"JESUSSSSSSSSS, Maryyyyyyyyyy and Josephhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Amidst the thunderous roar of the engine and screeching tires, a loud shrill scream can be heard — and it's coming from me. It isn't a moment of religious fervour, though. I'm definitely nowhere near a church, this sunny morning.
Instead, I'm hanging on to my seatbelt for dear life, while riding in a modified car tearing around the tracks at the Shah Alam Stadium. With incredible agility, the car deftly weaves around traffic cones, executing precise figure eights, and performing "doughnuts", leaving a swirling storm of dust in its wake.
"I'm not going to kill you!" assures Ng Aik Sha with an amused chuckle as she shifts gear and the car slows down. "Let's go for another spin!" she suggests again.
I try not to come across as a buzzkill, even though my morning's McMuffin seems determined to make a rapid return from my queasy stomach. I simply nod without uttering a word. After all, as a journalist, isn't it our duty to exhibit some courage in the pursuit of a compelling story?
"Here we go again!" She blithely announces, before adding: "Don't worrylah. I'm a safe driver!" Her words, however, are quickly drowned out by the wind as she floors the gas pedal, and the car roars to life again. I let out another scream and tightly shut my eyes.
As the car swerves to trace a "figure eight" around the cones, Ng seems blissfully immersed in her element. Eyes sparkling, she turns the steering wheel confidently while laughing at my quivering body next to hers. The trailblazing Malaysian motorsport athlete made headlines at the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship (APMC) in September. She emerged as the champion in the Auto Gymkhana Female Solo Category.
As the car screeches to a halt once again, she turns to me, grinning widely. "Want to try?" she asks. Not waiting for an answer, she throws open the door, gets out, runs to my side and opens the door. "Get over to the driver's side. I'll show you how to do this. It's easy!" she instructs blithely.
HARROWING DRIVE
As I nervously sit behind the steering wheel, Ng points out the course I'm meant to navigate. I can't help but blink in surprise. The twists and turns on the course seem incredibly intricate. Can I really follow that?
"Eh, what are all these lines?" I point to all the squiggly arrows on the paper. Using her finger, Ng explains: "It's a simple course lah. You just zig-zag around these cones and then do a U-turn here!" She points to another part of the paper, and then moving her finger down, she instructs: "Here, you do a 'doughnut' and then you stop here!"
Ng adds: "Naturally, the real competition course is much more challenging. However, today's circuit is specially designed for you!"
With Ng's guidance, I tentatively begin my gymkhana adventure. Speed? Ha! I'd settle for surviving this course with my dignity intact. Gymkhana motorsport is revealing itself to be a real puzzle. How on earth does one wrangle this hunk of metal through an obstacle course like it's some kind of acrobatic show?
With a combination of precision driving, agility and car control, it's often described as a combination of autocross and stunt driving, where drivers navigate a timed course filled with various obstacles, challenges and manoeuvres.
The goal of gymkhana, Ng shares, is to complete the course as fast as possible while adhering to the rules, without incurring penalties. Drivers are timed as they navigate the course; the driver with the fastest time wins.
"That's the beauty of this sport. You have to navigate the set course which features a variety of obstacles such as cones, barrels, slaloms and tight turns as fast as possible," she says.
"What car do you use for this sport?" I ask curiously. "Some souped-up modified version ah?" She shakes her head, replying: "To ensure fair competition and a level playing field, all participants drive identical, unmodified cars. The specific car may vary by country. Can you guess which car we used in the recent APMC?"
A mischievous glint sparkles in her eyes as she poses the question. Without missing a beat, she answers her own question with glee: "Your car lah! The Perodua Axia!"
At my surprised face, she asserts: "It's really not about the car. It's all about showcasing the driver's skill!"
But gymkhana can be practised with a wide range of vehicles, from compact cars to high-performance sports cars, and even specialised gymkhana or drift cars.
The choice of vehicle can influence a driver's approach to the course. Ng tells me that she does have a brightly coloured, modified Honda EG6 that she uses for local competitions.
Ng explains that gymkhana is surging in popularity, not just as a competitive motorsport but also as entertaining content, blending high-speed driving with precision and stunt showmanship — a distinctive and thrilling facet of the motorsport landscape.
Despite its appeal, the sport's elements, such as speed, revving engines, squealing tires and smoke from exhaust pipes, have perpetuated the stereotype of it being a traditionally male-dominated endeavour.
"I've been trying to break that perception," the 33-year-old admits readily, adding: "It's a place where skill, passion and determination can break through traditional barriers."
EARLY STRUGGLES
"I've always been quite the tomboy," she admits, flashing a grin. "But believe it or not, I didn't know much about cars, growing up." Ng's interests leaned more toward basketball, running, hiking, and achieving the rank of King Scout in her youth.
