A group of 12 members of the Classic Car Club of Ceylon and their families, 22 in all, were priviledged to be invited to be part of the Royal Classic Car Drive from Bangalore to Mysore. My wife Roshi and I were happy to have been able to free the time to join the event, which took place from 30th September to 2nd October 2018.
The activities commenced with dinner at Kala Farm on the outskirts of Bangalore on Saturday, the eve of the event, where the participants from across India, Sri Lanka, France and UK had the opportunity to meet and greet each other, view the impressive collection of classic cars and motorcycles of our host Dr Ravi Prakash, President of the Federation of Historic Vehicles of India (FHVI) and enjoy his family’s warm hospitality.
The drive to Mysore commenced early on Sunday morning. We left the host hotel, the Radisson Blue Atria Bengaluru, to assemble at the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of the Karnataka State Legislature, and the office of H.D. Kumaraswamy, its Chief Minister. Mr Kumaraswamy was there himself, to flag off each participant, and we were soon negotiating the Bangalore traffic, made a little easier by a police escort.
Leaving Vidhana Soudha, we drove to Mysore, stopping for a typical South Indian breakfast at Hotel Midway. Driving classic cars on the Indian highways was an interesting experience in itself. Their driving etiquette is unique with the horn being used as a rite of passage, and a constant reminder of one’s presence. To make our journey more interesting, it incorporated a Treasure Hunt. We were thankfully kept hydrated and refreshed along the way with chilled juices and king coconut, courtesy of Advaith Hyundai Mandya, the event’s main sponsor.
The welcoming at the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel was grand. Rhythmic music, beating drums and garlands hailed to welcome 50 tired drivers and their passengers to a historic location. Built in 1921 on the orders of the Maharaja of Mysore for the exclusive stay of the then Viceroy of India, the Lalitha Mahal is the second largest palace in Mysore. Being fashioned on the lines of London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, it was the perfect location for the classic cars and their crews to take rest after their exhausting journey.
But the rest was short lived. By evening we were back in the cars, parading through Mysore town, and on to the stunning Mysore Palace. It seemed that most of the city’s residents were on the streets to greet the classic cars from Bangalore. The crowds were unimaginable… something that I certainly didn’t expect. It was a touching experience driving slowly past multitudes of people, most of whom referred to the Mini I was driving, as a “Mr Bean Car”, with the occasional petrol head recognising it to be a Mini Cooper, similar to the iconic cars from the ‘Italian Job’. And I felt like a celebrity, much as Michael Caine was in 1969. Many wanted selfies with the car. Kids wanted us to toot our horn. The Indian’s really seemed to appreciate the classic cars that drove past them.
If I were to pick one moment of the drive that was indescribably beautiful, and memorable, it was driving into the grand Mysore Palace, made all the more majestic by its illumination. As we parked our cars in the foreground of the Palace, we enjoyed the sound of classical Indian music performed live by the Police band. We ambled around mesmerised by our surrounds. The lit palace with the music in the cool breeze was a romantic memory straight from a fairytale. The Palace Elephants made an appearance to add to the experience, which could only be described as surreal. After some time, we returned to the hotel, to a sumptuous tandoori buffet, enjoyed in traditional dress.
For those prepared to make an early start (of which I was not one), the first item on the agenda on Monday morning was a drive to Chamundi Hill, for a bird’s eye view of Mysore City. I was told it was spectacular. Having returned to the hotel, those looking for an adrenaline rush were provided with the opportunity to compete in a Gymkhana – an event where the Classics were driven at speed through an obstacle course and the winner adjudged by the best time achieved. Classes were established based on the age of the competing cars.
With just enough time allowed for us to freshen up, it was off to lunch at the 98 year old Mysore Horse Race Club, where the cars were displayed for viewing by the members and their guests, whilst the participants enjoyed a ‘Biriyani Clout’, which as throughout the trip was offered in ‘veg’ and ‘non-veg’ versions. All tastes were catered for, both in food, and automobiles.
The grand finale of the event was a Gala Dinner hosted by the FHVI at the Windflower Resort and Spa. Here, the cars made their final appearance, encircling the open air event, seemingly like soldiers providing a guard of honour. Speeches were followed by awards, and a live band provided entertainment. Action stations catered for cuisine from several corners of the globe, and the participants now free of their responsibilities, enjoyed wining, dining, and dancing the night away, culminating in a baila session to the tune of ‘Surangani’.
Tuesday morning arrived too soon, and it was time to bid farewell to our new friends, with invitations extended for them to visit us back in Sri Lanka, and an enhanced respect for the ‘Classics’ that were now en route back to their garages, no doubt looking for some well-earned R and R.
To say the Royal Classic Car Drive was ‘rewarding’ would not be doing justice to the experience, which was rich from a motoring point of view, amazing from a cultural standpoint, blended with fellowship and friendship. I look forward to many more events like this, where ‘petrol heads’ can meet in different countries and experience the country through a classic car lens.
Finally, a big ‘thank you’ from us, the Sri Lankan guests, to our like-minded friends in India for their generosity, kindness and hospitality. We couldn’t have been felt to feel at home more!
By Sheran Fernando
