RELIABILITY TRIAL

The Route….

After starting from Shimla, we run through some lovely forest and mountainous terrain to Manali and then on to the high altitude desert roads leading to Lahaul and Spiti. A series of truly adventurous rally stages take you over half a dozen of the world’s highest motorable passes, slow moving glaciers, high altitude wildlife parks and some of the really old historical monasteries!!

You would be spending at least 2 days above an altitude of 15000ft !

On one front, these five days will test qualities of endurance, ingenuity , physical and mental toughness. On the other side will be tested, dramatically, your choice of vehicle and planning for the unexpected !!

Which version of the Raid should I opt for…. how difficult is it ...

The Raid de Himalaya 2008 will once again run two versions, concurrently, this year - 'X-Treme' and the "Adventure Trial".

The X-Treme version on a scale of 1 to 10 would rate an 8 in terms of difficulty.

The Adventure Trial version would rate a 5.

It is suggested that all first timers participate in the Adventure Trial this year and then move on to the X-Treme levels next year. However this is not cast in stone and first timers may be permitted for the X-Treme version after being assessed by the "Participation Committee" of Himalayan Motorsport for competence.

You are taking on the mightiest mountains in the world at altitudes where nothing much survives. You need to be physically fit and mentally strong. The unexpected lies around the next bend and it need not always be pleasant!!

Our earlier "Raids" attracted a wide array of vehicles……both motorcycles and 4 wheelers. The drivers and the riders ranged from first timers to professionals. The program is drawn such that it offers a reasonable degree of challenge each day and yet allows sufficient time to recover for the next. A well-prepared car and a generally fit person can easily cope up with the rigours of our event and all that the high altitude route has to offer.

"Through the night" driving is not part of the plan. We try and get to our night halts by early evening, but it is possible you may finish with headlights on, especially if you are running late. Each day normally starts just after sunrise, and terminates just before dusk. However unpredictable delays may see you running at night also. Speeds being quite low this should not pose neither a challenge nor risk.

There is a special camaraderie that springs from long distance events, and meeting up at the end of the day is very much a part of the flavor of the event. That and the fact that the moment the sun goes down, Ladakh changes in 15 minutes from a scenic landscape to a deadly cold one, are the main reasons to get everyone safely in before sunset !

How do I prepare….

10 steps from start to finish for first timers

1. Decide category - 4 wheels or two. 4 wheeler first timers go to the Adventure Trial....2 wheeler first timers go to the Xtreme.

2. Read the bad news on the Entry Form page. Either leave the website or download forms, fill and send along with the draft for the Entry Fee to Himalayan Motorsport Association. The longer you take to decide the more expensive it gets. Also entrants are from the entire country. Filling 35 places in Adventure is not going to take long !

3. Once you are in, get started on your Competition License and the enclosures mentioned at the end of the Entry Form. Don't leave it to the last minute. You cant rally without it ! For the Competition Licenses download relevant forms get them signed by the doctor, attach pictures and a draft and send to the Federation concerned. The paperwork is critical.

4. Start preparing yourself and the vehicle. Download the Supplementary Regulations and the Scrutiny Forms to find out what all you must do and what all you can to make the finish line of the Raid. Call the Raid office or email for clarifications. A top class helmet etc is in your best interest though you may not always be asked to use it. !

5. Try and anticipate the problems ahead. Become fit. Exercise to be ready for the worst workout of your life! Learn as much about your car repair as possible. No dedicated service is permitted so you are your own mechanic !

6. Practise with your navigator how to maintain average speeds over a given distance. Try to do this through highway and crowded areas. Try and develop a team spirit with your co driver/s so that you pull together when things are going wrong rather than blame one another. Max speeds in the Adventure do not exceed an average of 40 kmph so dont try and practise averaging 80 or 90 kmph ! You probably wont make the rally start.

7. Once you are in the rally keep cool. Needless excitement leads to mistakes and those are no fun. Learn the game and play it well and fairly.

