VARA
The pioneer motor sports body of Central India, Vidarbha Automotive Racing Association (VARA) from its inception in 1986 was member of The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI ) the ASN of the Federation Internationale de l’ Automobile, Paris (FIA) & the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme, Geneva (FIM) in India and the apex National Federation for Motor Sports recognized by the Government of India and member of the Indian Olympic Association.
VARA has been conducting most thrilling and spectacular events like the Stadium Moto-Cross, Rallies, Flat Track Dirt Races, Off Road & Rugged Races, Hill Climbs, Tours & Expeditions and unique record setting events.
Two new WORLD RECORDS has been set through VARA which have been officially recognized and recorded by the Guinness Book of Records.
The Great Himalayan Motor Race ( World’s Ultimate Hill Climb Race Meet ) India’s first high altitude motor racing event, a hill climb race on “Top of the World” at Khardung -la altitude :18,380 ft – World’s Highest Motorable Road Point in Ladakh in the State of Jammu & Kashmir on the Western Himalayas, was first organized by VARA in September 1998. Mr. Adil Jal Darukhanawala, the eminent motor-sports reporter and the Editor of Overdrive – a car & bike magazine, in his article of January 1999 issue reported : “ Vidarbha Automotive Racing Association creates a unique world record – Racing to the top of the World. Though many make out that the Pikes Peak Hill Climb event in the US is the highest in the world or the Grossglockner event in Europe ranks as the best such on this continent, both pale in the face of extremities encountered here in the Himalayas”
“Guinness Book of Records” has officially recognized this event as a World Record and to commemorate the fact a certificate has been awarded to VARA by them.
The “Great Himalayan Motor Race” meet has also been an ‘Official Event’ of the Ladakh Festival held by the Department of Tourism, Government of Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian Army through its Army Adventure Wing has also been very actively associated with VARA’s Great Himalayan Motor Race, by lending logistic and administrative support.
The Independence Challenge VARA Rally: To commemorate India’s 50th Independence Day, the “Independence Challenge Rally” for cars & bikes was first organized in 1997. Since then VARA has kept to its commitment and runs the Independence Challenge Rally series, which now enjoys the status of Central India’s toughest rally. This rally runs 90% on off roads and slush through dense jungles and rough hilly terrain of Central India.
Ocean to Sky Expedition: In September 2002 VARA added one more feather to its cap by establishing yet another unique record. VARA undertook the “Ocean to Sky Expedition” from Mumbai at ‘Zero MSN’ to ‘Marsmik –la altitude 18,634 ft’ on the Great Himalayas and established a new record by becoming the first expedition scaling higher than the World’s Highest Motorable commissioned pass –the Khardung-la. This expedition was logistically supported by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and approved by the FMSCI and the MAI and was held under the International Sporting Code of the FIA.
Trans Himalayan Mobike Expedition by VARA undertaken on two wheelers in 1989 has to its credit of establishing a new World Record for traversing about 16,000 km of the World’s Highest Mountain Ranges – the Great Himalayas of its entire range from East to West.
Commemorating this achievement by VARA, the ‘Guinness Book of Records’ has awarded Certificates recognizing this rare adventure feast.
Satpura Mountain VARA Rally : Since 2007 VARA has introduced yet one more thrilling event, the “Satpura Mountain VARA Rally” series. This motor rally runs through the most remote areas, dense jungles and hilly regions on the Satpura Mountains, where very few have dared to venture before.
Himalayan Enduro Challenge 1 : The first event of this series was organized by VARA in September 2009 and was held under the aegis of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), in which a successful attempt was made by a solo participant – a lady from Nagpur, driving about 5,500 km across the seven Highest Motorable Passes on the World’s Highest Mountains – The Great Himalayas.
Himalayan Enduro Challenge 2 : The second event of this series was organized in June 2014 exclusive for two wheelers which covered all the highest passes the Great Himalayas.
Tiger Country Adventure Rally : Central India is know as the Land of Tigers and Nagpur is called the Gateway to Tiger Country. To promote Tiger Tourism through motorsports, VARA had successfully organized the first series of Tiger Country-Adventure Rally in 2013, of five days duration, rallying 1800km across India’s best rally terrains via lush green teak and sal forests and mountainous ghat sections of Gawilgad Range, Garamsur Hills, Mahadeo Hills Satpura Range and the Vindhyas Mountain Ranges from Nagpur to various National Parks & Sanctuaries of Central India covering Gorewada Sanctuary, Mansingh Deo Sanctuary, Kurai Reserve, Pench National Park, Kanha Tiger Reserve, Melghat Tiger Reserve, Pachmarhi Satpura National Park and Bor Sanctuary. This event was an official event of ‘Wagh Utsav’ organized by Vidarbha Economic Development Council (VED) in 2013.
Tiger Land Adventure Rally : Encouraged by the grand success of its first series of the Tiger Rally in 2013, VARA now organizes this series as The Tiger Land Adventure Rally as an officially event of ‘Nagpur Maho Utsav’ organized by the Mayor of Nagpur and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC)
Wild Escapes - Adventure Rides & Drives. : These are non-competitive “pleasure rides and drives” fulfilling the thirst for adventure by riding and driving in the wild forests, on mountains and to most remote destinations, exploring the wild and the beautiful countryside, with all logistic and administrative support from VARA. These are held as “Touring Assembly” in terms of the International Sporting Code of the FIA & FIM and held under aegis of the FMSCI.
Varying from a single day local tour to a month long tour to Kashmir, Ladakh, Lahaul & Spiti
regions of Western Himalayas and to the most far-off East India to Nagaland, Assam & Arunachal
Pradesh, Tours & Expeditions on 2 & 4 wheelers are organized for the adventurers who like to
undertake adventure on their machines to the most remote and adventurous places in India.
Inter-Collegiate Mobike Racing Competitions : To promote adventure and motorsports in the youth, India’s First Inter Collegiate Mobike Racing Competitions were held in December 2014 at Nagpur by VARA and now it’s a regular annual event.