Sportscraft in Limca Book of Records

Motor sport organiser Sportscraft added another feather to its cap on Thursday with a listing in the Limca Book of Records for having conducted 250 events, ranging from gymkhana races, car and bike rallies, 4x4 off-beat drives to dirt track races.

The winner of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India's (FMSCI) 'Best Organiser' award for four years running in the mid-1990s, Sportscraft reached the unique milestone with the Gulf Dirt Track Challenge for two-wheelers that was held in Raipur last month.

Sportscraft chairman Shrikant Karani, who started off with what he thought would be a one-off event -- a vintage car rally in Mumbai on January 1, 1984,  was presented a certificate by Arti Muthanna Singh, editor of the Limca Book of Records, at a function in Mumbai.

Four-time World amateur billiards champion Michael Ferreira, who was chief guest at the presentation function, lauded Karani's efforts and urged him to continue the excellent work so that one day he could emulate him and enter the Guinness Book of Records too.

"When I started off in 1984, I never in my wildest dreams thought Sportscraft would be a name to reckon with after 20 years and 250 events," said Karani, who is also the vice-president of the government-recognised FMSCI and India's representative on the world body for two-wheeler racing.

After organizing Gymkhana races and Vintage car rallies, Sportscraft branched out to more demanding stuff -- competitive events: autocross and rallies for two-wheelers and cars, rallies for the visually impaired, Go-cart races and Treasure hunts.

In 1996, it staged a unique event, till then only seen in the movies or picture books. It was an off-beat drive on the lines of Jeep Jamborees in Australia, Canada and the United States. It was the Great Escape, Mahindra's off-beat drive along the backwoods, that has now become a most sought after event all over the country.

That the Limca Book of Records included Sportscraft in its annals is tribute to Karani's dedication to the sport. At 54 he can look back with the satisfaction of having given motor sport in India a strong foundation. The Limca Book of Record's recognition should only increase his drive!