Wild, wild Ilocos Sur 4×4
Credit to Author: MIKE POTENCIANO| Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2019 16:26:50 +0000
(Part 1)
Once you have been in a good 4×4 extreme race, you will be hooked and will look for more! Watching the 4×4 vehicles going through seemingly impassable obstacles like shoulder-high mud, payloader-sized tire pits, 40 degree steep hill climbs and jumps with dips that break suspensions, I can say that I’m now addicted!
Watching the National Association of Filipino Offroaders (NAsFOR) national leg in San Idelfonso, Ilocos Sur last weekend, was one of those events that made our speed-loving group miss these technical 4×4 races. This was the first national race and the second in the 2019 Maxxis 4×4 Cup series, with the first race held in Baler, Aurora only a week earlier.
I have written the Maxxis 4×4 National results in a separate article and found in our motor sports section today. I will concentrate on the inside stories of this adrenaline-producing and energy-sapping race and hope you like it.
NAsFOR-MP Turbo history
My forever partner Lindy Pellicer, videographer Henry Buenconsejo and I were invited by NAsFOR officials, led by Neil Palabrica and past president Ramon Toong, to join them for this first leg. After missing the Philippine Tough Truck Challenge in Cagayan De Oro last December due to our Petron Rally of Champions running that same weekend, we wouldn’t miss this one!
Lindy had never been to Vigan so it was just right timing as it was on the way to San Ildelfonso. According to Waze, we would face a nine-hour travel time if we left Manila early evening of Friday. We decided to leave at midnight so we only had a good six-hour trip. It was just very tiring as were like Zombies on Saturday but at least it was much better than getting trapped in traffic in the Metro and other municipalities.
Ilocos 4×4
Team Ilocos Offroaders organized this race and was supported by the Provincial Government of Ilocos, headed by Governor Ryan Singson. It was only the 3rd time that they hosted the race but it didn’t seem to be the case.
They went all out to make it a true national event! It had the perfect match of a challenging track with multiple obstacles for the extreme racers and a production track for the relatively stock vehicles. The huge area was inside the compound of BCPE Construction and was quite near the center of town.
One of the special people that we met during the event was NAsFOR’s track designer and builder Lito Joaquin. He used to be a car upholsterer in Portillo’s before with our good friends Bambo and Ding Santiago. Lito made the car seat of one of my cars and even made copies of a high-end brand for all to enjoy! Now, that’s really a small world and was great to relive those old days.
Lito made the track in just 4 days and had all the obstacles he wanted in it. From the very deep mud pit, that you cross twice, to the very tough hill climb, the track will test not only the skills of the driver but also if they have the balls to do it! There was also the big bowls that I saw for the first time, the Otso-Otso/figure 8 mounds and the classic jumps and dips that can break your vehicle if you are not careful.
Ilocano hospitality
The 4×4 racers were all treated to a beach party on Saturday night and gave everyone a chance to relax after a grinding qualifying day. The 2 tracks were challenging enough to have veterans face tough times to get good results like Pampangueños Edison Dungca and Noel Bartolome Sr.
The organizers made sure that all participants were well fed during the event as well. There was even a bag of local products given to us when we left and was very endearing. This is something that we have not done in our ROC and we should be doing it especially when we have drivers from all over the country like this Ilocos leg.
Extreme prototypes
Even though the event had the Production classes, the premiere event was reserved for the special buggies or prototypes, racing for the best time in the hardest possible tracks laid around the natural terrain.
The vehicles are specially made with tube frames, long travel suspensions, powerful steering systems, huge wheels with Maxxis tires, multiple winches and all the air locker differentials you can install.
The latest 4×4 technologies are being imported and currently assembled with Pinoy talent. There is a full aluminum chassis made by Dungca and looks very well made. There was a V8 engine machine of Bartolome that had lots of torque. There were a lot of small things that helped the driver get across the obstacles including very fast winches to pull the vehicles in a very short time.
Next week, we will tackle other stories including the drivers’ techniques and unique rules of NAsFOR when it comes to running their event. Godspeed to all!
The post Wild, wild Ilocos Sur 4×4 appeared first on The Manila Times Online.