The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Uncertainty over Dasara car rally

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Wednesday, Sep 26, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Uncertainty over Dasara car rally

Shankar Bennur

Club wants to hold it on Vijayadasami, but Dasara panel not ready

MYSORE: There is uncertainty over whether Mysore Dasara 2007 will have the attraction of a vintage car rally as talks between the Dasara Committee and the Karnataka Vintage and Classic Car Club are apparently inconclusive. The car rally, which was a hit in 2004 and 2005, could not be held during the last Dasara.

More than 50 cars, including Lanchesters, Chevrolets, Fords, Mercedes, Hillmans, Sunbeams, and Cadillacs, had added sheen to the festivities. Some of the awesome automobiles, which were once owned by the royal families of Udaipur, Rajkot, Kutch and Travancore, had hogged the attention of the tourists.

This time around, the club, according to sources here, has proposed to showcase at least 100 vintage and classic cars and motorcycles during the festivities. It is keen to hold the rally on the day of Dasara procession (Vijayadasami) on October 21, like it did in 2005, they said.

But the timing of the rally has become contentious as the committee is believed to have asked the club to hold the rally on any day of the Navaratri festivities other than October 21. As the committee members, officials and the police will be busy overseeing arrangements for the grand finale, Jamboo Savari, they will be unable to make arrangements for the rally.

The representatives of the club met Dasara Special Officer and Deputy Commissioner N.S. Channappa Gowda here recently and offered to bring in more cars and motorcycles to add glamour to the festivities. Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao, members of the Dasara Procession Sub-committee and senior officials took part in the meeting.

Sources told The Hindu that the club was not eager for any other slot other than the day of procession.

Nevertheless, the Dasara Committee suggested that the club display its cars and motorcycles on the palace premises for two or three days (from October 17) and conclude the show with a rally on the procession route on October 19. “This will be another attraction for tourists among the many planned for Dasara. The main attraction will be the procession,” the sources said.

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