Mercedes Benz Inc.

I always knew that Mercedes manufactured its SUV's in US and I also knew that it was in Tuscaloosa,AL.

 pix @





discussion @
http://gearheads.in/vintage-classic-cars/mercedes-museum-tuscaloosa-usa-t483.html

Around the town of Moody,Alabama

Vintage Bike Race @ Barber Motorsports park

was the town of Moody really Moody?? Well, the Mood was definitely upbeat in the town of Moody 
coz of this annual event called Vintage Bike Race and the venue, Barber Motorsports Park 

Driving in US

The last time that I visited US, I had tried to get myself a DL out here. So, I had read all the driving rules thoroughly. Lots of rules trust me. Courtesy driving. Safe distance blah blah blah…can turn here , can’t turn there. Speed limits everywhere. Awesome roads but shit speed limits.We have no good roads but we rip down any roads at high speeds. Ironic isn’t it. Driving on the highway is big time tension for the first few times.70 mph (115 kph) is the speed limit on highways. All cars are running at 70 mph. no room for error. Believe me I was watching the mirror more than the road looking out for cops coz that’s the last people you’d ever want to see out here. Preplanning is a must while driving out here. No paan beeda/cigarette stalls or dhabas to ask directions. Miss an exit (to get out of highway) whoop….you’re gone. Next exit could be 5 miles away and getting back in line a big pain. Now , the road signs are excellent. Good warnings of exits but while busy trying to look out for cops, crazy truckers and occasional rash driving cars, its real easy to miss exits. Luckily I haven’t missed any exit else I’d get lost.
My car comes with cruise control. That’s the 1st thing I do. Switch on cruise control as soon as I see a speed limit signboard. Yaakappa kireeku. The highways are really tempting to overspeed. Only once I did do 110 mph while overtaking. That’s it. Got back to cruising.

Rental car

Voila Rental car!! The prev trip of mine , I did not have a proper license but this time, no sir, no repeating the old issues. I got me a proper license just in time. Got me a rental car from Avis. No other rental car guy would rent it out to me coz I didn’t have a major credit card from US. Sad logic. I got myself a brand new Nissan Altima. Fully loaded car came with keyless system. Keep the remote in the pocket and that’s it. Walk upto the car and press a button on the door handle, door lock opens and starting the car, simple. Button start. Sports car style. Awesome car but driving in US is tensing. There are so many rules to follow. It is so easy to drive in India. No rules are good rules. I’m sure all agree to this.


The biggest headache out here is insurance. You ain’t surviving anywhere without insurance. I took the car without insurance (costs lesser). The savings are good but, its one hell of a risk. Even if somebody else bangs into me, I get screwed big time. Lots of trouble. Gave back the huge amazingly powerful Nissan Altima and got myself the cheapest car. A brand new black Corolla (the one we know as the Corolla Altis in India). No bells and whistles and very basic. This time, I took this with Insurance. Tension gone. I now have the almighty power I can now bang into anybody and not worry about paying for it!! Wicked.

Super 8 Motel

I stayed at a motel called super 8. 6 miles away from office. This was the only place closest to anything called accommodation in this hamlet.This motel was basic enough and the rooms big enough to live in. had all the basic amenities and was maintained well. Air conditioned makes it easier during weather changes as it was getting colder.
distance to office 6 miles!!! Now the next big problem is travel!! …well the 1st day, my colleague from clients place picked me up but thereafter was a question mark.

10th Oct '08-Bangalore-paris-atlanta,US-birmingham,US-Moody,Alabama.

This being my 2nd trip to US, I thought it was a smooth sail away. That it was. I took Air France again and yet again stopped over at Paris. This time, 5 hrs of waiting!! Agonizing. All through that time, luckily for me, there was a public internet kiosk. Well ,had to pay for it though. How much? how about $ 6.00 for 15 minutes of internet. Daylight robbery. Then on, it was PS3 which helped me pass time. Played F1 on PS3. easily made all the top drivers look silly on the track .I had so much time, I perfected it too. Finally jumped into another Air France flight only to realize there was yet another flight to take after Atlanta. Damn. Painful it was. Well, finally, touchdown in Birmingham. Now this is Birmingham in Alabama, US. Not the one in UK. General knowledge improved eh.Took a cab to the village called Moody 25 miles away.
Alabama is in the southern part of US. Lots of mountains and nice scenic roads. Had heard a lot bout Alabama some good some bad and some nasty things to watch out for. Hoped for the better of all.