'Mahendra Great Escape' enthuse action obsessed Kodavas

Madikeri (Karnataka), Oct 14 (UNI) 'Mahindra Great Escape' that took over 50 powerful Mahindra four wheel-drive jeeps through the undulating terrain of this picturesque district enthralled the adventure loving people of Kodagu district apart from many other drivers who came from other parts of South India.

The 42-km, 32nd edition of the Mahindra Great Escape, the ultimate experience for mud-pluggers, was organised for customers of Mahindra in association with JK Tyres, MICO Bosch, and Bharat Shell.

In the past, it had been conducted in Rajasthan, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and it returned to Kodagu after a gap of six years. The entries to the event, which was limited to 40, crossed the 50 mark and the organisors had to agree accommodate the extra entries after seeing the enthusiasm of the participants.

Five time National Rally Champion Hari Singh designed the route and for the first time, Global Positioning System (GPS) was put to use in the non-competitive event. While the route tested the endurance of the machines, the skills and navigational prowess of the participants were stretched to the limit.

Unlike driving on tarmac or concrete roads, the Escape route took the drivers through some toughest terrain, which motor rally drivers can only dream of. It included mud, slush, rocks, and bumpy hilly tracks that had unending curves, steep downhill and uphill ways.

Part of the route included the Galibeedu road on which only a few jeeps traverse in a whole day. The competitors regrouped at picturesque Mandalpatti, the top most spot in around Madikeri.

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