http://penangtalk.com/nmvccr/posts/722.html
A Datsun 120Y immaculately driven by Lee Kwai Leong and faultlessly navigated by Jimmy Yeoh won the Perak Rally 1978 organised by the Royal Perak Motor Club last weekend.
The rally was run over approximately 300 miles of tarmac roads, rubber estates and tin mines and most of the competitors felt that the route set by rally veteran Douglas Choong was "very tough".
In fact when I asked William Mei what he thought of the route, he replied "Douglas Choong is sick!".
The list of entrants for this rally was small but most of the top rally drivers in the country took part and therefore competition was very keen.
Lee Kwai Leong & Jimmy Yeoh were in the winning Datsun 120Y, Phillip Leong & Johnny Deng in a Honda Civic, Croc Tang & YS Khong in a Ford escort, William Mei & Steven Sya in a Mazda RE and Peter Tan & Sam Brownfield in a Toyota Hardtop were among the more notable entrants.
Sidelined were Lim Chong Lai, Cliff Zimsen and Thomas Lim who all had previous important engagements. Yours truly was the Club Steward.
Before the start of the rally it was whispered that the three Honda Civics were extremely fast with one of the most consistent rally drivers, Phillip Leong driving the lead car and the back up was provided by Au Chee Hung.
However, Honda lost the chance of winning the rally outright when the Civic of Phillip Leong & Johnny Deng got lost at the Kinta Kelas Estate but they managed to salvage the team first prize.
The Ford Escort of Croc Tang & YS Khong was said to have the most appropriate gear ratios for this type of rally and it was capable of hitting 100 mph in a rubber estate! This was proved when the Escort set the fastest times in both the special stages.
In the special stage held at the Kamuning Estate near Sungei Siput, Croc Tang equalled the time set by Paddy Hopkirk of Great Britain in the SIA London-Sydney Rally 1977 and Croc was driving for the last 200 yards of the special stage with one flat tyre.
In spite of the fierce competition the Datsun 120Y of Lee Kwai Leong was the eventual winner. Datsuns are rallied round the world and they have chalked up very illustrious wins like the Safari and so their reliability is well proven.
In the hands of good drivers they make formidable foes. Kwai Leong told me that his car went like clockwork and never gave him a moment's anxiety and he should know Datsuns very well as he has been rallying and racing them for the last five years.
By the way, another Datsun, a 160J won the first prize in the 1300-1600 cc class and it was driven by Khor Eng Thye and navigated by Foo Kean Fun.
A Datsun 120Y immaculately driven by Lee Kwai Leong and faultlessly navigated by Jimmy Yeoh won the Perak Rally 1978 organised by the Royal Perak Motor Club last weekend.
The rally was run over approximately 300 miles of tarmac roads, rubber estates and tin mines and most of the competitors felt that the route set by rally veteran Douglas Choong was "very tough".
In fact when I asked William Mei what he thought of the route, he replied "Douglas Choong is sick!".
The list of entrants for this rally was small but most of the top rally drivers in the country took part and therefore competition was very keen.
Lee Kwai Leong & Jimmy Yeoh were in the winning Datsun 120Y, Phillip Leong & Johnny Deng in a Honda Civic, Croc Tang & YS Khong in a Ford escort, William Mei & Steven Sya in a Mazda RE and Peter Tan & Sam Brownfield in a Toyota Hardtop were among the more notable entrants.
Sidelined were Lim Chong Lai, Cliff Zimsen and Thomas Lim who all had previous important engagements. Yours truly was the Club Steward.
Before the start of the rally it was whispered that the three Honda Civics were extremely fast with one of the most consistent rally drivers, Phillip Leong driving the lead car and the back up was provided by Au Chee Hung.
However, Honda lost the chance of winning the rally outright when the Civic of Phillip Leong & Johnny Deng got lost at the Kinta Kelas Estate but they managed to salvage the team first prize.
The Ford Escort of Croc Tang & YS Khong was said to have the most appropriate gear ratios for this type of rally and it was capable of hitting 100 mph in a rubber estate! This was proved when the Escort set the fastest times in both the special stages.
In the special stage held at the Kamuning Estate near Sungei Siput, Croc Tang equalled the time set by Paddy Hopkirk of Great Britain in the SIA London-Sydney Rally 1977 and Croc was driving for the last 200 yards of the special stage with one flat tyre.
In spite of the fierce competition the Datsun 120Y of Lee Kwai Leong was the eventual winner. Datsuns are rallied round the world and they have chalked up very illustrious wins like the Safari and so their reliability is well proven.
In the hands of good drivers they make formidable foes. Kwai Leong told me that his car went like clockwork and never gave him a moment's anxiety and he should know Datsuns very well as he has been rallying and racing them for the last five years.
By the way, another Datsun, a 160J won the first prize in the 1300-1600 cc class and it was driven by Khor Eng Thye and navigated by Foo Kean Fun.
