OCTOBER 2002

PAT CAR#129 IN THIRD PLACE AFTER SPECIAL STAGE 3

28 Oct 2002 - The 800km Rainforest Challenge (RFC) was launched Saturday at Gunung Senyum, 40km away from Temerloh, Pahang. After the opening ceremony, the three PAT cars convoyed to the Prologue special stages (SS) at the Temerloh-Mentakab Industrial Park.

There were five SS on Sunday. Azman Baharuddin, who was on site, reported that after three SS, the PAT participants are in good placings. The accumulated points show that Ken Yin and James are in 3rd place, followed by Francis and Shahrul in 6th place, and Ujang and Karim in 26th place. "Special Stage 5 was the most difficult," said Azman. "Many cars turned over; even Francis's car nearly toppled over!" Unfortunately, car #126 (Ujang & Karim) did not finish SS 2, and was penalised in SS 4.

Today, the participants are going through SS 6 and 7, and all three cars are doing well. There is a long drive ahead to the next SS.

PAT PASSES SCRUTINEERING FOR RAINFOREST CHALLENGE 2002

25 Oct 2002 - Participants from 25 countries arrived for the scrutineering which started on Wednesday and will end today. Voo Ken Yin and James Wong in Car #129 and Ujang and Karim in Car #126 passed through their car scrutineering yesterday while Francis and Shahrul in Car #128 completed theirs today.

Says Azman Baharuddin, the three PAT teams and the support teams will leave Kuala Lumpur for the base camp at Gunung Senyum in Temerloh on Saturday morning. From Temerloh, the teams will drive to the campsites in the districts of Tasik Bera and Rompin before ending at Lanjut/Kuala Rompin. At each stage, each team will be tested for teamwork, endurance, physical ability, skill and mental stamina.

TWO DAYS TO RAINFOREST CHALLENGE 2002

24 Oct 2002 - The Rainforest Challenge 2002 is set to kick-off in two days time. The engines are purring and the participants are on edge.

The PETRONAS Adventure Team are as excited as the three teams they are sending for this gruelling off-road adventure in the jungles of Pahang. The weather is expected to be fair in the morning, but with rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon and late evening, there should be plenty of mud to go around.

Says Halim Abdul Rahman, "All the off-road kakis can't wait for Saturday to come. Our friends from the Dalian 4x4 Club, who are also participating, have been here for several days getting ready too."

Faruk Abdul Rahman interjects, "All systems go! Preparations are all done and our participants are just raring to go meet the dirt tracks of Pahang!"

The PAT are also helping out the organisers of Rainforest Challenge 2002 by ferrying the media around. Azman Baharuddin is the man in charge of coordinating the cars and drivers for this purpose.

DRIVERS START YOUR ENGINES : THE RAINFOREST CHALLENGE 2002

10 Oct 2002 - The PETRONAS Adventure Team has selected the cream of the crop to lead this year’s Rainforest Challenge 2002 from October 26 to November 5. PAT has registered three cars – two Toyotas and a Mitsubishi Storm – for entry into this international off-road challenge.

PAT members reprising their role this year are Voo Ken Yin, James Wong, Malek @ Ujang bin Hashim, and Abd Karim bin Abd Jalil. Last year, PAT members fared very well in the rankings. In the third category for 2000 to 3000cc diesel, Voo Ken Yin and James Wong took first place with a final score of 1,813. In the Team Special Stage event, PAT shared first placing with Team SIMEX. This year’s participants including two new faces – Francis Khoo Teck Huat and Md Shahrul Bahrin – will vie for better placements.

Check out their dossiers!

