Valley Run 2015: Quartermile rush

If someone tells you that they were witness to a Nissan GT-R out-dragging a Porsche 911 Turbo in India, don’t dismiss it as a figment of someone’s wild imagination. If you hear about discussions on automotive forums and social media, about a Yamaha V-Max and a Ducati Diavel competing against each other; believe it. All of this did indeed happen at the Aamby Valley airstrip in Lonavala.

On the January 10 and 11 this year, there was an assortment of bikes and cars tearing down an empty, perfectly paved airstrip, with the aim of setting the fastest quarter-mile times on our soil. This was the third edition of the Valley Run, India’s only drag racing event which takes place on a secluded airstrip.

Organised by Elite Octane, this year, there were 235 participants at the event of whom around 140 took part in the motorcycle categories while the rest competed in cars categories. Participants were divided into different categories as per the make, cubic capacities and modifications done to their vehicles; they were also allowed a practice run before the final one.

The final standings were decided on the basis of elapsed time. Participants' reaction time didn’t play a deciding role which created some confusion and also made the runs a little less interesting.

On the first day, the practice and final runs of the Indian-class motorcycles were completed while Indian cars, foreign cars and unrestricted class competitors were scheduled to compete on the second day. While the spectators drooled over an Audi R8, Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 Turbo, a BMW HP4, Suzuki Hayabusa and a Yamaha VMax, the highlight was a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, whose owner was courteous enough to unleash its over 600 horses and let everyone hear the roar of a V12.

Rizwan Khan won the M8 motorcycles category by completing the quarter-mile in a scant 9.9seconds on a BMW HP4. The M9 category was won by Gurpreet Singh who clocked a time of 10.021seconds on a Suzuki Hayabusa. He also won the Foreign bikes wheelie category on a BMW S1000R. 

Venkat Akela, driving a Honda City, claimed top spot in the B3 category Indian Pro Stock petrol 1451-1600cc with a time of 15.64seconds. The top honour in the K3 diesel open from 1801-2500cc went to Bhavik Shah who clocked a time of 14.459seconds in a BMW 320d.

In the Unrestricted foreign cars J category, Moin Motiwala clocked a time of 10.396seconds in a Nissan GT-R. Sundeep Singh Sokhi won the Foreign Cars above 4001cc H4 category with a time of 11.22seconds in a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640.

Other than the cars participating in the event, there was one other which caught everyone’s attention. Mumbai-based Vikram Walia drove down to the event in his modified Volkswagen Polo GT TSI which has a Pete’s remapped ECU, Bilstein B6 shocks upgrade, a BMC cold air take and more importantly, rear disc brakes and aftermarket paddle shifters.

This year also witnessed participation from two lady bikers. Labdhi Shah rode down from Surat on her Kawasaki Z800, which she purchased three months back and competed on it. She had witnessed the Valley Run before as a spectator, but was competing in it for the first time.    

Rehana Hajee, 20 years, participated in the event for the second time. She rode a KTM Duke 200 and a Yamaha RD 350.