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To Indian motorists, the capital of New Delhi and the bustling commercial centre of Bombay, might have been island dots in an ocean linked only by airliners. That was before the Marathon. The thought of crossing 1,500 miles of dusty plains and mountainous bandit badlands (India's last Robin Hood was gunned down a few years back) in the family saloon just never occurred to them.
Now that 73 cars, most of them family saloons, have done it almost overnight, the lure of the opened-up road is bound to catch on, judging by the enthusiastic comments of Indian motorists who never seriously considered it before. It came as a surprise, almost a revelation. Petrol stations, wayside curry houses and all the other paraphernalia of the motor road must inevitably spring up in the wake of this first Marathon to provide for what promises to be the fashionable thing to do - long distance motoring.
Another revelation brought by the Marathon: India is suddenly found to be a mere week away from London overland. Though few, if any, are likely to make it with Marathon speed, the startling new thought brings Europe much closer. This in fact has already got a few motoring live-wires examining the prospects of beating the Suez Canal closure by overland road haulage. The Cape route by ships, adds 25 per cent to imports from Western Europe, so the potential of road haulage along the old camel caravan trails to the Orient, looks good.
Cars in what Indian newspapers dubbed a 'carathon' had the eyes of great crowds all along the route, popping with interest at what to them were revolutions in design, power and gadgetry - like a glimpse into the future.
In India, imports are whittled to the bone and Customs duties are prohibitive on cars. Apart from the rare plush limousines of merchants, Rajahs, senior officials or foreign diplomats, car spotting is restricted to the Indian built 'Ambassador', a near copy of the old Morris Oxford of many years gone by.
Most of the cars honking their way through the city bedlam of pony tongas, bullock carts, tricycle rickshaws and teeming pedestrians spilling far into the roadway, are A-40 taxis, chuddering and wheezing and straining fit to burst the bits of wire, holding most of them together. Come the year, surely not far ahead, when they all collapse in a monumental heap, their replacement is yet another immense problem facing India.
Certainly, the Marathon brought a flush of excitement, perhaps the promise of brighter things to come, that will not soon be forgotten in villages along its route where time has stood still.
- Stephen Harper.
CHECKPOINT BOMBAY - by Stephen Harper
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Home I A Tale Of Two Cities I How It All Began I The Entrants I The Rules I Timetable I The Route I Their Story I Photo Albums
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The Ladies I How They Finished I BMC I Ford I Holden I Other Marques I Site Map I Memorabilia I Credits/About Us I Links
