The Great Driving Challenge
  • Home
  • About the Contest
  • Blog
  • Member Login
  • Signup
 

200 strangers : 18 good friends - what happens next?

Posted by TGDC on Wednesday, July 22, 2009
on 07/22 at 07:07 AM
(35) Comments • Read more

Just one more day to announcing the TOP 9 in the Great Driving Challenge, and you are wondering what is happening behind the scenes. All of you are aware that Background Check is on. Team GDC is validating identity, documents etc and reaching out through phone (or) email (or) on-ground. 

The process followed is simple. Each Jury Member sleeps over the ‘list of 100’, reviews applicants individually and comes up with his/her preferred (rank ordered) list of 9 candidates. This is inspired by the methodology followed in Oscars, where each Jury is instructed to “follow your heart”. The scores used earlier for shortlisting now take a back-ground seat, so everyone (in TOP 100) really has an equal chance. No one is penalized for making random eccentric choices. ‘Cumulative Votes’ decide the TOP 9 winners.

On Thursday the decks are cleared to declare the TOP 9. The site morphs to accommodate these participating couples - each winning couple gets individual access to their zone.

Fans are welcomed on-board. They sign-up to follow a team of their choice. From this point on, it is really the 9 contesting couples with their fan-followers who take over. They keep us updated on how they are preparing for the challenge and share their magic moments with us. This phase continues all the way till the participants come down to Mumbai for an on-ground event (more on that soon). The fans watch every move, give pep talks (comments), influence the Jury. 

To appreciate the efforts of all your fans/friends/cousins/parents/teachers/neighbours etc who were cajoled/coerced/intimated/stalked into voting for you, Team GDC will announce mega prizes for fans, just being there and making this event a success. The site will track “fan activity” for each of the 9 teams announced, till the time TOP 3 is announced.

Does this all sound exciting or what?


Honest feedback: You guys (all the brains behind this) ROCK!

When I got wind of this contest on June 22nd within the first few hours itself and registered on 23rd, I was apprehensive about the quality of this contest. Quality in terms of innovation and ability to back up such a fundamentally great idea.

And boy have you delivered! Every single phase has upped the ante, the site has got a million revamps (sometimes within hours of each other!), responses have been prompt and to-the-point, blogs have been tracked, unfair activity registered, contestants kept busy, tension being built….every single thing. And now this!

Can’t wait to be either a part of the Top 9 or a very very involved fan from the sidelines. smile

Cheers!
Joseph & Namrata

Posted by Joseph Radhik  on  07/22  at  08:06 AM

Excitement Buliding all over…!!!! nail biting stint…Phew!!!

Keeping fingers crossed!!!

And really appreciate the effort put by GDC ..in keeping the spell ON and ON.

All the best to everyone!!!

We are in a state of “Be Inspired! Believe in Yourself - Believe in Others!”

Cheers!!!
Deepak

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  07/22  at  08:10 AM

Hey TGDC team…. I really wonder where exactly lies your source of immense creativity?? You people are experts in creating nail-biting excitement till the point of dropping down. This fan follower club is a really swell idea n I m sure is a great way to get those involced who unfortunately did not make it to top 100 (or the 200 strangers).
You have brought across a chance for them to come out of the sidelines and make their presence felt…....
You know what I like about TGDC…U guys always have some cards folded up your sleeves to serve as catalysts whenever the action dims a bit..and then Bingo..everybody is buzzing with activity again!! I dont how you will reveal the Top 9 but I am sure it would be nothing short than a Big Bang….........KEEP ROCKING the way u do..

Posted by Aayushi & Anchal  on  07/22  at  08:33 AM

Like we said before, it’s really turning out to be a nail-chewing, adrenalin-pumping, “The Great Dhak-Dhak Challenge”...challenge to the nerves, that is! 3 cheers to everyone, especially the indefatigable TGDC team.
Getting to ready to follow this to the sweet-bitter end…

Posted by Deepa and Dhruba  on  07/22  at  08:54 AM

Compeletely agreeing with joseph,

Almost 20 days before when we signed up for this contest we were absolutely clueless about the quality of this contest. but today i am finding myself glued to this blog every single minute.From last 2 days i eat .drink & sleep GDC..I have been editing reediting my blogs,photo streams & what not and also have started to know lot of people who share the same passion.As the counter on ur home page goes my heart is filled with exitement & thrill.I guess winning and loosing doesn’t make any sense now.May be we are in the top 9 may be we are not but then the shear feeling of being part of this event itself has given us a reason to travel,a reason to write & a reson to improve on the photographic skills

