RFC 2009 Update - (Day 5-10)
2009-12-13RFC Continues...
The jungle stages before the twilight zone was split into two days with 6 SS each. The first day was tough with 3 SS where climbing grunt was essential, SS 14 again tested the technical skills of the team. While we went into the twilight zone wondering how to compete in Malaysia against Malaysian competitors the the event was taking a turn, where brains were more in play than brawns, where it seemed like the organizers had the previous predator stage to shake out the weak vehicles. SS 14 where you had to turn tight corners in the River bed did not favour any of the super modified with rear brakes and supra engines, leveling the playing field. The organizers have set up the stages so tight that once again the 4x4 game came down its roots, where strategy was the key. Indika and Naveen seemed very calm in the SS’s completing them with ease, while Ranga, and Allawa, also completing the SS.
Day two had a surprise for all, going back to basics, where the SS were set for the Drivers & Co-Driver and did not matter what vehicle that one ran. The SS consisted of changing tires without a Jack, Winching with a high lift jack and winching with a strap. These excercises were taking the toll on the teams where this years RFC thus far there was no rain and the sun was roasting everyone. This was a fresh look at SS and opened up the game for everyone whether you got a buggy or not.
RFC 2009 Update - (Day 2-4)
2009-12-08
RFC 2009...Continues
The Lankan team had a fair pro log with Indika & Naveen finishing 2nd overall out of 6 special stages. Moving on to the predator stage and the first taste of the Malaysian jungle, the Ulu Sedili National Park, where the camp was set by a the stony river sedili.
Six stages were set to shake out the weak vehilcles, these Stages were vehicle wrekers. SS 7 was a speed run along the rocky river bed, and SS8 a loop through 3 muddy holes that sank the vehicles up to the bonnet, SS9 a dive down to the river and a up hill climb, SS10 & 11 with vertical walls to climb and SS12 with a absolute wrecker where 10 speed rounds around a set jungle track.
The Beginning - RFC 2009
2009-12-06The RFC kicked off at the Zon Regency hotel in Johor Baru with approximately 50 plus entries dominated by local Johor based clubs. The foreign contingent other than the Sri Lanka were, Philipines, Russia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, and Denmark.
The 4x4 machines are getting lighter by the year, as this year there are a few unrecognizable vehicles such as buggies, and what next will they come without a chassis next year ? These were running around like mosquitoes in the mud, and without windscreen, the safety aspect of these vehicles have been compromised to achieve these modifications.
