Desi dirt biking on a scooter

If you think scooters don't belong to races, then today's scooter rally through Mumbai's worst roads is sure to change your mind

If you think scooters don't belong to races, then today's scooter rally through Mumbai's worst roads is sure to change your mind

Bored of watching jaded soaps and reality shows? Don't want to spend Sunday doing the regular mall trip? Then perhaps this is for you. Thirty-five riders are set to zoom across Mumbai's worst roads. Not on bikes but good ol' scooters.


Thirty-five riders will participate in the race.
illustration/ Satish Acharya

Held every year, this is the Gulf Monsoon Scooter Rally's 22nd edition, a 65 km long race that kicks off at Lower Parel and winds up at CBD Belapur. Negotiating potholes, the scooters will also ride on gravel-laden paths and slushy marshlands on the outskirts of the city.

All riders, aged 25 to 40 years, are expected to be dressed for the occasion, sporting elbow and thigh pads, jackets and kneecaps. "We have received lots of entries from participants passionate about racing. Some of them have cars for their daily commute but they maintain their faithful scooters just for this once a year ride," says Shrikant Karani, founder of Sportscraft, event organisers.

These geared (Bajaj Chetak, LML etc) and non-geared scooters (Honda Activa, Suzuki Access125 etc) will be tested to the maximum on dirt tracks. Karni says, "The race is very challenging, especially the 23km Targhar-Bombaypada-Ovala-Waghilwadi stretch. This bit includes a dirt track, the toughest part of the course."

The ride will begin at Our Lady's Home at Parel, and for the next 45 to 50 kilometers, the riders will obey all traffic rules. It is when they enter the dirt track via Uran road, that the action will really kick off. The race will finally end at K star Hotel, CBD Belapur, with the winner taking home Rs 51,000 and a trophy.u00a0Entries are closed, but this is going to be as much fun to watch. So, head to Bombay Phata off Uran road for mud-slinging of a different kind.

The race starts at Our Lady's Home in Parel at 7.30 am

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