Proton open day and factory visit

PROTON or Perusahaan Otomobil Negara is our first national car company. Since Proton Saga launched in 1985, Proton undergoing ups and downs over 20 years. The broke off with their technical partner, Mitsubishi was sent them into a evolution. The first Malaysian designed car is Waja. The short partnership with Renault was not promising. Savvy is the last French-Malaysia breed. The born of Gen.2 which symbolize Generation Two of Proton’s milestone. Then later Satria Neo start to recapture Malaysian attention again but three doors sedan never a local favorite. Proton losing its long reign market lead to Perodua, which Myvi is contemporary all time best seller. The failure in looking new partner didn’t kill the Malaysian Tiger. The launch of Persona and New Saga successfully drive in cash and praises. They found the formula again.

On 3rd August, Proton open its Shah Alam factory to public visit. The tour is well organized and very informative. Although the car manufacturing plant doesn’t look hi-tech, but it still new to public and interesting. Wish all the best for Proton to revive its brand in International and improvement in quality control aspect. Proton car power windows problems has become the ugly trademark for years.

this scene remind me national day is coming soon.

prototaip sketch

ware house of new saga. i missed the production line tour schedule.

test drive track. it’s huge and you can see it from google earth.

participant going to experience test drive track.

the body frame of new mpv. to be launch on march 2009.

the model of new mpv.

msx – the prototaip of malaysia suv.

interior of msx.

new saga pickup. just a prototaip. the previous wira pickup (arena) was not sell good.

hybrid gen.2 with battery at boot space.

purely ngv powered waja with two gas tank installed under car. this car will launch only with wide accessibility of ngv station.

waja wth v6 engine.

satria with turbo engine. this is not new to those car modification ethusiast.

the robot craft the clay into real size model.

digital artist demo how easy they can draft a car model on screen.

various seat under selection and comparison for new car development.

AirAsia-British High Commisions Friendly Match

After survived from the Germany Leica camp, I get down to British High Commission front line to cover the battle against AirAsia Football Team. AirAsian play well in first half against the English. The multiple substitutes later has weakening the defense line and final score 6-1. As a celebration for this friendly match, we head down to Cobra Club for beers. It’s was a good night where new friendship has began.

Tony and British High Commissioner officer.

He is fast and skillful.

Kick-off. AAX CEO’s Azran and Tony.

Header! But it didn’t score for this.

Good dinner and new friendship.

PC Fair 2008 (II)

The PC Fair is the biggest cash and carry IT expo in Malaysia. Many company like to push their products directly to consumer via this event. Hosted three times a year proven its popularity and acceptability. The name PC fair remain the same but more and more IT products were introduce in the fair. We have broadband package, mobile phone, digital camera and event credit card applications. Would money loaner join this event next year?

To me the fair basically a big sale market. There is lack of education approach on explaining technology wave changes. The salesmen will offer you Centrino 2 with freebies and no one further explain why we migrate to new platform? Just because the speed and I have to pay more? Or because the freebies make it a good deal? Malaysian need more knowledge, not just sales!!! Please invite some experts to give a forum and such. I prefer how MATTA educate the traveller. Since we can draw huge traffic to PC fair, why not a free seminar same time?

Dog Olympics

Dog is human best friend. I have attended the sports day of our best friends — Dog Olympics held at One Utama Central Park. The sky was cloudy since early morning. Although there was brief rain in the middle of the event, but the sunny come back just in time. I set my camera white balance based on white paper. It’s gave good reading and colour are very accurate.


The police force K9 special appearance earned the respect. They are like army with high discipline. Jump over fire ring without second thoughts and bite the bad guy with full strength.

Our friends are happy socialize all the time. The funny moment was all same breeds play together just like old schoolmate gathering. Not that all, the small puppy greet their big dog brother too. Of course they share their best moment with us. You can hug and take photo of any dog in the field. I doubt to find any place like this beside haven. It is so harmonize and everyone feature smiles on their face.

Human best friend not just as accompany, it help our work too.

Open my eye with Super GT

The dedication and discipline of Japanese are way to success. I would really like to bow to them as showing my respect. I got the pit-walk session start at 12:40pm, the organizer put up a sign board to count down for last ten minutes. Although they are hundreds of people cramped behind the gate like refugees, the organizer just said NO. When time is up all visitors rush into the pit. All GT queens were surrounded by photographers and it was getting out of control. The team officer do their best make everyone happy. The Japanese photographer even gave way to us. The GT queens return smiles and pose for every camera, no matter it’s professional SLR or mobile phone.
The pit-walk was ended up sharply and give way to the next activity to avoid delay.