I think one of the best things this contest as done to me is that it gave me a in site of myself on various aspects.We and for that matter many of us in there on worlds are more like the old frog in the well.they begin to feel like kings and believe that they are the best. At least that was what happened to me,i used to travel,i used to take photographs & i even used to write things down,&  but i never thought of comparing myself with any one or thought of improving these skills of mine….All these things have been a Sunday afternoon job till July 30th.suddenly from last one month i am finding myself reading more about photography,referring dictionaries ,improving my language and what not.I think this is the best thing a contest can do to you….If a contest can give you a purpose in your life more than just winning or loosing then i think that’s the best possible contest in the world & if you are able induct that on to your life then you are already a winner . i believe that there is always a take away from every thing in life whether it is winning or loosing.Winning brings in itself a responsibility of consistency & loosing teaches you to be the best next time.So it doesn’t matter now whether we are driving one of those cedia’s or we are just watching the blessed 3, its just about being part of this great event.

Thanks TGDC for organizing this..and guys what an excellent show..

Regards
Harish Mohan

Posted by Harish Mohan  on  07/22  at  09:08 AM

Great stuff guys! Seriously, this is creativity at its very best!

Sounds exciting and we look forward to more details from you. Rest assured, we will be in this till the very end - either as participants, or as fans and cheer leaders!

Posted by Aditi and Anupam Mathur  on  07/22  at  09:15 AM

Absolutely riveting stuff by team GDC. Kudos to have upped the ante at each stage of the competition. We really hope to make it to the final 9, but also realize that there is pretty stiff competition around.

The wait is just agonizing. In any case, if we do have to follow someone from tomorrow, it would be quite a difficult choice between the two teams we think are really great. One would be the team of Joseph & Namrata, the other being Amit & Jace. Really, really loved their snaps & creativity.

Let’s wait and watch smile

Posted by Harsh  on  07/22  at  09:40 AM

TGDC team never fails to surprise us …this is one more “ah-ha” moment that comes naturally just thinking about the super-creative brains at work out there! This whole idea is a great vehicle for getting conversations going…Sandip u just got all of us hooked!

We are game for more irrespective of which side of the fence we are on … Keep Rocking!

Cheers
Anamika & Pawan

Posted by Anamika  on  07/22  at  10:22 AM

hi harsh

does that imply that the third team you will be rooting for will be ours?

Posted by shaishav and norah  on  07/22  at  10:23 AM

Hey

We’ve said everything that we have to and all we have left to say now is we’re truly inspired to be better people.

Hats off to you guys!!

Its been an amazing journey thus far and looking forward to completing it.

Leena and Sai

Posted by Leena and Sai  on  07/22  at  10:27 AM

The excitement is now getting in my veins. With the heart thumping ever more loudly, the blood gushing in the brain, and the nerves ever alert, I await the top 9.

Great show so far guys, hope to see more and more in the coming days.

Posted by Amit Sharma  on  07/22  at  10:48 AM

Oscar for us… no less.

You people are great at building excitement and giving us some sleepless nights, anticipating whats next…

Way to go… TGDC Team

Posted by Divya Uttam  on  07/22  at  10:54 AM

Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire. Which is precisely what Team GDC has done.

Stupendous work TGDC! Every phase of this contest has added a wonderful dose of excitement, thrill and passion.

Can’t wait to see what’s in store next!

Posted by Aadil & Saniya Bandukwala  on  07/22  at  11:03 AM

Doh! (ala Homer Simpson)

Here I am checking updates on this blog again. I told myself I will have to stop doing this so often and get some work done. I have a dozen windows open and lots of things to get done but I can’t stay away from the TGDC website to see .... now whats happened? where does it go next? is there an update?

Agreed with everyone, this competition is riveting! You won’t believe how many times since the very start we reach a frenzy over things like how do we get more votes? what is the competition like? do we stand a chance? .....and just as hopes rise, we tell ourselves “alright!...enough…time to stop being excited or we’ll just be disappointed when things don’t work out” . So the next few days, we try and get over it or something happens that dash all hopes (like Joe Radhik’s skyrocketing votes hahaha) and then BANG! ....a new turn of events and we are back running from corner to corner in an excited frenzy again.

