The region's most looked forward to motorsports event – SJOBA rally – gets off to a thrilling start
They truly are the rally specialists in north India. The annual SJOBA Rally is the pride and joy of not only St Johns’ High School, St Johns’ Old Boys Association (SJOBA) and the city, but is now reckoned as one of the best professionally managed Sub Himalayan rallies of the country with 29 professionally and successfully managed rallies up its sleeve, this year being the 30th in series.
Photo By: Vikram Joy
The annual rally is seen as a nursery for motorsports in North India where almost all rallyists from this region have honed their skills. This year’s edition – SJOBA Nexen Sub-Himalayan Open Rally 2017 in association with Indian Oil Xtrapremium rolled out at exhibition grounds in Sector 34 on Friday afternoon.
The wet weather and the slush made it the perfect setting for the Spectator Special Stage (SSS) where the participants showcased their skills on the dirt track.
Photo By: Vikram Joy
A look at the highlights of SJOBA NEXEN TIRE Rally 2017
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- The main participants are from Delhi NCR, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh.
- The rally is open to general public having valid driving licence.
- For the first time new unexplored routes have been introduced, both for Extreme and TSD formats. It is a perfect mix of hilly, valley, river beds and dirt tracks.
- First time various classes have been introduced in various categories. Where Time-Speed-Distance (TSD) has professional, amateur and first time classes to participate in, Extreme form is classified into Moto (Motor Cycles), Jeeps and Cars classes. These all classes are further classified in different categories based upon their CC’s. Above all this, there are overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in all these broad classes. And for women, there is Coup De Dames, special prize in all broad categories. Therefore, there are 31 different classes/awards this time. A whopping prize money of approximately Rs five lakh.
- The rally is spread over three days (March 10-13).
- For the first time flagging off for the rally is 90 kms beyond Chandigarh on Day 2 from Kunipul, near Kunihar.
- Day 2 will see the flag off of competitive stage – Extreme and TSD rally, covering approximately 220 kms in the picturesque locales of Himachal Pradesh.
- On Day 3, rallyists will cover approximately 220 kms of new tracks. The Rally will culminate with a prize distribution/dinner ceremony in the evening at Chandigarh after declaration of winners in St. John’s High School, Sector 26, Chandigarh.
- Over 200 SJOBA members are working as marshals and various other categories to manage and control the Rally, with specialized teams covering the event in various forms.
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Photo By: Vikram Joy
What is SJOBA?
SJOBA was conceived by a small group of Ex Johnians in July 1980. It came into being, under the founder President Manmohan Lal ‘Mac’ Sarin (Class of 1964), with 7 founding members with a strong urge to give back to school and relive those wonderful moments with former schoolmates. Over the period, with persistent selfless efforts of the members and each leadership team every year, this alumni has taken the shape of a thriving community, which is over 3600 members strong and has a global presence with US SJOBA Chapter.
Photo By: Vikram Joy
Apart from the reunions, the organization prides itself in working towards social causes in and around Chandigarh. The school and SJOBA have been actively associated with blood donation drives, tree plantation initiatives, raising awareness towards saving water, saving the girl child, supporting economically weaker students, to list a few.
