www.borneo4x4.com
TARAT, SARAWAK
4X4 WINCH CHALLENGE

A good 4x4 event walks the fine edge between breaking cars and keeping participants and spectators safe. We're not blowing our trumpets here but we had a combination of very hot, (thanks to the weather also) painful, hard, difficult, extreme, satisfying and safe action at the Tarat 4X4 Winch Challenge, 2006.

From the border incident where we witnessed a gun runner being pursued by the cops when receiving the Indonesian team to the black clouds that hammered down after the prize giving ceremony, we can only say one thing - thank God. We do the best, He provides the rest.

Perhaps the title of the event scared off Group B participants and the concentration was mainly on Group A. As Group A was divided into super PTO and electric winch, we found that it became a domestic affair. There were no local Sarawakian entering the electric winch competition and there was only one Indonesian in the PTO class.

There were a few notable differences between this and other 4X4 events. Firstly a time control liaisons was introduced to make sure that teams were present for the start of the event. It was also the first time that a winch challenge was held in Sarawak.

Most 4X4 events have a lot of driving but the winch challenge is contested over short, hard and super technical stages. Even when constructing the stage route, the excavator driver had his hand on to the grab bar and use the arm to control the descend on the hills. Eddie Alvarado, the technical director and his team of masochist  designed a number of winch ascends beginning with a nose down dip and climb up a 90 wall before the gradient eased off a little. One of the most notable mention was Ah Ti parking his car on a 70 degree slope whilst changing anchor points.

The short hard super technical stages also took its share of victims where four competitors rolled their cars. It came as a surprise that top local driver Ah Shin rolled his car to register a DNF on stage 5.

The winch challenge brings extreme 4X4 action to the viewing public. The organisers had a tough time with crowd control and thanks to Melvin and his group of fire fighters, they managed to keep people a safe distance from potential danger.  And did this event attract people! Many of the local village folks, and also 4X4 enthusiasts from Kuching were out in force at the event. It could be estimated that more than 2,500 people came to witness the two day event.

Here is a report and description of the stages

Here is a photo gallery

SUPPLEMENTARY RACE:
SPEEDKING - LAI NYUK SHIN & ALVIN CHIN

This event would not have happened if not for:

The competitors  - both locals and from Indonesia.

Tarat assemblyman, YB Roland Sagah was kind enough to make his appearance at the event and flagged off a few stages and see a car roll.

The kindness of Farmer Bong of Nam Joon Farm who provided the venue, the use of his excavator, and the night flood lights.

Thanks to SEDC for donating prizes in kind and also to Charles Lim of 4WD Equipment for donating 4x4 accessories as prizes. Hoistech, thanks again provided cables for recovery and also for prizes.

Thanks for Mr. Voon Foh Jin of Syn Miaw Ann Timber Industries for his office and yard for registration and vehicle scrutineering. Also to Albert of Kian Chiong Hardware for providing the shackles at cost. To our friend metal specialist Bong who opened his workshop for our crew and the visiting Indonesians.

The marshals: Darren Jee, Ng Bui Loong, Mel Jitam, Malachi, Casper, Paul Rasid, Hassan (Brunei), Octaviouss, Larry, and recovery man La Chu.

And finally thanks to:

JPJ, Police, Customs, Immigration, Fire Brigade and Serian Medical.