Whether it ends on a high or a low…you have to admit team TGDC put up one roller-coaster of a competition together.

Posted by Neil  on  07/22  at  11:10 AM

Hi,
TGDC has been the single most inovative and novel concept of recent times. though i’m not able to spend as much time as i would have wished, my wife is following this blog closely and we both are mighty excited for the action that will unfold , come thursday noon.

We humbly admit that there are a lot of deserving profiles to be in top 9 , our favourites being Harsha Koda, Thomas & Shilpy and some more.
We are definitely amateurs compared to them but being the die hard optimists that we are, we wish to see our names in top 9 tomorrow….....

Waiting for it, but whatever the result is , we would take it in all grace, because we know we would be going on our dream trail, if not now, in coming December to mark our 10 yrs of journey.

counting down along with others,

Anand & Nischala

Posted by Anand & Nischala  on  07/22  at  11:48 AM

Hi Sandip,

As all await with bated breath, I found something interesting on the net which I would like to share with all travel enthusiasts- 10 Top Travel Tips by Sir Francis Bacon.

Trust it makes an intersting read for all!
http://hospitality.multiply.com/journal/item/13
( Note: I have absolutely no ulterior motive to promote this blog!! smile) )


Narayan & Radhika
https://greatdrivingchallenge.com/application/1246123751495876/

Posted by Narayan & Radhika Mallapur  on  07/22  at  11:50 AM

Miles to go before I sleep smile

Loads to do if one wishes to complete this challenge and the mantra probably is going to be “slow and steady”..... burnout is a possibility specially of friends who might need pestering once again and this time to be more active than just vote and be done smile..... for now concentrating on getting the document verification complete (a missing PAN card can go a long way in ruining my chances here smile) ....so guys whatever you do never drive with your wallet on the roof of your car….. i mean seriously there always would be some place somewhere inside however small the car may be…. more here—-> http://tr.im/o8jy )

-imtiaz

Posted by Imtiaz  on  07/22  at  11:51 AM

Let me put across my feelings for you guys that has developed since past few weeks and got stronger with every passing day…..

‘TGDC is WICKED….and is OUT TO MAKE A KILL’ 

Do u guys realise that your super creative antics might just give cardiac arrest to one of the contestent (and I might be the first one…hehee )

Your countdowns are like time-ticking on a bomb. You never reveal things in a go…and always have a crazy ‘TEASER’ in your arsenal. Thinking about it still gives me an adrenalin rush and a shiver down my spine….and before we could come out of the last one….here you are again;
“200 strangers : 18 good friends - what happens next?”

Well, if this has been your intention then you guys truely and completely have been successful in creating that excitement all the way…without losing
your grip even once.

Cheers to all of you (till the time i don’t end up in a hospital)
and, if i do….i’ll sue u guys = )

Amit
of
Amit & Jace

Posted by Amit & Jasleen  on  07/22  at  11:58 AM

Sounds ‘Exciting’?? Well… “Exciting” is an understatement guys!! You have no idea what you have done for our otherwise so mundane lives… smile
I must say you deserve a standing ovation smile !! This is probably the only thing…which has given us the feeling of excitement, anxiety, curiosity we had during our school days..before the exam results were declared or on sports days while running in race for winning it!

Fortunately for us we are amongst the 100 short listed contestants…whether we make it to the top 9 or not, whether we follow the other contestants as fans or not, one thing we assure you that we are indeed fans of your team and your creativity smile

Thanks to your team I could rekindle my interest in blogging. I had started it couple of times before but left it for lack of motivation. But now having read blogs of fellow contestants I feel an urge to write and have already started it. So thanks to all of them too J

Thanks a ton for making our lives exciting! Whoever wins this challenge is subject to the contest, but YOU all truly are winners for touching so many lives through the TGDC!!

Gud luck to all 100 contestants! smile

Posted by mugdha  on  07/22  at  12:20 PM

err… umm… fingers bleedin… aargh…no more nails to bite… b.. burp.. no, not a full stomach… a ‘butterflied’ stomach… no appetite… can i survive the 22 hours…no more words either.. cat’s got my mouth…eeeaaarghhh!!

