The Spring 2009 Rickshaw Run teams spent two days before the launch meeting their mighty but rickety 'shaws to bond with the glorious machines before the long journey across India to Goa.
All the teams have the option to 'distance pimp' their Rickshaw by submitting their designs through the website, but there's always scope for some finishing touches on the ground, or in one case, the application of a coat of fur, and a nose...
Team Lucknow Be 2 Ladies got seriously involved by making custom seats in the USA and bringing them over in a bag the size of a two seat sofa. Team Gungho-Gurkhas brought a full layer of fur and transformed their 'shaw into a three wheeled dog (many an envious pimping eye was cast and straw hats doffed at the sheer effort and splendid result)
Team 2 Blondes and a Tuk Tuk liberally applied very bright gold sparkly paint and a whole bunch of stars, obviously going for the camouflage effect to blend in!
Outside the compound the teams worked out where the go button was and wrestled with the handlebar controls and more than slightly wobbly feeling of piloting an auto-rickshaw. Some got it straight off the bat... Others returned a slightly pale shade of white, after hoping it would be rather more similar to driving a motor car.
Two days later and the Rickshaws were ready, sound systems had been fitted and nearly all the teams had arrived. The Rickshaw Run owes a rather large thank you to James of Cultural Pursuits in Shillong who has been looking after all the Rickshaws, overseeing all the paintjobs and generally being a legend!
To see more pictures of Rickshaw Pimping and test driving click here