Backwards Indian Cab Driver Becomes Local Celebrity 'by driving everywhere in reverse'
An Indian taxi driver, Harpreet Dev, has become a mini celebrity in his home town of Bhatinda, in the state of Punjab, by driving everywhere backwards.
14 Aug 2009
The 30 year-old’s reversing skills have become so famous in his homeland, he has even been issued with a special government license to drive in reverse anywhere in the state, located in the county's north.
His passion for driving backwards came about one night as he returned from a party in 2003 and his car developed a fault meaning only the reverse gear worked.
He then decided to take his Fiat Padmini, paint “Back Gear Champian” on the side, and redesign the gear box to have four gears in reverse and one forward.
He can now reach speeds of up to 50 mph while driving backwards.
Mr Dev is a regular sight – and sound – around the area’s dusty streets, as he uses an ambulance siren to warn unsuspecting drivers, and pedestrians, to avoid him.
“After five years of practice I have perfected the art of reverse driving,” he said, adding that he took “all the care I can to protect other drivers on the road”.
"I always wanted to do something different, something unique.
“In simpler terms I reversed the complete gear mechanism of the car so that I get maximum speeds while driving backwards.”
But his somewhat bizarre practice has had one side effect – he has now begun suffering severe neck and back problems.
“I do have pains in the neck - frequent pains in the neck - and I have had severe vomiting in past,” he said.
“I have got a severe backbone problem from driving so fast in reverse, because my whole body gets contorted.”
But he insisted it was worthwhile.
“Achieving something special is never easy,” he added.
“It is not giving in that counts,” he added.
He has even tried to break the Guinness Book of Records for driving in reverse, after searching on the internet and finding a UK resident, John Smith, had achieved such a feat.
“Unfortunately I couldn't break the world record because the Guinness Book authorities demanded non-stop video footage of my whole reverse driving and I was unable to produce that,” he said.
He was also thwarted a few years ago attempting to drive in reverse from Rajasthan, in the country’s north-west, to Lahore in Pakistan in a bid to promote peace.
He failed because he didn’t have permission to cross the border.
Source; Telegraph.co.uk
AND
Cabbie Gearing Up For Success
14th August 2009
This bonkers taxi driver is taking his career forward by driving everywhere — BACKWARDS.
Wacky Harpreet Devi, 30, was forced to drive his car in reverse for months because of faulty gear box.
But when the crazy cabbie become so skilled at whizzing around in reverse, he decided to modify his motor to drive backwards permanently.
His taxi has four different reverse gears, a top speed of 50mph and even comes equipped with a siren to warn other road users.
Harpreet has even become a local celebrity in Punjab, India, after diving backwards for five years.
Unique
He has now been granted a special driving licence allowing him to ferry passengers in his unique taxi.
The cabbie said: "I always wanted to do something different, something unique."
"One night, while coming back from a party, my car developed some faults and only the reverse gear was working.
"So I had no option but to drive home backwards."
"And after five years of practice I have perfected the art of reverse driving."
Harpreet admits he is being driven round the bend by neck ache from constantly looking backwards — but claims his celebrity status is worth the pain.
He said: "I do have pains in the neck - frequent pains in the neck.
"I have got a severe backbone problem from driving so fast in reverse, because my whole body gets contorted."
"But achieving something special is never easy. It is not giving in that counts."
Source; TheSun.co.uk
Click on either Source link above for a video of the backwards driving maniac.
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