Road trip to Hampi from Hyderabad and back by Tanmoy Das in October 2024

Hyderabad - Hampi - Hyderabad road trip by Indian Roadie Tanmoy Das in October 2024 by Mahindra Scorpio N Automatic. 

October 2nd, 2024 -

Route: Hyderabad → Raichur → Manvi → Hampi.

Travel Details: Started at 7:00 AM and reached Hampi by 4:00 PM.Took accommodation at Clarks Inn, which offers ample covered car parking.

Road Condition: The route was unsatisfactory, with poor road quality throughout.

October 3rd -

Exploration: Visited major monuments in Hampi, including the iconic Virupaksha Temple and Vittala Temple.Hired an auto-rickshaw for the day, making travel within Hampi convenient.

Timings: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

October 4th -

Exploration: Explored most of the sites in North Hampi, including the Anjaneya Temple, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman.Used the same hired auto-rickshaw as the previous day.

Timings: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

October 5th, 2024 -

Return Route: Hampi → Ballari → Kurnool → Hyderabad.

Travel Details: Opted for this alternate route despite it being 50–60 km longer than the onward journey.Road conditions were intermittently poor, with several rough patches.

Vehicle Used - Scorpio N Diesel Automatic.

Overall Distance- 825 km

Avg Speed - 45km/h

The trip to Hampi was culturally enriching and smooth within the Vijayanagari , but road conditions on both onward and return routes were subpar, making the journey less comfortable. 

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First Yugoslavian Volkswagen - TAS 1

First Yugoslavian Volkswagen - TAS 1

On 10 November 1973, the first Yugoslavian "Buba" (Beetle) rolled off the line at Tvornica Automobila Sarajevo (TAS) in Vogošća - a northern suburb of Sarajevo - which today is located in the Sarajevo Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Beetles were built in Yugoslavia from 1973 to 1976 on a CKD basis and a total of 31,667 examples were produced, comprising the 1200J (29,112), 1300J (525) and 1303J (2,030). The J suffix on the engine lid badges stood for Jugoslavija.

When the civil war in the former Yugoslavia ended in 1998, the plant was re-established as Volkswagen Sarajevo. 

Credit: Pete Frost 

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Audi launches EV brand AUDI in China

Audi has introduced a new EV sub-brand dedicated to the Chinese market in China in November 2024. The ubiquitous four ring logo has been removed. Called “AUDI”, this new brand is part of an extended joint venture set up with partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), which also owns British-born carmaker MG Motor. The two also unveiled the AUDI E concept, which offers a preview of three future production models to be introduced from mid-2025 onwards.

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Christopher Rilling designed an unique bed lift in his 2017 make MWH 144 high roof Sprinter

Christopher Rilling of California designed a very unique  layout including a bed lift system to maximize space in a 2017 make MWH 144 high roof Sprinter. 

Follow Christopher Rilling on instagram @lightrvelers 

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Mercedes Benz Streamliner 1935

1935 Mercedes Benz Streamliner. 

These buses with streamlined bodywork were built for pre-war use by the Deutschereichsbahn on Germany's new intercity highways. 

Has anyone seen or driven one anywhere around the world? 

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Toyota Corolla in New Zealand has clocked 20 lakh kms and still going strong

A man in New Zealand has created a record of sorts. The car he bought in 1993 - a Toyota Corolla - has clocked more than two million (20 lakh) kilometres. And surprisingly, the car is still running efficiently. According to New Zealand Herald, 72-year-old Graeme Hebley noticed the milestone mark in March and believes it will run "forever". Mr Hebley has been working as a newspaper delivery contractor since the 1960s, the Herald report further said. He purchased the car in the year 2000 when it had only 80,000 kilometres on the odometre.

Mr Hebley drives from Wellington to New Plymouth and back six days a week. This means the car runs 5,000 kilometres every week, which requires him to get it serviced every fortnight.

The Corolla, which still has the original engine and transmission, is serviced at Guthrie's Auto Care in Whanganui every two weeks for the last 22 years, according to New Zealand Herald.

"I broke down one morning in one of my vans. I rang John Sherman from Guthrie's and he came out and helped me. I have been getting all of my servicing done here since," Mr Hebley was quoted as saying by the Herald.

"It was used to deliver chippies in Tokyo before I got it," he further said.

The only major changes in the car's two-decade-long journey are cambelt - which has been replaced 20 times - and wheel bearings. Besides these parts, the car is original, the outlet further said.

Freddie Smiley converted his Mercedes Benz to a campervan

Freddie Smiley of Baughurst toiled hard and completed the task of converting his Mercedes Benz into a campervan in early August 2023. He is naturally happy that it was worth all the blood, sweat and tears. 

(Possibly will feature this story in Indian Roadie eGranth in the August 2023 issue)