The Overall Champion Of The Rain Forest Challenge in Malaysia
Year after year, the international presence in the RFC is growing and, as a result, the event has managed to be 4×4 with a greater variety of nationalities of those being held around the globe. This time, the range of cultures in the form of Offroad racing members got together coming from no less than twenty-five countries on four continents during the ten days of competition (from 4 to 13 December). Hundred people were involved in testing between the participants, organization, journalists, police and military. In regard to competitors, the real stars were enrolled a total of 35 terrain vehicles, four ATV and motorcycle enduro. More variety of vehicles this time, which gave him even more “colorful” to the competition of which show a number of exclusive photographs.
Warming up
The great caravan was growing slowly during the days before the start of the test, with the arrival of all members to the initial meeting point. We speak of Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia. From there began the shift to the very core of the event starting. This is the second largest city in the country, called Johor Bahru. With the north coast of Singapore to the hearing, began the first stirrings of the test, with an elegant opening in which even involved himself Sultan of Johor. This led to the prologue, which took place over two days. The first one served as preparation for first-timers, including European participants were as the Franco-Filipino and Italian. The latter, with problems in your vehicle before leaving Europe, decided to travel to Malaysia and rent a jeep on the ground and ready for testing.
Rain is a main actor of the event and as such, would not be expected and a strong dash adorned the areas of the prologue to make everyone see that pass this test is not easy. Thus came the moment everyone is waiting, the way that leaves any hint of civilization behind and enter the caravan in the immensity of the Malaysian jungle. In this unpredictable terrain, the elements and nature always have the last word might be surprised.
Nature is the boss
During the trips between the various camps that make up the Rain forest Challenge, the dimensions of space and time become relative to a large extent, because the natural conditions hamper progress and distances could be covered in two hours, may require ten. This happened during the transfer to the first camp, where some teams came after two o’clock in the morning after being forced to dip into the winch on countless occasions. And why had not started the timed special sectors … The hardness of the way many teams forced to make reparations to trial the same night not to miss out on the overall standings, the first change. Luckily, the rain was kind and did not appear, so that the mud gave a short truce the next day. However, the difficulty caused some teams humble steps, without aspiring for overall victory, decided to shelve certain SS jeopardizing the integrity of the vehicle. The use of the Hi-Lift joined an area of trees and, of course, much winch to move through difficult issues. The day ended with some rain, but little heavy, just enough for a good army of mosquitoes make an appearance at sunset.
To continue the jungle!
The first camp was history, and throughout the caravan continued in a southeasterly direction to follow in the area called “The Last Frontier.” At the crossing, the crossing of a creek slowed the march to cause all 4×4 without exception should be slinging to escape their muddy bed. Even some said that up to three vehicles should pull it out of the mud. Special sectors of the second camp, played between the transparent waters of the web of rivers that cross the Malaysian jungle, hiding more than a trap. The hardest of all was composed by a deep hole of mud and water where cars sank as if it were quicksand.
After this camp played grouping of vehicles there were still “alive” in competition, continuing the steps toward the next camp. The following special sections, known as the Terminator, was a major drain on competitors. Incredible slippery slopes, narrow passages between hundreds of trees, over rivers … all faults generated at full speed, had to be repaired before continuing to the peak of the test, the impregnable Twilight Zone, or Twilight Zone. This time, the historic area’s toughest competition was held in a savage land which had never before circulated a 4×4, with the lone final east coast of Johor.
Tense moments
The plot complications and surprises hidden in almost every metro. As the unfortunate hero who became the dorsal Toyota 139. In their eagerness to escape the “teeth” of one of the huge mudflats that inhabit the Malaysian jungle, the copilot David Metcalfe hooked his winch to a tree. After several attempts, the strength of winch finally prevailed and the trunk snapped and fell on the back of the passenger himself. At that time, everyone feared the worst, as the injured lay unconscious for a quarter of an hour. From the time of the accident, all emergency and evacuation of the Rainforest Challenge was launched.
First, it was thought the helicopter, but the night had fallen and was impossible to carry out a rescue in this way between the foliage of the jungle. With all the participating vehicles blocked amid the most difficult of proof and no less than four miles from the next camp, there was no other alternative but to escape on foot through the jungle in the middle of the night. For this, a group of ten people in the organization, including medical services, began the return trip from the camp to the very core of the Twilight Zone. With the injured shoulder on a stretcher and with the support of seven other people were able to remove the wounded from the jungle. Once on the beach, a boat’s army carried the wounded to the nearest dock where an ambulance took him to the hospital that was more on hand. Fortunately, only it was a concussion without serious consequences. Thus wrote a new page in the titanic forces rescue those who compete in the jungle. And so it was also found that the effectiveness of the organizers was exemplary and that the safety of participants is their main concern.
The taste of victory
To this end he startle testing. The location chosen to complete this edition of the Malaysian Rainforest Challenge could not be more idyllic, as the beaches of the South China Sea served as the target for the Twilight Zone and they watched them all back to civilization, to Johor Bahru. There was crowned the overall champion of the Rain forest Challenge 2010, the couple from Malaysia Sarawak and including Chai Mui Shin and Ngieng Linus, who led the overall standings strongly from start to finish. The boldness of both endless and work capacity, coupled with his impeccable behavior Daihatsu Rocky were the key factors that led them to victory. But those who were victorious, were clearly proud to have built the great caravan, for the past thirteen years, continues to make history in the jungle.