Friday July 30, 2010
Motoring veteran not ready to shift to a lower gear
By FOONG THIM LENG
MOTORING enthusiast Douglas T.F. Choong celebrated his 74th birthday sharing memories of his open road adventures, driving through continents, with about 100 guests and family members.
Most of the guests at his birthday dinner held at a restaurant in Ipoh last Saturday were companions who had spent days dri-ving with him through some spectacularly remote areas in the world.
In his younger days, Choong had participated in several motoring races and rallies.
Since the 1970s, his energy and enthusiasm in organising rallies and adventure motoring expeditions is hard to be rivalled.
Choong, who is the event director of Royal Perak Motor Club, was responsible for organising several rallies including the Malaysia-Singapore Rally in 1973, Asean Rally from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok in 1976, Shell Economy Rally from Ipoh to Singapore from 1976 to 1983.
He has also organised rallies in Sabah, Indonesia and the Philippines.
“In 1977, I was appointed chief co-ordinator for the SIA London to Sydney International Rally. The cars, trucks and buses started from Butterworth for a rally to Johor and onwards to Singapore and Sydney.
“In 1984, I organised the first adventure drive into Thailand finishing in Bangkok. This histo-rical drive was well supported with 38 cars and 150 participants taking part.
“Subsequently this event became our annual auto venture tour of Thailand which was encouraged by Tourism Authority of Thailand,” he said.
Choong’s other achievements included the 2nd Asean Friend-ship Overland Expedition, a 20-day drive into Myanmar in 1999 and several expeditions which took motorists through remote areas and large cities in China and Mongolia.
“My most ambitious and the greatest achievement was the X-continent Expedition 2009. It was a 65-day journey through Europe and Russia, central Asia, South East Asia and back to Malaysia which no one has done before.
“I enjoy the open road as there is always something different round the corner. Every bend is a new view,” he said.
One of his friends used to say: “If you look closely at his feet and I mean, examine them carefully, you’d swear the man has wheels for feet.”
Choong is now busy organising a 28-day trip, which he named China Discovery — Travel With Passion, in October.
The expedition will take moto-rists through parts of Thailand, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and Vietnam. Those interested can call him at 012-5005823.
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