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VEHILCE REVIEW

The Rainforest Buggy - THE sHINBUG...

Chai Mui Shin runs a workshop at 4th Mile in Kuching. Apart from normal vehicle repairs, he preps competitive 4X4 vehicle and also 'super saloon' types. He is also a turbo specialist. Do not let first impression of a humble soft spoken fellow fool you. On the track he goes FAST, very fast. He has won a number of 4x4 competition with Ah Soong his co-driver.

Ah Shin got thinking about joining the Johor 4X4 Challenge. This is a tough event with 'the last man standing' sting to its repertoire. He set to build a vehicle that is firstly light, secondly easy to recover, and handles well with a wheel base that enters and exit gullies without batting an eye.

His Suzuki Jimny hybrid represents a new array of rainforest vehicles- a Malaysian style of preparing vehicles that has won the world renowned Rainforest Challenge since 2004. Prior to that, English and Aussies have won the event. For the time being let's call his rig ShinBug.

So what is so special about these rainforest vehicles and ShinBug? Let's examine the rig below.

Firstly, ShinBug stands tall with solid axels, long travel coil springs. It's not as tall as the rock crawlers but tall enough to pass over buried logs and rocks. One of the most important things for 4x4 competition is to have lockers for both front and back differentials. This rig uses air controlled ARB lockers. The ShinBug uses OME yellow springs and provides about 11 inches of travel.

This car is built light and is only suitable competition where there is a luxury of a back up vehicle. Looking into the cockpit space, one sees just the basics- speedo meter, taco meter, temperature gauge, voltage meter,  lights and signal switches and the air switch for the lockers. The engine's electronics nerve centre sits at ceiling level- the last place where water reaches. The self improvised snorkel uses a separator air filter connected to a 3" stainless tube. The sturdy roll cage doubles as the framework for the roof. Occupants might feel the elements in heat or in rain, but this is a competition vehicle with comfort taking a (very far) back seat.

ShinBug is equipped with not two but THREE winches - two modified super powerful PTO winches in the front and one electric in the back. One front and one back winch uses Plasma line. In the back there is just enough space for carrying a spare tyre on the X-frame of the roll cage. Aluminum grill makes for the cargo barrier.

All it needs is a clean up from time to time...