Mahindra Stallio riders spread message of safety in unique pan India rally

The Mahindra Stallio Great Indian Ride, a unique pan India rally presented by Mahindra 2 Wheelers and www.indiabikers.com reached its grand finale in Nagpur today. The rally consisted of 20 bikers riding the Mahindra Stallio in an adrenaline charged journey across the length and breadth of India. En route, the convoy spread the message of safe riding as they passed through each destination.

The 20 bikers were divided into four teams consisting of five members each and covered a total distance of approx 24,000 km. The rally was flagged off from the four corners of India - Manali in the North, Goa in the West, Gangtok in the East and Kanyakumari in the South from November 22 - 25, 2010. Each team had a dedicated support crew accompanying it which provided necessary assistance.

On reaching Nagpur, the teams received a warm welcome, as they shared their experiences of riding the Stallio across India.

"By successfully completing the Mahindra Stallio Great Indian Ride, these bikers have proved that biking is about fun, camaraderie, shared experiences and above all, safety. Each of the bikers has shown a lot of grit as has the Stallio has shown a lot of endurance. On this journey the bikers have discovered that the Stallio is a like a second soul mate for them. I would like to congratulate each and every one of them for successfully completing this challenging journey." said Devendra Shinde, Vice President Marketing Mahindra Two Wheelers.

"En Route the bikers have been visiting dealerships and meeting consumers. The bikers have covered over 300 dealerships in over 250 cities. They have been sharing the positive experiences they have had on this adventurous journey through different terrains and geographies." said Sanjay Mittal, Vice President Sales & Customer Care, Mahindra Two Wheelers.

The Mahindra Stallio Great Indian Ride is an example of Digital and on ground event can be successfully done to reach out one's potential target consumers. Each team of bikers has been capturing its experiences through photos, videos, and blog posts uploaded on www.indiabikers.com on a daily basis. Videos of each leg of the journey can also be viewed on youtube.com/user/TheMahindraTurbo.

Participants were selected on the basis of an online 'Dream Jobs' contest announced a few months ago on indiabikers.com. The contest received an overwhelming response from bike enthusiasts across the country, with over 20,000 registrations. However, only 20 lucky winners (including two ladies) made it to the final list. Prior to the flag off, the bikers attended a Boot Camp in Pune from 15th to 18th November where they were briefed on safe riding practices and attended sessions on motorcycle maintenance and team building.

Each team had a dedicated support crew which provided necessary assistance .All their fuel, lodging, boarding, insurance costs, etc., have been taken care of by Mahindra. In addition, they receive a stipend and requisite safety riding gear. As an added bonus, they will also get to ride their Stallios home at the end of the event.

Indiabikers.com is the collective effort of a group of bike lovers who wished to create a platform for motorcycle enthusiasts across the country to share their experience of owning and riding motorcycles. The founders aim to develop an online and offline community for bikers who can log on for advice and information related to two wheelers in general and motorcycles in particular, as well as create a movement of bikers. The site will soon incorporate blogs, maps, fora and a host of information and tools which will allow users to create their own groups, share their experiences and comment on others' posts.