GOOD MOTORING
Road to survival
H. Kishie Singh

Staying Power: Sunny Jind participating in the ASEAN Rally

The winner of this year’s Dakar Rally, Peterhansel, said after the race, “It is never easy and anything can happen.” Here is a rallyist who drives through some of the unfriendliest and harshest of terrains in the world. To finish, he has to depend on himself. Survival in the jungle or desert is a challenge and one has to devise methods that are ingenious.

Sunny Jind, a veteran of many rallies, too has been off-roading in 4x4s for half a century. His knowledge about motoring is considerable. He has just come back from the ASEAN Rally. A monumental drive, from Guwahati to Singapore. The first 4000 km of the 8700 km drive was through jungle and tracks. In Myanmar, there were no petrol stations. It was only after entering Thailand that they could get some service for the vehicle. It was a challenge and a test of survival.

Sunny carries two spare wheels and normally drives on tubeless tyres. Tubeless tyres usually lose air gradually. His advice to owners of tubeless tyres is: “Identify the puncture spot as soon as possible. Have your repair kit ready, remove the puncturing object and quickly plug it.”

And what is Sunny’s repair kit? Super glue and a tooth pick! Put a drop or two of super glue in the puncture, insert a tooth pick into it , apply some more glue at the top and then break off the extra tooth pick. The tyre will retain the air.” Brilliant. If you have your own compressor, inflate the tyre to the recommended pressure. If you don’t have a compressor, you will be able to limp out of the jungle — at least you won’t be stranded.

Summer is finally here. Have you checked that the seasonal settings on the air cleaner of the car is set to summer? A proper setting will give you a better fuel average. The owner’s handbook shows you how to do it. There has been a lot of wheat straw flying in the air lately. It may have choked the air filter. Blow clean with compressed air. Be kind to your car, respect it and it will return the favour.

I recently attended a first-aid workshop. The doctor explained, “In driving, you have the ABC of driving (Accelerator, Brake, Clutch). But if you happen to help an accident victim, check Airway, Breathing, Circulation – also ABC.” And, do not remove embedded objects. If you remove the embedded bit in a tubeless tyre, the air will escape. The same applies to human beings. If you remove the embedded object, blood could flow.

Make the person comfortable and call for help. In case of a mobike rider, there could be cervical or spinal injuries. Do not touch or move the person. Wait for professional help.

Happy motoring.