Steel city residents flocked the landmark Gopal Maidan in Bistupur on Sunday early morning to watch the vehicles, bikes and cycles from close quarters during Tata Steel Jamshedpur's first-ever Classic and Vintage Car and Bike Rally.

T.V Narendran, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Tata Steel flagged off the rally in the presence of Chanakya Chaudhary, vice-president (Corporate Services) and other officials. The rally was organised as part of the 183rd Founder’s Day celebrations.

T.V. Narendran flags-off the rally from Gopal Maidan in Jamshedpur on Sunday Bhola Prasad

The 8-km rally touched Kadma, Circuit House Area, Jubilee Park before finishing at United Club. Vehicles from Jamshedpur, Chaibasa (West Singhbhum) and Ranchi were part of the rally. Forty three participants with their cars, bikes and cycles, which also had Jamshedpur’s very own ‘Hitodi’, a 50cc moped that was manufactured by India Automotives Ltd. in Adityapur in the 1970s, were part of the rally.

Some among the vintage cars, bikes and cycles comprised Mercedez-Benz Nurburg (model- RJJ1, year-1928 owner-Tata Motors), Ford (year 1931, Owner -- Rak Kumar Shah) Fiat (model - TIPO, year 1932, owner - SN Chatterjee), Chevrolet (model - Confederate, year - 1932, owner - Colonel Arup Basu), Austin (model - Austin 7, year - 1933, owner- Gurmukh S Khokhar), Austin (model - Austin 10 4, year- 1936, owner - Mamita Jaiswal),Mercedez (model-170 V, year-1938 owner - Abhishek Jaiswal), Excelsior (model-Welbike Mark 1, owner - Gurmukh S Khokhar), Jaguar (model - Jaguar Mark IV, owner - Dinesh Parikh), Chrysler (model-Windsor, year-1947, Morris (model-- BRT 2655, year - 1945, owner - Sanjay Sabherwal) Wolseley (model- Saloon, year- 1948, owner - SM Haider) BSA (model - BB 31, year- 1956, owner - Anand Sharma), Amabassador (model -MK 2, year -1964), Suvega (year-1965, owner - Anand Sharma), Jawa (model-353, year-1966, owner Sawan), Honda Dirt Bike ( year-1975, owner - Anand Sharma) and Lambretta (year-1972, owner-Md Ajaz)

People busied themselves taking selfies with the vintage cars and bikes and cycles. "I really enjoyed the rally. I am very fond of vintage cars and bikes but have never seen them from such close quarters. I thank Tata Steel for organising the event," said Sailesh Jha, a businessman who had come with his family.

Narendran said the rally would be an annual event."I didn't know so many people have so much passion for this rally. We would celebrate the passion of people and make this rally an annual event," said Narendran.

Gurmukh Singh Khokhar receives the best overall champion award for his Austin from Chanakya Chaudhary (left) and Dr. J J Irani in Jamshedpur on Sunday. Bhola Prasad

Gurmukh Singh Khokhar's Austin was adjudged the best overall champion while Mercedez-Benz Nurburg owned by Tata Motors was declared as the overall winner. Khokhar, a Chaibasa-based businessman, travelled 80 km to reach the rally venue. He said he is fond of vintage cars. "Vintage cars are my passion. I simply love them," he said.

Former Tata Steel managing director Dr. J J Irani, Tata Steel vice-president (Corporate Services) Chanakya Chaudhary, and his counter in HRM Atrayee S Sanyal were present at the prize distribution ceremony held at United Club.