8. Treat the marshals and support crew with respect. They are all volunteers and don't need to be here. They are here to see you have a great event and return home safely ! They are here because they have been in motorsport for over a decade at least and love this ! Learn from them as you are here for the first time!

9. Don't endanger yourself needlessly. The Himalayas are unforgiving. This is a game. If it isn't going well just remember its a game that can be played better another time. Don't do foolish things which can ensure that there is never another time.

10. Help those that need it. Its even more fun to beat an adversary after seeing him on his way. That way you are the real king of the mountain.

Vehicle Preparation:

The Raid Office team can help you –from the choice of car ; how to prepare it, personal preparations, medical advice-you have the support of an experienced team behind you. The Raid Office is available to answer your questions. Vijay, Atul, and Manjeev- all having driven in many long distance events aim to give you as much "back-up" support for your planning as possible. Just write to Himalayan Motorsport at info@raid-de-himalaya.com for any assistance.

Though you may decide to take it as it comes and fix things as they break, our advice is that it is better to set off with a totally reliable car than have to seek workshops for a rebuild, halfway. You should endeavour to set off, knowing that the car has been fully prepared with all of the Raid Office advice notes taken into account by your workshop during car preparation.

Finally, you are flagged off with the peace of mind of knowing that you have the support of a highly experienced organization as your back-up.

Medical Preparation:

Our Medical team is highly experienced and we issue "Health Notes" in the run up to the event to help you prepare well. The medical lists will give details of what all you must carry to battle High Altitude Sickness as well as sunburn.

What cars are best.....

As this is primarily a marathon event open for Stock cars we have attempted to keep the cars on as much tarmac as possible. As the Himalayas are full of tiny mountain streams or small patches of broken tarmac your car may have to cross some small sections of non tarmac road. However you may rest assured that the route is such that Maruti 800's are able to tackle it with sufficient aplomb ! The normal Stock car is a lot stronger than it is given credit for and coupled with sensible driving, should see you traverse this years Raid de Himalaya Adventure Trial with self respect intact !

You must keep in mind that a Maruti Esteem (Grp N) won the X -Treme event outright in 2000, being well ahead of all the 4X4 vehicles entered !

What needs to be done to make the vehicles ‘Raid worthy’….

The Raid Management requires that the 4 wheelers for the Adventure Trial are prepared to acceptable safety standards.

The Supplementary Regulations provide for certain modifcations that are permitted for this event, due to the extreme nature of the terrain traversed. Basically you require a good set of tyres, seat belts and helmets for all the crew, a working odometer and a reliable watch. .

For modifications you are allowed an oil sump guard, a petrol tank guard and little else. I

Also for this year devices used to raise the ground clearance such as shocker spacers etc are permitted. The shocker itself cannot be uprated from the stock unit and the lift cannot exceed 2 inches.

Extension of control arms to correct camber changes as a result of lifting the car will not be permitted. No modifications to the engine, transmission or the final drive are permitted.

The tyre rim size are free and so are tyre aspect ratio and width. You may fit larger rims and tyres keeping in view the fact that the terrain will get slightly hostile.

Two snow chains sized for the vehicle have to be carried. Once again Himalayan Motorsport can give you a quote for the same.

Additionally, all participants need to bring along a sleeping bag for each crew at the pre event scrutiny, without which a start will be denied. The sleeping bags need to be suitable for temperatures as low as –20 degrees centigrade. It is compulsory to carry them on board on each day of the event.

This is primarily to ensure you stay warm even on the coldest pass, in the event of a breakdown, as you wait for the sweep vehicle to rescue you !

Who can enter….

Just about anyone who is over 18 years of age and has a regular driving license and obtains the Competition Driving License (Rally Drivers and Codrivers+ Entrant for 1st Driver only) from the MAI at Mumbai. Details are available at the Entry page.

How do I acclimatise and can I do a route recce .....

