By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Nov 16: Off-roading is fun in a powerful four-wheel-drive vehicle. There’s just something about riding in a powerful machine across punishing territory that is impassable to most other vehicles that sends an adrenaline rush pumping through one’s body.
It is not unlike young children playing with their toy vehicle on a playground, except that instead it’s a full-grown adult commandeering a much bigger ‘toy’ over rough terrain.
Words cannot do justice to the sense of excitement and adrenaline high that comes from man and machine being pushed to their limits by challenging unpaved tracks across unpredictable terrain.
For those seeking such thrill and adventure, Sarawak still has plenty of places to go for off-roading.
Recently, this writer was invited by Serian off-roading enthusiast and businessman Bong Siaw Peng to tag along for off-roading in rural Lubok Antu.
Bong said that it was not only a chance to experience the recreational motorsport with other enthusiasts in 25 off-roading vehicles but to test his recently modified Toyota Land Cruiser 80 ‘Ninja Turtle’.
Bong’s auto 4.2-litre four-wheel-drive turbo charged vehicle certainly is impressive and like his fellow convoy vehicles, it was primed to tackle just about any off-roading obstacle which gets in the way.
“The massive tyres with deep threads are designed for maximum traction on unpaved tracks. I bought a mechanical winch machine incase the vehicle gets stuck in the ground or to help another troubled vehicle in the same situation.
“A snorkel kit is to take in cleaner and cooler air to increase fuel efficiency and keep filters clean,” he revealed when asked about the modifications and accessories he had installed on his vehicle.
Bong also explained that his vehicle has a higher mechanical suspension to meet the demands posed by strenuous terrain and tracks.
“All these mechanical gadgets help off-roading vehicles to tackle unknown elements they may encounter,” he explained.
During the drive from Serian to our planned off-roading destination, Bong revealed that he was introduced to the sport by his acquaintances and friends who have participated in off-roading for many years.
“Since I was driving big vehicles in my business for more than 30 years on unpaved roads to send fertilizer to customers, I figured out it cannot be that difficult to do off-roading,” he said.
Bong revealed that he decided to get more involved in off-roading after modifying one of his several trucks.
“It was not powerful enough, so I bought this old powerful Japanese-made auto 4.2-litre four-wheel-drive vehicle. I added a few more mechanical features to ensure that my modified 4WD can go off-road without problems.”
Bong explained that he added more mechanical features to the vehicle as it tilted to one side on his first off-roading trip.
“So that experience taught me to add more mechanical modifications,” he added.
As we reached our off-roading playground, a logging road in the heart of rural Lubok Antu, Bong was eager and ready.
We followed other vehicles on the dirt road about 15 to 20 feet in width over hilly and bumpy terrain. The adrenalin started pumping as the powerful modified four-wheel-drive vehicles coasted through the uneven gravel and dusty ground without difficulty.
Bong was always alert and quick to change gears to get maximum traction as we moved along a windy, bumpy steep slope of between 30 to 40 degrees in elevation.
We were lucky as the weather was good and in front of us, we could the other vehicles moving across the rugged terrain without difficulty.
Bong was pleased to see the muddy tracks dried up, and our powerful vehicle just cruised through without any hesitation.
As if to remind us of the wear-and-tear such terrain is capable of inflicting, two vehicles needed mechanical repair during the off-roading.
Bong added that most off-roading participants are knowledgeable when it comes to vehicle repair in that kind of situation.
“Something can mechanically break, and everybody hopes it not a major one,” he shared.
While the second and the last vehicle that broken down needed repairs, Bong was asked to continue, and we were the first to reach a small river crossing before climbing a steep slope leading to an Iban longhouse.
Bong was the picture of confidence and calm as his vehicle entered the shallow but fast-moving water and travelled steadily across the gravel river bed before climbing onto the dry bank on the other side.
Sadly, our off-roading journey ended at the longhouse as we learn that rain from the previous night had made the river crossing to our final destination impossible.
“This will be one of the exciting experiences for me in such terrain in rural Lubok Antu, and it will be one of the many that I remember in my off-roading activities,” Bong said after we reached Serian the next day. — DayakDaily
