Earthcruiser & the Rain Forrest Challenge

[Spiglord]

Earthcruiser are entering the Rain Forrest Challenge, (http://www.rainforest-challenge.com/) this year in Malaysia, and in preparation for that event, Lance & his team are uploading short video's to You Tube to show the build progress using a Mitsubishi Fuso Chassis.

You can find the playlist here:>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKRsdQUd9wE&list=PLcJaVZ1asj8lGKOANWGA3CO_TvgnnC3Rt

 

[Aussie Iron]

Great to see that finally something serious is being thrown at a Canter. Love to be there when it is happening. A standard vehicle is what we need not a race special because that is what most of us run. Maybe not quite standard but you know what I mean.

Going to be great,
Dan.

 

[jamesk]

Seems like the event is over. How did EC fare?

 

[Spiglord]

It's odd, I can't find anything to indicate that Lance & the Earthcruiser actually took part in any of the 4 Event stages for Rain Forrest Challenge 2016, even though they were obviously in Malaysia...?

There is nothing in the Earthcruiser site blog between 25th November & 5th December about the actual race, (http://earthcruiser.com/category/blog/page/2/), and they do not appear in the top 20 of the Overall race results. As the Mitsi Canter donor vehicle looks like a 2012 FG140 with a 3 litre diesel engine, so they should have been entered in the "Below 3050cc Diesel" class, or possibly the "Modified Pickup Track" Class. The Earthcruiser does not appear in the results for the "Below 3050cc Diesel" Class, and I can find no results for the "Modified Pickup Track" Class. The RFC2016 website helpfully does not list either the entrants, finisher or result of the race, so no clues there....

It certainly looked like a very hardcore 4x4 event from some of the video, so I would not be surprised if they pulled out at the last moment....

 

[Czechsix]

I'm pretty sure they were there as race support, not as competitors.

 

[Spiglord]

That would explain them not appearing in the results....

I'm still a bit disappointed that there is no video or blog posts about the event, would have been great to see the EC on a jungle track or crossing a jungle river...

 

[Michelle@EarthCruiser]

We've just returned from Malaysia late in December and then another Eastern Oregon trip so have been busy. We had a great time at the RFC as HQ support with and without out our EarthCruiser. