Revving engines, caring hearts

When you see nineteen kitted out RX-8s headed your way, what should you do? Should you run for cover? As their burbling exhausts, which can clearly be heard even from a distance, draw closer, you wonder if you're about to come face to face with an illegal street racing gang and its tough characters, who for some reason, were coming to beat you up.

But if you love motorsports, you might have gleefully began rubbing your hands, assuming these cars were about to recreate a scene from Tokyo Drift.

As it turned out however, neither of these scenarios played themselves out. These RX-8s and their drivers belong to a tight-knit group called "RX-8 Club Singapore". No, they weren't driving in a convoy to intimidate other vehicles -they were part of their group's Charity Drive 2009, and they're on a mission.

The club's Charity Drive was targeted towards underprivileged kids from the Covenant Family Services Centre (CFSC). At 10am that morning, thirty-two excited children saw nineteen brightly coloured sports cars, pulling in one after the other. The RX-8s had arrived, and the drivers were here to take them away.

After a few brief words from one of the RX-8 Club's members, Mr. Jasper Chong, each RX-8 owner gave two kids a cool ride to Orchard Cineleisure.

The children were treated to a screening of the movie, "Bedtime Stories", after lunch at KFC. And judging from their laughter, the kids must have thoroughly enjoyed the film. After all, when it's Adam Sandler in a Disney production, you'd be hard-pressed to not be entertained.

When the movie was over, the kids once again piled into the RX-8s and were driven back to the Centre. But if you think the RX-8 Club simply dropped off the kids and immediately drove off, you've just misjudged them.

Thanks to RX-8 Club members Amy and Jasper, each child also received a folder containing school supplies. It was a wonderful gesture on their part, which topped off the already brilliant outing the club had organized.

The RX-8 Club's sponsor for that day, Hankook Tyres and Fuji Motorsports, in conjunction with Agip oils, each made a $500 direct donation to the Covenant Family Service Centre.

Earlier that day, I had the opportunity to speak with one of the club's members, Mr. Benny Phang. He related that their club not only wished to be able to give back to the community, but they also wished to do so in a more hands-on manner. To him, it couldn't be just about signing cheques & gala dinners.

A spokesman for Hankook Tyres said, "We are happy to have contributed to the success of the Charity Drive 2009 event. More importantly, Hankook Tyres would like to congratulate the members of the RX-8 Club Singapore for volunteering their time, effort and donations in bringing the children for an eventful Saturday outing.

Meanwhile, Fuji Motorsport, in conjunction with Agip oils added, "It was immensely satisfying to see the children enjoying themselves and having a good time. We look forward to the next charity drive."

Benny also mentioned that there were charities that didn't trust a "sports car club". There were also companies who were unwilling to sponsor events like this for the same reason. Despite such adversities however, the RX-8 Club did try to encourage other car clubs to give back to the community.

He added, "Some people only see us as Ah Bengs who only care about their rides. But we're not just Ah Bengs - we're charitable ones."

Charitable? Definitely. Ah Beng? Very unlikely.

Credits: Story & pictures by Jeremy R. Chua