"I'd estimate we were about four inches away from being obliterated."
Despite their fair share of close calls and one spark plug-related breakdown that they insist was the dirty work of another team, the boys and their "trusty steed" came 36th out of 83 teams - no easy feat since there has never been a Rickshaw Run where every team has finished.
The race, which took them from northeastern Shillong to Kochi, on India's southwest coast, has "no rules, no route and no support" but the friends found help from people they met along the way.
"I fail to believe that anybody on this planet is nicer than Indians.
"Any time we pulled over we'd be surrounded by locals in a matter of seconds, all trying to see if we're broken down and need any help," Mr Fleet said.
As Kiwi blokes, nothing could prevent them from naming their tuk-tuk "Buzz" and painting the machine in the colours of the iconic Buzzy Bee toy, or tuning in while on the road to an All Blacks match.
While Mr Fleet manoeuvred the wheel during a lightning storm, Mr Jacques and Mr Love-Allen had their ears glued to a live radio stream of an All Blacks versus Wallabies match, pausing only when the rickshaw almost tipped over into a giant puddle.