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A date with old beauties

Madhur Tankha

FUN AND NOSTALGIA: Cars during the 41st Statesman Car Rally in Delhi on Sunday. Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI: In a typically "British weather" with specks of rain and freezing wind, Delhi's car connoisseurs were on Sunday literally taken back to the days of the Raj at National Stadium where over 100 old beauties in gleaming colours came to a halt on the conclusion of the day-long 41st Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally 2007.

National Rail Museum's John Morris 1914, that led the cavalcade of old favourites, was the cynosure of all eyes. No wonder, in the vintage section, it won the Statesman Challenge Trophy for the oldest vehicle, while the C.R. Irani Memorial Trophy was handed over to Diljeet Titus for his Minerva 1927. In the classic section, Mira Singh Akoi won Purolator India Limited Trophy for her Jaguar 1951, while Diljeet Titus won the Malibu Towne Trophy for his Buick 1949.

In the post-war section, Ajay Kapur won the Ansal Housing Trophy for his Chevrolet 1956, while Navinder Singh won Delhi Diary Trophy for his Pontiac 1948. In all, more than 30 trophies were handed over to the winners.

For Dr. Poonam Chandra, whose husband Vijay Chandra walked home with the V.K.R. Menon Trophy for his Morris 8 1937, it was a `special' occasion as her daughter came all the way from New York to participate. "I call my car Lady Penelope," said Dr. Chandra, who also acted as navigator to her husband during the rally.

Organised way back in 1964, the annual rally is at the core of a movement to preserve the motoring heritage of the country. For the contestants, the rally is an ideal opportunity to proudly travel down the road in their classic beauties with car connoisseurs cheering them up.

In the morning, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal S.P. Tyagi, flagged off the rally from Statesman House here on Barakhamba Road.

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