Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

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Dr_PC
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

Post by Dr_PC »

Hows this for a deal? You keep posting and I'll keep reading. Most enjoyable, feel as if I have a better view of the comp than most of the competitors. Cheers
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geckoadventure
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

Post by geckoadventure »

after the 10th day it all becomes fiction :D
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

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14th December - RFC Day 10

Convoy Day


BEfore this starts here is a picstorial of the 23 Bridges from the CAMP 2 to the ROAD.

No 1. Angled bridge and a steep climb lucky it was not wet.
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No 2. Easy bridge.
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No 3. Easy
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no 4. Don't make a mistake
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no 5. Same here line it up before you get on!
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no 6. Too easy someone fiull in the missing log.
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No 7. Easy
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No 8. THe hole the polis landrover made.
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No 9. Easy.
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No 10. EASy
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No 11. EAsy
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No 12. Easy
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No 13. Downhill bridge!
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No 14. Easy
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No 15. Easy
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No 16. Maybe easy
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No 17. Triple bridge over the swamp easy in the dry
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No 18. MEssy messy messy
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No 19. Messy
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No 20. Easy
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No 21. Downhill easy when dry
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No 22. Easy
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Finally No 23.
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geckoadventure
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

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BEfore I start DAy 7 after I have finished day 10 I will post up Peter's pics of the event as a separate post as he has some cool shots also.

11th December - RFC Day 7

I awake suffering from an excess of that sweet desert hahaa "carlsberg beer". Packup day we are moving to CAMP 3.

Priority first START GREEN and put the billy on and prepare breakfast.

DAMN then DEATHSTAR batteries are flat (probably all that winching yesterday) and will not start however Car 129 is kind enough to give us a JUMP and DEATHSTAR purrs quietly in the background for an hour or two.

Then I hear a strange familiar noise it sounds like a angry hornet - it is its the ANGRY HORNET appears in CAMP.

Wild Bill hands over the fan belts to the Russians tells us the tale of WOE on the XJ JEEP and heads out (by the way it took him <1 hour to get and he winched once in he must have been flying) he is going to a waterfall outside of the RFC. Later we find AH Ho Rolls his LC II on the way into the camp and busts his god winch. Wild Bill looses a JERRY Can on the way out it bounces out of the holder full of fuel. Man he must have been flying in the ANgry Hornet. The Comp cars and all INSPECTED media vehicles are going direct from here to CAMP 3 via MED-HARD track. With the weight of DEATHSTAR I decide our 3 trucks should go out the easy way and round to CAMP 3 besides its a 2 day trip to CAMP 3 apparently from here. We head out at 10.30 and are the last ones to leave making sure that CAMP 2 is clean - we leave the motorbike area filthy I am not cleaning up after them.

We wait in the traffic jam for the CAMP 2-3 turn and then cruise past and drive to the old HQ camp to pickup the other vehicles in our convoy.

The Comp cars and all "INSPECTED" media vehicles are going direct from here to CAMP 3 via a MED-HARD track. With the weight of DEATHSTAR I decide our 3 trucks should go out the easy way as they say 2 day trip and round to CAMP 3 besides its a 2 day trip to CAMP 3 apparently from here. We head out at 10.30am and are the last ones to leave making sure that CAMP 2 is clean. The comp boysz did a wonderful job and left their area spotless. However, we leave the motorbike area filthy I am not cleaning up after them. We wait in the traffic jam for the CAMP 2-3 turn and then cruise past and drive to the old HQ camp to pickup the other vehicles in our convoy. Wait a miniute there is a lot of vehicles missing as a lot of them are not suitable for the drive to CAMP 3. There are 7 vehicles only in our convoy we should have had more.

Wait a minute there is a lot of vehicles missing as a lot of them are not suitable for the drive to CAMP 3.

There are 7 vehicles with us. Pino LR with busted driveshaft, 2 media trUcks from Sri Lanka and 4 official trucks.

11.00am we collect the Sri Lankans and head out. Uneventful trip out or is it?

Apart from the left MIRROR of DEATHSTAR landing in the passenger seat DEATHSTAR purred the whole way down. Nah never!

The Sri Lankan trucks are both Pajero's one with electrical problems (Sorry Sam) and it stops several times refusing to allow any power trhough until a dogdy wire/fuse is fixed. Then they get stuck several times and are winched out much to our amusement.

Not to be the two pajeros get stuck in a long mudhole which also has elephant footprints over the 4x4 tire tracks. Which means Gajah passed between the Russian convoy ahead and ours :).

The mardi Gra's (GREENs) answer to all this stuff is to just plod on past every obstacle including a 100meter slosh pit which Peter manages to park RED in - wah DIFFLOCKS and all and is winched out.

Then its the GREEN wagon and it cruises effortlessly through the mud and followed by the ever happy and purring DEATHSTAR. DEATHSTAR makes it all look to easy and purrs through.

Then its the mudhole we all had trouble with and the Pajero's once again are winched through using the Philippines LR (still has the broken rear driveshaft) as the anchor. Once again GREEN cruises over using a"better" route and so does the DEATHSTAR.