Let’s turn to the race track. After each practice session, all cars will return to pit sharply and off their engine immediately. The whole circuit suddenly quiet and mechanics follow up with their task quickly. This is how a performance based and discipline oriented work. I very like the way they start too. They will push their car out of pit, once time is up all will fire engine same time. VROOOOOOMMM… game on.

Of course there is some sad story to tell. On the race day where by Japan national anthem is on air, some audience not even pay attention to stand up. Then, Malaysia national anthem sequel and all Japanese racer, GT queen and staff stop immediately and stand firm until anthem end. Needless to say much on this issue. I always doubt why Japan hosted Super GT race at Malaysia? From the ticket selling and audience respond I am not confidence there is big profit compare with F1. They are boss of the event, but they treat us like guest (in fact we are the host).

Visit Super GT – Round 4 – Sepang

Racing circuit probably the place man find their dreams come true: paddock girls, super cars, thrilling engine sounds and extreme high speed. Not to forget the race day usually happen under hot sun and bring the flash point higher.

I bought the Super GT ticket two months ago with early bird price (that’s about RM75). This is super bargain price that irresistible for such a good organize motor sports event. It was so promising that I am going to attend it again and again. The discipline and motivation demonstrate by drivers and GT queens really worth to pay visit. No matter the team is on top or bottom chart, their spirit is high and the GT queens never doubt their driver ability. They always feedback you with a nice pose and smile.

There are few special facts about Super GT. One of it would be big cars and small cars race together. Big cars are GT500 category with 500 horse power. Small cars are GT300 category with 300 horse power. GT500 will run ahead of GT300 and after a while it would catch up the GT300 cars from behind and lot of overtaking happen. In a full race GT500 usually can lead the GT300 5 laps ahead. This formation already tells how interesting and entertaining the competition will be.

To further improve the competency, handicap penalty is imposed to race winner. Extra weight will be carry by the previous winning car and losing cars get weight deduction same time. This is to ensure the race would not monopoly by one team, the more you win the more weight need to be carried. The chart leader is carrying 93kg extra weight to race at Sepang.

All GT cars are painted with bright colorful scheme to attract your eye ball. The colour mix-match are creative and extraordinary just like how Japanese usually do in sci-fi manga. The GT500 is using white HID lamps and GT300 in yellow lamps.

Malaysia is so lucky to be the only Super GT race hosted outside Japan. I not dare to say the event will improve our motor sports achievement, but definitely Japanese branded cars get free advertising. Nissan, Honda and Toyota can easily outrun the Ferrari and Lamborghini. I do not know what model those European cars participate. The Japs really push their machine to sky high limit that not anybody dare to contempt.

The race is hosted in Sepang Malaysia, however it’s like a replication of Suzuka Japan. The way they run the race, those colourful banners, race queens, driver passion, mechanic professionalism and of course — they speak Japan totally. Super GT Sepang is the only place you can feel little Japan for a while.

Two side activities for Super GT are pit walk and safari ride. The pit walk is where man find their sexy and sweet dream girl. Those race babes are call GT queens because all man willing to bow for them. Imagine thousand of guys go in just for photography and signature. They might have more fans than any celebrity. Safari ride is where a bus carries audience run on race track and same time GT cars pass by it. It’s really open my eye and ear how this Jap race machine go. Since there are GT500 and GT300 two categories, the qualifying is not to be missed. You pay one ticket and can enjoy seeing so many cars and pretty girls, tell me the reason not to do it.

I won Super GT Simulation Challenge

June is my lucky month this year. I got a call from Honda Malaysia on this morning. I won the SuperGT online contest and will receive some free passes and merchandise. The feeling is super good. Only thing they didn’t cover is pit-walk. Overall it’s a very good package. Here are the freebies,


- 2 x Super GT Grand Stand Tickets & Parking Passes
- An experience on the Super GT Circuit Safari (for winner only)
- 2 x Honda Racing Polo T-Shirt
- 2 x Honda Racing Cap
- 2 x Honda Racing Lanyard
- 2 x Earplug
- 2 x Lunch Coupon

Personally I quite like the Honda Racing shirts. It is made by good quality hence not overpriced as other brand. I bought a Honda Racing Team shirt at RM89 where usually is tag at RM200 or higher. AirAsia Williams shirt is at RM139 and Petronas BMW at RM250. Looking to win those too if there is a contest near future

Good moment is for sharing. I pick a shirt for Nickee and lanyard and cap present to Elroy. My early purchased ticket is going to release and fund for my pit-walk pass. Can’t wait to enjoy thrilling sounds from GT car this weekend.