The Star newspaper (Malaysia) |
02 November 2008
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Contest launched
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Exotic backdrop: The array of classic cars arriving in
Bukit Tinggi last month. Below is the Volvo P1800 S
the write drove. |
BUKIT TINGGI: Berjaya Hotels and Resorts and Malaysia-Singapore Vintage Car Register launched an online wedding contest last month.
The contest, called “Love Me Do”, was unveiled at the French-themed resort of Bukit Tinggi, which is owned by Berjaya. It will see online readers voting for the videos and pictures of their favourite wedding couples among others.
Media guests were chauffeur-driven in 25 classic and vintage cars from the Berjaya Times Square complex in Kuala Lumpur to the highland resort.
I was given the privilege to get behind a left-hand drive 1971 Volvo P1800 S (the same model used by Simon Templar in the classic TV series The Saint).
Inside the 1.8 litre car with in-line four, twin carburettor engine, one sits low to the road, with both my legs stretched all the way to get the feel of the clutch, brake, and throttle pedals.
I depressed the somewhat “long” clutch pedal, got the four-speed manual into first, and eased off the clutch and led the convoy out to the open road, heading towards our destination.
The awkward seating position and the fact the car is a left-hander meant raising my head up to make sure I got the clearance right and didn’t scratch the bumpers.
But in no time, we got onto the Karak Highway and the convoy, which included classics such as a VW Karmann Ghia, a Ford Escort, a Mitsubishi Galant, and several Triumphs and MINIs, cruised at about 80kph.
The Volvo P1800S has an overdrive switch, meaning I had another gear on final.
We finally got ourselves on the winding roads to the resort. Driving up was lovely.
Although the steering wheel is as huge as ever, the classic turns into corners well with little understeer.
The engine’s power delivery was rather smooth.
Once arrived we parked the cars for a photo shoot and soon after, the “Love Me Do” event was launched.
After a relaxing one-day stay in the highlands, we were ready to get back to the city.
Driving a classic car is thrilling. The attention you get from other drivers and pedestrians, the friendly help you get when your classic breaks down, and most importantly, the smiles on exited on lookers is priceless.
For details on the contest, visit
www.lovemedo.com.my.
Courtesy from The Star Online
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