Bangalore hosts Speed Run 2005

Bangalore:

Speed Run 2005 was held in Bangalore on Sunday attracting motor sport enthusiasts from around the country. The event saw cars and bikes, both Indian and foreign, competing over a quarter mile distance in a drag race a€" an acceleration test over a quarter mile distance.

Need for speed Jakkur Aerodrome, just outside Bangalore was the venue as thousands of motorsport enthusiasts came to see cars and motorbikes go as fast as they could over a quarter mile distance. "Quarter mile if you make one mistake it's all over. In other forms of racing, you can recover from your mistakes. In this - it's a fraction of a second and it's all gone. So that I think is what draws me to it. It's just a passion to go faster. I do my own car - so just trying to beat the other guy and try to achieve something and beat expensive cars with a cheaper car," said Siddharth Sinh Jhala, a competitor. "I have a need for speed, I love it so. I have from the time I was a kid. I don't think I have many fans on the road because I cut off a lot of drivers. I can't drive slowly actually," said Rayna Arahna, another competitor. Enthusiasts' dream There were categories for Indian and foreign cars and bikes - with over 270 entries. And for those who were not on the track but just watching - it was enough to drool over the mean machines and enjoy some vicarious thrills. "I like everything about it,the crowd, the people. The atmosphere is good," said a spectator. "All the latest technologies and the best looking cars, best looking, best performing. The acceleration, the human interface, the reaction times, just the whole experience, the aura of the cars is very exciting," said another spectator. Judging by the response of the die-hard fans in Bangalore, drag racing in India is here to stay.