Still our day is not over a Pajero stops in the middle of the track no ignition. THe problem is tracked back to a blown fuse hidden under the battery box :( .

Then it happened I slowly drive through a pair of drops and yeah the back end catches and I'm stuck. Not wanting to announce it I blast the HORN and GREEN quietly reverses back and I winch the 1/2 meter to recovery sssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Well after 3+ hours we are out of the JUngle but still there is the 25+k of corrugated road to shake any loose parts up. Nothing falls of or out and we finally get tot he black top and quick 5 k to town for a well earned meal its 3.00pm wow 4 horus to travel stuff all distance. Lunch over its a car wash for the pajero pair they are just mud underneath. Meanwhile we try and decide how to get to Camp 3 by road. Then it dawns on us CAMP 2 to CAMP 3 was only 12k

Back out finally on the dirt road it's a 25k dusty bumpy (RATS WHERE IS THE RAIN!!!!!!!!!) haul to Kahang and we stop for a bite to eat its now 3pm (and western tea to wash it down) so we decide to kill a couple of hours after refueling and muck around as they deal with the Pajero issues.

Then we decide how to get to CAMP 3 from here. Crikey looking at the map its over 120K and then it dawns on us its only 12k in a straight line from CAMP 2 - 3. It will not take them 2 days to get there! Consulting the ,map and the GArmin Nuvi (mainly as we cannot decide which way to go) we head off. CAMP 3 is only 40K in a straight line from here but we have 120k drive rats we should have joined the convoy. Within 4-5k of leaving KAHANG DEATHSTAR looses power. Damn its fuel the diesel filter (filter very new) is full of crap or I have just bought a load of dodgy fuel. This problem continues all the way to CAMP 3.

Anyway no idea where we are going we just follow the sexy voice on the Nuuvi we follow the directions to Aloh Setar, Yong Peng, Bekok consult the map several times and yes the sexy voice is leading us in the right direction. We convoy through Yiong Peng and its after 9.00pm the road is a disaster climb a sweeping left short hill and the road dissappers into a pothole ridden track no warning just bang bang bang as the deathstar still cruising at a substantial speed careers into the potholes. We follow our noses and then we see a sign Sg Selai 30k and start to follow the we sporadic signs to the CAMP 3 which is in a national park. THe road is DUSTY and long eventually after several missed turns we get to camp and suddenly there is a VOICE on the UHF radio its MMM. Where are you - we are almost in CAMP where are you? Across the river waiing in line. WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! crikey the convoy is here we have missed getting a nice camp spot.

Camp 3 is indeed crowded all the comp trucks are here and the MEDIA and OFFICIALS including vehicles that should not have done the track! RATS we should have gone. Soon we have a camp spot picked out and finally are allowed to erect campand we are joined by 150 MMM in the Ozzie NIssan. Good new is the SEXY voice in the NuVii got us to camp!

Dinner is cooked of course pasta and bolonaise sauce along with our now customary desert. Tomorrow has been declared a rest day as everyone is 1 day ahead of schedule. Some are pleased (especially the broken trucks and there is a lot of them) the other with clean healthy trucks are not so happy as a rest day will mean they do not get to take advantage of having a very strong truck. We have so much food I could open a shop. We here the trip in was hell so many vehicles had to be helped due to no winches and no lockers etc. SOme vehicles too 16+ hours to cover the 16+k from CAMP 2 to CAMP 3 which could have been covered in 2-3 hours.


The PICSTORIAL follows:

The 9.00am impending chaos as 29+ comp trucks and officals try and leave the REMOTE CAMP site 2 camp (HQ was 4k away).
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No 1. Angled bridge and a steep climb lucky it was not wet. Damn that would have been fun.
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No 2. Easy bridge.
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No 3. Easy
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Wheel wash at the HQ CAMP 2 site.
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DEATHSTAR waiting for its owner (me) at CAMP 2 HQ.
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The HQ swimming hole and also the SS14 comp area very nice I would come back here for a trip (and we are). Peter Arthur (GREENs driver) having wash or a swim?
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no 4. Don't make a mistake
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no 5. Same here line it up before you get on!
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no 6. Too easy someone filled in the missing log.
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LIttle mud holes with dropoffs just to keep us alert.
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No 7. Easy
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No 8. THe hole the polis landrover made.
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No 9. Easy.
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No 10. EASy
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RED Stuck in the elephant crossing mudhole (pics of the tracks in another posting later).
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geckoadventure
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

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And the MEDIA Wagons until they get stuck also - WINCH! AGAIN!
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When you have ducks disease (short legs and low arse) ya gotta charge - sometimes it works.
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Why charge when you can just cruise by and wave to the crowd! Oh what a feeling the GREEN MARDI GRA float cruises the mudhole.
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No 11. EASY
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Wheel Wash crossing
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Then I found the Pajeros in their favourite position - attached to REDs REAR. This was the same mudhole which claimed the Sri Lankans on the way in.
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THen the next one had to winch also.
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Why winch when you can cruise hahaha.
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Ah the blown fuse hidden under the battery box. Nothing beats these Sri Lankan journalists.
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After this is was all too easy and i forgot to take pictures and nothing happened.

