Government to Back Vintage Auto Rallies to Promote Indian Tourism Industry

By siliconindia | Monday, 12 October 2015, 10:21 Hrs

Some automobile beauties lined up to participate in the event include rare models like Bugatti Royale (France), Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes Benz, two Duesenberg from the U.S. (one of which is owned by American comedian Jay Leno), all from the 1930s.

A royal car that once belonged to the Dumraon Raj of Bihar, but now owned by proprietor of 'Bombay Samachar' Hormusji Cama, would also be part of the grand event.

"This year, the focus is on quality of the cars and not numbers and we will present some of the rarest beauties, I can assure that," says Mohan who is a car aficionado, who commands an impressive fleets of over 250 cars, rare motorbikes, old phaetons, locomotives and even steam-driven road-rollers.

The 2015 rally in February was attended by the then Tourism Secretary Lalit K Panwar, who had shown keen interest in using the event as a platform to showcase India's potential as a motoring tourism destination.

"The tourism ministry believes in our vision and, if not millions but at least a few thousands or a lakh of tourists, we can think of attracting through this endeavour," says Mohan.

The rally's founder also said that as part of the vision to go global with the event, a few months ago, the brochure of the 2016 rally was released at the premiere Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, in California in the U.S., in the presence of Hollywood icon and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Olympics gymnast legend Nadia Comaneci and business tycoon Ratan Tata.

"They all extended their wishes to this event and Mr Tata has even said that he would try to attend the event on both the days. Besides, this year, our judges would also be drawn from a number of experts and people who have achieved eminence in their field," he adds.

In the fifth edition earlier this year, vintage automobiles including the 1886 vintage first petrol-fuelled car 'Motorwagen', flown in specially from Malaysia, Ford Galaxy, 1929 Morris, 1936 Daimler Sports Coupe, 1947 Cadillac, besides rare Lambretta, BSA, Norton and Indian bicycles were showcased, before the motor enthusiasts took the beauties out for a spin on a 52-km stretch from the Red Fort to Gurgaon.

"This year, as well we will be hosting rare Norton, Indian, Harley Davidson, among other brands in the motorbike category," says Mohan.

Source: PTI