I love driving. Fast. My personal record was doing a 3-hour from Johor Bahru to Petaling Jaya, and I stopped for a nice lunch & two big scoops of Baskin Robbins for dessert. I’ve been a passenger in a rally car in action, doing 90kmh at a 90 degree corner…man, I live for things like these. Being in a really fast car doesn’t scare me, but being in a slow car driven by a n00b scares me more.
So I was damn excited when I was invited to be a participant of BMW’s Eco Bloggers Diesel Drive. The core of the drive was BMW’s EfficientDynamics concept. It’s a continuous strategy by BMW to reduce fuel consumption & emission levels (the Efficient part), while at the same time enhancing the vehicle’s performance and driving pleasure (the Dynamics part). Although it’s already a 10 year old concept, it’s only introduced to Malaysia recently with the availability of advanced diesel engines in October 2009.
#1 – Eco Bloggers Diesel Drive
Most people think that diesel cars are a nuisance to road users and the environment, with their dirty and smelly emissions but those days are bygones. With the advancement of engine technology and better quality diesel, diesel cars are on par with petrol cars, if not even better. There are concerns about its performance though, like its lack of horsepower. But horsepower is urm, horseshit. Ultimately, it’s the torque that a driver feels and the massive torque certainly makes up for the diesel cars’ low RPM. 3 letters to sum it up, F.U.N!!!
#2 – Sashi a.k.a The Man.
The day started at Mandarin Oriental with Sashi the corporate communications manager a.k.a The Man giving us the lowdown on EfficientDynamics. I only had about 3 hours of sleep so I didn’t absorb much of it. Sorry, Sashi. All I wanted was to get into the car and drive. My partner was ShaolinTiger. Then we adjourned to Dewan Filharmonik where all the cars we’re going to drive were decked out like superstars. Man, I felt like a superstar!
#3 – In front of Dewan Filharmonik, KLCC.
We were assigned car Number 1, a 320d Sports. Why is it called Sports? Well, it’s got a pimping M3 bodykit & suspension but it’s not really an M3. Apparently the 320d would hover above the tarmac and is unstoppable if driven in its default shell, hence the heavyweight M3 accessories to weigh it down so to speak. So wild, right?
#4 – With the 320d Sports.
Lo and behold, we’ve got police escort from KLCC all the way to Petronas in Mutiara Damansara! Thank you Petronas Dynamic Diesel!
Ivan Khong was our convoy leader. He is awesome! More about Ivan later in this post.
#5 – Ivan Khong.
ST was the first driver and we were flagged off. To be honest, I really wish I was driving this leg because driving with a police escort means you could go really fast with underprivileged mortals eye-ing you with envy from their boring vehicles, nyahahahhaa. It was truly an extraordinary experience!
#6 – Flagging off.
#7 – Police escort. I was in car Number 1, just behind the Lead.
You know the massive jam at the turnoff to LDP in TTDI? We got out of the jam in exactly 2 minutes and 56 seconds. Can you say WTF again? It felt realllllllllllllllly good, man.
#8 – Video of police parting traffic for us in the middle of TTDI
We reached Petronas Mutiara Damansara in record time. Then we were each given a RM40 Mesra vouchers which we spent on junk food and water.
#9 – Ivan pumping anti-foaming Petronas Dynamic Diesel into the beemer.
After getting the car ceremoniously refueled for the first and last time of the journey, we made our way towards Belum Resort in Pulau Banding by the Temenggor Dam.
#10 – To North South Highway.
It was a really fun drive, namely because of Ivan. He has the funniest vocabulary but is very strict! He has no qualms reprimanding us over the walkie-talkie for driving like assholes hehehe. I supposed if it weren’t for him, some of us would not have made it out alive. Case in point, Suanie who was almost killed by Eyeris. “Tickle the throttle” will forever be etched in my mind.
We swapped drivers a couple of times. Stopped by Ipoh for lunch and then made the last leg of the journey to Belum Resort. I got to drive up the winding, bending roads uphill to Belum Resort. I haz adrenaline!!!
#11 – Passing a bridge.
#12 – My lansi driving mug. I drive with one hand like Ah Beng one.
So the drive up the winding roads was awesome. I was determined to follow Ivan (lead car) and KY who was by now, in front of me. I was steady….till I reached this sharpass bend where I was going 140kmh and I was turning so much that my arse began sliding to the left and I was like eff this shit, I’m just gonna floor it. I made it and when I come into a straight road, I began to pussy out for the rest of the journey haha. Apparently the beemer’s Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) lights were blinking :P
And then we reached paradise….alive & kicking. They fed us with champagne.
#13 – Bubblies.
#14 – Belum Resort.
#15 – Obligatory camho picture.
#16 – Obligatory hotel camho picture.
#17 – The beautiful room.
#18 – Another obligatory hotel camho picture.
We showered, rested for a bit and then it was dinner time.
#19 – The outdoor dinner area was so beautiful…
Huai Bin managed to find a jenga set and we proceeded to play drunken Jenga.
#20 – The Evil Jenga. That’s KY on the left before passing out.
#21 – Robb‘s lost count on his number of glasses.
As for myself, I don’t remember much of the night….
Stay tuned for Day 2!
Other bloggers:
Suanie
Eyeris
ShaolinTiger
KY
Huai Bin
Tey Cindy
Ringo
3iling
SaiMatKong
