Vintage car rally dazzles Guwahati streets

Guwahati, Sep 27 (UNI) For the first time, Guwahati today experienced the extravaganza of a vintage car rally as 27 Maurice, Volkswagen jeep, Jaguar and Austin dazzled the citizens on the occasion of World Tourism Day.

The rally, flagged off by Assam Tourism Minister Rockeybull Hussain, was a roaring sucess as the people cheered each car, many of them moving laboriously, as the oldies paraded throughout Guwahati city.

The rally was the brainchild of Pikloo Deka, a state government employee, who has spent his entire life's savings in collecting 45 cars, some of them not even in running condition.

A handful of car enthusiasts, including Atikur Rahman also exhibited their own collection, including a huge Plymouth, rendering the rally more colourful.

But the star of the show was Pikloo Deka, who, starting off with a Renault 749cc car in the early '90s, now owns some 50 vintage cars, 20 bikes, besides other relics, which might fetch him a fortune.

However, his belief is that this expensive passion would surely benefit the new generations to come.

Talking to UNI, Mr Deka said, ''Collecting antique pieces is my hobby and passion.

But I want to share it with all and preserve them for posterity so that our next generations can know the evolution of the comforts they enjoy.'' He has also a regret for his treasure.

His attempts at getting a permanent exhibition centre for his cars and bikes have hardly yielded any result.

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