In Alfa Romeo, Local News / By Mick Chan / 3 April 2019 12:02 pm / 31 comments

The Alfa Romeo Owners Club Malaysia was flagged off to their Kuala Lumpur-Beijing expedition earlier this week, marking the club’s third China-bound overland trip following previous journeys to Kunming and Lijiang, in 2011 and 2016, respectively. This trip to Beijing will see the group travel approximately 6,130 km traversing three countries, about 15 major towns and 10 provinces en route, according to the club.

“As a registered motoring club that has been established for 26 years in Malaysia, it’s time for us to explore China to demonstrate not only courage but also to highlight our members’ capabilities in driving long distances as well as their expertise in dealing with challenging driving conditions,” said the patron of the club Datuk Seri Noormustafa Kamal Yahya.

The expedition comprises a group of seven cars, and the club’s journey will initially take them through Sungai Petani, Kedah for their first pit stop before crossing into Thailand the next day, followed by a 2,400 km drive to Chiang Kong-Huay Xai at the Thai-Laos border. A further 230 km drive follows, which will see the group cross the Laos-China border via Boten-Mohan.

The most populous country is also the expedition’s longest part of the trip, where the drive from the Laos-China border to the destination in Beijing will span 3,500 km. This sector will see the group go through Kunming, Xichang, Chengdu, Guangyuan, Xi’an, Linfen and Pingyao.

Upon crossing the China border, the group will be required to undergo local traffic training before driving in the country, on top of customs procedures before resuming their journey to Beijing. Notable locations will be visited along the way, including the giant panda protection area in Chengdu, the terracotta warriors museum in Xi’an, as well as Tiananmen Square in Beijing and of course, the Great Wall of China.

The group of seven cars are driven by Othman Zainal, the president of AROC Malaysia at the helm of an Alfa Romeo 156 GTA; Datuk Muhammad Saifullah Noor Bin Noormustafa Kamal, vice president of AROC Malaysia with an Alfa Romeo 155 2.5; Ron Lim, member of AROC Malaysia with an Alfa Romeo 166 3.0; and Abdul Halim Hashim, committee member of AROC Malaysia with a 156 GTA.

The group is rounded completed by affliate members from across the causeway, as well; joining the group are Rashid Karyeo, president of AROC Singapore with a GT 1.8; Lee Sea Yean, member of AROC Singapore with a Fiat Stilo 2.4; and Hubert Chin, member of AROC Singapore with an Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0.

The group is expected to conclude their Beijing-bound journey on April 17, where the participants’ cars will be shipped back to Port Klang, Malaysia and the participants themselves are scheduled to travel by air back to Kuala Lumpur the following day. Under ideal circumstances, a journey like this is no small feat. What do you think of this plan? Brave?