![]() |
|
|
|
For 2007, NAsFOR held a total of 18 races comprising of 4 National Legs and 14 Regional Legs all over the country. 1ST LUZON REGIONAL - LAOAG ILOCOS NORTE The number of participants is 26 racers from 9 Off Road clubs in Luzon. This is a respectable number considering that the closest competitors are from Isabela, farthest is Bicol. Spectators are estimated from 12,000 to 15,000 people as the Laoag Bridge has it’s Northbound side closed due to the volume of people watching from that side. And on the other side of the river there was a carnival so those who were not able to watch on the bridge positioned themselves on the north shore. Over all, it was a good kickoff for the Luzon series. Based on the number of participants and the huge number of spectators.
1ST NATIONAL LEG – BAYAWAN, NEGROS ORIENTAL The number of participants is 24 racers from 6 Off Road clubs in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Farthest Competitor came from Bicol in Luzon. Mindanao contingent came from Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte. Spectators are estimated from 5,000 to 8,000 people. The event coincided with the town Fiesta of Bayawan and the 4x4 Race served as the finale of the Motorsports Week sponsored by the local government of Bayawan. Participation was lean as the competition was moved because of a tragedy – a fellow off roader (a member of Bacolod Off Roaders) died a few days earlier. Nevertheless, it is still a success. Local radio stations aired ads of the event periodically. The event was also covered by Stoplight TV, NAsFOR’s media partner.
3RD MINDANAO REGIONAL LEG – DAVAO The 9th 4xFun Off Road Challenge in Davao is probably the oldest race in the NAsFOR Series. Already in their 9th year, the dreaded DAMOSA Race track in Davao is touted as the BRC (Batangas Racing Circuit) of Off Roading in the Philippines, never fails to attract a huge number of spectators and competitors alike. 28 tough and grizzled veterans from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao braved the highly technical race course. 2ND LUZON REGIONAL – SAN JOSE DEL MONTE The number of participants is 29 racers from 10 Off Road clubs in Luzon. Spectators are estimated at 5,000 people. The event coincided with the town Fiesta of San Jose del Monte and the race is part of the town festivities. Participation was on the average and the spectators are somewhat lean because parallel activities are ongoing in the town proper – location was moved from the original home track of Del Monte 4Wheelers in Sapang Palay to the Moldex lot just outside Sta. Rita The event was covered by Stoplight TV, NAsFOR’s media partner.
3RD LUZON REGIONAL - Abar race track, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija Apr 21-22, 2007 hosted by the San Jose City Off-roaders
2ND NATIONALS – PILI, CAMARINES SUR
Thirty off-roaders came to the Provincial Capitol Complex of Bicol in Pili, Camarines Sur to square off in the 3rd Leg of the National Off-Road Series organized by NAsFOR. The event coincided with the province’s Kaogma Festival which is a month-long celebration with different activities which also included an International Wakeboarding competition at the CWC (CamSur Watersports Complex). As expected, the spectators came in by hordes amounting to about 8,000 people at a given time. The host club Bicol Off-Road Club designed a very technical track which decimated more than one-third of the competitors. It was composed of different obstacles like v-canals, mud crossing, crater-holes, and table tops. The competitors drove through very challenging tracks because it was a National leg, wherein more championship points are awarded. The competition was officially started by the Honorable Governor L-Ray Villafuerte himself with a ceremonial run accompanied by NAsFOR President Roger Peyra. As the scores for all tracks were tallied, it was Ramon Uy who emerged on top. Jeremie Lo in second, and Rey Herrera in third place. Finishers from fourth to tenth were, Henry Policarpio, Joey Millionado, Roger Peyra, Nonoy Magtoto, Jojo Prieto, Ronnie Canlas, and Reynaldo Bondoc.
3rd NATIONALS – BALAYAN BATANGAS 49 Off road racers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao converged this time in Balayan Batangas for the 3rd National Leg. The event was a part of the celebration for the Balayan town fiesta which had the famous “parada ng mga lechon”. The race track was technical and long. Competitors were greeted by large holes and winding obstacles which tested their skills in maneouvering tight turns.Spectators came in droves numbering 5,000 to 8,000 at a given time to watch the spectacle. In the evening, a NAsFOR board meeting was held. The race winner was Jun Gumiran of BUTAKA Club from Isabela beating 2006 NAsFOR Driver of the Year Neil Andaya by 1 second in the final run.
4TH NATIONAL LEG – DIPOLOG, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE 29 Off road racers from 12 Off Road Clubs from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao showed up and tested each others mettle as they face off in the 2007 Hudyaka Zanorte Off Road Challenge in Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte. A centerpiece event in the celebration of Hudyaka Festival in Dipolog, this is probably the best attended race in the series in terms of spectator number. The race track was located in the middle of a National High School athletic oval, it was surrounded by grand stands – a sponsor’s dream event. Roughly 10,000 spectators were present at anytime, and it also helped that a fair complete with tiangge and food booths were in the same area. Radio advertisements of the event was aired periodically one week leading to the day itself and local papers covered the race. The race track was short but very technical. Race winner was Michael Cerin of 4 Wheelers Davao, a contender for the NAsFOR Driver of the Year awards.
4TH LUZON REGIONAL LEG – SANTIAGO ISABELA 34 Off road racers from 8 Off Road Clubs from Luzon battled it out in the 7th Dariok Challenge in Santiago Isabela. One of the highlights of the celebration of Santiago City Fiesta, the Dariok Off Road Challenge attracted, as always, a large number of spectators from Santiago and neighboring towns of Isabela. The race was won by NAsFOR President Roger Peyra of the Bicol off Road Club, the front runner for the driver of the year honors.
TOUGH TRUCK CHALLENGE YEAR 7, TIENDESITAS/FRONTERRA VERDE The Flagship Race of the NAsFOR Series, The Tough Truck Challenge is the biggest off roading event in the Philippines. 60 Tough Drivers from 18 off road clubs from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao competed in this two-day race hosted by the Manila Off Roaders. Spectators came in droves, some were race fans and some were curious onlookers from the Tiendesitas complex – and were entertained by the thrills and spills, safely viewing the event in the tents provided. Toughest in the lot was Ramon Uy of the Bicol Off Road Club who bested team mate Roger Peyra by 8 (eight) seconds in the finals. Awarding Ceremonies for the NAsFOR Driver of the Year and Team Champion of the Year was held on the last day with Roger Peyra (NAsFOR President) of the Bicol Off Road Club bagging the honors and his team BORCI hailed as the best Team of 2007 (an honor they kept for 3 straight years now)
|