Sheraz Qureshi – Our Car Enthusiast of the Month
Hello Readers! It is said that a wise person learns from his mistakes. Mr. Sheraz Qureshi is that person, whom we have had the pleasure of interviewing for you.
PW: Mr. Qureshi, please shed some light on your passion for automobiles?
SQ: I’ve been a car and bike enthusiast ever since I was a child. I am an outdoor kind of a person; I always look for outdoor adventure.
PW: You are also a rally car driver. Tell us more about this?
SQ: I’ve been meaning to participate in a rally for the past 10 years but it is only in the past 4 years that I have been able to actively participate in rallies.
PW: Who is your inspiration?
SQ: Nadir Magsi, who is also my mentor.
PW: What was your first rally experience like?
SQ: Cholistan rally was my first. And as expected for a 1st timer, it didn’t end the way I expected. I had modified my car by installing Ironman shocks in it; however, my car broke down. Heartbroken, I came back to Karachi but with a new resolve.
PW: Do you consider yourself a car collector and tell us whether you have a dream car?
SQ: Like other kids, I and my brothers owned dinky cars. We had a huge collection of dinky cars. As a child, a convertible dinky Jaguar was my favourite. The passion for cars originated back then. As I grew up, my passion for cars grew stronger. I would like to own a real convertible Jaguar one day. In addition, Porsches are my favourite.
PW: An interesting story from your childhood that you’d like to share with us?
SQ: When I matriculated, I unexpectedly secured very good marks and my father offered to buy me a gift. I wanted a bike, especially Kawasaki KE175. He refused and was adamant that he’ll buy me a car but never the bike. So, I asked him to buy me a 1987 Charade. It was a modified version, which I enjoyed driving.
PW: So, you’ve never owned a bike?
SQ: No. I bought my first bike, Fatbob 2008. Then I bought a Street Glide and now I’ve recently bought Road King CVO 2013. It’s a very powerful bike and also very comfortable. I love riding it.
PW: Let us know a bit more about your biking experience?
SQ: For me its catharsis. When you ride, the sound of the bike and its vibration takes your worries away. For me it’s very therapeutic.
PW: We know that you are part of a Harley Davidson club. Tell us about that experience? How did it start?
SQ: It started out as a small group of Harley Davidson bike riders. Now it is a pretty sizeable group of almost 60. Our group is called Harley Owners Group (HOG) Pakistan. We are all friends and we promote the love of bikes, especially Harley Davidson.
PW: Getting back to your rally experience, since you’ve been a regular racer for the past 4 years, how has been your experience?
SQ: In the beginning, I didn’t know much. I just wanted to race. I had recently bought a Hilux Invincible and took it to Cholistan. I participated in the B stock category but ended up wracking my car. I learned from that experience and bought a 2500 Invincible. I participated again in Cholistan rally and competed in C stock category. I had also driven that car in Gwadar and Jhal Magsi. In Gwadar, I turned that car over because I had not driven on that track before. I learned from that experience and promised myself that I must do two rounds of the track before racing, or I shouldn’t race at all. After Gwadar experience, I got myself a 2.7 Tacoma. I had it prepared under the guidance of Nadir Magsi. I’ve participated in C-Prepared category with this car in Gwadar. Then I raced this vehicle in Thal rally, where I made another mistake. I hit a serious bump on high speed, which damaged the car.
PW: Explain Jhal’s track for our readers?
SQ: It’s a dream for any off-road racer. In addition to the race, the area itself is a delight to watch. Its people are hospitable. I won in the C-Prepared category.
PW: How’s the racing experience overall?
SQ: The anxiety that you feel before the exams, is the same when you are about to compete in a race. Your heartbeat goes up when you are on the starting line. The high that you get from racing is something which is phenomenal.
PW: Is racing about speed only?
SQ: No. It’s not just that. Its also taking control of your vehicle, saving it for the final lap and crossing the finish line in one piece. Racing is such a challenging sport that finishing a race in itself is a victory.
PW: What is the future of motorsports in Pakistan?
SQ: Without sponsorship, there’s no future and I mean corporate sponsorship in particular. As the automobile industry grows in Pakistan, motorsports will get the promotion, I believe.
PW: What is PakWheels role in this?
SQ: PakWheels has been a game changer. Buying and selling of cars, availability of cars, price calculation of vehicle, all of these aspects have changed, thanks to PakWheels.
PW: Thank you for your time.