Ananda de Alwis in 48th year at Mahagastota Speed Hill Climb
by S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr.
HILL CLIMB: Seventy three year-old Ananda de Alwis could be the proud
owner of a world record and there is a possibility of getting his name
in the Guiness Book of World Records when he participated for the 48th
successive year at the 77th Mahagastota Speed Hill Climb 2011 organised
by the Ceylon Motor Sports Club and worked off at Mahagastota Group in
Nanu Oya in April this year.
Yes, he participated at this oldest hill climb in South Asia for 48
years in-a-row which speaks volumes about his dedication and love for
this highly competitive sport which many consider as dangerous and a
slight failurs of the reflexes or lack in concentration could result in
disaster as speed is the main factor in sector racing and if you do not
stop on the gas with skills you could end up a cropper.
At the age of 73, Ananda de Alwis who is a retired planter and
consultant, has not had any mishaps which is another record.
Ananda de Alwis who is from Colombo came upcountry in 1964 to take up
appointment as a young trainee planter in the "Nuwara Eliya District in
1964. Like duck taking to water, he took part at the Mahagastota Hill
Climb the same year in an old Austin and since then he has been
participating every year in different vehicles till he acquired the 1978
model Ford Mexico in 1978 and since then he has been using this machine
at every race whether hill climb, circuit race (both tarmac and gravel)
and rallies.
Ananda de Alwis said that driving the same vehicle for 33 years in a
row could be also a record.
This machine though a standard model is race prepared and is used
only for races and on other days it lies idle in his Estate at
Nittambuwa.
At 73 he is an epitome of fitness and the age defies his physical
fitness, stamina and endurance with which he is gifted.
|