R I G H T    L A N E
December 2002 : The 2002 Isuzu Challenge
By Ulysses Ang
Photos By Ulysses Ang and Jason Ang
Originally Published in the December 2002 Issue

Talk about this topic on the messageboard!

There’s one big fact in the world of automotive journalism: all of us look like Tom Cruise.  Of course, we’d blend in perfectly well scaling the mountains and looking cool in a pair of twelve-thousand-peso Oakleys.  Ha!  If only God would be so kind.  In truth, though we bear a passing resemblance to the man, we’re not as physically fit.  The mere fact of doing a crunch sends chills down our spines—that is, unless it’s a Nestle Crunch bar. 

Our definition of THE perfect day would actually shame even the imagination of P. Diddy: being chauffeured around in the latest luxo-pimp mobile throwing a wad full of cash on women, some bling-bling and booze.  Dream on…in reality, picture us this way: sweating it out figuring out how to drive a beaten up manual econobox with a nearly empty fuel tank.  Motoring journalists live a sad and lonely life.  And we do what we do because we have to feed our souls as well as our stomachs. 

Always keen to show us a good time and a way to recharge our minds and bodies, Isuzu Philippines Corporation invited us over for the Isuzu Challenge last 28 September 2002.  Upon reading the “mission brief”, we immediately had our doubts: in a day’s worth of activities, we’d be doing more physical stuff than we have during the past ten years.  Excuses came easy: kayaking is dangerous…may we go for competitive drinking instead?  After some brain-busting thoughts, we decided to give it a go—maybe the girls will go wild over our overly developed physiques. 

The Isuzu Challenge is actually a combination of two formerly separate events designed to test both man and machine.  Throughout the day, participants and their Isuzu vehicles would be subjected to grueling activities such as an Eco-Drive, Mountain Biking, Jet-Skiing, Beach Volleyball, Flag Capture and Sea Kayaking.

Not bad—on paper.  Now, imagine all of these activities compacted into a single day.  Hmm… it doesn’t look too appetizing, doesn’t it? 

The orientation itself was held a week before the actual event, at Isuzu Alabang.  In the course of the afternoon, the talks were focused on the first leg of the Challenge: the Eco-Drive.  The theme was monotonous with how to’s: driving a diesel, conserving fuel, and so forth.

The participants of the 2002 Isuzu Challenge went on a one-afternoon orientation on diesel driving  conducted by none other than Pacholo Ramirez, a successful Filipino car racer and co-host of the television show, Motoring Today.

28 September 2002 at approximately 6:30 am. The flag off for the Isuzu Challenge. From this point on, there will be no air conditioners or radios for most of the participants.

NEXT PAGE >>>