Jane and I had so much fun during last year’s Batu Pahat Drift Challenge that we vowed to come back again this year. This time we brought along the whole SODA Session team; which includes Francis, Kevin Rajoo, Mah Lao ,Jeevan and Heng. Due to their cars not being ready, Jeevan and Heng did not get to compete. In actual fact , Kevin’s competition car was also not ready but he brought along a SR20NA powered BMW E30 and drifted the car for the whole 1st day of practice. This car , which was inherited from his brother Ivan ,due to it’s poor setup was virtually impossible to drift. He then somehow persuaded Francis to loan him the Cockroach A31 to qualify with. No wonder I kept hearing Kevin saying “You are special” to Francis prior to borrowing the Cockroach.
Qualifying was a straight forward affair with everyone getting two consecutive runs. I was ecstatic to hear that the whole SODA team qualified, with me in 3rd and Jane in 10th!! Great job guys!!!
So then it was time for the tandem battles!!
Photo by Lian Tze
Being only his 2nd competition , Francis did a good job managing to qualify into the best 32 but due to the lack of experience, nerves got the better of him during his 1st tandem run. I am sure with more competition seat time, he will overcome this!!
Photo by David Soo
Kevin Rajoo, kept a cool head through out his best 32 and 24 tandem runs but was caught off guard in the best 16 due to being unfamiliar to the Cockroach’s handling. I am very sure he would have gone further if he had used his competition 180sx!
Photo by Tan Chin Fu
Mah Lao drifted well , going through top 32 but was knocked out in the top 24 when going against Jason Tan who drifted consistently the whole weekend!
Photo by David Soo
Jane did well going through top 24 but was cut short going into top 16 when she broke her drive shaft while leading.
Photo by Tan Chin Fu
I went up the tandem ladder but hit a snag going against Westlake’s Ah Boy at Top 4. It was weird for me to go against him as he qualified 2nd and me in 3rd and I should be going against the no 1 qualifier ( or whoever beats the no 1 qualifier ) at top 4. It didn’t bother me much though as I drifted a hard as I could. So much so I was certain I had won the run but the judges saw something that I didn’t and a one more time was called and that’s when things went pear shaped; I suddenly developed massive misfire problems and had to hand the win to Boy who drifted flawlessly the whole event!
photo by David Soo
Kevin Rajoo receiving his 15th placing trophy!!
Photo by Lian Tze
Jane with her 10th placing trophy
Photo by Cheryl Chew
Me with my 3rd placing trophy
Regardless the mishaps and confusions, we all had fun and will certainly be back next year. Our many thanks to the organisers, the sponsors of the event , the esteemed judges and everyone that came up to us throughout the weekend. Many thanks to Mike , Cheryl and Cathy for helping out with Johanna….
and also to Jeevan who was my spotter for the day…who communicated with me via facial expression and head shaking
RESULTS:
1st M-Boyz YH motorsport
2nd Ace-Boy Team Exotic
3rd Ariff Johanis Ahmad Team Sync Optima
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10th Azrina Jane Abdullah Team Sync Optima
15th Kevin Rajoo Macha Alliance
20th Mah Lao KSOC M7
27th Francis B Macha Alliance