My Vrrrooom Come True !! October 2, 2007
Posted by Ragesh G R in Uncategorized.Tags: alfred bekker, car modifier, car modifiers in chennai, cars for physically challenged, cars for physically handicapped, cars for physically handicapped in chennai, hand controls, hand driven controls, hand operated controls, HOK, physically challenged, physically handicapped
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Imagine, you are in love with a girl for 17 years, and one fine day, she accepts your love. That was the exact feeling I had when on Sunday, August 19, 2007, I went to a quiet residential area in Cholaimedu, got down from the taxi, shook hands with my “wizard”, and walked a few paces to see, my new love, my sparkling new “Passion Red” Hyundai Santro Xing XL Automatic, modified with hand operated controls, so that atlast after 17 years of gazing at, thinking about, breathing, eating and sleeping cars, I could not only own, but drive one. The one month long sleepless wait after I ordered the car is over! Phew! Hurrah!!
First the “wizard” proceeded to drive the car, to show me how the new controls work. Of course, I knew how it worked, having read about it in websites, it’s called the Alfred Bekker System. I loved cars so much that I had a massive and detailed knowledge about how a car works, the dynamics, the mechanical details, and of course, about the nuances of driving a car, the only thing left was to get in and drive, and get used to the behaviour of the car. Since, it was a residential area, he could n’t let me drive much, which I was furious about by the way. I didn’t come all this way to be a passenger in my car!. So he let me drive about 100 meters. Sat in, shifted the tranmission into “[D]rive” mode, and drove, was careful, not to get carried away though. The power steering was very light and agile but lacked feel. But, at once I felt comfortable with the controls and just as I had imagined, was confident that I could master the car in a matter of hours. This was my first ever time in the driver’s seat of a car!
A driver drove and brought the car back home, although I drove another 300 yards while approaching my home. Gazed at the parked car, and retired for the night.
The next morning, I drove the car to a ground, with my mom and dad(who also had never driven a car before), and started to put the car through it’s paces, to get a feel of the steering, throttle etc. I drove for about 30 min, driving through a virtual circuit, making turns and straights to get the feel of the car, then my dad took the wheels, and drove another 30 min, then we hit the road, drove slowly (at 10-20 km/hr!) around the houses, another 30 min-30 min session. After lunch, I felt really confident and I was in the groove, I started to effortlessly maneuver the car along the twisty bends and was taking corners with increasing confidence. Now, I was no longer feathering the throttle, it was full throttle time and hit 80 km/hr near a small straight piece of road near the beach, he he but immediately reduced the speed as my dad started to stare at the speedometer from the pillion seat coz we are not supposed to drive it @ more than 70 km/hr, in the run-in period of the car
My real dream come true came when on Saturday (6 days after I got my hands on my baby), I got a chance to go to Chennai, what an absolutely unforgettable experience, I got to drive on the beautiful ECR, for about 100 km, still I had to back off the throttle as it was still run-in period. But this Saturday, I got a chance to drive to Chennai again, this time around, the car was out of the run-in period, and so was I, he he. The open road!, a beautiful, peppy little car!, what more do I need? So when I got a chance on an empty stretch, I caned it and reached a speed of 125 km/hr. What an absolutely wonderful feeling to see the speedo in front of you, at that time! But don’t be under the impression that my driving is haywire. I am a perfectionist, be it the driving technique or the following the traffic rules, and total control is my mantra. 
I have driven many of friends in my car, it is really a dream come true to drive them in my car, because, they have taken me in their cycles, and shoulders when I needed it.
By the way, last but not the least, the “wizard” who made my dream come true is:
Mr. Bhaskaran
NO 25, NEW MARKET STREET,
CHOOLAIMEDU,
CHENNAI - 600094
Mobile: 9841190690
To mention a few words about him, he is an obviously talented Automobile Engineer cum car modifier, who specialises in modifying cars for physically challenged people. He has modified more than 150 cars so far, with 100% success and satisfaction, including the top- guns like Mercedes Benz, using the Alfred Bekker system. For under just Rs 19,000 (this might be variable depending upon the car), he had fabricated and fitted custom built hand operated kit for the accelerator and brake and combined both into a single lever, which operates both, mutually exclusively, using a push-pull mechanism, which makes it fool proof. The whole process takes just about 4-6 days. As a client, I could not be any more happier with him, both as a car modifier and as a person. His work is impeccable, his manners, immaculate. He is a boon for physically handicapped people, atleast through out Tamil Nadu. He is a rare breed indeed, because, although there are many car modifiers in Chennai, finding such a car modifier for physically challenged people in Chennai, is like finding a pearl in a haystack. (Ya he is a Pearl!).
