just need
to be aware that it is not in any way safe.

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Grant Hughes

I have a friend who teaches a cave rescue class in a Belize every year. He won't go without purchasing "dive insurance" aka evacuation insurance. It's not cheap but if you get in trouble they basically charter a private jet, fly a doctor in, and fly you home for treatment. You might want to consider it.

Tim


NoCoast Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Was just looking at the Team Info Packet. This is
> the disclaimer right at the beginning.
>
> *** WARNING ***
> This is a genuinely dangerous thing to do. The
> website is written in
> a light hearted fashion but you cannot
> underestimate the risks
> involved in undertaking this kind of journey. Your
> chance of dying is
> very high. Medical facilities are often very poor
> and road safety
> standards are appalling. Some past teams have been
> involved in
> road accidents and your chance of survival is very
> low if you are
> involved in anything but very minor accidents.
> Temperatures and
> humidity alone can cause serious illness or death,
> not to mention
> altitude sickness. You really are on your own. If
> it all goes, wrong,
> that's it, tough. In short, do not undertake this
> lightly.
>
> All the above taken into account it is incredible
> fun, you just need
> to be aware that it is not in any way safe.
>
> Grant Hughes
> www.nocoastmotorsports.net
> Denver, CO

We're also not taking any clothing so we have more space for camping type gear. We'll buy clothes when we get there.
I'm going straight from India to Vegas for the punk rock bowling tournament. It'll be a fun month.

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Grant Hughes

So we all bought our tickets on Friday night. Awesome itinerary.
Leave Denver December 24th.
Arrive in London at 9:05 am Dec 25th.
Leave London at 9:35 am Dec 27th.
Arrive in Chennai, India 1:00 pm December 28th.
Leave from Dehli, India at 3:40 am on Jan 16th.
Layover in London, another layover in Dallas.
Arrive in Las Vegas, NV, Jan 16th at 7:05 pm.
Actual travel time on return trip is over 29 hours.

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Grant Hughes

seriously...get a satellite phone, I think you can rent them.



looks like hard-core fun too

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Jon Burke - KI6LSW
Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/

My cell phone will work there.

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Grant Hughes

well we finally got the basic sites for our charities up and running. thanks in advance!

Mercy Corps International
Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided over $830 million in assistance to people in 80 nations. The organization's 2000 staff worldwide currently reach 6 million people in more than 35 countries. More than 91% of the agency's resources are allocated to programs that directly assist those in need. Donate here:

http://www.firstgiving.com/teamzusa

FRANK Water Projects funds sustainable projects that provide safe drinking water by installing a 5 stage, UV water filtering process built into a community owned and run facility.FRANK has funded the installation of 4 projects in Andhra Pradesh, India benefiting 48000 people. 4 more projects are currently under development. Donate here:

http://www.justgiving.com/teamzusa

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-Mark
www.nocoastmotorsports.net



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/03/2008 09:43PM by Mark.

Sweet adventure!

Some advise though - my wife and I did India in 2006. Did the golden triangle in the North (Dehli, Agra, Jaipur), then to Goa, Ooty, down to Bangelore, over into Kerala, all the way down to the tip, then to Chennai (I have LOTS of family there), then back to Dehli.

Couple things: Whatever you know about traffic and safety - forget it. Doesn't apply. Biggest vehicle wins. No use for signals, signal lights, or traffic signs. Right of way is to the car that is in front - meaning if traffic is congested (IE everywhere all the time) then you have to inch forward and physically block the other vehicles or you will never move.

Those rickshaw's are tiny - but that won't stop them from putting 12 people in and on them. It's pure insanity at it's finest. I don't envy you making that trip in such a little vehicle - let alone navigating India - but if you wanted adventure that's it.

Forget about camping - that's dumb. Get yourself a Lonely Planet and stay at good / decent hotels, eat at nice restaurants (so cheap!), and enjoy the ride. Personally - if it were me I'd hire an escort rickshaw and follow their ass all the way to Calcutta! Delhi belly can be nasty - so always drink bottle water, and if you get offered tea - be wary! (that's how I got it) Food is AMAZING though, and so cheap to eat at really good places.

Prepare for some pretty crazy culture shock - but the biggest deal for me was coming back home after 6 weeks. It'll change your life for sure - and if you do it right India is the most amazing place you'll ever see. Take it for granted and don't prepare and it'll be the nastiest hell you can imagine.

Also - you can get phones there, super cheap, get minutes anywhere, fantastic coverage, and the place is wired like I've never seen. There's internet cafe's everywhere - so very easy to stay connected.

PM me if you want more info. I can likely hook you up with my cousin in Chennai, and there's also a good forum that I joined when there with some good guys on it (Read CRAZY RICH DUDES) that love their cars. There's also a race track in Chennai so that might be an interesting point.

Good luck - and I can't wait for details of the trip. If fear the worst though as India is fucking insane. If you can work with that - then it'll be a life changer - otherwise you'll hate it like no other place.

Rabin
(Indian - but born and raised in Canada - first time there was in 06')

Know anyone in Denver, passing through Denver soon, like to tell people what to do or where to go?

Well.....

Team Zissou will be doing a fund raising/concert at the Meadowlark on November 9. Dunno if there is a cover yet or just a donation or what since Britt is the driving force behind it (go Britt!). The bands that are playing so far are:

Johnny Knows Karate
Radio Jetstream

With more planned to be added soon.

Tell all your friends, family, and random people you meet. It should be fun!

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-Mark
www.nocoastmotorsports.net