(Daniel) I woke up a little hung over this morning, and got up to shower before seeing Vricky who I went into town with to eat some breakfast. I ordered a strawberry pancake, which was surprisingly bereft of strawberries! Afterwards we drove back to the House, and I went out to help some of the others putting a large banner up outside.

I checked in at the front of the house, and got my LROM Anniversary T-shirt, and another for Nick, then Aleyna asked me to help with the parking. I walked out onto the road, and waited there for people to arrive, apparently there were around 50 vehicles expected! Back at the house, Lawrence was putting a whole lamb on the spit, and the girls had set up a t-shirt shop at the check in desk. A few people arrived then and I sent them to the front, after a while though I got a bit bored out at the front, and when enough vehicles were parked around the sign, I left my post to go back to the House. A photographer wanted me to take some pictures for a magazine, and later he asked to interview me. Aleyna was there also and told me that that the fun course, which was an army training course that we had permission to drive on was open, and asked if I wanted to take her as co-pilot and try the course. I agreed, then Aleyna and I jumped in the Wolf and drove down to the Helipad and training centre. I was given a number, and waited outside to go in.

After a few minutes, another vehicle turned up. He asked if I wanted to follow him, which I did, and so I drove in, but was distracted for a second by someone else wanting to talk to me, and lost sight of the lead vehicle for a minute. When I carried on, I spotted the lead car straight ahead, and drove out to follow him. Instantly beaching myself on a huge conctrete block that the Wolf stranddled on either side. It sat there on it’s two differentials, stuck before I had even started, how embarrassing! The others came over to help, and I then realised that I had gone the wrong way around the marker! We towed and rocked the vehicle off the concrete, and I drove back to the start.

I waited then for a vehicle to be winched out, and could hear over the radios that several others were DNF or unable to finish! I wondered what this course would be like! The Airhorn went, and I started out into the track. It was very muddy, and I had to keep momentum up. After a steep downhill section, a huge bank loomed over me, I took a run up through the stream at the bottom and climbed about 75% of the way, but couldn’t finish, I went back down and tried again a few times, to no avail. I jumped out at the bottom, and started to unpack the winch. The others came to help, and in a few minutes we were climbing the hill at winching speed, with the wheels spinning and throwing up clods of mud! When we got to the top the rest of the course was easy enough, but there was a very steep downhill descent which had me biting my nails as 1st gear low screamed in complaint! When I finished I reaisled that I hadn’t done a very good time, as I had also stopped to take photos half way too! I returned to the house, feeling fortunate that everything was still in one piece!

Back at the house I went back to the min area, and sat down to talk to Lawrence and Hakim, who were still cooking the spit roast lamb. I sat there complaining about the time which I had set on the course, and wondering if I should go and try again. A couple of guys turned up then from England, Richard and Dwyer, from England and Northern Ireland. They had driven here from Thailand, and were in a converted 130 ambulance with procomp suspension, painted battleship grey, it was a 1987, and had been put together for a very tight budget. Their Expedition was called the Antipodean Adventure, I chatted with them about our experiences so far and then walked down to the road with them to take a look at their vehicle, just then another expedition prepared English Land Rover pulled up, it was Rose and David, the man I had spoken to about helping them get their vehicle out of Port Klang. They had succeeded in getting the vehicle, and had driven straight here from the dock. These guys called their trip Nessie’s Adventure.

I chatted with them, and told them about the fun course. Apparently none of them wanted to take their vehicles off-road, so I asked if they wanted to come down and watch, the antipodean adventure boys said that they only wanted to come if I was going to drive the course. So challenged I said that I would drive again, having been told that this would be ok, and wanting to improve upon my previous time. Dwyer jumped in the back, and Richard in the front, and the Nessie’s adventure crew followed in their vehicle.

When we arrived at the fun course, there were a lot more people there than last time, I lined up at the start and again had to wait as vehicles were winched out of the bog! After the course was free, I started out, and eager to beat my previouos time, I didn’t go slowly! As I rounded the first major corner, and then started down into the valley, I slipped into the ruts from previous vehicles, and should have stopped, but I tried to plough through, and ended up stuck in mud up to the bumper at the front. Another vehicle was quickly scrambled to help, and this pulled up behind and started to winch me backwards, I wouldn’t move though, and so i climbed out and removed my waffle boards from the sides of the vehicle, then I dug out with the shovels, and put these underneath the wheels. I got back into the wolf and reversed, it took a a couple of attempts, but eventually the front lifted out of the mud, and I steered out of the ruts. Already my time was suffering, I then didn’t have my run up for the steep uphill ascent which I had got caught on last time, and this time I moved the waffles into place first to try and give myself some extra grip at the bottom, then I got up speed and climbed. I couldn’t make it all the way, and returned back down, where I tried again twice, and then got the winch out! Richard and Dwyer seemed to be enjoying the ride, as he took photos and video of the various goings on. We winched back up the hill, and then finished out the course.

I was pretty annoyed, as these two delays meant that I wouldn’t get a good time, and wondered at how any others had done. I walked back to the steep hill, and waited for other vehicles to get there, the first was a new Discovery 3. Driven by Yamin, the man who’s house I stayed in during my time in Batu Rackit. Yamin has entered the Camel Trophy twice for Malaysia, and is the founder member of the Land Rovers Owners club. He tried several times, but could not get up the hill, although I was impressed to see that all four wheels were spinning and redirecting power where it was needed. He winched up and carried on through the course.

Then another vehicle appeared over the horizon, this was a local Cameron Highlands vehicle, and sounded as if it had a big turbo under the bonnet! It flew over the start of the course and then tore up the steep hill, spinning wheels all the way. I saw two Chinese guys inside as it passed by me. They carried on around the course in record time, and I knew that this vegetable farming vehicle would be the modified category winner!

After watching some of the vehicles finish the course, I walked back to the Wolf and drove back to Brinchang and Rose House, there, people were arriving back, and setting up for the prizes and speeches, but more importantly the food! I opened a beer and sat back as person after person came over to talk about the truck, and my trip. A couple of reporters were there and they interviewed me and took photos. Then the speeches started and a special slideshow was shown of the history of the club. There was a prize draw, which I missed my number because I was talking! There was a brief interlude for the food, and then the prizes were given. To my surprise, there was a special award given out to me, for using the most equipment on the fun course! It was very nice, as Aleyna and Atec had obviously done this to show that they had liked having me around, and I was really proud to have got it, even if I didn’t win the day!

After this the other prizes were awarded, and I showed the Chinese guys Fie and Thomas a video of them flying up the hill in their 110 pickup! The night got boozy then, and everyone had a great time, I really got a chance to meet and talk to everyone, and by the end of the night had made many new friends. The reporters from earlier told me that they would come in the morning, and finish their story with me. After many beers and at least one whisky, I retired to the rooftent myself! Happy that I had stayed on in Malaysia on Nick’s suggestion to come here today.

PREVIOUS |  NEXT