The indomitable spirit of adventure runs through T9ners almost like life’s blood. Their zeal to take risks, think of the unthinkable, take-on very difficult challenges and exhibit a never-say-die attitude is reflected not only when working, but also when they look at everything else that life offers. Motor sports, adventure sports, rock shows, are almost integral to life at T9L…just about as seriously as work is. So much so that when MAI (Motorsports Association Of India) organized a desert car rally christened “Desert Storm”, we looked about as seriously as we would, a prestigious project! A few internal discussions, some phone calls, and two T9ners, Fahad Moti Khan (founder CEO) and Siddharth Sharma (CTO) had their sleeves rolled up (!)….there was obviously, just no turning back! Despite relative lack of experience, the duo took on the challenge head-on……..and but only for a technical snag, they could well have seen the chequered flag before anybody else. Relying on a totally unmodified 1.3 litre Ford Ikon, they burnt rubber, asphalt and indeed their very skins (in the blistering Thar desert heat) and wowed many an experienced participant. End of play, they had scorched over 500 miles, and even drove almost 6 miles on a totally (yes!) shredded tyre, taking five and half foot jumps, and hung up just once…..purely on a technical snag! Maruti Suzuki, the principal sponsor of the event, even brought out a compact disc on the rally, which shipped with the May edition of the “Business Standard Motoring” magazine. The workhorse that made it possible, the silver-gray Ford Ikon 1.3, was even featured on the cover-page of the “Overdrive” magazine during the same month. CNBC, one of the most popular business channels covered the daring duo from T9L, in its program, “Young Turks” in May, 2006. We at Technology 9 Labs mince few words when we say, “We mean Business; and Life within!”, and we are already setting our sights on the “Raid The Himalaya” (formerly known as the “Great Himalayan Rally”), due in October, 2006! The story as they say…..is just beginning….(!) |
