East Malaysian Nissan 4×4 owners experience Jurassix Park 2013 thrills
Nissan 4×4 customers, present and potential, were given the chance to experience the off-roading abilities of Nissan’s 4×4 vehicles, particularly the Navara, in the three-day Nissan Jurassix Park 2013 event that was held in Miri, Sarawak, last weekend on 24-26 May 2013. Some 78 participants took part in the event involving a total of 35 Nissan 4×4 vehicles.
After five times being held in the Peninsula, ETCM decided to take the Jurassix Park event to East Malaysia for the first time since the event’s inception in 2004. The first and third days of the event were opened for members of the public to test drive ETCM’s own Navara demo units through the 4×4 obstacle courses and demonstrate the vehicle’s off-roading abilities.
The second day was an exclusive customer-only event open to owners of Nissan 4×4 vehicles. Participation of the ‘Search for the 4×4 Off Road Warrior Challenge’ was open specifically to owners of the Navara, Frontier, and the previous-generation X-Trail 4WD. There were no takers among X-Trail owners, and apart from two Frontiers, the field was dominated exclusively by Navara owners.
Speaking about the event, ETCM Executive Director Dato’ David Chen said, “It is very beneficial for the owners to fully understand the features and capability of their 4×4 so that they can use their vehicle to the fullest. This is also one of the many events that we organized for our loyal customers to show our gratitude for their support as part of the Nissan family.”
The obstacle course designed for the event included a lengthy catalogue of the usual 4×4 challenges such as 45 degree inclines, log bridge crossings, steep hill climbs, water crossings, and severe bumps. They were challenges simple enough to not severely tax the vehicles, but just demanding enough to sufficiently demonstrate the vehicle’s offroading abilities. The 45 degree incline, for example, was certainly not as scary as most that this writer has experienced.
Points were given for the successful completion of each obstacle, with unsuccessful attempts resulting in a lower score awarded. Although simple, some of the challenges were nevertheless beyond the abilities of the 4×2 RWD Navara Calibre variants who participated more as a show of support rather than a genuine desire to win. In addition to obstacle courses for the vehicles to traverse, there were also physical challenges for the participants to tackle.
In the evening, participants reconvened at the Parkcity Everly Hotel of Miri where results of the challenge were announced and lucky draw prizes given away. Total cash value of all prizes given out on the night added up to RM16,000.
Top three winners of the Nissan Jurassix Park 2013 ‘Search for the 4×4 Off Road Warrior Challenge’ were:
Winner: Car No. 7 – Samuel Iwat, Joshiah Abun Samuel
2nd place: Car No. 1 – Lim Teck Leong, Kuan Bui Khiong
3rd place: Car No. 6 – Vinse Ling Ee Jiun, Kuan Shang Tat
