Burn tyres, put up obstacles, just for fun

Karachi plays host to the fifth round of the Xtreme Autocross Championship.

While the rest of Karachi opted to stay indoors amid fears of backlash and tyre burning as a high-profile funeral made news over a weekend, Karachi experienced noise and commotion, one that the participants indulged in with joy.

There were fumes, perhaps even some smoke. There definitely was a lot of clamour and commotion, mostly from the engines as the quiet afternoon gave way to a noisy evening when Karachi played host to the fifth round of the Xtreme Autocross Championship.

With 33 drivers showing up to display their art that is mastering the make-shift track, lots more stood on the sides, cheering, laughing and, briefly, forgetting the curfew-like situation in the rest of the city.

“We had organised the race well in advance and opted to go ahead with it despite the situation in the city,” said race organiser and participant Mansoor Halim. “There’s something or the other happening here all the time but that doesn’t mean you should stop having fun.”

The make-shift track

Fun was an understatement given the joy littering the faces standing on the sides. It was a different world to the rest of Karachi. The brightly-lit circuit was marked by gleaming hoods and roaring engines amid laughter and cheers. A parking lot - converted to a specially-designed racing track spotted with traffic cones - played host to pimped-up and stock rides with a single aim: the Fastest Time of the Day (FTD).

But it’s never the trophy which drivers compete for in the autocross. It’s the buzz, the adrenaline rush and the passion for fast cars and the competition brings them to Sea View. While some choose to race on the streets - putting themselves and others at risk - other enthusiasts channel their passion at the autocross. And with the championship primarily a source of enjoyment, as Halim put it, money is not made but put to good use.

“The autocross is meant for enjoyment and to promote racing. We have people volunteering here so obviously there’s not much money made,” said Halim, who explained that the Rs5,000 entry-fee for a driver does not earn them a profit given the expenses.

Not just a male circuit

Surprisingly, the circuit included female drivers who even had the fee waived off. Despite being less in numbers to their male counterparts, their mere presence in the parking lot, accompanied by friends or family members, they oozed confidence and added colour to the event.

Rules do exist

Like any other racing event, autocross has its own set of rules. The car, whether owned or borrowed, undergoes an inspection prior to the race. The participant needs a full driving license or parents’ permission if under-age.

As the crowd flocked to one Mitsubishi Evolution 8, owned and driven by the eventual winner Nadir Ali Magsi courtesy a 47.16-second lap, the realisation set in: the people of Karachi are in desperate need of entertainment.

The writer is a sub-editor at The Express Tribune

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2010.