The route will be finalised by the middle of July 2008. Route recce's for the Adventure Trial are not possible as the Road Books will be issued to competitors on the day of Scrutiny. You would ofcourse be informed of the Leg Starts and Finish but not on how the route traverses the interim distance. The route is graduated and this helps with acclimatisation.

What are the costs involved….

Entry fees ,insurances, vehicle preparation, spare parts, and running the Raid are the main costs incurred. For details click on the costs of participation link here.

Do I need any special qualifications….

No, but any kind of past experience will of course be useful. A lot of determination and perhaps a sense of humor will often see you through the most testing of times. While mechanical knowledge can be useful not everyone has it !! If you drive safely and to a game plan you probably would not need it.

Physically you need to be reasonably fit. You will need to consult your physician if you suffer from Hypertension ( high blood pressure) and/or breathing disorders like asthma. We would be crossing passes in excess of 18,000 ft and oxygen is in short supply there anyway.

Do I need any special insurance covers….

Rally Insurance for Vehicle

Yes, you will have to obtain a special insurance cover for using your vehicle in the Raid. This is called a Rally Insurance and is for the vehicle you plan to use for the event. It is valid for the days of the Raid but sometimes can be extended for a year, and you can easily get it from your Insurance agent.

However Rally Cover is an add-on given by the branch and company that has extended you the Comprehensive insurance. Another company will only give the Rally cover if you buy the Comprehensive cover as well. Therefore its a good idea to get it from your friendly neighborhood insurance agent rather than show up at Shimla hoping for a cheap deal!

Personal Accident Policy

The policy should be covering each participant for a minimum amount of Rs. 2,00,000/- and is a must. This policy should also be easily available from your Insurance agent and should mention it is for the purpose of the Raid. This policy should cost not more than a few hundred rupees.

Medevac Insurance

Incase of an emergency where you are required to be moved out by Land or Air ambulance your Personal Accident Insurance does not cover the cost of evacuation , which in the case of an airlift can be quite severe. We are in negotiation with the Insurance companies to offer a competitive rate for Medevac Insurance. Incase this comes through this insurance will be compulsory for all participants. Rates will be informed soon.

What about stay and food arrangements at the night halts….

All your hotels at the night halts during the Raid are a part of the entry fee. In a few cases these may be only tents laid out on a freezing wind lashed plain. Where possible, should you want a single room, or, upgrade to a better hotel, you are welcome to, but at your own cost. We would be able to advise you on the various accommodation possibilities available at the locations of the night halt. Our Entry Fee reflects good value- blended with professional support and administration. Food arrangements are a part of the hospitality only at the few places where the Raid will camp out and no restaurants are available. This means Kaza and Kilar.

We do not make any arrangements at places that have many restaurants and eating joints and here the choice of eatery is yours.

The Raid dinner at the end of the event is on us though!!!!

How cold does it get….

The day temperature hovers around 2 to 26 degrees centigrade and the night temperature plunges as low as –21 degrees centigrade. Good woollens along with thermals and windproofs are a must. All are advised to take special care, as with the wind chill factor the temperatures can get very uncomfortable. It is absolutely essential that all participants carry their sleeping bags on board. Though the sweep vehicle makes every effort to ensure that every individual along the route makes it to the night halt location, it may mean several hours waiting in subzero temperatures for the Sweep Team to show up. The sleeping bag will most certainly be the lifesaver during this wait. A heater, though good insurance against the cold will be useless if engine failure is the cause of your breakdown!

Do I have to make any special arrangements for my service ..

Firstly, you have to understand that personalised service crews are NOT permitted for the Adventure Trial. You can change whatever you wish as long as you do it yourself i.e with no help apart from the crew on board.

You can however, use local shops along the way and their mechanics to repair your car and buy parts from stores as you go along, but no service crew may follow you and service your car. However, to the extent of the parts being carried by you in your car , Himalayan Motorsport will provide a team of mechanics for the night halt service to assist in minor repairs. These may also assist if you breakdown along the way as they will be a part of the Sweep Team.

