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ANNUAL KINABALU FOUR WHEEL DRIVE CLUB JAMBOREE 2008

2008 4X4 JAMBOREE.

by FRED– 23.5.2008.

KOTA KINABALU: It was a total excitement of fun, thrill and spill away from the hustle and bustle of city life amidst cool serenity of canopy covered campsite for participants and their families in this year’s annual Kinabalu Four Wheel Drive Club (KFWDC) 4x4 Jamboree.

WE ARE THE CHAMPS…From Left to Right: KFWDC Vice-president Liew Vui Kwong, Minion Kotidis, Chung Horng Ryun and organising Chairman Atun Goh.

The campsite, situated 42km from Tenom Township, driving off to Kemabong, Sapong, SFI Sipitang Bypass, Mamaitom, through jeep track and eventually arriving at a scenic Kampung Marrais campsite, with added tranquility and cascading waterfall, awaited the 100 convoy vehicles.

THE TOP THREE FINISHERS… The top three winners with their vehicles with KFWDC officials, L-R: Sebelon Salam, Exco-members Hiew Min Kiyun, Liew Vui Kwong, Atun Goh and Andy Wong.

Many if not all those who experienced past jamborees have this to say, this was the best jamboree they have ever been involved, attributing to the fact that the chosen campsite has a delightful cool environment and to make it even better is the place is totally covered with thick foliage of canopy, ideal for setting up camps.

MAN POWER…A tug-of-war both for men and women like this was one of the exciting events during the jamboree.

Apart from the usual highlights in the jamboree that is the hardcore off-road challenge, children’s games, tug-of-war, campfire, karaoke and social gatherings, this year’s event was a lot different merry-making compared to the past due to participation of the kampung folks and their children.  

OVER TO YOU BOY…Mrs. Hiew seems is telling this young kampung cowboy when presenting him with the prizes in one of the children’s games he won.

About 60 KFWDC members with their vehicles and families along with 40 vehicles of non-members joining in the fray roared off in the wee hours of May 17 from the busy city of Kota Kinabalu, enroute to Tenom, where they joined groups of Tenom and Keningau Hardcore members.

POWER WINCH IN ACTION…This is one of the scenes where on the wheel Yap Swee Long trying to winch his Daihatsu out from a steep climb while co-driver Pang Ken Vui checking on the winch cable.

The convoy arrived in Tenom at about 12 noon, and after a brief stopover to purchase foodstuff, the convoy led by Tenom Four Wheel Drive Club president Victor Lim and Organising chairman Atun Goh, who is also the KFWDC Exco-member, rolled off along the famous Tenom Coffee factory and arrived at the campsite two hours later at 4pm.

For one, everybody who arrived at the scenic site and the rushing sound of water from the luring waterfall were taken aback while parents trying hard to control their children from being lured to jump into the crystal clear water beneath the cascading waterfall.

AVID HARDCORE TEAM….Hardcore co-driver Yap Swee Siong making sure his driver Kok Sin Yee winching the winch cable properly after successfully tackling a hurdle.

The entire convoy participants were greeted on arrival with the beating of gongs and beautiful Lundayeh dancers complete with their traditional attire performing their traditional welcoming dance at the campsite, which was organised by Kemabong-born KFWDC member, Encik Sebelon Salam and Puan Saran Epui (member of the Sabah Lundayeh Cultural Association).

 LUNDAYEH CULTURAL EXTRAVAGANZA…Dancers in their colorful traditional attire posing for the camera.

After the welcoming greeting, all the participants were seen busy trying to wrest for the best campsite that is close to the waterfall and get started with setting up their tents for the evening outdoor cooking, while Atun and his men were busy setting up hardcore off-road track for the first special stages competition to begin.

The sounds of gong beatings and dancing continued until dinner time that brought the entire campsite to life before the karaoke session took over until late at night.

Obviously the wake up call on the second day was from the heavy beating of gongs by the Lundayeh gong beaters as early as 6am – indeed these group of kampung folks are early risers, but no complain because Atun, Andy Wong and his men were seen preparing their breakfast so as to get the second SS started.

CAUGHT IN ACTION…This young lass showing off her skill to her friends by jumping into the water.

By 10am, the gong beating automatically stopped because everyone wanted to witness the thrill and spill from the hardcore off-road competitions, where several seasoned KFWDC regular International Borneo Safari competitors were in action in their highly souped-up vehicles, winching, “swimming” and driving over impossible men-designed terrain.

While the hardcore competition was underway, several families and their children joined the kampung children in enjoying and taking a swim at the refreshing pool below the waterfall, while some were seen diving down from the top of the waterfall like a diving board.

After lunch, several KFWDC new members in their own vehicles registered themselves to compete in a milder 4x4 novice challenge, where 16 participants took part that saw Chong Yun Fui came in top, followed by Chong Tshung How and Michael in second and third place respectively.

In the hardcore event, Papar team proved that having been champion in last year’s International Borneo Safari and after winning at four other 4x4 challenge titles earlier this year, the team of long-time partnership of Chung Horng Rhu and Minion Kotidis in their modified Suzuki finished first after amazing a total of 252 points over the rest.

Driving skill, good navigation by the co-drive and of course with powerful engine power (Toyota 5L), the duo managed to entertained the spectators and thrilling the excited kampung folks with their good handling of their vehicles over tough track.

The feat saw them pocketing RM3,000 cash, A Mitsubishi engine, courtesy of Hi-Tech Electronic Centre and cash voucher from Sri Mutiara Sea Food Restaurant among others like trophies.

Another past champion in Kok Sing Yee and Yap Swee Siong in their petrol-powered (Toyota one J engine) Daihatsu were no difference when it comes to off-road skill, and they came in second with 220 points and returned with RM2,000 and Sri Mutiara Sea Food Restaurant cash voucher.

In third was Tenom hardcore in Yong Fui Lee and Yong Yin How in their 15-B powered Toyota Land Cruiser BJ 43 with 177 points and pocketed RM1,000 and trophies.

Like the saying goes, all good happenings will surely come to an end and the jamboree ended with a high note on May 19 a public holiday (Weesak Day), where everyone say farewell and hope to see you again in next year’s jamboree.