Mangalore: Jawa-Yezdi Vintage Motorcycle Rally in City
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SR/SP)
Mangalore Jul 12: A vintage rally of Jawa and Yezdi motor bikes was organized by ‘Forever Riders’ in the city on Sunday July 11. The vehicles which participated in the rally were flagged off from City Gate, Tollgate, Kadri here. The rally ended at the starting point after the participating bikes touched Tannirbavi beach and whizzed back.
Speaking to Daijiworld on this occasion, Shawn Fernandes said the club, ‘Forever Riders’, had been set up by him here in 1996 along with another founder, Arun. “In the first year, only three riders participated in the rally, and the number swelled to 15 last year,” he explained.
He revealed that the second Sunday of July each year is being celebrated all over India as Jawa and Yezdi Day, to commemorate the rolling out of the first ever Java motor cycle in India by Ideal Jawa Pvt Ltd. The company, which had its manufacturing unit in Mysore, later acquired the name, ‘Yezdi’, he stated.
Vincent Pinto, who is a national level winner, has been a regular participant of this rally. He has won over 150 trophies including this rally. He said, Yezdi continues to be his favourite motor cycle.
Two riders from Kodagu district had come to the city to participate in this rally. On arrival in the city, they were given a warm welcome.
Over 40 riders darted off from the starting point with their Yezdi and Jawa motor bikes. As the vehicles touched Tannirbavi and roared back to the starting point, the city reverberated with the sound of the revving motor cycle engines.
Jawa is a motorcycle manufacturer based in the Czech Republic, which was formerly known as Czechoslovakia. The company set up its manufacturing unit in India in collaboration with a local company, 1961. Jawa motorcycles had touched the heights of glory when they occupied a place of pride in the two-wheeler scenario in the country, and when the youth felt that owning a Yezdi motor bike was a question of prestige, till a few decades ago.