JANUARY 8: It will resemble a scene from the Gone With the Wind, replete with costumes and cars but sans Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh. That's Nariman Point for you on Sunday when over 100 old beauties will take memories back to the pristine past.The chance to go down memory lane is provided by the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India (VCCCI) who are organising the Castrol-Vintage and Classic Car Rally.The oldest classic in the fray also the oldest running car in the country is a 1903 Humber belonging to Vijay Mallya. Among the cynosure will be the 10 Rolls Royces, including a 1937 Rolls Royce Phantum 3 (with 12 cylinders the largest of its kind), five Bentleys, a 1960 Mercedes 190 SL which was once owned by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, a 1935 Chrysler Air Flow one of only two of its kind apart from others like Buick, Austin, Packard and Chrisler. And Triumphs including the oldest, a 1911 model and an Italian Motoguzzi 500cc 1952 prize winning classic among others in the 20-strong bike section.Theentries have been divided into three categories: antiques (vehicles built before December 31, 1904), vintage (built between 1905 and 1940) and classic (built between 1941 and 1960).The cars will burn their precious tyres over 80 kms while the routes would be disclosed to the participants before the start of the flag-off from Vidhan Sabha. And they will be pushed to the limit as they try and finish.Maybe finish first.How far can something so old be pushed ? Bindu Choksi who has a 1929 Ford Model 3, but will drive a friend's 1910 Rolls, explains: ``You need love and tact to drive them. You push them with your mind, not with the engine.''And someone like Farroakhi Bengali, owner of two Triumph Tigers (1955 and 1958 500cc twins), a 1965 Norton Dominator (500cc twin model) and a 1956 BSA B-31 350cc, can push his Tiger to 80 miles an hour. ``Used to do 90 miles an hour in 1968-70. But now I try not to push her,'' he said.Which is probably the reason why Michael Schumacher will not be allowed to drive one of these even if he were to offer.``It's like a thoroughbred horse. Depends on how the rider is handling, there is a certain communication between the two,'' says Pranlal Bhogilal, who will enter 18 of his rare beauties. The 60-year-old collector has over 200 oldies, giving him a place in the Guinness Book of Records. His daughter Chamundeshwari will be driving a 1934 Bentley. Chamundeshwari will be vying for the prize for the best performance by a ladies team along with Bindu Choksi and Niloufer Eapen.But one thing that will not bother the 60-year-old President of the VCCCI on Sunday unlike other days is parking space there will be plenty of that.Ten cars will be seen for the first time in action after restoration. They include a 1935 Avon SS Sports Tourer to be driven by Monisha Dossa. Both the car and driver are making their debut.Father Nitin Dossa, founder and honourary secretary of the VCCCI, said the rally is being held every year for the last 20 years. He himself is a car enthusiast and has about 30, 11 of which are entering the rally.Is 80 miles too much for some who were born before the people driving them ? A Mistry may not agree, since he is driving his 1947 Buick from Ahmedabad. Which might lead people to believe that Buick is Kenyan.There might also be doubts over Indian Pony's origin. It could be Indian or with a name like that could be Red Indian. The American Classic is the pride of Rustom Nariman's garage. Which also boasts of a 1952 Italian Motoguzzi 500cc prize winning model. But Rustom would love to mount is the Indian Chief (1100cc) and maybe a Harley Davidson.
