The Rickshaw Run is a 2,000 mile, two week trek across the entire sub-continent of India, all in the name of charity. Organized by The League of Adventurists, there's just one tiny catch to keep things interesting: we must make this journey in what is easily deemed the least suitable vehicle for transport, the Indian auto-rickshaw (also called a rick, tuk-tuk, or simply “tuk”). Think glorified lawnmower.
The Autumn 2010 Run, otherwise known as the Monsoon Run – since Bri couldn’t get enough of the rain in New England – starts September 11th, 2010. Raiders of the Lost Tuk will race alongside just 60 teams from around the globe in an effort to raise much-needed funds and awareness for a worthy cause.
The league is specific about the rules: There are none. If we get arrested-tough. Hurt-it was fun while it lasted. Lost-well, isn’t that what we signed up for?
The Run pits Raiders of the Lost Tuk against sweaty jungle heat, dirt tracks, monsoon rains, and Himalayan peaks. With only the support of what can be kept in the three-wheeled beauty, the grueling journey is a test of our ability to keep our humor, physical stamina and sanity. But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and more importantly, for a good cause!
Check out these video clips from past runs to see what it’s all about:
What’s the Route?
It’s simple: Get from Point A to Point B. The route? It's all up to us!Do you have experience traveling in India? We'd love your help plotting where to go, where to avoid and what to see along the route. Take a look at a google map of our route - it is editable, so jump in and give your input!
With air thin and the roads bendy, we will don our official team Snuggies from the starting line in the snowy Himalayan town of Gangtok, Sikkim, located in northern India near Nepal. Depending on Jim’s navigation skills, our team should arrive roughly two weeks later at the finish line deep in the desert of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, aptly nicknamed “The Golden City.”
We’re on our own to plan our route, figure out where to sleep, and improvise when things don’t go as planned. Such is adventure. We’ve got a starting line, a finish line, and 2000 miles of awesomeness to figure out for ourselves in between. Maybe AAA will provide us with a TripTik?
What is a Rickshaw?
A machine of mirth with a pounding heart of 150cc pushing 7hp of raw power to the wheels, the Indian Auto-Rickshaw is engineering at its... well perhaps not its best. A rickshaw, also known as a rick, tuk-tuk, or simply “tuk,” looks and rides like a golf cart or glorified lawnmower. Driving a ‘shaw might not be the fastest thing we’ll ever do, but by goodness we’ll be doing it for a good cause.
Amenities Include:
•Specifically designed for short distance inner-city driving (2000 miles seems appropriate)
•Maxes out at around 35mph
•Three wheels (four is overrated, anyways)
•Heated seats – well, if you count the friction of the ride
•Glorious leatherish interior
•0 to 30 in about 160 seconds or longer
•No doors or windows for a spectacular “wind-whipping-through-your-hair-in-a-convertible” feeling
Kate and Bri have no idea what the following mean (it means Jim is in for a long trip), but just in case some of you grease monkies were interested, here are the specs on our ol’ beauty:
Engine: 2 stroke, single cylinder, forced air cooled
In September 2010, as 1 of just 60 teams from around the globe participating in the Autumn 2010 Rickshaw Run, Raiders of the Lost Tuk will set out in a rickshaw on a grueling 2,000 mile, 2 week trek across the entire sub-continent of India (see route), all in the name of charity.
Officially Endorsed by Famed Adventurer Will Cross
Raiders of the Lost Tuk has been officially endorsed by Will Cross, type 1 diabetic and famed adventurer who has ascended the highest peaks on all 7 continents and walked to both the North and South Poles. As Will says, "The Rickshaw Run drew my attention from its inception; a unique approach to a pandemic condition in a fascinating part of the world. I am pleased to endorse the Raiders of the Lost Tuk in their quest to raise important funds for JDRF." Read more here.
Contact us
LostTuk@gmail.com 617-548-6610 Raiders of the Lost Tuk 1295 Beacon Street, Box 741 Brookline, MA 02446
