An NSTP Microsite
Publications
Publications
|
|
An NSTP Microsite |
English Publications |
Malay Publications |
||
| Friday, September 05, 2008, 08.59 PM | |||||
 Great Holidays Begin Here! |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Home » FeatureStory
This is bordered by a single-lane road fringed on one side by single-storey staff quarters. Seated in a 1938 Buick, I felt like a queen, waving at village children who rushed out to watch such a spectacular sight! In the tradition of the first motorcars introduced into the country, a group of vintage and classic car enthusiasts wanted a nostalgic experience of how early English planters used to drive about in plantations. And they found the right location in an oil palm plantation in Sedenak, Johor for the off-road experience. It was an ideal site, undisturbed by time and development and where road conditions were just as they were in the 1940s – perfect for a vintage car challenge! The cars would sprint around the 2km square track but for safety, each car would take a turn and their best sprint time clocked for the challenge. Organised in conjunction with the 52nd Annual General Meeting of the Malaysia and Singapore Vintage Car Register or MSVCR, the event saw 45 participants from Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Ipoh and Singapore. While these fully functional old cars are usually driven with tender loving care, the drivers rose to the challenge to complete the circuit in the shortest possible time. There were seven categories: Vintage (cars manufactured up to 1948), Classic (1949-1960), Modern Classic 1 (1961-1966), Modern Classic 2 (1967-1977), Modern Classic 3 (1978-1982) and Mini and Volkswagen. As Michael Sundram from MSVCR Central Region prepared to flag off each car, village kids joined him in a loud chorus for the exciting countdown: “3, 2, 1... go!” Each car shot off like a bullet to negotiate sharp corners of the square circuit and returned, gunning down the final stretch to pass the chequered flag with tyres squealing to a skilful halt. Vintage and classic cars just zoomed around like greased lightning! As the smell of burning rubber filled the air, loud cheers rose to fever pitch, full of camaraderie among like-minded enthusiasts! Oldies But Goodies David Thomson, an Australian living in Singapore, is the proud owner of a beautiful black 1938 Buick fondly known as Willie, short for Wilhelmina (a queen of the Netherlands). Speaking tenderly about his grand old lady, Thomson said it was only hearsay but Willie might have once belonged to a significant Dutchman in Indonesia before the war. The oldest car was Jane, bearing registration number B1451. The 1928 Austin Seven had a feisty character just like its fascinating owner, Ted Baillie-Reynolds. Born in Oxford, England, Ted is one of the original 12 founder members who formed MSVCR in 1955. A veteran from the Malayan Armed Forces, Ted who speaks fluent Bahasa Malaysia, became a Malayan citizen in 1958 and is the proud holder of citizenship certificate No. 16! In 1956, when he was 28, Ted bought the car from the first owner, Chin Voon Foong, and remained faithful to Jane for 51 years. When I asked why she’s called Jane, he hinted at the English novelist whose last name was Austen. How apt! Austin, Jane Austen! Astride his 1946 BSA M20 motorbike complete with German army helmet, S.V. Nathan cut a dashing figure next to the cars. Like all vintage car lovers, the president of the Johor Vintage Car and Classic Bike Enthusiasts Club clearly treasures his trusted iron horse. Listening to car enthusiasts like Patrick and Mervyn Tan, Kayon Ayob and Gurudhass speak passionately about their cars, it was clear they have a special relationship with their cars. Lim Soo Jin, owner of a 1974 Ford Escort, declared with a smile: “The sound of the engine is so nostalgic.” Event organiser E.S. Luke was glad to see how members enjoyed the experience in a fully operational oil palm plantation with a mill and compost plant. They stayed at the nearby Legends Golf & Country Resort. Unique Antiques Parked on a grassy patch close to the track, the cars created a carnival-like atmosphere that brought out the whole village of estate workers. For most of them, this was their first close encounter with vintage vehicles preserved in such pristine conditions. From the modest Morris Minor, Fiat 600, souped-up Mini Coopers and Volkswagens to classic beauties like Alfa, Fiat, MG and Chevrolet, it was absolutely a vintage car enthusiast’s paradise. Nasrudin, senior manager of Sedenak Estate, declared: “This is the most spectacular event ever held here!” Then I spotted some children near a gleaming 1930 Austin Seven, the oldest car with Johor registration number J781. They could not resist taking a closer look but the main attraction seemed to be the strange tooter. Egging each other on, the kids finally gave in to temptation and squeezed the rubber ball. At its sharp “prap!” they jumped in shock! Andre Cohen’s sleek and sporty 1935 MG N-Type in gorgeous Dublin green was a definite crowd-puller. This MG is a classic example of extreme branding where the letters “MG” were boldly engraved on its fixtures and accessories. It took over 18 months in the UK to fully restore her and when Cohen told me that she had a wooden body, even I couldn’t resist giving her a gentle knock with my knuckles! Another rare feature was a left-hand drive. Winson Mak believes his left-hand drive, two-door Monte Carlo Chevrolet Coupe is the only one in Malaysia. She was once abandoned but now has been lovingly restored right up to the tips of her fancy fintails. And her engine hums with a polite purr! When old brakes are no longer reliable, owners just put a brick behind the front tyre. A 1947 Austin Ten, parked with the help of a “stopper”, also had “suicide doors” or front doors that opened outwards from the front. This design probably earned its name because careless use had fatal results. Among the rare features that caught my eyes were the big chrome bumpers, cycle fenders, and the “Fireman” stand – broad enough for a few grown men to stand on! About MSVCR The MSVCR welcomes members from all walks of life. If you don’t own an old vehicle but are keen about old cars or motorcycles, visit website: www.msvcr.com for more info or contact southern region rep E.S. Luke (email: es.luke@aig.com), central region rep Michael Sundram (email: sundram_michael@yahoo.com) and northern region rep, Joseph H.S. Lee (email: leehuangseng@gmail.com) or Douglas Fox (email: honsecretary@msvcr.com). For enquiries and reservations at The Legends Golf & Country Resort, call 07-652 4388, fax 07-652 5516 or go to website: www.legends-resort.com Pictures by PEGGY LOH Love for restoration work UNLIKE most people, vintage car enthusiasts can see the potential for old jalopies to be restored. They will spare no expense in ordering original parts from abroad or fabricate them and restore the car to its authentic specifications. Tinkering around with the car is all part of the pleasure of owning a vintage car. If you love old cars but are not mechanically inclined, don’t worry. There is still One-Stop Car Cares, the vintage and classic car specialist where Prakash S. Maniam and his team provide professional car restoration services. Prakash, who learned repair skills from his father, gained further professional experience and expertise with a two-year stint in Singapore. In 1990, he started his own garage in Johor Baru. With a personal passion for Mercedes, he specialised in working on Mercedes Benz. Then he discovered an inclination for restoration work and began to restore vintage and classic cars. Each restoration job can take up to 12 months. One of his most memorable jobs is the restoration of E.S. Luke’s 1930 Austin Seven. With Prakash’s special touch, the car was fully restored from its engine and chassis to wiring, body and paint work. And it only took 34 days! One-Stop Car Cares is at No. 27, Jalan Selatan 2/1, Kawasan Perindustrian Ringan Pulai, 81300 Skudai, Johor. Tel: 016-772 2410 and 019-741 1338.
  |
|
|
Mail webheads for site related feeback and questions.
Write to the editors or get
sales for other kind of help. Copyright © The New Straits Times Press ( Malaysia ) Berhad. Developed by Network & Multimedia Services. |
