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Queen Bee temporarily loses her buzz…but will be back!
- Queen Bee loses drive just 40km from the end of Leg 1
- UK and Indian specialists in a race to repair the Challenge car
- Just another milestone for the Challenge team.
The Trans-India Challenge Morgan 3-Wheeler, “Queen Bee”, was just 25 miles (40km) from the end of the 1000-mile (1600km) first leg of the road trip when she rolled to a halt at the side of the road.
Within sight of the rest stop in the East Indian costal town of Gopalpur, the car lost drive suggesting a gearbox problem. Having encountered 30+ degree heat, significant potholes and plenty of traffic-dodging since departing from Mumbai on 1st February, the problem only served to demonstrate the scale of the 3,500 mile (5,600km) challenge facing husband and wife team Alan and Pat Braithwaite.
Assisted by the CEO of the West India Automobile Association, Mr Nitin Dossa, and senior technicians from the Morgan Motor Company and Morgan specialists Krazy Horse back in the UK, the race is on to help Queen Bee regain her buzz without compromising the 34-day schedule. With parts already on their way and Queen Bee being delivered to Kolkata – the final destination for Leg Two – the Challenge team is confident of success.
There was also a further boost for the team. With the Challenge aiming to raise £200,000 (1.8 crore rupees) for Indian NGO Goonj, the total amount pledged by individuals – along with supporters Ralph Lauren, Morgan Motor Company, World Wise Foods, Bearing Point, GREAT and E-Cargo Bikes – has now reached almost £75,000 (92 lakh rupees). Those wishing to support the Challenge can visit www.transindiachallenge.com or the Give.Asia website and search for Trans-India Challenge.
Commenting after their arrival in Gopalpur, Alan Braithwaite said: “We called it the Trans-India Challenge because we knew it would be just that: a challenge. Ironically, we had been making excellent time on the final day of Leg One and Queen Bee was buzzing along perfectly, having overcome a mixture of difficult road and weather conditions over the past few days. We’re confident that with Morgan and Krazy Horse’s technical support, along with assistance from specialist mechanics in Kolkata, we’ll back on track for Leg Three to New Delhi.”
He added: “Pat, myself and the team are determined to bring Queen Bee back to Mumbai having completed our loop around India, this is just another hurdle we have to overcome. In the meantime, it provides us with more relaxed opportunities to visit the Goonj sites near Puri and Belasore.”
If nothing else, the latest drama will certainly add to the tension for the full-length feature documentary being filmed as part of the Challenge and due for release later in 2020.
– Ends –
For further information, or to arrange an interview with Alan and Pat Braithwaite, contact the Trans-India Challenge media office: Peter Brill, David Campbell, Amanda Campbell – media@transindiachallenge.com or +44 (0)7881 387572
To follow the Trans-India Challenge on social media see:
Facebook: @transindiachallenge
Twitter: @TransIndiaChal
Instagram: @transindiachallenge
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trans-india-challenge