An extra charge depending on the job done will be levied on the spot. Welding and puncture repair facilities will be available at every night halt along the way. Two spare tyres are a good idea and an extra spare is permitted.

Where do I get fuel halfway to Tibet......?

Petrol pumps along the route will provide for 87 octane unleaded petrol and normal diesel, every 250 kms of the way. However you may need to carry extra fuel on board.

Incase you are opting for a spare fuel tank it has to be fixed to the floor of the car and covered with a metal cover. The vent hose must exit from within to a point outside the cabin so as to dispel the fumes from the car.

Remote area refuelling is provided for competitors only by Himalayan Motorsport. The diesel provided will not be the special zero wax anti freeze diesel. It will be the normal oil that can freeze during the nights! The fuel will have to be booked and paid for before the Raid starts. We will inform well in time of such a requirement.

Fuel will be provided against payment and is not part of the Entry Fee. The price of fuel will be higher as it will include the freight cost component from the last pump to wherever it is being made available. Please remember that you stand to forfeit any uncollected fuel in the event that you drop out of the event !! Fuel is booked for specific refuelling points. These are not transferable. Use the Fuel Calculator provided on the website closer to the event to make a foolproof booking and save money!

How late can I enter….

The last time and date for the entries is 1700 hrs on the 21st Sept 2008.

Early Entry ( 1st May - 31st May 2008 ) will attract a lower fee and will give you enough time to get all your paperwork in order well in time. This will be Rs 30,000/- per car or Jeep having upto 2 crew members.

Standard Entry (between 1st June to 30th July 2008) will be at a higher rate than the early entries. However, this time frame too has enough time leeway for documentation etc. This will be Rs. 40,000/- per car or Jeep having two crew members.

Late Entry (between 31st July 2008 and 31st August 2008) will be at the higher rate and will attract a fee of Rs 50,000/- per 2 crew members.

Very Late Entry (between 1st Sept 2008 and 21st Sept 2008) will be at the highest rate and will attract a fee of Rs 60,000/- per 2 crew members.

Any car having more than 2 crew members will pay twice the relevant fee. More than 4 persons per car are not permitted.

What happens if I break down in the middle of never never land....or even get lost.......

On an event of this magnitude there is every possibility that you will have the problems associated with an endurance event that runs day after day through inhospitable terrain. You may break things along the way and your vehicle may give way completely before the last time control. So what do you do stranded in the middle of nowhere without a soul in sight... or worse still go off the track and get lost?

Fortunately, if you break down in the middle of nowhere don't worry. Himalayan Motorsport has a Sweep Team for every stage and they will eventually reach you as they bring up the rear mopping up the stragglers! As a 4 wheel participant, your vehicle will be left where it is, unless it is a short distance to a town or village and towing is possible. You will be given a ride to the end of the Leg night halt.

The good news is that Himalayan Motorsport has 3 mechanic teams to look after the Adventure Trial cars. One rushes to the Leg end to provide service as cars reach the end of Leg. Another stays in the middle of the event attending crisis situations as they occur. The third follows at the rear bringing up the stragglers.

A recovery truck will follow the event and your car will be professionally towed with as little damage as possible. Charges for the towing however will be borne by you if the distance is more than 10 kms.

Army recovery assistance, wherever possible, is normally for free.

Incase you wander off the track, which is highly unlikely, as on most stages there are no alternative routes, your absence from the pack will be missed immediately. Himalayan Motorsport has radio cars reporting the progress of each driver every 30 kilometres of the route and these are manned by the best crews in Indian Motorsport !!!. Before you have been lost for any length of time we know you are missing.

Also your Road Book has been made with a highly specialised Rally computer equipped with GPS, that is accurate to the last metre. Due to the nature of the event and its low speeds, the road book will be issued at scrutiny ;one day before the start.

Contact Info:

For specific answers to queries that are either not covered above, or arise from the above information, please mail us at info@raid-de-himlaya.com .