She has driven on the highways of Gangtok and Darjeeling, and says she owes it to her dad for giving her the freedom to drive. Shalini Bokaria, 44, loves driving and is looking forward to participate in the Indian Oil All Women Duchess Car Rally on July 4.
“I have been driving for almost 30 years now, and I love it. But I will not be driving in the rally this year because my team mate wants to enjoy the experience,” says Shalini, who has been a member of the Duchess Club since day one.
Shalini says that she loves making new friends and is part of a new team every year. Out of the three rallies that she has been a part of, she has been the driver twice.
Quite excited by the theme of the rally this year — Madras to Chennai — Shalini has already started preparations. “Our costumes and our team name is going to revolve around the theme. This rally is going to be an eye-opener for all of us as we will learn both about traditional Madras and modern Chennai. I have been reading books and researching the internet about the city,” she says.
When City Express asked her about a cherished memory from her previous rallies, Shalini recalled an incident that had challenged her as a driver. It happened eight years ago. “During my second rally, I was in the driver’s seat and we were on the OMR. We had to reach the destination at a certain time. The route was muddy and the tyres got stuck in the mud. My team got down from the car and began to push while I worked on the accelerator, brake and the gear at the same time. After 10 minutes, we were successful and reached our destination just over one-a-half-minutes late. I was amazed and happy that we didn’t give up,” says Shalini.
To know more about the car rally and to register, call 9841288631.