A motor-sports enthusiast and a professional racer by the age of 15, Mihir Chaddha prefers to call himself a biking enthusiast. “Riding is not all about racing. A cautious driver who drives fast is better than a slow driver who is rash,” says the 19-year-old student of mass communication at St Mary’s College, Yusufguda, Hyderabad. What started with learning to drive a Kinetic Honda has translated into a passion for driving both cars and bikes, including driving for Toyota Etios as one of the top-25 drivers.
A careful driver, Mihir says that he does not believe in breaking law. “There is a need to maintain etiquette while driving; a responsibility every driver shoulders,” observes Mihir. The youngster rode his way to Kurnool, Karimnagar, Pochampalli and Bangalore, and takes pride in maintaining his Pulsar-230.
“I get the bike serviced and oil changed after 4000km usually.” Like all teenagers, Mihir is a collector of stickers and helmets. “I have eight helmets as of now including the present Bell and plan to add a KBC to my collection. The helmet should be made compulsory in Hyderabad,” says Mihir who likes to chronicle his rides and time-shift races on the GoPro camera by strapping it on to his helmet.
— payal@newindianexpress.com