Birthday, Pits, and Revelry!

It is the 9th day of the Lunar Calendar and the entire team was invited over to RPM Autoworks to celebrate Ah Peow's (air-cond man) girlfriend's 21st birthday! We were all ponna excited and I was, as usual, too early :P Anyway, Chun arrived slightly after and gradually, so did the rest of the team and all invited guests.

It was a fantastic evening of festivities and revelry with much fellowship, food and drinks aplenty, and everyone just having a ball of a time!
Well, as you can see, there's not many at the dining area since we were all a "helpful bunch".... Here's what most of us were doing. We actually have 6 cooks! 4 at the pits and 2 prepping the skewers :)

Whilst a bunch of us were.. Er... "Discussing" and "planning" over some drinks and a cig. Told you we were a helpful bunch didn't I? :P

A tribute pic to all the hardworking cooks whom constantly had the pits on full burn and full capacity!

We ended the night at 1a.m. to a cheery crowd, and what seemed like never ending revelry, but here I am in the office again!

Cheers fellas, see you guys tonight... I'm sure there are lots to clean up still!

Of stiff sticks and soft bounces!

It was on the 7th day of CNY and I was just having a lazy rested day in preparation for the working year ahead. I'm sure we'll all have to be as tough, hardworking and persevere as the Ox to survive the current financial plight :(

I got a call from Fer some time after lunch time and the Norther Touge fellows all met up at Tommax for a cock-and-bull session :) During which, Daniel had wanted to re-adjust his damping for some time now and I'd needed to take a look at some of the wirings on the Silver Banana. So we decided to grab the keys to RPM Autoworks and have a little DIY session with our guru Fer on the watch.

We arrived to a brimming workshop full of cars so since Daniel had the hardest task, his car was fully parked inside, and the Silver Banana was parked halfway rearwards in since I only had to look in the rear half. The supervisor-for-the-day of course, had his monster machine parked just outside.
Low and it's all show, no go! I was parked on a ramp... Just took the pic to check out how it looks if I invested in a set of pneumatic shocks.

Daniel set off to work on removing his dampers slowly but surely seeing that this would be his technical debut! He never DIY'd on his mechanicals before. Great effort bro!

As with all learners or first timers, supervision is warranted and I was only there to prop things up and to aid installation :P *I'm also the inpromptu camera-man mah!* (self redemption rocks!)

After a lengthy process and Fer working his magic on the new settings the car was lowered off the tripods and lo and behold! The Civic is a whole new machine...

Getting low is the theme of the day. If you're thinking wheel to fender clearance, its non-existant!

Of course, this warranted a touge run, so we proceeded to meet at a fav car wash since Daniel wanted to ge this car washed (to look clean and mean) where seatings were allocated and Fer was riding with Daniel to get feedback on the new settings whilst Mark sat with me for a little Touge 101. We blasted up the touge full on (since we'd been MIA since before the CNY) without a worry in mind and its enlightening how the drive through Penang's fav touge route clears ones mind!

I had a fantastic run, and Daniel was extremely happy with the new damper settings. His new settings were stiff enough to avoid unnecessary roll whilst keeping the bumps and dips in check. Mark had also improved a lot in the past few months, he was even able to point out to me the 2 mistakes I made on the way up!

Watch out world, Northern Touge is coming out yo!

True blue pal

Soon and I were just wandering around town last night, just checking out the night life since it's been some time since any of us had been partying. We were going along the UPR (Upper Penang Road) stretch when Mark called up and asked if we wanted to meet up. As "busy" as Soon and I were, we hurriedly agreed and sped off to the Caltex station meeting point.

Mark soon arrived with Daniel in tow, and a bright set of HIDs were following suit... Whom other than our true blue touge kaki from KL, Shazwan was in town! We were chatting away to the sounds of Kardinal Offishall and having a few drinks from the store.

What does a touge-head do when in Penang? You'd have to check out the routes here of course! Daniel had already brought Shazwan and Mark up to the dam and back, but they'd left out one route so I could have a little fun to quench my "thirst". Without further ado, we filled up, warmed up and got to driving :) It was a fairly fast paced lap around Vale of Tempe, after which Shazwan got a call and we had to head back to meet up with his better half.

