Head to this supercar drag racing event in Juhu

Whoever coined the phrase ldquowhat a dragrdquo could learn a thing or two about the highoctane motorsport that has kept racing enthusiasts glued to their seats for almost as long as performance cars have existed The short 402 mlong races popularised by the rise in customisation in the 2000s are the perfect way to witness the marvels of modern automobile engineering This weekend Elite Action a racing community will bring the action to the Juhu Airport a unique yet somewhat familiar venue The lineup includes electric cars like the Audi RS etron GTRongom Mukerji citybased motorsport enthusiast and the brains behind the event takes us back in time to Mumbai in the late 1980s and 90s ldquoBack in the day the airport was the heart of a small yet closeknit community of performance vehicle owners The airstrip would be transformed into a track and the areas surrounding it would be used for offroading It was usually the high net worth individuals HNIs who would assemble at such closed eventsrdquo he recallsA BMW blue and a McLaren orange prepare for a drag raceWhile the airport subsequently evolved into a hub of general aviation GA and VIP aircraft movement leaving the supercars no option but to hit the road Mukerji insists that the fanbase has transformed just as much Itrsquos the democratisation of motorsports he believes that marks the evolution of the scene over the last four decades ldquoSuper cars and bikes became more attainable and hence common Thanks in part to social media the newer generation has developed an interest in competitive racingrdquo he notesThis weekend after the last aircraft calls it a day at the Juhu Airport Mukerjirsquos team will take over the airstrip turning into a sight straight out of a Fast and Furious title More than 80 supercars comprising factory builds to supercars modified to perfection by motorheads will roll into the venue ldquoTo give every kind of enthusiast something to look forward to we invited a diverse set of cars that will compete in different categories based on their BHPs brake horsepower a measure of a vehiclersquos powerrdquo he sharesA supercar participates in a pilot testing event at the airstrip in 2022At the fivehourlong event visitors can choose to witness the drag races from the stands or take a detour and get up close with the automobiles ldquoWhere else can you find cars from the Mercedes AMG series BMW M series Porsches Lamborghinis and McLarens under one roofrdquo Mukerji chuckles We learn that electric vehicles like the Mercedes EQS Audi RS etron GT and the Porsche Taycan EV will also make an appearance ldquoThey might not sound as powerful as their fuelpowered counterparts but they can give them a run for their moneyrdquo the organiser reminds us Amid ongoing discussions around the misuse of supercars in the state Mukerji assures us that safety remains the first priority for him ldquoThat is exactly what took us so long We have a clearance from the Airport Authority of India and a strong set of SOPs that we will abide byrdquo he shares adding that the spectators will be protected by barricades placed strategically around the tracks for their safety at all times ldquoThere is a dearth of dedicated tracks in the country with Maharashtra having none I hope to see one soon so enthusiasts have a controlled environment to burn some rubberrdquo he concludes Rongom MukerjiON May 25 8 pm onwardsMEETING POINT Main Gate Juhu Airport Airport Area SV Road JuhuLOG ON TO insiderinENTRY Rs 3500 onwards Airport rules applyReady to race Supercars including but not limited to BMW Audi Lamborghini Mercedes AMG and Porsche can participate Owners of modified cars must declare their modifications and tunings to the organisers Vehicles will be categorised based on their BHP at the organisersrsquo discretion Participants should carry their own protective gear A valid Indian Union driving licence is mandatoryLOG ON TO eliteoctanecomCOST Rs 25000 registration fee