Hi Ragesh,
I’m from Chennai.I am locomotor handicapped.Cant use both the legs and my right hand is does minimum functions.Its been my dream too get and drive my own car.Can you please let me know how much you paid for Santro Xing XL, excluding modification charges and how much you paid for modification.Did you get any rebate on Road tax since you are eligible for that.Also tell me the total amount you spent on that car.Please reply since i’m desperate to get one.Thanks
Hi Madhu, I know info on these stuff is rare, thats why I wrote this post. well the Santro Xing XL (Automatic) cost me about Rs 4.5 lac, after dealer given discount etc, the modification in my case was only for the accelerator and brake since its an automatic, and hence there is no clutch pedal, so it cost about Rs 18,000. You can get manual Xing XL for about 3.8 lac (on road). but then u will have an extra lever for the clutch which u have to operate by hand. In that case, the modification will cost about 33000. Since u told ur right hand too is affected, I think the XL Automatic is the best option. Well I didnt opt for the rebate as they said it would delay the delivery by 2 months, but you can go ahead and apply for the rebate. Anyway the total amount spent on the car would be 4.7 lacs.
Well, that was really quick reply from your side.Its been my dream to own and ride a car as i said before.Few more questions i want to ask, which dealer did you buy this car from?And did you go for any finance options?Or you paid the full amount?I can go only for Finance option since i dont have that much money ready right now.Thanks again for your time.
oh, glad that I could help you out. I bought it from KUN Hyundai in Anna Nagar. I paid the full amount. You can go for finance options, like say SBI Car Loans, if not the dealers themselves will have finance schemes to help you out. Hope you realise your dream soon
First up congrats on the peppy red object da..
It gives a great pleasure for anyone(including me) even if someone succeeds in what they have been in love with for a good amount of period..(NO HIDDEN meaning)..
A much needed post considering the proven fact that there are not much articles about such kind of technology.. It has given me insights into such new terms..So that’s good..
And btb though u’ve shown gratitude to ur “WIZARD”, dont forget the old little scooty and the “ASSASSIN” who was there stabbing in the back of the “MARK” when his gaze turned away from the road.. Lol..
..
I know I’m not in the list of ppl who’ve been along with u during the drive in this Hyundai’s product ..but I do hope I’ll be there while u drive the Ferrari one if u get a chance too..And I’m really eager to have such a phenomenon to occur..
P.S.. I also knew who are in the list of ppl who’ve been along with u during the drive..
ha ha.. 
@Ravi: Thanks, sure, we ll go for a spin when we get a chance, ya I won’t forget the old faithful scooty, but i didnt get that “mark” thing..
@ Ragesh..
Well its the terminology of the “ASSASSINS”.. you are the “MARK”..
chi pa!
Rags!!!!!!!!!!!! finally finally a post from u!! i am thrilled!! :). Though being the car illiterate that i am most of this post was a bouncer but am sooooooooo happy for u!! CONGRATULATIONS on ur new GF!!
thanks dude! thanks for droppin by: GF, lol!
Hi Ragesh,
Thank you for this post - I have been searching all over for some local support to modify a car to suit my requirements. Your post was a great help. I was able to contact Mr. Bhaskaran and take the next steps. I would like to discuss with you on a couple of aspects. If it is ok for me to contact you, I would appreciate if you can email me your contacts to dominicj2312@hotmail.com.
About me, I am an Engineer - working as a IT Services Delivery Manager in an IT Company. Been suffering with a phaysical handicap since childhood. Been blessed in many ways and your post is certainly one more blessing towards the next step!
Thank you and look forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Dominic
@Dominic: Very glad to know that my post helped you. Bhaskaran had told me that someone had read my post and contacted him. must be you. I ll mail you.
Hi Ragesh,
Sorry for the long silence. I had been busy at work. Is it okay if i can meet you in person and see your car.I want to decide if that car that you have bought would suit me.Maybe if i can meet you i can get some idea.
@Madhu: Ya it’s ok for me , but I am not in chennai, I am in Kalpakkam, about 80 km south of Chennai.
Hi Ragesh,
Thanks for your post. Your post has given me enough confidence for me to make my dream of driving a car come true.
Can you give your contact number else can you e-mail me at rkumareshwaran@yahoo.com.
Regards
Kumaresh
@Kumaresh. Glad that I could inspire you to go after your dream of driving a car. All the best. I sent you a mail. But delivery failed.
Hi ragesh you r doing a great job dude. my left leg is affected by polio i would like to go for santro xing XL. may i know the mileage, because i got to travel 40kms a day.
Is it possible to use manual transmission car with some modification, is there any one in chennai to modify it.
@Ahmed: Thanks dude
Well if it is a manual Santro then you will get 11-12 km/l in the city and 15-16 km/l on the highway, but if it is an automatic Santro like mine, it will be 9-10 km/l in city and 13-14 km/l in highway, though, in spite of that I have to travel 100 kms a day. So it is a bit costly in that aspect. As far as I know, I don know who can modify the clutch for a manual transmission in chennai. Try asking my modifier Bhaskaran, if he can do the same or if atleast he knows someone. At the worst case, there is one guy in Mumbai, who modifies manual cars as well. Visit http://www.handicappedpeople.com/help_desk.htm . And , if your right leg is fine, then you can just modify the brake and the accelerator and try operating the clutch with your right leg, though it might be a bit awkward to do that..