We were turning of to Gurney when Shazwan called and his DC5 got stuck on a low curb. Being an out-of-towner, he didn't know of the low, sloping extension in front of the traffic lights and went over it with his front wheels with his ass still hanging in the air. Soon and I lifted the rear as Daniel slowly released the clutch to unhinge the DC5's butt.

Shazwan was feeling a little down and out but luckily nothing major had occured and we all left for home happily ever after :)

The Silver Banana hasn't been to touge in quite a while. Tonight was a real refresher course!

*psst* We met a very "enthusiastic" Smart For Two on the way back. He drove like an ass, we had our fun and laughed our asses off! (Sorry no pics, I told you we were laughing our asses off!)

Chatting at the roadside is just... Old skewl! I likes...

Mark's B'day

The Northern Touge fellows had just recently celebrated Mark's birthday for him at a beaut hillside location... I'll just let the pics speak for themselves, eh... Enjoy.

Where it all happened.

Ewejin's gift...
Aged for a year under Jin's dirrrr-ty laundry.
A simple dinner for men of simple taste... Thankfully Daniel was a chef.
Ewejin unleashing the terror within.
Daniel and Ewejin getting some exercise after a little eating, they decided to befoul the pool. Superb ribs on the electric stove whilst everything else had been lapped up.
Mark celebrated by supposedly stopping smoking!

Joining the pack!

The Northern Touge group of enthusiasts were thought up by a group of VERY enthusiastic Touge kakis. Everything started when it sparked Daniel to call us Northern Touge, then Alvin drew up the logo whilst Ewe Jin came up with the font. We're still nurturing the growth of our little touge family, with potential for rapid expansion (couldn't help quoting The Joker).

A recent addition into the Northern Touge family has been made with Mark's acquisition of a brand spanking, super stock, used Proton Satria 1.6 (a derivative of the Mitsubishi Cyborg). The flurry of events took place just after two rounds up the TB (Teluk Bahang) touge and he was hooked!!!
He gave word that he's looking for a weekend driver, so I made a few calls and hooked him up with what is possibly the best platform to learn and advance in. Reason being that our market is saturated with spare parts and engines galore for this platform and it comes adequately powerful at stock. Easy to drive, easy to maintain and relatively cheap to mod.

I got the hook up last week, Mark and his dad (knowledgeable fellow) went over to view and scrutineer this weekend, made payment yesterday and we took the car off my long time pal Chong last night. And like every kid with a new toy, Mark was super psyched for the "Green Monster" (he'd decided to call it as such) acquisition and was already happy with the drive back home (wait till he gets on the touge).

Here's Mark making the "JDM pose" with his Green Monster.
A few things have to be done such as changing the timing belt (to keep his heart at ease), swap out the steering wheel (its too small and its wood... 'nuff said), then off we go for a drive uphill. Another interesting fact is that Mark is totally new to the word "speed". He is a below 3000RPM driver whom wants a twist in life... We'll see how he progresses after a few quick tips and tricks.

I'm planning to take him uphill this Saturday for brekkie at Balik Pulau market... Anyone wanna join in?

3 SMS's & a night out!

A pal'o'mine, Mark, called me up on Friday night and told me he'd wanted to go touge that night and he was already on his way over. So I had myself a quick shower and a fresh change of clothes, then rushed out to meet Mark at my carpark. In the lift, I sent out 3 SMS's to 3 separate friends to meet at a location in an hours' time.

On the way up, we met another group of friends that were having their weekly TT (teh tarik) session in town, so I popped on over for a quick cuppa. Soon, a friend in the local authorities called up to say all's well and clear uphill and it was time to proceed.

All of us proceeded to Caltex to meet up and there were more ppl there than you can poke a stick at! Some joined us for the touge run, some just came to meet up. Eventually after filling up, a bunch of us left for the touge and had one helluva run! I likess.... It was a little damp and oversteer was imminent. I just had to bloody do it!!!

