Retrieving the Silver Banana

I'd applied leave last Friday to go down to Ipoh to get the Silver Banana. I left Pg for Ipoh by 11a.m. along with Raj and Patrick in his Satria.

We enjoyed the ride down as Patrick has his suspension set to the softest setting and I'd brought along my laptop for on board entertainment.

We arrived shortly (around lunch time) and TK (tougeking) met up with us along with a member of Hillraiders from KL. Naturally, we went up the touge... After a short lunch session.

Great drink.. Kinda like a float with extra flavor.

The herbal duck noodles were superb! *smack lips*
We had some good rojak... But nothing like Penang.
There was also dried Chee Cheong Fun.
Once we'd devoured everything, refuelled, had a puff for the road and received Fujiwara (another friend). We then went up the touge with TK in the lead (me sitting in his Franken70), followed by Patrick and Steven of Hillraiders (I'm sorry bro, I can't seem to find your site. Leave me a comment and I'll post it up). We were halfway up the touge when it friekin' poured on us! Nonetheless, being the advent blogger that I am.. *ahem*ahem* I took pics standing in the rain :P
A logo of the hillraiders. Innovative use of the "r" 'innit?
We went down to visit what Ipoh is known for, it's caves and caverns, for a photo op! After which we finally went over to Han's shop to take a look at how things were going for the Silver Banana.
Work was not yet done. But night was upon us as Han kept laboring away.
As it was getting too late, Raj and Patrick went home to Pg after a short touge run. And I bunked with Han whom was a gracious host. I for one am always thankful for anywhere to sleep, and Han got me some sheets and a pillow to boot. Thanks bro!

I got a great amount of floor space to roll around in :P
Next morning as we were leaving for the workshop, I saw Han's bike.
Which had carbon fibre forks!
On route to the workshop, I saw this "interestingly" named restaurant. In Hokkien "Kam Ching" (literally translates to "suck gun") is a slang word to describe getting oral sex. I just had to take a pic of the signage! :P
Here's a pic of Han's place with a Kancil Turbo in the works. It'll be used for dragging and bragging.
We then went over to see a machine shop which catered only to the automotive industry. You can get work done from your location pins inserted to boring out your block.

Just look at the size of the workshop space!
We then visited a drift buddy of mine Jim (Ah Hei) at his workshop (ABT motorsport) to look for some parts and to have a short chat with him. I found out about his new project for the DCC RES'2 IBU A31 Drift car... Its new engine will be a monster. Just as comparison, he'd removed an RB25DET in exchange. Lookit his drift machine sitting just outside.

The final touches were done at Han's neighbouring shop as he had certain tools needed.
These fellas even had their name on the concrete ramp!
CT-4 (formerly known as GT-4) had completed the final work on my baby and we started up the engine to perform some tests before leaving for home sweet home! Thanks Lek for the work done.

Thank you all very much for the hospitality and ferrying me around. Much thanks to TK for the ride, thanks to Han for all the work done and a room to stay (very grateful), much thanks to Ah Boy the unsung hero as he accompanied me the entire night and brought me up the touge in his pristine EG6!

As for Raj and Patrick... The engine will be run in soon and you better be ready for my return to the touge!!!

Alan's return

Patrick's friend Alan returned from KL yesterday and this normally calls for a touge session.

We met up at the usual mamak stall at the base of the touge until 12.30a.m. and pushed off once everyone had had their drinks and relieved themselves.

It was great fun going up the touge with so many friends. Alan's car was superb on the high speed section, being a MIVEC and all. I was to take lead, as usual (coz I know the road a little better), in the slower sections going from BP to TB. I had a great run last night, and I just couldn't stop myself!

Patrick was driving right behind me and doing very well until he lost me through some tight twisties. He couldn't catch up after that due to his headlights dipping too low and he couldn't see the road ahead. Sorry bro, but I was having too much fun to stop.

It was all great and we ended by blasting through an old route we'd missed for quite some time due to "disturbances".

Now lastly, an apology to TK. I'm so sorry bro, I really wanted to take vids last night but my camera stand was with Daniel (Touge monk) who is now in Singapore. Very sorry bro.

