RIP Covid-19, you will not be missed. OK, so the coronavirus hasn’t fully left us yet, but new cases in the single digits and the absence of big infection spikes post-Raya means that the government is comfortable enough to put a de facto end to the movement control order (MCO).
The RMCO (R for recovery, not racing, but more on that later) might still have ‘MCO’ in the name, but from tomorrow, June 10, life will go back to pretty much as we knew it, before SARS-CoV-2 went on a global rampage. The outgoing CMCO (C for conditional) significantly loosened restrictions for businesses and movement, setting the stage for the liberal RMCO. Anyone not looking forward to that haircut?
One of the biggest points of the RMCO vs CMCO is that we’re now allowed to cross state borders without police permission, which means that many of the popular touge driving routes are now “open for business”. Think Ulu Yam to Gohtong Jaya, the run all the way to Genting Highlands itself and Kuala Klawang to the south of Klang Valley, among others.
Car guys – deprived of “proper driving” (and for many, even basic driving) from the months of lockdown – are raring to go, and we’re pretty sure that groups of driving kakis are already planning to exercise their beloved machines after such a long period of hibernation. Your ride is pumped up, and so are you, oh what a feeling!
But with so much pent-up driving “fire” and potentially heavy traffic as many seek to lepas gian after so long, there are risks. The usual dangers of fast driving on public roads, in a group, apply, but because of the unique circumstances, it might be heightened. Will Ulu Yam be congested this weekend? I can imagine so, and we’re not even counting the big bikers yet.
There have been no shortage of examples of what can go wrong in a group drive consisting sports cars, supercars or tuned cars, which we’ll just call enthusiast cars in short. The combination of like-minded buddies, high speed and narrow twisty roads is an intoxicating mix, and we all know the appeal of that.
But with varying levels of driving ability in a group, not to mention all sorts of cars at different floors in the horsepower pyramid, things can go wrong if we get carried away. And that’s before taking into account that these are public roads, used by everyone else who aren’t on the road for enjoyment. Yup fellow car enthusiasts, not everyone lights up at the sight of S bends.
So yeah, let’s blow off the cobwebs and go for that drive, but remember to steer within our limits (more often than not we’re the issue, not the car), drive sensibly and be mindful of other road users – it’s not a race track, so please don’t aim for every apex like you’re on one. Remember, it’s a fun drive, not a competitive one.
To drive a performance car to its full potential, we’ll have to head to a circuit, where there are run-off areas and there’s reduced likelihood of innocent parties getting dragged into the mess we might create. I know I will, I’m a cheap drunk.
Organisers like the Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) offer track days at the Sepang International Circuit, so if you have the spirit of competition and confidence in motion, opt for gymkhana time attack events. MSF aside, other reputable entities like Grass Racing Autosports (GRA) and Sucimuci Motorsports offer the car nut a chance to squeeze out those competitive juices. And these events have categories for all, whether you’re driving a weekend Lotus or daily Lotus-tuned Proton. Jom?
So, as you roll into the hills later tonight, this weekend or the next, enjoy the interaction between man and machine as you row through the gears. Open up your engine after the months of rest and hear her sing, or roar. At the rest stop, admire each others’ rides and talk about your next one. Yes, times aren’t great, to put it very mildly, but never forget the power of dreams.
Do all that while being in control of your car and the situation, and look out for others. The last thing car enthusiasts who love a good road want is the general public to scrutinise our habits and turn the screw.
Over the past few months, the most popular line has been stay home, stay safe. Now that we’re free to roam, let’s drive safe so we can get back home.
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all these Mfckrs once caught need to be given death penalty!
don’t call them “racer” though
Let the mother nature eats these pest….Hill spirits and chief entity is hunger for human souls waiting to snatch any touge racer along the winding road soon.
Agreed. Covid19 still out there and many more undetected cases, this incompetent gahmen totally irresponsible to open interstate travel and potentially let virus cluster spread in public.
R is for responsible. Please drive responsibly. Do not destroyed other’s life. Not death, cacat can also affect one’s life.
Without abang abang polis manning road block, mat rempit and abang-abang laysing will be out in the street soon.
Duduk rumah for too long + itching foot + cheap petrol = Laysing!
Too many bored Ah bengs and Ah lians cannot listen to authorities and duduk rumah. Whole time they have been trying the patience of our very kind abang-abang polis & tentera by trying to break MCO restrictions. I had hoped PT don’t give these jokers any ideas but I was disappointed.
there is a car reviewer that used to test cars up the hill in genting has now moved to test cars in ulu yam. he drives fast and sweeps the corner at high speed, using his credentials as an ex-rally driver. he has no regard for others and did not test the cars in a legal and safe environment. i’ve stopped watching his videos as i do not condone his actions. if he is reading this comment, you know who you are and please test it in a circuit. don’t be a cheapskate.
abang abang polis dont watch videos, so donno.
Abang2 polis got better things to do than watch amateur drift youtubes.
Heh. Ive actually named him outright a few times in PT but i suppose for legal reasons they didnt publish the comment. Yes the way he takes racing lines in obvious traffic is appaling.
Tips for Abang abang polis. Go to popular touge hotspots and ambush the “racers”……Catch these “racers”, confiscate their illegal modded cars. Saman them kaw-kaw until their pocket koyak and crying for their mother.