International Vintage Car Rallies Hosted by Vintage & Classic Car Collection, Udaipur

This was the first international vintage and classic car rally to take place in India, and, of course, the participants drove in their historical cars to Udaipur. The rally route covered 7000 km across India in about 20 days. This was an extremely difficult and long event, but all the participants loved it, especially the Udaipur leg. Everybody was mesmerised by the beauty of this historical city and also by the warm hospitality extended by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar and his family. Not only were they received royally but they were also treated royally. Cocktails, dinners, joyous parties and, of course, great food and great company made this an event few would ever forget.

Shriji also organized a polo match between the HRH Group of Hotels and team ‘Jewel of India’. The gracious host also ensured that the Jewel of India team won.

Soon word spread across the world and especially among the community of classic car event organizers that India was a good destination for such events and Udaipur should certainly be part of the route. What followed were many more events and, of course, more parties.

This event had a total of 20 participants, with five of them driving Rolls-Royces. Among the participants was the legendary car collector and enthusiast, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. Again, as expected, the reception at Udaipur was very warm and the hospitality was truly worthy of royals.

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar decided that since Lord Montagu and the participants of the Rally of the Raj were all in Udaipur, it would be an appropriate time to throw open the Vintage and Classic Car Collection (VCCC) to the public and thus was born India’s first museum of vintage and classic cars. Lord Montagu did the honours by cutting the ribbon and some 12 years later, VCCC has become a very well known tourist landmark of Udaipur. Hundreds of tourists visit it every day and the restaurant at the VCCC has also built up the reputation of serving some of the finest Indian vegetarian food.

Some 15 participants took part in the second Jewel of India Rally. They were again accorded a ‘royal reception’ and looked after very well by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar and his family, and, as had become the norm by now, Shriji also hosted some truly grand parties which would be as memorable as the rally.

This event was also put together by the organizers of the Jewel of India rally. Though the first part of this event was run mainly in the Himalayas, for the second edition the organizers and participants decided they just could not do without going to Udaipur. Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, of course, did not disappoint and the red carpet was laid out for all the 16 participating teams.

It was now time for the French to organize a classic car event that also came to Udaipur. But curiously there was not a single French car amongst the 18 entries. Most of the participants were French, but they choose to enter either British or German cars. Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar hosted lunch for them at the VCCC, where their tables were placed right in the heart of the palace garage. Dinner was at the spectacularly-lit Manek Chowk. The atmosphere soon turning all French, the bubbly flowed freely and there was a lot of singing and dancing too.

This was the first corporate automotive event hosted by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar. It was a crosscountry drive organized by Mercedes-Benz to showcase their range of vehicles sold in India. The participants were Mercedes dealers, select customers and also some media. Shriji ensured they were completely bowled over by his hospitality and he even provided a couple of classic Mercedes-Benz’s from his VCCC collection to escort them.

A rally that was primarily for Bentley owners also had among the list of participants Prince Michael of Kent. This time the reception and parties that Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar hosted were even more dazzling. Prince Michael also turned up for the dinner wearing an Indian-style bandhgala or Jodhpur jacket, and was seen proudly showing it off. Some of the other participants had also donned Indian attire and they also visited the VCCC to check out Shriji’s cars.

A total of nine Ford Mustangs took part in this event, and one was piloted by the famous American car designer Tom Tjaarda. He loved Udaipur and even took time out to fill in the guest register at VCCC. So many Mustangs and the muscle resting under their hoods had never been seen together in Udaipur before, and they were given a rousing welcome and send-off by the people of this historic city.

This event was organized by renowned Rolls-Royce restorer Graham Ashley-Carter, who has also helped restore RR GLK 21. A total of eight Rolls-Royces came from Europe to take part in this event and they were joined on the first day by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar in his Rolls-Royce Phantom II and the Maharaja of Jodhpur joined in his Rolls-Royce towards the latter part of the event.

Shriji himself drove the Udaipur–Dungarpur leg (around 125 km) and was seen truly enjoying himself. He passed all the participants and was the first car into Dungarpur.

The RR Royal Tour was another event where all the participants enjoyed and loved their stay with Shriji in Udaipur.