Age is never a bar for those who seek adventure, those who love challenges and those who can risk anything to get that adrenaline rush going. One such person is Kochi based, Mr. Thomas Chacko. This 63 year old motoring enthusiast took up the National expedition in his Tata Nano. The 78 day long expedition started on May 3, 2012 and ended on July 21, 2012. The journey began from Mumbai and Mr. Chacko covered a total of 26,500 kms.
The trip involved visit to all the state capitals and union territories covering hundreds of towns and cities on the way. Already a motoring buff, and having participated in several Motorsport events, the task did not seem tough for Mr. Chacko. He loves travelling and has been to more than 27 countries. An ardent F1 racing fan, he has watched races in Sepang in Malaysia, Singapore, and Monaco. Author of “Without a City Wall” and “Forest Gold – The story of South Indian Tea”, Mr. Chacko will soon pen down his National expedition too.
I chose the Tata Nano for this journey because it is the car that has put India on the world motoring map. It also has very good ground clearance and climbs well. The journey was not a joyride but an expedition to explore the country and know the people. The 78-day all India drive has tested the Nano across the some of the most rugged terrains of the country and through all kinds of weather. The car emerged successful in this test of endurance. – Mr. Chacko
The 2012 Nano is powered by a 624cc two cylinder, MPFI petrol engine. It puts out a modest 38 PS at 5500 rpm and 51 Nm of torque. It isn’t quick, but quite adequate for city use and even peppy in the city. It will hit a top speed of 106 kmph and takes 29.7 seconds to hit 100 km/h. Fuel efficiency of the Nano is 25.4 km/l. (figures according to ARAI).