No 12. Easy
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No 13. Downhill bridge!
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No 14. Easy
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No 15. Easy
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No 16. Maybe easy
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No 17. Triple bridge over the swamp easy in the dry
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No 18. MEssy messy messy
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No 19. Messy
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No 20. Easy
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

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No 21. Downhill easy when dry
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No 22. Easy
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Finally No 23.
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Except we could not navigate - pics from the pino journo - Robbie.

Lost where are we how to we get there - damn where is the Nuuvi she's cute and talks to me even if I have not had a shower today.
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Lost again
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

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[size=18]
12th December - RFC Day 8

Early morning - lay day still we get up early.

Breakfast is nice we have bread and a new TOASTER and margarine so we have a change of diet.

Toasted bread and fried bread in the wok in olive oil MMMMMMMMMM!.

The camp is a hive of activity with vehicles being worked on a walk around and see.

Car 143 MR Entertainment the VOLVO PORTAL axles are in pieces and there is water inside and its all being removed with toilet paper on a stick.

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The K1W1's have busted a driveshaft, a clutch thrust bearing has gone, the OX winch belts have been replaced and a axle bearing has gone. They are being assisted (note adopted and feed) by some locals teams to get everything fixed by tonite. Very sporting.

CAr 122 has gone to town to have new CRANK, bearings and roll cage repairs all effected.

Many more stories of broken trucks being fixed. We just relax and wander around.


Car 139/140 WARN winches stripped and water ingested in the internals oops!
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The Sri Lankan media cars are a tale of sorryness. Both rears are bent up. AFter we left them at KAHANG one broke down and they spent the nite in a PETROL station with the tarp up between both trucks. A local gave (I repeat GAVE) them a rear shock of his PAJERO to fix the busted one. They got the struggling car to CAMP 3 and then it was worked on again but eventually replaced by a "spare pajero" from KUALA LUMPUR.
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The sick SRI LANKAN media truck.
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Sri Lankan camp and kitchen
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Sean the sri lankan journo - ok this guy made me look short and im 6' 2". So much for Sri Lankans being tiny.
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CAMP 3 was at Sungai (RIVER) Selai on the edge of Endau Rompin Park.
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Car 161 winchy cut (this was very bad) his finger and got it attended to by the army medic but he carried on.
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I organise for MMM to collect a new diesel filter for me from BERKOK as they venture in for a car wash and a meal as the Nissan has no issues. Yes I can hear the NISSAN owners cheering across the internet! Just remember who won the PARIS DAKAR in the STOCK class (a LANDCRUISER!).

He returns without the filter later in the afternoon but he passed it to a MARSHALL to pass to the big mat salleh and they have not passed it on. oops!

We decide to go looking for the diesel filter. we make the mistake of visiting the Russian camp and we never leave. Well I do Peter and MMM stay until very very very late celebrating a Russian birthday. Yikes im outta here before I pass out.

A swim with a beer in hand at the nice river beside the camp is a luxury as normally in the RFC the rivers are raging and dangerous. There is even Sebarau swimming in the crisp clear clean water.

Soon its dinner time so we invite the neighbours over to share our meal. Chicken in Soy sauce with rice and whatever veggies we have left with Carlsberg for desert. It continues late into to the nite. I also donate 20 liters of FUel to our neighbours and they insist on buying another 20 liters and the other 2 jerry cans are loaded into the MMM wagon. Suddenly DEATHSTAR is 80kilos lighter. We are also down to 8 cases of beer left.

Sleep is blissful as the there is is silence in the camp no revving engines, no rain nothing. WTF where is the RAIN I Want RAIN I WANT RAIN!
[/size]
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Lynx
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

Post by Lynx »

I really enjoy reading your posts, keep it up.

Cheers Daniel
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

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yes i agree its the highlight of my nights reading keep it up thanks.
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

Post by red-devil »

i think were missing day 9 and 10.

i hope your all ok
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

Post by NJV6 »

Gecko - Did it change location this year? I haven't read about the infamous twilight zone and being stuck in the jungle.

And what happened to the timing of it with the rain? From the past video's they looked like a challenge to do any of the driving, competing or not.
SWB V6 Paj with one or two mods ;)
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geckoadventure
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

Post by geckoadventure »

More details coming I have been a little busy of LATE and then some ran into the MArdi Gra Float in the weekend now its in intensive care a long way from home :(
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

Post by IcedJohnno »

geckoadventure wrote:More details coming I have been a little busy of LATE and then some ran into the MArdi Gra Float in the weekend now its in intensive care a long way from home :(


Good to hear,
and
errr Buggar!, to quote Toy NZ's marketing dept!
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Re: Malaysia Rainforest Challenge 2009 -the before trip chaos

Post by geckoadventure »

ok the final 2 days is coming by tomorrow nite
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