But life was far from ideal for Ng. Her father, an odd-job worker, and her mother, a housewife, struggled to make ends meet. "It was far from easy," she acknowledges quietly. "Our finances were always tight, and we had to make countless sacrifices while growing up. Some of those sacrifices were incredibly difficult to come to terms with."
Among the most profound disappointments in Ng's life was the missed opportunity to pursue her beloved sport of basketball. She opens up about this, her smile replaced by a sense of regret: "I loved the sport very much, and I was even chosen to represent our state. All that was required was attending the selection, but my parents simply couldn't afford to send me. I was even willing to pay for my own taxi, but my mother firmly rejected the idea."
With a heavy sigh, she reflects: "If only I had the chance to pursue that dream, I know I could have achieved so much more." Among the students at her school, she was one of only two girls selected for this opportunity.
"I'd have become a professional basketball player," she muses dreamily. It's not a flippant remark, but it shows that the Ng was willing to go to great lengths to do her best, no matter what the sport or challenge was.
Her paternal uncle who always looked out for the family advised Ng and her two younger sisters to embrace education as their ticket out of the relentless cycle of poverty. He was willing to sponsor the girls' education. "The rest," he told them, "… is up to you."
Despite his generous support, Ng was determined not to be beholden to anyone. She channelled her resolve into her studies, and her efforts bore fruit when she secured a scholarship that covered her entire degree. Ng graduated with first-class honours.
Following her graduation, Ng dedicated five years to working as a pharmacist at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre. She reflects fondly on those years, remarking: "I loved my job!" In fact, she had a clear plan in mind for her future. She aspired to pursue a Master's in Pharmaceutical Studies and, ultimately, transition into a teaching role.
But life intervened in the most amazing way, putting her plans on hold.
A NEW DREAM
At the age of 24, Ng's journey into the world of gymkhana began through a family friend. This friendly uncle, the proud owner of a Subaru car, extended an invitation that would change her life forever.
"He invited me to join him at the Sepang Open Track Day, to experience the circuit," she recalls, grinning. Several times a month, the Sepang International Circuit buzzes with excitement during this special event, where racing enthusiasts are welcomed to bring their own cars and immerse themselves in the thrill of the famed race track.
She vividly remembers hopping into the Subaru with her uncle behind the wheel. "I remember thinking, 'Oh wow! This is awesome!'" she reminisces. Her infectious enthusiasm prompted the man to invite her to join him and his friends at the Go-Kart track, setting the stage for her journey into the world of motorsport.
During her first time at the track, Ng displayed an uncanny ability to quickly catch up with the experienced drivers. It became evident to all that she possessed a natural talent for the sport, and her newfound friends enthusiastically urged her to pursue it further.
Encouraged to become a part of the gymkhana community, Ng took the bold step of entering her first competition after just two lessons. "I was overwhelmed by anxiety," she admits, adding: "I didn't even know how to operate the handbrake. I had to learn it on the spot. It was an incredibly stressful experience."
Her participation, however, left a lasting impact on those in attendance. To begin with, she was one of the pioneering women to venture into the world of gymkhana, challenging a male-dominated domain. Moreover, her innate talent behind the wheel was undeniable, making her performance even more impressive. Ng's entry into the sport is a powerful testament to both her determination and her natural prowess.
Venturing into motorsports also presented its unique set of challenges for Ng. "I allowed my nerves to get the better of me during my earlier competitions and that definitely cost me. I've learnt my lesson now… hopefully!" she says, laughing. Another challenge was the fact that her mother was dead set against her daughter taking part in the sport.
"She thought this was such a dangerous sport, and that I'd end up dying in a crash. It took a while for me to convince her that it's a safe sport. After taking her for a few gymkhana competitions, she finally understood and gave her blessings," she says, smiling.
There's been no looking back since.
My lesson thankfully comes to an end as the car rolls to a stop. This time, Ng steps out, helmet and gloves in hand, and gracefully transitions into her distinctively coloured Honda for another spin around the tracks.
Her eyes crinkle beneath the full-faced helmet as she muses: "If I had the chance to speak to my younger self, I'd advise her to savour every step of the journey and not just fixate on results alone!" With those parting words, she ignites the engine and glides away to display her talent on the tracks.
The car zooms past the cones, executing lightning-quick figure eights and jaw-dropping doughnuts, creating a thrilling spectacle of speed and skill. In the car, the slight figure gives me a solid thumbs up before going through a second thrilling round.
With an unwavering passion for gymkhana and a talent that shines brighter with every turn, there's no doubt that Ng Aik Sha, or "Akisha" (as she's known in the gymkhana fraternity) is a force to be reckoned with.
Her journey is a testament to the power of determination and skill, and it's a ride that promises to keep us all on the edge of our seats, eagerly anticipating the next thrilling twist and turn in her remarkable story.