This weekend sees many of the teams heading to Southampton to learn how to drive/not crash* (*delete as appropriate) our vehicle of choice, the auto rickshaw. I seemed to know very little about them, though hopefully after this weekend, my knowledge will have increased, if only slightly. I decided to do a quick internet search and discovered the following... The rickshaw : Gross vehicle weight: 610 kilograms Overall length: 2625 mm Overall width: 1300 mm Overall height: 1710 mm Max. Net Power: 7.00 HP @ 5000 rpm Starting System: Kick start Transmission: 4 forward and 1 reverse Brakes: Front and rear hydraulic break system Fuel tank capacity: 8 litres (including 1.4 litres reserve) Kerb weight: 272 kg. This is all very well, but I feel it does not tell the whole story. What is a kerb weight? Why is it so different to gross weight? These are going to alter drastically once we have piled all our bags and accoutrements on board. And really, as long as she goes, I am not concerned by her 'max. Net power'. Words I may live to regret, quite possibly, but my thoughts nonetheless. So I followed this up with another search and came across these fascinating morsels.... much more easily digestible, I'm sure you will agree. The first auto rickshaws were produced in India and rolled off the factory floor in late 1957 and in fact they haven't changed much since then, providing a bumpy, fun and sometimes harrowing ride that is always "air conditioned," as the sides of the vehicles are open. An auto rickshaw, such as we will be driving, is generally characterized by a tin/iron body resting on three small wheels (one in front, two on the rear), with a small cabin for the driver in front and seating for up to three in the rear. They are generally fitted with a scooter version of a two-stroke engine with a handlebar for control (again like scooters) rather than a steering wheel, effectively making them a three-wheeler scooter carrying passengers on the rear seat. Auto rickshaws are extremely light vehicles considering their capacity. Apparently, when they break down, only two or three drivers are required to fully lift them off the ground and they can be easily pushed by one driver. Auto rickshaws have a top-speed of around 50km/h (about 31 mph) and a cruising speed of around 35 km/h (22 mph). The 1983 James Bond film 'Octop**** has a famous chase scene where Roger Moore's Bond and an Indian MI6 agent (Vijay Amritraj) escape their pursuers in an auto rickshaw filled with close calls, stylish dialogue and other signature Bond elements. So look out for us appearing in a Bollywood movie at your local cinema!!