Rickshaw Run

The Rickshaw Run is an event that first ran in December 2006, with international teams driving 150cc, 7 bhp, Auto Rickshaws 3,750km across India from Cochin in the southern state of Kerala to Darjeeling in the Himalayan foothills. In its inaugural run, thirty-four teams started the event, and thirty-one of those finished.

Not for the faint-hearted, the rickshaw run involved a good deal of peril for the participants, with several minor road incidents occurring during the 'race'. However, this element of danger, together with the opportunity to pass through a wide variety of landscapes and cultures makes the Rickshaw Run an experience of a lifetime.

The Rickshaw Run is organised by the Adventurists [ [http://www.theadventurists.com :: The Adventurists :: Welcome ] ] , who founded the successful and now annual Mongol Rally.

Where and when

The Rickshaw Run takes place every 6 months with a Summer and Winter edition. The route changes each time but starts from the finishing point of the previous run. Inititally the route just included India but by the second Run teams were going through Nepal

Past Rickshaw Runs
2006/07 Winter Run (26/12/06) started in Cochin and finished in Darjeeling.
2007 Summer Run (30/06/07) started in Calcutta and finished in Manali.

Future Rickshaw Runs
2007/08 Winter Run (31/12/07) starting in Cochin and finishing in Kathmandu Nepal.
2008 Summer Run (01/06/08) starting in Kathmandu and finishing in Pondicherry.
2008/09 Winter Run (01/1/09) starting in Pondicherry and finishing in Shillong.
2009 Easter Run (04/11/09) starting in Shillong and finishing in Goa.

Charity donations

Teams raise money for charities. Each team consisted of one rickshaw and between 1 and 4 drivers depending on how squashed they wish to be. The Rickshaw is a vehicle designed to transport light loads over small distances on paved roads, making it a unique choice for the challenge. Each team has to raise a minimum of £1000 for charities working in India and Nepal. The main charities for the Rickshaw Run are Mercy Corps, Frank Water and Save the Children, depending on where the Rickshaw Run takes place.

ee also

*Mongol Rally
*Ruta del Sol

References

External links

* [http://indiacurrents.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=eb9333c00f889bc926a682cef538393b "2400 Miles in an Auto-Rickshaw", by Ranjit Souri, "India Currents", June 2008]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/aug/11/saturday.adventure "Road to Manali", The Guardian, Aug 11, 2007]
* [http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/02/04/stories/2007020400010200.htm Antara Das, "That's the Rickshaw Run", The Hindu (magazine), Feb 04, 2007]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/hampshire/content/articles/2006/12/12/rickshaw_run_feature.shtml "Rickshaw Run", BBC Hampshire, Jan 23, 2007]
* [http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/12/28/stories/2006122801500100.htm "All the way to Darjeeling in auto rickshaws", The Hindu (Metro Plus Kochi), Dec 28, 2006]
* [http://www.rickshawrun.com Rickshaw Run website]
* [http://www.mongolrally.com Mongol Rally website]
* [http://www.theadventurists.com]