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1. First time entries as competitor teams came from Holland (Team 121
Pinzgauer and team 120 in a Toyota FJ 43), Philippines (Team 145 Toyota BJ
70), Indonesia (Team 130, 131 both Toyota FJ 40 and team 132 Jeep Willys),
China (Team 125 and 126 both in BJ 20) and Mexico (Team 101 Jeep Wrangler
TJ Rubicon).
2. First to bring their 4x4 vehicle by air : Mexico (Juan Carlos and Mario
Esparza).
3. First to drive overland from China to Malaysia covering some 12,000kms
are Jun Yang/Fuyong Li from Jinan (Shandong) and Rhino Ruhong Zhou/Jean
Shiyou Shu from Kunming (Yunan).
4. Total of 380 participants were registered for the event, only 206
completed the event, the rest went for part-time and for opening and
prologue special stages only.
5. 85 4x4s entered for the proper jungle event out of 150 4x4s seen on
opening day.
6. 36 competing teams were registered for the event, 26 made it to the
starting line and only 20 completed the route.
7. Nationalities from 25 nations were recorded at the opening ceremony on
26th November.
8. Opening ceremony and Prologue Special Stages held at Chukai town and at
Awana Kijal drew huge crowds of spectators. The trunk road from Awana
Kijal to Kemasik beach (800 metres long) was crowded with hundreds of
spectators and vehicles.
9. Police provided traffic escort for press convoy on 27th November and for
main convoy from Kuala Berang to Kuala Terengganu on 5th December.
10. 28th November : The longest Day transport day from Sg (river) Kelemin
to Sg Kertiah for the competitors, Tango marshals group, event HQ, RTM and
Singapore Land Rovers group. Left campsite at 10am on 28th November, some
did not reach Sg Kertiah camp until 6am of 29th November (18 hours).
11. Twilight Zone of Hulu Terengganu (comprising of Bear Camp, Predator,
Hakka Junction, Sg Pelagong, Terminator Hill, Nibong Bridge and Bamboo
Forest) is also known as “To Hell and Back.” The most memorable and
challenging route, which took the competitors 5 nights and 6 days to
complete. Approx 80kms.
12. Two squads of marine police were on standby at Pengakalan Gawi to bring
in water and food in case of emergency. Two Police General Operations
force personnel were stationed also stationed here and 4 more at Primula
Hotel on 24 hrs standby. Fire Brigade and Rescue team was also stationed
there in case of evacuation.
13. State government also roped in the Police air wing to assist. Police
helicopter flew over opening ceremony, was at the Prologue SS and Helipad
campsite at Sg Pauh. It also flew over the route of the Twilight Zone from
2nd, 3rd and 4th December.
14. The two “father and son” teams came from Malaysia (Wong Chor Chan/Wong
Jun Jie) and Denmark (Max and Jacob Skjold). They finished 6th and 8th
position respectively in overall results.
15. No winners were announced at the official closing ceremony by His
Majesty the Sultan of Terengganu on 5th December. The results of the last
3 SS were taken out of the jungle by Thomas Foo (Tango), both he and Sidek
Khan had the time of their lives living out the adventure of being stuck
in a deep gully for 12 hours! Results were announced at 11pm on that
night.
16. Heavy monsoon downpours drenched the Prologue SS areas of Awana Kijal
from 17th to 24th November, causing great anxiety to Rate de Silva and
Martin Lewis.
17. There was flooding in Kelantan and Terengganu during the same week.
18. Scout team of X-Men acting as sweeper did not come out of the jungle
until 8th December. They went in again after the event to rescue the
stranded vehicles left behind (the participants had walked out of the
jungle), numbering 5 4x4s. Rain fell in buckets again from 6th to 9th
December.
19. Stranded Indonesian team 132 Jeep Willys had to telephone Bandung
(Indonesia) to bring their special parts to Malaysia. The parts arrived on
6th December night (flown in). They made their own separate arrangements
with team 120 to recover their car. They had their own adventure for four
days. They finally made it out on 11th December. |