An early wake-up call later we were geared up for the next round of challenges that lay in wait, ready to be conquered. At first, we had another theory session and we also got a chance to see working models of the differential, and how 4WD and 2WD (two-wheel drive) operate in a vehicle. After a briefing about the day’s agenda and a few tips from Manish on off-road skills, we set out to tackle our next obstacle course.
Our next challenge was the Pond Rush. This challenge looks easy, but the slushy muck and deep ruts will catch you spinning like a top. Crossing the slushy mud pit is winning half the battle, but the climb till the finish is the tricky part. These ruts are deep and the tyres lose grip, resulting in wheel spins which then create deeper ruts, so the person going last (me) felt as if I was tackling a completely new track from what it was in the beginning. But the trick to complete the challenge is to build up momentum and slowly use the Thar’s immense torque to power your way through.
After splashing, spinning and powering your way through, the next challenge, the Balance Bridge, was to test a driver’s soft skills. You know when you were a kid on the see-saw, and you and friends tried to get it right to the middle, perfectly balanced? Well, the Balance Bridge is just like that, but with just the one Thar instead. The main aim of this challenge is to learn throttle control. One has to drive on to one end of the see-saw, balance the Thar at the mid-point, and then roll down the other side. Precise use of the clutch in order to inch the Thar forward is the trick to get the car on the sweet balancing spot.
Our last challenge for the day was the Blind Zone. Here the driver had to go through a trough of water, up a steep slope, take a U-turn and back down the same way. It sounded quite the cake-walk, but doing it in 2WD… well, that was a surprise. We had to use 2WD till we started spinning rubber and then shift to 4WD, shifting from 2WD to 4WD on a slope is not done by a push of a button, instead you have to wrestle a lever into place, so it was quite a tug of war. Well, once again momentum and throttle control are the key to success. After completing all the obstacles successfully, we returned to base, grabbed a bite and headed back home.
Speed may give you a high, but off-roading takes you into a completely different zone. Very few automotive experiences can compare with battling the elements and coming out on top like you do when off-roading. Mahindra’s Thars are quite exceptional at doing just that, and despite the fact that we left Igatpuri caked in mud, we also left with big smiles on our faces.