Toyota FJ43 (1980)

Winch	PTO & Electronic (Front)
Tyres / Size	SIMEX Extreme Trekker II (Centipede) / 35 x 10.5 x 16
Engine	2,977 cc (Diesel)

Driver: Voo Ken Yin
Ken Yin, 41, hails from Inanam, Sabah. A businessman, Ken Yin’s previous off-road record is impressive. Ken Yin was placed 4th overall in last year’s Rainforest Challenge and his car was placed first in the third category for 2000 to 3000cc diesel. He seems to have done them all – organiser (Borneo Safari 2001), official (Rainforest Challenge 2000) and participant. His participation includes meets such as the Borneo Circuit 1997 (Overall Champion), Silverstone Asian 4x4 Cross Rally 1996 and 1997, Silverstone Trans-Pen Malaysia International Jungle Challenge 1995 (Overall Champion) and Trans-Borneo 1991 (Champion).

Co-Driver: James Wong
Born in Penampang, Sabah, 46-year-old James is a civil engineer. James regularly partners Ken Yin in most off-road events. Both were members of Kinabalu’s Four Wheel Drive Club in 1990. James also has experience as the organising chairman of Borneo Safari 2001, officiated the Rainforest Challenge 2000, and competed in the following: Silverstone Asian 4x4 Cross Country Rally 1997 (Overall Champion), Borneo Safari 1996 (1st Runner Up) and Silverstone Trans-Pen Malaysia International Jungle Challenge 1995 (Overall Champion).

Mitsubishi Pajero V-34 (1994)

Winch	Warn 8274-50 (Front)
Tyres / Size	SIMEX Extreme Trekker II (Centipede) / 35 x 10.5 x 16
Engine	2,600 cc (Intercooler Turbo Diesel)

Driver: Malek @ Ujang bin Hashim
Ujang, 43, is a businessman whenever he's not off-roading with the boys. Born in Negeri Sembilan, Ujang has been hitting the trails since 1996 when he was then a member of Asian Adventure. Since then, he has participated in the following events: PETRONAS Siberia 2002, Rainforest Challenge 2001 (31st overall placing), SEM – Tropical Challenge 2001, On the Mud Challenge 2000, and Elephant Mud Hole Challenge 2000 and the Sabak Bernam Challenge 1999.

Co-Driver: Abd Karim bin Abd Jalil
Karim, 42, professes to be an event coordinator, but seems to be a participant in many off-road events as well. Born in Perak, Karim’s past experience includes PETRONAS Siberia 2002, Rainforest Challenge 2001 (32nd overall placing, PETRONAS Passage to Tibet 1999, Camel Training (1997-98), Combat Challenge 1995 and from 1991-97, he was an Asian Adventure member.

Toyota LC II KZJ78W (1991)

Winch	Warn 8274, PTO
Tyres / Size	SIMEX Extreme Trekker II (Centipede) / 35 x 10.5 x 16
Engine	2,982 cc (Turbo Diesel)

Driver: Francis Khoo Teck Huat
Francis, 31, hails from Johor. By day he works as a tyreman supervisor but while off-duty he has participated and marshaled in many off-road events including the Gombak 4x4 Challenge 2000 (Champion), 4x4 Johor Challenge 1998 (Marshal), Monsoon Challenge 1996 (Champion), Dunlop MBK 4x4 Challenge 1996 (Jungle Man Award), Dunlop 4x4 Jamboree 1996 (Champion), Silverstone Asian 4x4 Cross Rally (Marshall). His expertise as a mechanic has also been proven in two PETRONAS expeditions: Siberia 2002 and Passage to Tibet 1999.

Co-Driver: Mohd Shahrul Bahrin b. Osman
When you know of a winning formula, you are likely to stick to it. Businessman Shahrul comes from Kuantan, but somewhere along the way he meets his friend Francis Khoo from down south. Since both enjoy each other’s company, they have been competing together in many off-road events in the past three years.

Staff of PETRONAS Gas Undergoes 4x4 Training

7 Oct 2002 - Twenty drivers and staff of PETRONAS Gas recently completed a successful 3-day four-wheel drive training session in Kerteh, Terengganu.

Organised by PETRONAS Adventure Team, the training was held from September 24th - 26th. It is the second time the training is being held; the first one was three months ago.

Chief instructor Dr Zaini Shaarani and four assistants taught the participants basic 4x4 training and camel trophy style. The training helped participants to improve their skills and reduce maintenance of the vehicles.