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Timing a couple of DH races in Malaysia

Shaiful fixing up the Eneloop MTB Carnival start arch
Shaiful fixing up the Eneloop MTB Carnival start arch

So after the crazy few weeks that was the Eneloop MTB Carnival (see above pic), we got a job timing the 3rd Bukit Cermin DH Challenge in Putra Heights, Selangor. Prior to the carnival, we were also timing another downhill race, the Mt Austin DH race organized by Team Element JB.  Took quite a few pics of the carnival-like atmosphere at the race. Not a bad turnout for a first-time local race.

HM burying the cable into the race course at a critical crossing point
HM burying the cable into the race course at a critical crossing point
I see you, you see me… Tag Heuer photocell unit(foreground) and reflector(background)
I see you, you see me… Tag Heuer photocell unit(foreground) and reflector(background)
HM & John at the timing booth
HM & John at the timing booth
The AG Suspension tent at the Mt Austin JB Race
The AG Suspension tent at the Mt Austin JB Race

The AG Suspension tent at the Mt Austin JB Race

Morewood Makulu – at the time the photo was taken, I don’t think Nathan Rennie even got his yet!
Morewood Makulu – at the time the photo was taken, I don’t think Nathan Rennie even got his yet!
Morewood Mbuzi – AM bike set up as a mini DH bike
Morewood Mbuzi – AM bike set up as a mini DH bike
Another team tent with their bling bikes on display
Another team tent with their bling bikes on display
Young ‘uns from Singapore lounging at the KSH tent
Young ‘uns from Singapore lounging at the KSH tent
Team Rich – they’re not poor!
Team Rich – they’re not poor!
Finish area turned into a carnival-like atmosphere
Finish area turned into a carnival-like atmosphere
Lelong, lelong! Specialized Demo up for grabs!
Lelong, lelong! Specialized Demo up for grabs!
All eyes were glued to this screen during the race run
All eyes were glued to this screen during the race run
Broken arms can wait. Results are more important…
Broken arms can wait. Results are more important…

So anyway, me, HM & Su made the trip up to KL, or PJ rather for the Bukit Cermin race. I went a few days early to recce the race course, and procure a rather big spool of 1000m of 2-core data cable for our Tag Heuer timing system. (The last time we tried bringing in a large amount of cable into Malaysia for the JB race, we ended up spending quite an amount of time at Customs explaining why we were trying to bring in 500m of cable.) HM followed a couple days after and Su the next day after that.

Went to the race course with HM on Saturday (official practice day) after collecting the cable from my cousin’s hardware store in Klang, where we also had a nice bak kut teh breakfast! Too bad HM got tied up almost half an hour on the phone throughout breakfast. At the race venue, HM got busy connecting the male and female “banana” plugs to the cable. We were doing it in the hot sun at first, then decided it might be a lot smarter to do it in the air conditioned comfort of my Kenari. After all, the Kenari is basically a big box on wheels. Fold down the seats and you have a nice little workshop.

This is what 500m of cable looks like as it gets unravelled
This is what 500m of cable looks like as it gets unravelled
Kenari transformed into a mobile workshop
Kenari transformed into a mobile workshop
HM splicing ‘banana’ plugs to 1000m of data cable
HM splicing ‘banana’ plugs to 1000m of data cable
Me & Su negotiating our way up the slope (or was it down??)
Me & Su negotiating our way up the slope (or was it down??)
After the finish line. That’s me on the bike!
After the finish line. That’s me on the bike!
HM’s bro, Hui Hsing (HH??) performing timekeeping duties
HM’s bro, Hui Hsing (HH??) performing timekeeping duties

Too bad we were all super busy (HM’s bro and my friend Benny were also drafted to help) to take any pics of the race itself. Check out mygravity.com for race pics.

 

Story by Jason Tan

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