ONELIFE #36 – US English

DRAGON CHALLENGE
STEPPING IT UP
The steps themselves are a relatively new construction, rather than
an ancient monument, which meant that Phil Jones and his team
thought it could be done.
“We first sent a local colleague to the site to measure the angles
and send us the data. Based on this and a selection of satellite
images, we built a section of the steps at our Gaydon testing site in
the UK to see how the vehicle performed on a 45-degree hill.”
After the initial testing at Gaydon, and a period of several
months to obtain the needed permissions from the local authorities
to carry out the challenge, Jones flew to China to see the site first
hand. “And that’s when I started to have doubts,“ he says. “When
I first stood at the bottom and looked up at Heaven’s Gate, my first
thought was, ‘What have I let myself in for here?’”
However, Jones stuck with it and after further calculations, he
returned to England, “not 100 percent confident of success, but sure
enough to proceed.”
TALL ORDER
Before committing to the challenge, Ho-Pin asked for assurance
that no damage would be caused to the site. “It’s an iconic location
with strong cultural links – being Chinese, that was a very important
aspect for me. Once it was cleared, we got down to practicing.”
With more than a decade’s racing experience, Ho-Pin was
confident he could handle the 99 turns of The Dragon. The 999
steps, on the other hand, were a different matter entirely.
“The first time I attempted the 45-degree gradient at Gaydon,
my heart was racing faster than a qualifying lap at Le Mans. It feels
like you are going up a vertical slope – all you can see ahead is sky.”
Based on initial test experience, Phil Jones felt it prudent
that, with more than 400 steps at a 45-degree angle, a method
of securing the vehicle in case of a problem was imperative. The
answer: two safety cables would be attached at the top and the
bottom of the steps with a one-way clutch, which would only
kick in if the car were to start rolling backwards.
With UK testing done, the team headed to China to complete
its final practices on site. Despite extensive examination in Gaydon,
the safety cables still had to prove themselves on the 999 steps up
to Heaven’s Gate, where any issues could prove disastrous. The
responsibility fell on Phil Jones to take the Range Rover Sport up a
section of the steep incline for the first time. “On the first attempt, I
didn’t have enough speed, but the safety lines held me perfectly.”
A reassuring thought for Ho-Pin Tung as he sets off up The Dragon
road on the morning of the challenge. Locals are wary of The Dragon
– normally, the veteran tour bus drivers are the only ones allowed
to navigate its blind turns, bordered by sheer limestone on one side
and sheer drops on the other. But now, before the park opens, the
road is empty and Ho-Pin is in his element. “For me, this part is like
a street circuit. The car has a sporty feel to it and handles the corners
excellently.”
KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR
After 6.8 miles, he arrives at the bottom of the 999 steps up to
Heaven’s Gate. Now, the real test begins. Maneuvering the car up
the first few steps is no easy task and requires precise handling.
Then, it’s a straight shot up to the top. “But there’s a lot of steering
control required. The car is constantly bumping around on the
steps.” At one point, all four wheels leave the ground as Ho-Pin
races upward.
After 22 minutes and 41 seconds, Ho-Pin reaches the top.
The Range Rover Sport comes to a halt and he steps out: “I‘m
overcome by a mixture of excitement and relief. The tension had
been building on this challenge for several months – nobody could
be 100 percent sure how it would turn out. I’ve never experienced
20 minutes of adrenalin like it.”
THE RESULT:
CHALLENGE COMPLETED IN
22 MINUTES
41 SECS
FIND OUT MORE
To see the video, please search Land Rover Dragon Challenge
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