Rich kids... Bah!

I just need to vent some frustration in this post.

Yesterday afternoon Patrick called me up to invite me for a touge, as usual, I asked what's the occasion?

Patrick continued to explain that a rich man's son had commented that Satria's transplanting the ever popular 4G93 engine CANNOT touge! WTF?!?!?! Wouldn't that mean that my Silver Banana'd be shite on the touge? Factoring in the weight deficit, low powered engine and bulky dimensions... He drives and Audi *model undisclosed*

Since such a "prospective" challenger had surfaced, who was I to say no to a touge battle? I had been waiting for a chance to challenge an European make for a long time and this was it.

I'd waited anticipatingly for Patrick's call while doing some errands when it came at 10.30p.m. and the touge run was a go. The downside was that the little twat had chickened out and was not answering our calls. Damn...

Nonetheless, I for one would not let off a chance for a nice touge as the night air was crisp and cool and the tar was dry.

Patrick, Daniel and Ewe Jin met up with me at the Shell station at the base of the touge and we all refilled and cleaned our windscreens before going up.

Ewe Jin had a very interesting night and in turn learned some techniques from the Touge Monk (Daniel)! I went all out and Daniel had a great time chasing. He's getting super fast, tailgating me all the way throughout the touge. Good job fellas... We'll try make 8.30mins by this year end ok? :P

We all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and went home tired, but happy!

Monday night touge with hatches.

It was 5p.m. and I was starting to clear things up and prepare to get off work when Patrick (patricksohai.blogspot.com) SMS'd telling me that there's touge that night as one of his friends wanted to test his new suspension setting. As usual, I never say no to a touge session :P

As I was leaving the office, it friekin' rained on us... And I mean pouring! Nonetheless, I rushed home and took a good rest. I thought the trip was cancelled, so I was numbing myself out with episodes of Samurai X when Patrick SMS'd that they'd be at the meeting point in 20mins.

I rushed to get a refreshing shower, slip on some decent clothes and rushed out. We all met and I was horrified to see hatches all round. All Satrias and all running 4G93s~!!! My car looked like an overgrown buffalo in the lot.

Anyway, we had a short chat and they decided to put me in the lead so I'd put out some precautions and limitations as there was a first timer present, then we headed up.

As expected, the road was super wet and due to my torquey engine, I could only maintain speed even after the apex. There was no acceleration to be had if your tires are pointing anywhere but straight! I tried pushing a bit, and the beginners seemed fine, so I pushed a little more.. and more... and more... I eventually lost them, but was scared that something could have happened... I waited until I saw headlamps before clearing the next corner.

Upon reaching the dam, Raj took me for a ride down the serpentine roads leading to the dam gates. Damn this fella is fucking fast! I was amazed at his control over his machine at the very limits of grip.

It was a very fun night and everyone gained a little more understanding of their machines. Especially in the wet! Cheers fellas. I hope to see you all again soon.

*Sorry no pics as everyone was too excited going at Teluk Bahang full of puddles and fallen shrubbery.*

Tuesday night touge.

I was extremely distracted at work yesterday because I did not get my weekly touge fix as I had matters to attend to last weekend. I went to Tommax Stickers after work and met up with Daniel and we immediately made an appointment with the TB route. While we chatted, the heavens decided to pour on us but not enough to dampen our exhilaration.


It was eleven p.m. and Daniel and I met up at the Tun Sardon lookout point for a smoke whilse we wait for Patrick and Raj whom have also decided to join us for touge.


Everyone had arrived and warming up for the touge.
From left - right: Daniel (EK), ScAv (Perdana), Patrick (Satria), and Raj (Satria R3).



We had a fairly good run through the reverse course and we all stopped by the dam gates to cool off the drivers and their machines. I had some icy cool menthols to share around... Nice...



It was getting late and we all had things to be attended to early morning so we took leave shortly and most of us did the forward course below 10mins. Not bad on a damp course! We'll try to hit under 9.30mins next time :)


Cheers guys and thanks for the company!

p.s. Here's Patrick's blog : patricksohai.blogspot.com