|
|
|
Hallo everyone
|
|
I spent this morning taking
pictures of the participants in the Subaru Impreza Challenge now on at the
Civic Plaza in Ngee Ann City.
|
|
It was hot and humid when I was
there. Out of the original 240 participants signed on for the contest last
Saturday, only 33 were left. A large crowd had gathered to take in the sights.
|
|
Many of the participants had
supporters ranting for them and urging them on. The participants looked fresh
and some were jovial and posed for the pictures I took. This was despite the
fact they were obviously tired, having had no sleep for the past 2½ days.
|
|
Glen Ong, a DJ with the Morning
Express radio programme, called these participants 'heros' today. I couldn't
agree less. It takes pure determination and guts to go through this
grueling contest. Just imagine standing in the sun and rain for umpteen hours
on end, not being able to change out of the soaked clothes and all the while
having to keep that hand affixed on a Subaru Impreza car. I sure can't do it!
|
|
Over radio, the chief marshall for
the event said some of the participants were hallucinating. One man asked
where he was and what he was doing there. Another participant - a woman - wondered why
there were flowers on the car she had her hand placed on. She was told they
were palm prints, not flowers.
|
|
When I left the place for lunch,
dark clouds had already gathered over Orchard Road. And when I came back to
the Civic Plaza, it was raining heavily. I had my first look at the totally
drenched participants. Gone from the railings enclosing the challenge area was
the crowd. The spectators had retreated to the dry sheltered walkway of Ngee
Ann City. It was also there that I watched the participants.
|
|
By evening, the number of
participants had dwindled to twelve - eight men and four women. The women were
certainly going strong this year. The last two years, it was men who won the
challenge. Will a woman take the title this year? It is quite possible.
|
|
With wet days forecast the next
few days, the going won't be easy for those remaining in the contest for the
free Subaru Impreza.
|
|
For the benefit of those who for
one reason or another couldn't make the visit to the Civic Plaza, we are
including pictures of the participants below.
|
|
Have a good week!
|
|
|
|
More.....
(pictures)
|
|
See also: MediaCorp
Radio Subaru Impreza WRX Challenge 2004
|
|
See also: Ultimate
Subaru Impreza Challenge 2002
|
|
Updates
|
|
2 Nov 2004: Three
participants left: two men and one woman (Nos. 36, 66 & 120)
|
|
|
|
Winner: Ian Lee Wei Wen |
|
|
2 Nov 2004: Sales Executive Ian
Lee Wei Wen,
23, has won a S$90,000 Subaru Impreza WRX 2.0, breaking all records set the past three years with
nearly 75 hours
logged. Runner-up is Ms Cheang Pui San, 29, who went away with about S$2,000
worth of vouchers.
|
Monday with the editor: Subaru Impreza Challenge
