It’s not about how hard you get hit, but how much you can take and still move ahead. No one lives up to that inspiring line more that Hyderabad racer Mazdayar Vatcha, a daredevil who has suffered broken bones a whopping 73 times, apart from enduring severe injuries, but has pursued his passion of playing with mean machines.
Zipping in the fast lane for over 25 years now, the 41-year-old multi-national champion has the distinction of winning a trophy in almost every single form of motorsport in India — go-karting, drag racing, car rallying, car racing, formula car racing, bike racing, bike rallying, motocross, autocross, dirt track... you name it.
Mazda, as he is affectionately called on the speed circuit, does not believe in backing off, even when faced with adversity. “Injuries can never take the game out of sportsmen because the passion to excel is always there,” he says, dismissing post-injury apprehensions.
It’s the competitive edge that keeps the wounded going, according to Mazda.
“Most of these injury lay-offs happen in the middle of a championship so they play on your mind as you watch your rivals get ahead of you because you’ve missed a couple of rounds that stagnate your points tally. From there it’s an uphill struggle again to get back into the reckoning but the motivation is high to get back into your sport and work your way to the top. That is when you do all the right things to regain your stamina — eat right, don’t skip taking a pill, don’t miss a physiotherapy session, et al,” he smiles.
Explaining further, the Speed King says: “I have so far suffered 73 fractures in my hands, legs, back but have driven on. Thanks to my body metabolism, my bones fuse fast and heal in three to four weeks. Later, the pain remains but the ability to drive is there, and I am back on the road.”
Well, not all of his long list of injuries have been caused in competition though.
“I have suffered more than half of those off the track in the form of punctured lungs and liver, which take longer to heal. I got hit by a vehicle while just standing by. Once while travelling back home from the airport in a cab, the driver fell asleep and rammed the vehicle into a tree. It’s hilarious, but there’s no guarantee that you’d be safe if you were not playing the so-called ‘dangerous’ sport. Everything is uncertain in life, you just need to enjoy it and pursue your passion,” he beams.
However, safety is always first. His advice: “Invest in good gear, it is cheaper than your hospital bill.”
