Like many other auto enthusiasts, I myself went over to Proton R3's event, S.S.O 5.5 + D1GP S.E.A over at Bkt Jalil today with my pal spoonsir. As expected, there were thousands of ppl over there. When I arrived, Kazuma had just finished doing his demo and was changing his clothes with Tsuchiya. Managed to watch the practice sessions ( single drift and tandem drift ), also got to see the King of Drift and Japan's D1GP 2005 champion walked in front of me. The it was the King's and Kazama's 2nd demo, with Kazama finishing up with his Rodeo - style drift!!! Here is what I find exciting, what I find lacking, what I find stupid and my comments on Proton R3's event :
The good parts :
- Managed to only HEAR The King of Drift's comments on the practice session a bit.
- Managed to SEE The King a bit ( well, I was so FAR away! )
- Managed to SEE The King and 2005's Japan D1GP champion drift!
- Managed to SEE the 2005 champion's signature rodeo - drift!
- And yes, managed to see our own 1st tandem - style drift as well.
What I find lacking :
- Why must The King and Kazama run from the changing room, to the commentators's area, then run back again, change clothes, go demo, then run again back to sign a few posters etc?
What I find to be simply bad and stupid? :
- Who designed / commision the track / changing room / commentator's area? The track is ok, but to me, I find the rest of 'em really bad!
- This event was done under Proton's banner ( which is our country's no.1 automotive company ). Since it's done under Proton, why can't you guys make it a proper one? The King had to run to and fro a few times? What are you thinking?
- Why didn't the events follow the schedule as posted in R3's website? Come on lah, so many manpower, some more under Proton banner, and you guys can't follow your own schedule?
- We have The King of Drift and Japan's ( where the D1 sport came from! ) 2005 D1GP champion here. Why didn't you guys let the enthusiasts interact with the 2 of 'em? I'm sure you guys ( the event managers ) must have at least seen a few vidoe clips of D1GP races ( whether at Japan or US ) and MUST have seen how the enthusiasts interact with the judges and drivers. You must also seen how they run their D1 races. So, how come what we had today doesn't even come close to any of 'em?
- It was stated in the schedule that at around 5.00 pm, the King and 2005 D1GP champion will have an autograph session, and later on, bfr 6.00 pm, will do a demo. What happenned today? Demo went on around 6.30 pm++ or so, when a few minutes bfr that, Lan Pet Pet said that there is an autograph session going on. Well, I went over, waiting in line like others, only to SEE WITH MY OWN EYES, Tsuchiya and Kazama walking out from the changing room with their race gear to the demo cars! I was like, " What the fuck? " What is this? So many manpower, but still can't follow your own schedule and your fellow commentators don't know and what time, what will happen etc ah? I sure that The King himself is disappointed with that!
I, like many others, is very disappointed with R3's event today. I find it very surprising to find that, an event backed by Malaysia's no.1 automotive company, is UNABLE to follow their own schedule. They did not run the event as good and as proper as it should have been. Not forgetting, rude officials / staff ( I'm sure of that, since the guy is wearing an R3 shirt with his name " Subi " sewn on the shirt ). We all know that, the kicker of this event is the appearance of The King of Drift and Japan's 2005 D1GP champion, doing their demos, signing autographs and taking pics with their fellow fans. Sadly, that did not materialise. This is what I feel appropriate for the event :
:shades_smile: - for the drift demo by the King of Drift and The Champion...

- for how they placed the changing room etc. Come on, commentators area using a lorry?
:sheep: - for the brains behind the event. Is this how you run an event with the appearance of 2 major ppl of D1GP?
:cry_smile: - for NOT letting us fellow fans to see The King and The Champion in front of us, singing autographs on our posters and letting us take pics with 'em...
If, they charge, let's say RM 10.00 per entry, I am more than happy to pay RM 50.00 for the event, if I am able to sit and clearly view the event, and later on able to get The King Of Drift and D1GP's 2005 champion sign on my posters and let me take pictures with 'em both, or maybe RM 75.00 to do all that and be close to the action, like those so - called true fans and those officials wearing R3's shirts. So, you guys here at ZTH, what do you think? Did you go there? To you, how did the event go?