Posted by Prabha  on  07/22  at  12:20 PM

For us, the GDC is akin to a jeep safari into Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary. We are drawing parallels here because when you are in the safari, you don’t know what’s in store for you. You don’t know whether you will be lucky to have a fabulous sighting of a Tiger or whether you will among those who come away without seeing anything. There is excitement, anticipation, the rush of adrenaline and there is hope. But at the end of it all, it’s a matter of LUCK. Similarly, for the Top 9 to be announced tomorrow; with the earlier scores taking a back seat, and the jury having been instructed to ‘follow their heart’, it’s anybody’s game out there and lady luck will be playing a big role here!
’ We are sure all the Top 100 contestants are deserving of being in the Top 9. So here’s wishing the other 99 couples the very best from the bottom of our hearts.

Cheers,
Thomas & Shilpy

Posted by Thomas & Shilpy  on  07/22  at  12:28 PM

Hi there everyone!
Kudos to the TGDC team for coming up with an excellent idea and putting in tremendous efforts to make it a reality.

They have got us all totally hooked on to this and we are following the blog 24/7, amazed to see people in hundreds (including us) join in, write, blog, post pictures and get deeply involved. The challenge is a part of us now and we have all started breathing TGDC, with an anxiety and fervour to innovate the adventure drive for 12 days.
Life suddenly seems to be in top gear, especially over the past 20 days, moving from a routine all- work-no-play schedule to one that is exciting, challenging and raring to go. My boss now jokes about whether I am working for him or for TGDC and is glad to see the immense passion and desire with which I have applied myself to the competition.

The last 4 days has brought back memories of times when the school or college exam results would be due and we used to have sleepless nights feeling the pressures of uncertainty and hoping for the best. Getting the same feeling after ten years is amusing for me and shows the level of seriousness that I have attached to this challenge .

Both, Taru and myself have been only talking about TGDC all day and night and we can hardly wait for the calendar to turn to July 23 and the clock to strike 12 noon, which even though is less than 24 hours away, seems like eternity. Finally, even though we would absolutely like to see ourselves in the top nine, the journey so far has been gratifying enough if we were to end up as part of the remainder ninety-one who ‘also-ran’.  Being a part of this amazing event and getting to know fellow contestants through their blogs and pictures, getting in touch with all long lost friends and getting them to vote and provide testimonials to our driving and photography skills, putting our heart and soul in to this activity and dreaming new dreams are some of the rewards we will always cherish. The support that the TGDC team has been providing so far and the fact that it will continue to support the winning participants as well as the ones left behind is truly assuring and worth an applaud. So, on that very note, 3 cheers to TGDC….hip hip hurray !!!

Cheers,

Jignesh & Taru

Posted by Jignesh & Taru  on  07/22  at  01:30 PM

Couldn’t agree more with all those comments above.

Every moment, it is more excitement, anxiety, racing heart beats. Like someone said this can cause heart attack.

As we wait for tomm, wishing all other participants good luck

TGDC team certainly has done a marvelous job

cheers

Unny & Bindhu

Posted by Unny & Bindhu  on  07/22  at  01:36 PM

Hey Imtiaz,

Almost the same thing happened to us except that it was a theft at home and had not realised that they had taken the pan card which was in an old wallet (never realised the old wallet was missing either ) till we started looking for the pan card!!

Frantically called our CA and he suggested we could request the pan details from the IT dept based on the name and no on the card online.
Thats what we did and got our details. Why dont you try that? hardly took us 5 mins. Started breathing only after that!! smile

Hope you dont lose a chance to make it to the top 9 because of this!!

Best of luck to all of u!! smile

Leena and Sai

Posted by Leena and Sai  on  07/22  at  01:42 PM

The elimination of 91 couples tomorrow will be a moment to watch for!
We am passing these hours with as waited breath as many of our fellow contestants..in anticipation of either one of the most memorable days that we will have in times to come or having to face the disappointment of missing out on all fun that could have been!

We are probably one of the later particiapants to join the contest but we must say that this has brought a bigger perspective to our days here smile

Cheers,
Shilpi & Swapnil
https://greatdrivingchallenge.com/application/124772059872350034
http://shilpig08.blogspot.com/

Posted by Shilpi & Swapnil  on  07/22  at  01:45 PM
Page 1 of 2 pages  1 2 >

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:


Submit the word you see below:

Find TGDC on


Digg us Stumble it! Save us on delicious Find us on orkut Find us on twitter Find us on facebook

