18th and 19th January, 2008. Dates that remain in my memory embossed in chrome for all eternity! I have been an avid bulleteer and wanted to be a part of all that Enfield, Bullet, Chrome and Thump ever seemed to signify. For the first time did I truly understand what it means to be a part of a heritage, a tradition, a cult and a statement.
18th morning I rode in from Tadipatri to Hyderabad at around 5 a.m. and slept at a friend's apartment till 10. Then freshened up and rode off towards Ramoji Film City. When I started at begumpet, Hyderabad, I was feeling amused at other people turning their heads to check out my thump. When I reached Ramoji, I couldnt hear my engine and had to check the ammeter was still running. I was there. Being a part of Rider Mania..and the mania had just began. A huge parking lot (kudos to the Hyderabad Wanderers for the choice of venue...the parking lot stole the show) was slowly being filled by Enfields...Bullets, Electras, TB's, Machs, 1956, 2008, mikuni carbs, K&N filters, allow wheels, vintages, tourer lookalikes, Orange County ripoffs, scramblers, AVL's, Cast Irons, 350's, 500...thundering down the ramp and into the lot. People needed shades to look at the lot, there was so much of chrome gleaming in the Sun.
I was a solo rider and could only stare in a combination of awe, admiration and some admissible jealousy as the clubs came roaring in. Royal beasts (Delhi), Inddiethumpers (mumbai), Roadshakers (Pune), Wanderlust (Nagpur) and RTMC (Bangalore) made me want to belong to each one of them...filling the ambience with their bonhomie backslapping and smoke!
Solo I didnt remain for long. Having been in touch with Kaushik "Chats" Chatterjee a few times earlier, I was a by-default entry into the Hyderabad Wanderers...and after a short ride with the Madras Bulls (Chennai) I was a by-draght entry into their club over a few beers. Hari, Mohan, Srinu and Badri shall remain my first Club ride mates! It was in the evening that I heard a group talking in bengali and we bangalis are notorious for our defiance of the "likes-repel" theory. Within the next 15 minutes, I had changed my status from a solo rider to a proud (through-the-roof kinda proud) member of the Eastern Bulls (Kolkata). Arijit, Faisal, Pradipta, Malay, Hero and Indra became family at RM-08.
First evening was a little slow with people still trying to figure out beer shops and their rooms (in that order of priority) and things started to roar during the "figure of 8" contest. Later, a very disgruntled bunch of bulleteers were asked to dismount, turn off their engines cuz the party was inside Ramoji film city which were off limits for our monsters. Couldn't afford to give the Telugu Moviestars a complex, could we?
Second day kicked off to a fatastic start...the entire bunch of groggy, sleepy eyed, hung over bulleteers giving the roads of Ramoji Film City the guard of honour. The Dirt race and the slow race followed suit. The amount of talent on display made me want to sell off my Bullet and buy a TVS Luna...or a Hero Puch maybe. I didnt deserve to ride a Bullet. Famous riders like Prasant (RTMC) had to walk off because as he put it "There was only one weak link in my bike...the Engine". People bit the dust on some occasions and the spectators bit a lot more dust cuz the ones who didnt gape, screamed!
The "Shaan-E-RM" display on the second day was something that I can only describe as a spectacular spectacle! An Indian Big Chief 1944 rolled in. Left handed accelerator, advance ignition control on the right, a hand-gear, mcpherson strutts on the front tyre and a three chambered tank was soon surrounded by eyes that couldnt take in enough. People were posing with it as would have driven any human being nuts. The bike was only too happy to have its splendour rub off a little on the guys. The Indian was soon joined by a Triumph, a Douglas dragonfly, an RE twin, a BSA and a Jawa. The sounds of these engines made me want to chew up my silencer.
As the Sun set on Day II, Bulleteers were herded into buses once more...this time for the closing party. The DJ belted out tunes to a throbbing dance floor as prizes were handed out. My special kudos go out to Snigdha Chavan, the best lady rider at RM-08. It has been my honour to have watched her handle a Bullet with her casual élan. Challenges flew, as someone decided to wrestle arms with the arm wrestling event champ. The legendary Bawa soon put an end to his highly "spirit"-ed aspirations.
At the end of the party I stood at the gate of the enclosure, looking down at the bikes, replendent in the moonlight. The number was a matter of conjecture with figures ranging from 270 to 458 being bandied around. The RM was coming to an end. The beginning of a year long wait till RM 09, Bangalore. I felt sad. It was the first time in my life where I was surrounded by total strangers and towards whom, your first greeting would be "So which machine are you riding?".
As I walked into my room, Room 315, Karthik 'Karts' came in. We spoke for a while...him to an enthusiast, me to a veteran...and then parted on the promise to meet again next year. I am looking forward to it...when Engines, cities, names and surnames, caste and creed would melt into one single steady thump once more. I am a Maniac!