Take on a hotter-than-usual entry speed, left foot brake slightly when entering (to get real good weightage on the fronts), then once the nose is nicely tucked into the corner... sharply lift off the throttle and SNAP! oversteer!!!

Who's rump are these?
Its the Type-R fellows whom were tagging along just to "look see look see"
I have no flash, and Akihito (Edison) was kind enough to make a U-Turn to "borrow" me his lights for a photo op. The line of cars extend further down, but light restricts me to only capture this lot.
The Type-R's (Martin and Johnson) were quite a spectacle and their super clean engine bays were nothing short of stunning.
It was getting super late and a group of us took leave for Farlim's Mc Donald's (somehow, we're attracted to Caltex's... weird) for a little supper and a good night's (morning more like it) rest.
Mark was worn out (being a passenger!) and was a real bitch! (you know you were!!!) But we still love you... Mark's green monster is coming out REALLY soon... Another serious touge freak coming soon!
The 3 remaining Northern Touge kakis for the night. Daniel's Civic (EK), Snappy's Silver Banana, and Soon's Wira Evo III (GSR).
Soon's shiny newly painted bumper. Sweet!
17's all the way! Woot woot!
The last 3 "bandits" of the night.
Daniel being just stupid and...
His royal botak-ness, the man once known as Ewe Jin!
It was an eventful night and I was just amazed at what 3 SMS's could do for a fun-filled evening!

Saturday night was more or less the same... Only difference being I was the one that received multiple SMS and calls... And there were more ppl, much MUCH more people!
Heck! We even had the pleasure of watching a drift demonstration by 2 friends in a KE70 and a Datto 120Y~!!!

The Northern Touge is always happening... And never dissapoints!
I love Penang..... Touge routes :P

High Times 071008 ... Decisions... Decision...

Despite Daniel still being full of alcohol from drinking 4 days in a row (his b'day ma, and he gots lots of VERY persistent friends), Ah Soon being busy with work, and Mark was feeling a little under the weather (prob. from anziety... Bitch!), High Times had to be conducted without fail, miss, or delay!

So after a simple dinner, we all met up at Mansion II, where Soon now works, as he is still busy introducing customers' cars to his hand-held grinder! (What-a-job erh? Scratch up cars and still get recognition for it)

Seated at the "customers' lounge" :P
With our "poison" for the night...
Daniel was just hungry for a lickin'!
Samurai prepping his katana embedding stance!
Soon being "hard-at-work" :P After a couple of drinks, Chris arrived and we detoured to the nearby "Golden Ore" coffee shop so that Soon could have his din-din.
The, by now, very relaxed group.
Definitely very relaxed... Except that his eyes are still "roving"! One's got to keep a lookout right?... Right?

It was also on this fine night that our bro Mark had decided to start his project car after only two trips up the Teluk Bahang touge! I made some calls and had a sweet catch for him shortly. Watch for updates :D

I tell ya, that route is just intoxicating!!! I've not met anyone that has not been enthralled by it thus far... Let's go for a run! ;)

Banana Leaf in Little India

Lunch time... And Mark had called me up along with Daniel for group makan. I was hesitant, but Mark and Daniel told me this place was the bomb!

So we all jumped into Mark's variation of the Daihatsu Fish, including Alvin (Daniel's partner) and off we sped to Little India!

We arrived at a quaint little shop and there it was.. Veloo Vilas Eatery!
It was a very quaint setup with an intricate system of service. Multiple waiters, each with an assigned foodstuff would patrol the restaurant and once you get your banana leaf, the service would be instant! Each waiter came up to you with a different vege or curry and all you had to do was choose!
This signage would be hung just by the door once the cookings is done and when they're ready to serve.
Simple setup with loads of clients... Do I even need to bother telling how great the food was?
Check out the "quaint-ness" of the shop. It was a pre-independance building still with the steel bar windows installed during the curfew era!
Yum-yum!!! I had so much rice... I still *burp* have a little around the next day.

High Times 300908

Welcome to high times 30-Sep-08!!! As I promised guys, I'll only update when I'm in the office... Otherwise what to do ler?

