Chandigarh moped rally, this weekend

A rally, organised by the St John’s Old Boys’ Association with mopeds in 1981, will now celebrate its 25th edition this weekend. It made the modest beginning in 1981 with mopeds, scooters and motorcycles competing for honours on Chandigarh’s roads.

From being a once-a-year weekend adventure for motorists, the rally is now known among top motor rallies in India. National car rally champion Hari Singh and other leading names on the circuit owe it to the association for giving them their first big break. The army and several corporates also send their teams to the event.

In 1981, the alumni decided to do something different and they got a lot of suggestions. Finally, they decided to host a scooter and moped rally. It was the brainchild of Ranjit Sarin, said association president Shivneet Singh.

The members pooled resources to organise the event. Since 1981, the rally has been held every year except for a few years when the event had to be called off due to militancy in Punjab.

The 25th Thunderbolt Sub-Himalayan Open Rally from March 23 to 25 will participants on a new route. The first prize is Rs 2 lakh.

A ‘skill race’ will also be held at Chandigarh’s Sector 34 on March 23. “Motorists will have to pass through six competitive stages to reach Shimla, and then drive back through a new route,” organising member SPS Ghai said.

Along with Global Positioning System, there will be ambulances, marshals and doctors. The police in Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab will monitor the rally.