170th edition of Mahindra Adventure Great Escape concludes in Lonavala

A picturesque green setting of the forests near Aamby Valley, a 20 plus line-up of Mahindra Thar’s, a challenging off-roading track prepared by the organisers, proved to be the perfect day for the proud Thar owners to get off the tarmac and head into the wilderness to test the ability of their vehicles.

It was the 170th edition of the Mahindra Adventure Great Escape event which took place at 19 Degree North, Adventure Park recently.

Mahindra Adventure has been organising this event since 1996 across various locations in the length and breadth of the country. The one-day event is the perfect platform for Mahindra car owners to experience the true off-roading capabilities of their cars.

In the earlier editions which were organised during the rainy season, the place is full of slippery tracks, slippery rocks, a lot of slushy ground and several rivulets which made the drive challenging. This time however the place had a peaceful charm as the participants set out in the Thar’s excited about how the track and day will unfold. It was not a race but an experience that was the highlight of the day.

After the event briefing, the convoy made it to the track as the excitement was evident on the faces of participants as they planned and discussed how will they drive crossing the different obstacles on the track.

Moving into the forest, the convoy moved slowly and overcame the initial obstacles as it started picking up speed at some places. As we drove further, we encountered slopes, river crossing, muddy patches and climbs which the Thar conquered with ease. It was about using the right technique as you conquer the obstacle in front of you.

Be it wading through the river, crossing grassy patches and the difficult pathways; every participant surely had an adrenaline-pumping day.  

More excitement was in store at the lunch area where participants got an opportunity to take their vehicles in a river with the water level being low. With the instructions from the organisers, the vehicles made their way into the water, made it through a set path and exited from the other side. It was here that all off-roaders got together and exchanged their views and experiences about the car and off-roading in detail. 

Musa Sherif, President of Indian Motor Sports Club (IMSC) who has been helping out with organising Great Escape expeditions so far said “The off-roading culture in India started in 2011, the credit for which goes to Mahindra Adventure. When they started the Great Escape concept, slowly they added other trails after looking at the success of Great Escape. It is then the off-roading culture picked up in India. We have organised 87 events for Mahindra Adventure”

“Till 2018, they had organised around 130 Great Escape editions across the country which improved interest in the locals and they were keen to see what kind of event it is. People who owned vehicles that could qualify to take part in such events started sending entries and that’s how the popularity grew. Once the popularity grew, people in different cities started forming off-roading clubs. In 2014 Mahindra came to know about such clubs getting established in various cities, so they decided to introduce club championship with the winner getting a brand new car which was a big boost. People got brand new vehicles and that is when off-roading came of age in India,” he added.