Celebrate Heritage! Hidden Retreat The Road ... - The Expat Group

Cars in the Capital
As there were not many cars in Malaysia up
until the 1970s, and the heat and humidity
took their toll on the older cars, the existing
stock in fairly limited. The keen classic
car enthusiasts in Malaysia tend to import
classic cars or migrate here with their
classic cars and, as the cost of ownership is
generally low, keep them rather than sell.
KL, with its larger population, has more
classic cars than Penang, so my business
trips to KL became extended to encompass
getting lost in a hot and humid city looking
at “very good condition, boss” cars that, in
many cases, were anything but!
To cut a long story short my search for a
classic MG, Triumph, Rover or Lotus was not
progressing fast awhen a red 1994 Rover
216i Cabriolet suddenly popped up on
Mudah.my (Malaysia’s version of eBay) at a
dealer in KL. While not a classic car in the
true sense, it was a very sensible alternative
and a future classic. I automatically assumed
it was a private UK import, probably rusty,
and would not have air-conditioning,
but a call to the dealer the next morning
confirmed it was sold new in KL, did
have air-conditioning, was “in really good
condition boss”, and was still available.
On my next business trip I flew earlier
to KL, inspected the car, agreed to buy it
subject to certain repairs, and collected it
ten days later. After checking all the work
had been done to my satisfaction, I paid
for the car, put the roof up, switched the
air conditioning on, and drove it back to
Penang. The dealer requested l let him know
when I crossed the Penang Bridge which
I did – he was pleased to get my call, and
I am not sure whether he was pleased that
the car had proven itself or that the car was
well away from his dealership!
Club Happenings
Being involved in the MSVCR has been
great, allowing me to make many news
friends, experience so many aspects of
life in Malaysia, and see new parts of the
country on various runs. Most Sundays
we have a breakfast run, meeting at the
Penang Sports Club before we “exercise”
our classics to a scenic spot on the island.
Recently, the breakfast run was to Kedah
state to have breakfast with members
there, and we were afforded a police escort
through Kulim – again, a new experience.
Last year the AGM was in Port Dickson, and
it gave me a chance to see a different part
of Malaysia and to meet a whole raft of
members from Malaysia and Singapore and,
of course, inspect a whole lot of well-loved
classic cars. The gymkana the following day
was a lot of fun!
In November last year the Penang MSVCR
members hosted the “Penang Round the
Island Rally” weekend in conjunction with
the start of the Tiger Rally. Being part of
the organising committee and having our
weekly meetings on the front veranda of
the Penang Club, with a view across the
Straits of Melaka, was another new aspect
of Penang life to me. Events held over the
weekend included a concourse at Straits
Quay, a grand dinner at the E&O Hotel, and
the official start of the Tiger Rally, which
saw a magnificent array of motoring exotica
being flagged off en route to Thailand and
Myanmar.
A few weekends ago the club had a
weekend run to KL via the coastal road
where we seemed to move from one feast
to another – Saturday breakfast at Ipoh, an
expansive lunch at Kuala Selangor, Sunday
breakfast at the Royal Selangor Yacht Club. At
each stop we met more and more MSVCR
members and got to see their cars.
One thing is certain – being involved in the
MSVCR has added another dimension the
great time I am having living in the tropical
paradise of Penang.
For more details on the MSVCR, visit
www.msvcr.com.
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