Oneshift 2006 Inaugural Driveaway!

It was an idea on the spur of a moment but within three weeks, the mission to drive up to Frasiers Hill during the weekend was accomplished thanks to the determination and enthusiasm of Oneshift members to stretch their wheels and burn rubber on the Malaysian tarmac.

More than 10 people and 5 cars participated in the rally up the corridors of the North-South highway. Participants wore exclusive Oneshift.com polo tees not only as an identity tag but also as an emblem of esprit de corps. Sure enough, strangers became fast friends and the camaraderie grew even stronger throughout the trials and tribulations of the trip.

Flagging off from Singapore's second link bridge to Malaysia, the cars soon reached full throttle, disappearing into the horizon at speeds of up to 180km/h. The Mazda Axela's proved worthy of their Zoom Zoom tag, leaving the larger Peugeot 407 gasping to catch up. Nonetheless, it was a safe trip as the route had been well planned and the speed traps well scouted by Desmond aka Cruizer.

Unfortunately, that was not enough to keep the Malaysian traffic police at bay as they unexpectedly appeared from the shadows and accosted the cars. After some routine procedures, the cars were off again with nary a care in world, tearing through the roads with the recent incident quickly reduced to a distant memory.

Zach aka Triggerpuff, an active member of Oneshift.com, provided a little tour of TG Malim for the members, from the sights of temples to the sighting of a Mitsubishi 3000GT. It was a tour the members appreciated and it was even suggested that Desmond take a flower bath and pray.

Along the way, those in the 407 suffered a fright as they came face to face with a near death experience. A lorry had stopped just 2 feet or so from the head of a fallen motorcyclist and his pillion rider. The initial shock must have been unnerving and Desmond imagined "the chill going down Leon's [the driver] spine despite the 42 degree Celsius mid-afternoon sun."

The group then discovered a picture perfect spot near the dam for a group photo opportunity to capture the magic of the moment. The meandering and crooked roads up the mountain ensured that the drive would be a thrilling one. Zach described it as, "winding, twisty and vomit inducing Initial D roads up Bukit Fraiser."

The journey was worth every mind numbing twist in the road. Silverpeak resort, the lodging of the group had a name that aptly describes the pinnacle of Fraisers Hill. Under the pristine blue sky tinged with silver clouds, beautiful English cottages lined the edges of the hill and lush greenery paved a path through them. The weather was cool and the same breeze that inspired the trees to sing caressed the group's skin inspiring them to seek refuge in the tavern Ye Olde Smokehouse to warm their bellies. The group also got the chance try their hand at a different sort of ride - that of lesser powered 1 BHP but no less impressive actual stallion.

Alas, all good things must come to an end and so as they departed Frasiers Hill, the group cherished their new found friends with the hope of more autoventures to come. As one participant put it, "Great drive, great trip and great company!! Let's do it again!! HOOAH!"

These are the following experiences penned by our drivers on the Oneshift.com's inaugural driveaway to Fraser's Hill Malaysia:

Despite the impromptu trip, the plan was well conceived, thanks to everyone's concerted effort that has made this trip possible despite being strangers! The whole trip was a combination of Amazing Race, Fear Factor 5 and Survival - Stranded at Exile Road Side (Nilai 284.6@12.05)

We "got engaged" all the way from the 2nd link to Fraser Hill without much of a glitch except for the little encounter at the outpost 284.6@12.05 (buy 4d). Our little Charlie, the Sunflower, after docking with a Pratt & Whitney engine, jet himself at a Warp speed approximately 180km/h breaking the "sight" barrier, with irradiate yellow residue along the way and YET he did not get a ticket for bleeping his way up North - that's unfair!

The Mazda 3s really lived up to their Zoom Zoom reputation! 407 had difficulty catching up despite clocking a top speed of 195km/h trying to catch up on this trip! Covering the back at the climb, 407 was waylaid by a renegade monkey asking for a visa card for his banana business and on reaching the top, I realized that my "nutrient storage' is on reserve and not been replicating food since the encounter at 284.6. Post recovery, the next day was wonderful. It was quite unfortunate that I did not manage to decommission the horses at the paddock, well let them "Die Another Day {James Bond movie}" and that will teach them "Never Say Never Again" to me.

