RFC 2007: Very Actyon indeed this Ssangyong
It was the first for Ssangyong Malaysia to send an offroad team to take part in the Rainforest Challenge that was held back in December 2007. This news may seem somewhat outdated but I couldn’t help but admire in awe HOW the Actyon survived in competitions like this. I mean, it is a luxury pick-up truck and is meant to be driven mostly on tarmac but this one turns out to be very gung-ho in roughing up the jungles of Kedah-Terengganu.
The whale at where it belongs
A little bit of introduction of the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) here. The RFC is the “mother of all trophy” and has been the successor of the legendary Camel Trophy back in the eighties (or seventies, newbie here) The RFC is much less extreme than the Camel Trophy and is targeted at having more participants around the world to take part in this rugged competition, to win the various prestigious awards.
Very handsome indeed!
The Ssangyong Actyon Team consisted of drivers Francis Khoo and Mohd Shahrul Bahrin. Both of them took the whale into the rugged terrains and was loved by the crowd, thanks to the works of the team. There were some sections of the course were completed where the other vehicles failed. Although the team will have no chance for a top position of the RFC they were the darlings to the spectators.
The only modifications done are the air snorkel, tyres and a winch
Here is an excerpt from Marathonrally.com on the Actyon Sports :
“ The Ssangyong Actyon team again was loved by everyone in the water special stage. The car is extremely long and not very high. The Ssangyong tried to compensate these disadvantages with sheer driving craziness. On one part of the river the car hit a small stone ramp with very high speed. As a result the car shortly went airborne with all four tires and landed in the water. The complex custom built protection under the car mostly remained on the stone ramp after that stunt.
To everyones surprise the Ssangyong only got stuck once in the water stage. After a short winching part they were going with the usual full throttle again and completed the stage. “
Dancing gracefully on the dirt, in style
Gently toe-ing into the muddy patch
The tools of the trade
Team work and skills are crucial for this one
The Actyon Sports ranked No. 114 of the total 153 vehicles that consisted by the champion, a Jeep Cherokee, Nissan Patrol, Toyota Landcruisers and lots of Land Rovers.
Kudos to the team for completing the RFC! I would like to go on this challenge one day! 
Pictures: MarathonRally.com
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This Ssangyong pick-up is very Actyon-lah
Pick-up trucks: My Personal Judgements
looks like this Actyon is very good ! A very tough 4×4 vehicle.
personally, this is my fav truck now. it’s big enuf, rugged & sporty. given a chance will really go for it.