Subscribe


RSS

TGDC on Facebook

The Great Driving Challenge on Facebook


Google Friend Connect

Recent Posts

  • Beat the Monday Blues with TGDC
    Monday, July 27, 2009
  • A few ground rules
    Sunday, July 26, 2009
  • Memories from Route#1
    Sunday, July 26, 2009
  • The new TGDC… is now all yours!
    Sunday, July 26, 2009
  • Welcome, God of TGDC
    Sunday, July 26, 2009
  • Checking out the Palms Hotel Villas
    Saturday, July 25, 2009
  • Wake up, Blogger
    Saturday, July 25, 2009
  • Prepare for the unexpected
    Saturday, July 25, 2009
  • Sapna to sabhi dekhte hain
    Friday, July 24, 2009
  • Do not disturb. Enjoying my sleep
    Thursday, July 23, 2009
  • TGDC 2009 TOP 12 Fact-sheet
    Thursday, July 23, 2009
  • Let us all congratulate the TOP 12
    Thursday, July 23, 2009
  • Members of the Jury Panel for final round (TOP 12) in Mumbai
    Thursday, July 23, 2009
  • Mumbai 10:38 - White smoke from TGDC base camp
    Thursday, July 23, 2009
  • Dear Mr. Sandip & Co.
    Thursday, July 23, 2009
  • Time for a little confession
    Wednesday, July 22, 2009
  • The good news and the not so good news
    Wednesday, July 22, 2009
  • Rumors on Twitter?
    Wednesday, July 22, 2009
  • Holy Smokes
    Wednesday, July 22, 2009
  • Spotted on “The Highway Karma Show”
    Wednesday, July 22, 2009
  • We are good to go!
    Wednesday, July 22, 2009
  • 200 strangers : 18 good friends - what happens next?
    Wednesday, July 22, 2009
  • Peace breaks out in TGDC
    Tuesday, July 21, 2009
  • Letter from Dilip D’Souza
    Tuesday, July 21, 2009
  • Attention Winners - Team GDC trying to reach you
    Tuesday, July 21, 2009
  • Simple Fundas of Life
    Monday, July 20, 2009
  • The Judging criteria
    Monday, July 20, 2009
  • Bouquets or Brickbats - just keep them coming
    Monday, July 20, 2009
  • No Luck by Chance
    Monday, July 20, 2009
  • Wrapping up
    Sunday, July 19, 2009
  • Funny Fake IDs
    Sunday, July 19, 2009
  • Travelogues
    Sunday, July 19, 2009
  • Pitch Power
    Sunday, July 19, 2009
  • Counting votes & more
    Sunday, July 19, 2009
  • Deep Thoughts
    Saturday, July 18, 2009
  • We need your verdict on this one!
    Saturday, July 18, 2009
  • Ode to Cedia
    Friday, July 17, 2009
  • Real friends, don’t like spam
    Thursday, July 16, 2009
  • The countdown has started
    Thursday, July 16, 2009
  • The lighter side of voting
    Tuesday, July 14, 2009
  • Unbreak these hearts!
    Tuesday, July 14, 2009
  • Motown, Rajarhat
    Tuesday, July 14, 2009
  • Forever young
    Tuesday, July 14, 2009
  • Cheat sheets - the real bad ones!
    Monday, July 13, 2009
  • Cedia crazy goes shooting!
    Monday, July 13, 2009
  • More Tips
    Sunday, July 12, 2009
  • GDC is now blessed
    Sunday, July 12, 2009
  • The curious coincidence of 3 Sapnas
    Saturday, July 11, 2009
  • It is starting to buzz!
    Saturday, July 11, 2009
  • Hello, Mad or Wot?
    Friday, July 10, 2009
  • Oh - the not so smart ones!
    Friday, July 10, 2009
  • The e-mail infrastructure stands upgraded
    Friday, July 10, 2009
  • The auto-fanatics at TEAM-BHP.com
    Friday, July 10, 2009
  • Tips to complete your application #1
    Thursday, July 09, 2009
  • Melt your heart with this photostream
    Thursday, July 09, 2009
  • Look ma, I’m on TV
    Thursday, July 09, 2009
  • Let me take you there
    Tuesday, July 07, 2009
  • Ooops! You (did not) get the email?
    Monday, July 06, 2009
  • Votes and More
    Monday, July 06, 2009
  • Thank you for your support
    Sunday, July 05, 2009

© 2009. Mitsubishi Cedia Sports The Great Driving Challenge.
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Media Center | About The Contest |

Creative Agency: Contract Advertising | Digital Agency: Experience Commerce