The journey down and south was smooth and quick. How did Paul miss the 2nd Link ha? Fortunately I did not jettisoned Leon out at the PTP fuel stop, otherwise it will be a true live show of Survival - Stranded at Malaysia.

Well, what is needed to be said has been well reflected by Zach except the personal experience involving the accident!

I could imagine the INITIAL SHOCK on Leon's face as he was the driver and on seeing a lorry stop within 2 feet or so to the head of the fallen motorcyclist and his pillion rider, one could imagine the chill down the spine despite the 42 deg C mid afternoon sun. The 407 may look esthetically nice, but blind spots are everywhere! Including the f-#$%^-g blind motorcyclist! Thanks to the constant reminder to have a flower bath and prayer chancing on any look-like temple…………

Anyway, the 407 had been decommissioned.

Song song hua ka song! (Shiok shiok drive til shiok) wahahahaha...

"We had a perfect start to the Fraser's Hill driveup... by being late!!! Thus, it was a perfect chance for us to zoom-zoom down straight through the 2nd link, but some 6th sense say that, you're all still there. It was nice to see the other Jon and Agnes in a mazda3 too, and the rest of our driveup mates. Anyway, to cut to the chase, the drive-up to Fraser's Hill got quite a few "exicitements"... First, an unexpected TP trap after more than an hour of driving... then shortly after, after stopping at Machap, another TP trap... What is this!!! Malaysia Traffic Police Bonus Day? When our poor 407 got into a little incident with a Malaysian bikee, we started to wish we had done more praying at the temple before we set off. But just as the drive was turning gloomy, we finally found the way up, and also discovered this little nice place near the dam for a group photo and enjoyed some great scenery. The drive up the mountain was really thrilling. No doubt, some stomachs were flushed clear after that, it was really as close to driving like in a initial D anime as it can get!

Once on top, at Silverpeak resort, we got to enjoy what we could not in Singapore: Cool weather! It may not be the cleanest resort, but the weather and the lush greens, and English cottages made up for most of the stay there. We also had the chance to drive a '1 BHP' stallion :) All in all, it was really memorable. Not lest cos of the company. And a last mention must go to the famous RAMLY BURGER! Look forward to the next driveup to Fraser's :)"

Well, it was great people, great drive, great weather, and perfect experience for all of us. Really enjoyed the drive up. Hopefully 407 will bathe next time before going on the next trip. :)


In any case, it was a fun drive up and down fraser hill and clocking 150 km/h with 3 passengers, not to mention also the additional free tour around Tg. Malim : ) Most importantly, it was great knowing you guys and gals!!!

The whole trip was impromptu. We decided on the date only 3 weeks before but somehow got everything together just in time. Great job on the polo tees by Leon. Good route planning and speedtrap headsup (although he was caught by one, and I suspect they target by car colour!!) by Desmond, our trusty 407, Paul ensured we had a roof over our heads while we were there, and thanks to everyone who made the trip so enjoyable. The drive up was eventful by itself already, a close brush with a Malaysian bike by Desmond (we'll let him elaborate in his 5000 word essay), a little tour of Tg Malim (coutesy of yours truely) with a sighting of a Mitsubishi 3000GT, pushed by a TVR on the North South, winding twisty and vomit inducing Initial D roads up Bukit Fraiser and the storming of Ye Olde Smokehouse by the oneshift.com bunch! Those were some of the highlights of the trip! We made fast friends and drove even faster... clocked my "personnal best" of 180 km/h before I ran out of road and hit a Plaza Toll. "Touch N Go" was well worth it! My OC got to drive a stretch too, clocking 150 km/h, and that is for someone who just passed her driving 3 weeks ago! Thanks to Ah Loong & OC for covering our butt during that stretch!! I certainly look forward to the next drive up (near or far), and perhaps this time, we can have more cars and more people. And frankly, I was "pissing in my pants" leading the convoy along Federal Road 1 on the way back... the thought of going the wrong way and having 10 cars doing simultenous 3 point turns was always at the back of my mind... You can ask my OC how stress I look!! Hahahaha... but we all made it to the highway!! *Huge sigh of relief!!* Anyway, great drive, great trip, great company!! Let's do it again!! HOOAH!!!

Indeed, let's do it once more ;)

Credits: Roy Tan