GOOD MOTORING
Ready for the Raid

The Raid de Himalaya is being flagged off today from Shimla. The rallyists will drive through nearly 750 km of snow-covered roads. H.Kishie Singh reports.

FROM a mega event, the Raid de Himalaya has graduated to a maha-mega event. Beginning at Shimla, it will first go to Manali-Kaza (in Spiti), then to Jispa and Patseo (in Lahaul), and over Bara Lacha La into Ladakh. From there it will go to Leh, Kargil and terminate in Srinagar. Recent reports say that it has snowed in Kinnaur. Raid enthusiasts can look forward to maybe 750 km or more of snow-covered roads. The high passes promise sub-zero temperatures. It’s going to be a long, hard, difficult drive. So be prepared.

First, you should check your coolant to cope with low temperatures. Coolant freezing in the engine block can crack the block. Who needs that? The windshield washing fluid cannot be simply water. It will freeze on the windscreen and blind you. Add a bottle of Colin or something similar—a special solvent that won’t freeze.

You will need to be alert and cautious. Bridges and shady areas will have ice. Stopping distances will increase. Skidding will be the order of the day. Avoid stopping suddenly and sharp changes of direction with a quick flick on the steering wheel. Do not tailgate. Leave plenty of space between yourself and the lead car. Don’t end up paying for someone else’s mistakes.

The brakes, tyres, wipers (change blades now), defroster and hearer of your car should be in a perfect working condition. This will make life secure, safe and comfortable for you.

Keep your petrol tank full and carry spare fuel. You may be forced to turn back or, if you get stuck in a snowdrift, you can keep the heater on to keep you warm.

A lighted candle in the car cabin will keep you warm. But exercise extreme caution if you are carrying petrol. Carrying sleeping bags, blankets and extra clothing is recommended.

Biscuits, chocolates, dry fruit are essential survival items, as is a first-aid kit.

Carry a shovel. It will be of great help in digging yourself out of a snowdrift. A scraper to clear ice off your windscreen in the morning would be of help. Pull your wiper arms off the windscreen, clean the blades carefully, then spray the washing fluid and gently scrape the ice off.

Visibility is all-important, especially with fog, mist and snow all around. You may have white-out conditions. Even with the deforester working, it’s a good idea to have a soft cotton ‘dhoti’ to keep the windows clean. Do not wipe the windscreen with your hand. There is always some dirt, even grease, on the palm of your hand. Instead of cleaning the glass, you could dirty it and destroy visibility.

Snow and ice do not respect the best of off-road tyres. You need snow chains. They need special expertise to mount and drive. Take a crash course in their usage. And most importantly, carry them in your vehicle. This is important.

Last year there were a dozen or more snow chains in Patseo. The vehicles that needed them were on the other side of Bara Lacha La with a 16000-foot pass, snow covered in between! Don’t let that happen to you.

Nothing happens without the keys. One set of keys should be with you, one set with your co-driver and, for safety, a third set should be kept in your wallet. I have known a rally driver who failed to start because the ignition keys were lost.

A torch is a must and remember to carry spare cells. In extreme cold, like the battery of your car, torch cells die fast. Keep them wrapped up in your clothes for warmth.

In case things do go wrong, stick with your vehicle. It is easier for a search party to find a vehicle rather than an individual roaming around in a snow-bound area.

Raiders this year are in for an exciting experience. Be prepared mentally, physically and with materials.

Happy Motoring.