*Colleague - "Er... Work?!?!?!"*
*ScAv bitch-slaps the freak for his *"profanity"*

Anyhow, we started late as usual, but no worries this time, it's the eve of Hari Raya (maaf zahir dan batin ya!) tomorrow and we were all going full throttle~!!! Bwahahaha *evil-ness*

We got the party going with this whilst waiting for Bro Soon (who was pissed at his boss for working him till 11!) to arrive.
Ah Soon arrived shortly with bags full of chips and other "nutricious" food-like-stuffs! The best part was that he quietly went along to this quaint little shop that sells "non-conventional" beer that comes with 8.8% alcohol brews and in 500ml cans and comes with... Wait for it... PULL TABS~!!!
How long has it been since you've last saw this on beer let alone soft drinks?!?!?! It was super cool, I just had to take some pics of it :P
This time around, Soon got us something we'd missed out the past two weeks... Swing (what you'd likely be doing) Beer that comes with 10% alcohol~!!! We could hardly contain the 8.8% brew last time *burp*
Soon was one for nostalgia and he actually bought "satay" - a local kiddie fav for the party :)

We kicked off with the crisps...

Whilst Mark started off raiding the fridge.
And Daniel was busy whipping up some light supper fingerfoods for us to line our stomachs for the torrent to come! This is a pile consisting of all our poisons for the night... *suffocating*
Ah Soon also bought a Phillies cigar just for kicks.. He just wanted to free his mind of "whatever"!
So we'd even prepared a wooden match to light it (courtesy info from the bald dude in Hellboy)
Here's another compilation of only the drinks. One of the beers is actually named after its alcohol content! WTF?!?!?!

And we also had Jack Daniels courtesy of Mark whom sped by a shopping centre just to get it! Cheers mate!

And the crisps... Farking monsters couldn't wait till I got a decent pic!Everyone started to chow down on their picks.
Then.. As if a tempest... The drinking started!
Someone was obviously happy...
Then the drinking (within an hour!) slowed down and the aftermath ensued.
Eujin was on FIRE! (He kinda looks like a cooked lobster about now!)

Soon and I stepped out to enjoy the Phillies for quite a while.

And Mark raided the fridge again!

After some excitement, Jin was knocked out! (not by the bottle silly)
It's just Daniel showing the golden fluid that knocked him out :P
Ah Soon was already crawling...
So whilst the drinking slowed down, we were in deep contemplation whether to play an "Asian" or "Ang Moh Kau" disc... *more evil-ness*

No one should have passed this fibre-filled cretin the discs... My DVD player would never be right again... EVER~!!!
Then Mark dropped and Daniel was just having helluva time having his way with Mark... I can't show the according pics for obvious reasons :P
Finally, the bloody-well-covered, I'll-clog-your-drains hairy monster also dropped.
But lookit' who's awake and semi-conscious? Hehehe... His eyes are still stim kau kau... Bwahahaha... A sentence kept reverberating off his lips, "I wanna drink water, but no cup". Every cup was either filled or being filled! No way out Jin!

*He resorted to using a food container* Bwahahaha!!!
A final signage from Mark... Fun-tastic evening!

All of us headed to Farlim McD to unwind and take in some fresh air (which quite literally spins your head outta proportions) before parting ways.
Some chatted whilst others just watched the LCD TV.
Realization that tomorrow is a Public Holiday...
And the party ensues~!!!
Jin was still pretty red... But then, it could be the lighting... But then, we don't really care!

Mark showing his "I-don't-care-if-he's-still-red" face :)

The night ended with uncontrollable fits....
Of laughter.. Hahaha...This was how Soon looked the next morning... I don't even wanna know what he was up to throughout the night!
Now on a note of appreciation and commemoration!!!

Daniel was the busiest man of the evening...

Being the chef...

The waiter...
As well as the bartender... Kudos bro!The amazing dishes he came up with. Looks "funky" but it tasted fantastic...
Everything was lapped up in moments.
We're going to have ribs this week!!!

So who's coming?

*Our group just keeps getting bigger every round. Kudos to the High Times trend!*