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Old pacemakers win hearts

The excitement in the air was palpable as people thronged the Kala Ghoda parking lot to admire the cars on display at the VCCCI rally on Sunday.

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Men posed with the Jaguar imagining themselves owning it—even if for a moment; children asked their mothers why they didn’t have cars like this at home, someone remarked how difficult it must be to drive these cars on city roads: the excitement in the air was palpable as people thronged the Kala Ghoda parking lot to gape at and admire the cars on display at the VCCCI (Vintage and Classic Car Club of India )rally on Sunday.

The rally was flagged off at 9 am and among the entrants were several cars owned by business tycoon Vijay Mallya. Actor Jackie Shroff made a “guest appearance” to see his car drive away. Police Commissioner AN Roy, a car rally veteran, and family in a Chrysler were among the known faces present. “I’ve always had an interest in vintage cars; however, this year they requested me to also drive a car. It’s a nice way to spend your Sunday,” Roy said.

Twenty-two-year old Rahul Shah, one of the first to complete the route in his 1936 Rolls Royce, said that his interest in rallies was triggered off by his father. “We have had this car for the past 20 years; it once belonged to the Nizam of Hyderabad,” he said.

Most families at the rally had cars that had been in the family for years, like AR Dadachanji, a Parsi priest, who took his family for a spin in their 1939 Morris-8. “It’s from the same year that I was born,” he smiled. He added that he had been participating in the rally for the past 25 years.

Sameer Kadam, owner of 14 cars, said that his 1939 Ford had been in the family for the past 30 years. “We entered four cars including the 1960 Mercedes, and I drove the 1936 Adler. But, in this sunny weather, a convertible gets a little uncomfortable,” he said.

And for those who thought cars were a male hobby, there was also an all-woman team driving a 1928 Ford.

Mohsin Ikram, founder and president, VCC Pakistan, who had come to judge the event was particularly impressed by the 1936 Phantom II Rolls Royce. “It’s a heart stopper, not just a show stopper.” he said. VCCCP(Vintage and Car Club of Pakistan) and VCCCI plan an Indo-Pak rally in November from Mumbai to Karachi. “We have many good cars in Pakistan as well, some very nice 50’s and 60’s classics, so it will be quite a sight to see them all in one place,” Ikram said.

Jim Khan, vice-president of VCCCP, added, “It’s a wonderful, classy event and the people here have treated us with so much  love. The cars are just amazing.”

While the 1912 Wolesley and the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud were among the favourites, a battered old 1955 BMW bike, a 1911 Triumph Trusty and a 1953 Norton Manx also attracted many eyeballs.

The Winners

Cars: Vintage (1911-1940): 1. 1929 Rolls Royce 20HP (Fali Dhondy), 2. 1934 Austin (Riyhad Kundanmal), 3. 1928 Buick (Dr. Vijay Mallya) & Quresh Karachiwala (Mercedes 170V).

Classics (1941-1960): 1. 194 Jaguar SS (Dr. Vijay Mallya) & Jaguar MK VII (Dr Kali Kapadia); 2. 1946 Buick-8 (Dinesh Lal), 3. 1947 Chrysler (Pheroze Mehta).

Recent Classics (1961-1980): 1. 1969 Volkswagon (Anand Desai), 2. 1962 Fiat (Pheroze Mehta).

Best maintained Vintage car (before 1940): 1. 1933 Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental (Amirali Jetha). n Best maintained Classic car (1941-1960): 1. 1947 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith (Hormusji Cama).

Motor-Cycles: Vintage (before 1940): 1. 1927 BSA (Jacob Eapen). Classics (1941-1960): 1956 BSA (Pervez N Patel).

Best maintained (Vintage): 1927 BSA (Jacob Eapen). Classic (upto 1960): 1955 BSA Goldstar (Dnyanesh Samant).

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