Wishlist Pt. 2

I'm striking off number 7 off my list. Hehe.

Long and winding road

Everytime I watch a car show i.e Top Gear, Fifth Gear, Best Motoring, I drool about the roads they take the cars for review. The Autobahn, the Alps, Nordschleife, Isle of Man. Then I thought, wait a sec, the ones we have back here are not too bad either. Actually pretty fun. Here's a list of twisties that I've been fortunate enough to drive on:

1. Batang Kali - Gohtong Jaya - Genting Sempah
Love the uphill climb from Batang Kali. 2 out of 5 times I'm on this stretch, there'll be a vehicle 'tersadai' in the big ditch, most likely drivers not familiar and micalculating the corners. This is almost like my weekend drive, since its my drive back to Kuantan. Chasing the ever famous Genting taxis are always a joy, especially during wet! My most memorable drive was when I 'accompanied' an Unser on the downhill drive to Genting Sempah. Boy the Unser driver has got titanium balls.

2. Karak - Gombak
I eat this for dinner every Friday! The wide downhill section after Genting Sempah, towards Gombak is the most rewarding for me. Once I felt the car twitch on the rear, had to throttle on, to play catch up with an E39 525i. Was doing 5-6k rpm on 4th then, adrenaline pumping, palms sweating. Scary stuff.

3. Ampang - Hulu Langat - Kuala Kelawang
Only been on it once. But very memorable. My only drive with the ItaliaAuto guys. Plenty of switchbacks, tight, unpredictable twisters. Of course I got run by Coupes, 156s, 147s throughout the run. When I got back to Kuantan, my shocks were dead, and my lower arms were making noises.

4. Simpang Pulai - Kampung Raja (Cameron Highlands) - Gua Musang
Our balik kampung drive. The view is a sight to behold, with green, lush and flat top mountains. The corners are fun and predictable, so pretty safe drive when going downhill. The drive involves lots of tyre screeching, and for a less durable vehicle, smell of burning clutch. Sweet.

5. Jabor - Jerangau (Inland road Kuantan - Kuala Terengganu)
I had 3 near misses in one stint. Very very dangerous stretch. Never fail to claim lives on every raya holidays. There's hazards all over e.g animals, reckless drivers, heavy vehicles, potholes, blind corners, lots of 'ikan emas', you name it, its there. Respect it to get fulfilling returns.

Pretty much sums up the wonder drive I've had on Malaysian roads. Now I'm dying to give the boxer a go again.

Wishlist

Everyone blogs about their wishlist. Which often includes the typical dream gadgets i.e ipods, uber-cool multi feature but oft unused mobile/smart phones, or a gigazillion pixel digicam. Here's mine for now:
1. A pair of new tie/track rod - to tighten the handling
2. performance brake pads - better stopping power, less fade





3. Pro RS steel braided hose - improve brake feel
4. strut braces - improve chassis stiffness, better handling





5. Squadra chip - add 10bhp!









6. valeo clutch - the ones i'm on now has started to squek
7. QV facelift or alessio monte carlo 15" rims - how can you not love that









8. repaint to Alfa red - love red!
9. leather interior, black with red stitches - red again!
10. PU powerflex suspension bush - improved handling

September can't come sooner.

Squeellley

You know you are really nuts about your car when you identify the squeeling sound of your operating stand fan with the sound of the air cond compressor pulley or steering pump pulley.

Decktable's got a webby!

My dearest sister got herself a webby.
Go go and check it out.
http://www.freewebs.com/decktable

Leen, the reason I don't update much, is to project the appearance that I lead a very busy and hectic work schedule. Believe me?

Being unique

I'm a sucker for music. Really good music. I strongly believe that to enjoy it, you have to listen using a pair of headphones. Really good ones. Senheiser, Bose..you those kinda headphones. But all my good mate got me for my 22nd birthday was a crappy JVC. Haha. (tak appreciate hadiah langsung).

Anyway, I like to be different with my taste in music. I once went to a TOOL concert alone, cos I can't find anyone to go with me. Who the hell listen to Gomez anyway? Ada la kan..but not as many as lets say..Good Charlotte or Black Eyed Peas. To some, Gomez might just be a classical guitar maestro who strums classical riffs endlessly. Some of my common exchanges whenever I have friends in my car:

1.
Friend : Lagu apa ni Shaw?
Me : Erm..kau tak tau kot.
Friend : La bagi tau la..cam ok je.
Me : Gomez.
Friend : ohh..erm..ok

2.
Friend : Ganas la lagu kau.
Me : *Thinking to my self..its just TOOL..belum swedish/scandinavian black metal yang minum darah kambing, and pakai seluar PVC yang ketat gila sampai boleh melecet. Melecet kat mana tu, you just have to find out for yourself.


That explains why I own an Alfa Romeo. Its the weird sense of being different, something which stands out, but doesn't. Friends often joked that I will be better off with a Bimmer, since at least people know and recognise the brand. If you were to look at my car, you would think that its the funniest looking breadvan. Albeit a very fast one. Especially with me in it. In the drivers seat of course. "Shaw ni nampak je cool and selamba, bila bawa kereta, bawa cam cilaka", a passenger once remarked.

Haha.

Heel and toe

I was driving the Alfa, packed to the brim with 4 passangers along the zig zag back roads in the middle of nowhere in Terengganu.

Savin: Kalau Shaw bawa kereta, aku rasa safe.
Yam : Tengok dia tukar gear tu, cekap la.
Noy : Amik corner boleh maintain rev kat 5 ribu tu. Buat lagi sekali..

Performing heel and toe is not only for better car control and safety, its also for bragging rights. Hehe.