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Received by email:
The biggest internationally represented 4x4 adventure action event
ever held anywhere in the world will be taking place soon in Malaysia,
from 25th November to 5th December.
With competitors and press coming from 30 countries,
this assembly of 4x4 vehicles and enthusiasts from North and South America,
Asia Pacific, Africa and Europe will be sharing friendship,
teamwork and camaraderie as well as giving
their best to win the prestigious Individual Champion, Team Champion,
Team Spirit Award, Jungle Man, Most Unique 4x4,
Environment Award and Special Awards.
The event format is to test the drivers and
co-drivers skills and ability to overcome various obstacles
to the maximum along the nearly 800km of logging tracks
during the rainy season,
the North East Monsoon.
It will mean overcoming muddy stretches,
slippery uphill ascents and equally tough downhill descents,
crossing rain swollen and fast flowing rivers,
landslides and deep ruts.
Conquering all these and completing the entire journey is in itself,
an achievement, let alone winning the various awards.
Apart from these, one has to contend with the high humidity,
which drains the strength from bodies
and legs already soaked with rain and sweat for long hours.
One has also got to be self sufficient
for the entire 10 days as well as able to take
the hardship and beating from whatever Mother Nature throws at them.
Everything and everyone going into the RFC must prepared
to the maximum possible or they would not be able to complete the
journey.
For the competitors, they have to endure the hardship of the
transport stage as well as being able to take the rigours
of the Special Stages (SS).
At the SS,
they will be especially tested for their driving and recovery skills
to the fullest, and thus earn points that will add up
to the championship at the end of the event.
These are the very difficult parts of the event,
selected by the organizer to test the teams to their limits and
beyond.
The rest of
the convoy will have to travel the transport stage from beginning
to end.
Under rain soaked conditions, even an easy track during the dry season
can be transformed into an awesome
obstacle which can take hours to go through,
even just over a few kms.
These include the print and electronic media following
the event as well as officials, observers and touring adventurers.
They all know the score,
nobody is here on holiday, everyone has got to work and
assist their fellow adventurers to go through from one place to another,
come what may.
For all of the above, the RFC has also earned the recognition as the greatest teambuilding exercise of the 4x4 kind in the world from the foreign media. It is an opportunity for all true blue outdoor lovers who wish to live out a jungle adventure to the fullest as well as an opportunity to get to know liked-minded people from around the world.
This is definitely not a rally event,
where competitors will have to speed over long distances during the SS.
Accelerator and engine power do not rule supreme in a challenge adventure
4x4 competition, but recovery and thinking power to overcome
the obstacles in the fastest time to earn maximum points
do make a big difference.
The event was created by its founder,
Mr. Luis J.A Wee in 1997, and RFC has since caught on with
many 4x4 enthusiasts globally.
His dream of making Malaysia the venue where serious off-roaders can come
for an exciting adventure together seems to be taking root.
He has not only created an event,
but, he is also in the unique position of launching RFC overseas selections in
other parts of the world,
with the aim of bringing the best teams to Malaysia for the final.
So far, 8 countries have joined in the hosting of RFC qualifying rounds,
with more coming in each year.
This is another achievement not commonly seen in 4x4 adventure
events except previously by the Camel Trophy (CT).
Events aside, he also formed the World 4x4 Council gathering
off-roaders of the adventure kind to one entity.
This too,
is progressively catching on worldwide.
This year, the event will start off in Ipoh,
Perak at Dataran Bandaraya on 25 November.
It will commence with full pomp and razzmatazz befitting its image as the 4x4 event of the year not only for the state of Perak, but also for Malaysia.
With support and endorsement from the Ministry of Arts,
Culture and Tourism,
the state governments of Perak and Terengganu and all their state agencies and departments as well as corporate ones like the main sponsor,
DMIB Bhd (Simex tyres) and Malaysia Airlines,
it looks like another exciting edition for RFC.
This year,
the General Operations Force of the North
Brigade (Briged Utara) will be providing the backbone
communications and safety backup,
thereby giving additional muscle and status to RFC.
This will also boost up the image of
Malaysia as a professional and serious organizer of world class
events.
After Ipoh, the convoy will cross the Main Range (Ttitwangsa) to Cameron Highlands and from there to Gua Musang. The second stage will continue from there to Hulu Terengganu, crossing Kenyir Lake region before ending the journey in Kuala Terengganu. With coded names for the areas that they will be passing through, for example, Predator, Terminator, Twilight Zone, Fire Fox and Bridge to Nowhere, expect only battle ready women, men, machines, accessories and tyres to make the attempt. This is the time to test the best of the best. Thus, all sorts of equipment, accessories and tyres will be brought in for the ultimate challenge. Only battle proven products will bear the Born in the Rainforest Challenge mark with distinction.
A tropical secondary jungle environment is such that the
existing and/or disused logging tracks
can turn into formidable obstacles during the rainy season.
A single day’s thunderstorm of high water intensity will make sure of that.
Furthermore, the environment is a non issue
here as heavy rain will obliterate whatever tyre tracks left
behind by the convoy.
There is no broaching into virgen jungle.
And, last but not least,
the adventurers are at the forefront of protection
of the eco-system, a strict jungle code of ethics is enforced and
everyone looks after the environment as we pass through leaving nothing
but footprints and tyre tracks.
So, come this November, when the wind and rain of the North East Monsoon will be at their height, spare a thought for those extra-ordinary breed struggling through endurance and hardship, in their pursuit for adventure. The Rainforest Challenge is a time to live your passion in 4x4 adventure to the fullest.
Rainforest Challenge (RFC) 2000 (25 Nov - 5 Dec) (Be forewarned, RFC is not for the faint-hearted, come physically & mentally prepared).
Go to the
results,
Ibex,
x-ref
and
4wd events
pages
