RFC 2009 Update - (Day 2-4)
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.
This year the introduction of the buggy once again made the playing ground of RFC more favourable for the locals, as already it was tough to send modified vehicles into RFC and back, now the foreign competitor contingent had to deal with these new class of mongrels which are home made in Johor, consisting of only pipes, engine, and axles, and the minimum safety standards. Although they are in a different class they run the same SS’s and most of the time digging and ruining for heavier vehicles to get through, these guys were powering through vertical walls where conventional 4x4 with the most powerful winches had their limitations. The introduction of the buggy into RFC might become the first major discouragement for those who come from far across the globe and be ridiculed by these so called 4x4 vehicles.
While most conventional vehicles were getting stuck in the Mud holes, “Allawwa” and Indika were making through, also Ranga making through but short of the DNF time. Indika was put up some impressive timing where Allawwa –Ravindra was also clocking in decent time.
While ranga’s bad streak continued, the Highlight of the day came in the late afternoon when there was a solid team work that pulled through an SS that was near Impossible. “Allawwa” went into the SS knowing that he will get a DNF, but he went to break the wall that was stopping everyone, and Indika Followed and made through in 8 mins, showing his true brilliance and living up to his championship tag. Naveen’s co-driving was the fundamental driving force behind this effort.
Unofficial Word after 12 SS Indika 4th Overall, Allawwa – 14th Overall and Ranga 24th Overall out of 43 vehicles that started.