NOORIABAD: As many as 15,000 spectators travelled all the way from Karachi and Hyderabad to enjoy the third Hub Rally, Nooriabad, organised by Toyota Highway Motors in collaboration with Sherwani Motors here on Sunday.

The newest, shortest and fastest track for the rally racing in Nooriabad is a welcome change as connoisseurs of the rally racing are more used to watching top rally drivers here, including Nadir Magsi, Mukesh Chawla and Tushna Patel and those who visit here from Turkey, Qatar and Japan, showcase their skills on longer tracks in Hub or Jhal Magsi that run some 200 or more odd kilometres. But the new specially-prepared 32km off-road track in Nooriabad fulfils international standards with a rugged terrain, including sandy, muddy, rocky and mountainous areas thus adding to the adventure.

Although still named ‘Hub Rally’, this was the second such rally race being held in Nooriabad. Among those attracted to the sport and arriving there from the big cities to enjoy the action in their fast cars, were several local folks who stood out in the crowd. Dressed in plain shalwar and kameez, they had their heads and faces covered with mufflers instead of the caps or surgical masks worn by the other spectators as they looked at the powerful automobiles lined up to be flagged off in awe.

“We noticed some activity from our village so we came over with friends and family to see for ourselves what is going on here,” said Mumtaz Ali. “This is desert land. Nothing really happens here so we are happy to find all this happening. It is ronak,” he added looking around him at the marquees, the wooden frame gates with the names of sponsors, etc, at various stages of the track and at the entrances, of course.

Asked if he also helped in putting up the tents and gates, the local quickly shook his head. “No,” he said, “I am a labourer, looking for this kind of work for my day-to-day existence but no one offered me or anyone here any work. I would have liked it if that were to happen though,” he smiled.

Another local spectator, who introduced himself as Gul Bahar, said that he hailed from a slightly distant area. “I hail from Jhimpir where I work at a roadside dhabba. I was here last year as well when the races came here for the first time. I enjoy everything about them except for the littering. After everything is over, we have so much trash here and plastic bags stuck to the little plantation that we have here,” he said.

“Most of the trash comprises discarded lunch boxes, plastic cold drink and mineral water bottles, not to mention the plastic bags. I wish the people holding their events here would explore the surroundings and engage local eateries here to provide them with warm and tasty meals,” he said.

“We can also help in cleaning up the area later,” said Hassan, another local resident listening to the conversation.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Sajjad, a carpenter from Karachi, said that he and his team of 17 people put up four wooden-frame gates at various points of the rally track. “We arrived here on a pick-up truck a day before yesterday and got busy almost immediately as did the other team, also from Karachi that put up the marquees,” he said. “For our work, we earned Rs800 to Rs1,000 daily. Quite frankly, I have to ask myself if the travel and work in this dry, windy and muddy area was even worth it,” he added.

The starting of powerful engines turned everyone’s attention to the starting gate as another race was announced. High-powered engines roared as each vehicle was flagged off one after the other leaving behind clouds of dust in their tracks that made the people cheering for them disappear ... until the dust settled again.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2016