When drivers depend on navigators

IT WAS a clear sky, neither blazing nor gray, blowing an early morning breeze fit for a Sunday. But a good number of those at the Madras Gymkhana Club felt only the winds: Blue was a colour these visually-impaired participants of the UCAL car rally for the blind simply did not know.

But today, they were in charge as navigators, using a braille map to trace the route. The National Association for the Blind, which organised the 10th chapter of its rally, made sure the course was undisclosed so the drivers would have to necessarily depend on the navigators.

The organisers went to extreme lengths to keep the route secret, even to the extent of getting a map prepared in braille at Coimbatore.

But the rally was more fun than just a charity event - it was an opening to a new world. ``The idea is to bring them into the mainstream. This is one event where the blind can participate in a fun, sporting event. They make a lot of friends and keep in touch even later,'' said Mrs. Alagu Muthu, honorary secretary, National Association for the Blind.

Actor, Mr. Arvind Swamy, who flagged off the rally after a one- line speech and left soon after, might just be a participant in next year's rally if he takes the compere's cue.

Despite the amateur nature of the competition, some of the participants were real-time enthusiasts, among them Arun Fredrick, Kamini Raheja and Gita Chandrasekaran, who are associated with the sport in some capacity or the other.

Though the event was without its usual grandiose touch, and remained a modest fare, the organisers were only a trifle disappointed. About 50 teams, with at least 7 all-women groups, participated in the rally today, though this is less than their previous rallies, which had about 90 participants.

When the association's usual sponsor for the rally could not chip in this year, Mr. Muthukrishnan, president of the Madras Motor Sports Club, got working. His company, UCAL Fuel Systems, took up the sponsorship to bring the event back into gear.

Which still leaves the organisation with less than the usual sponsorship amount. Not that it deterred the navigators. The 72.3 km-rally went on, nevertheless.

By Feroze Ahmed

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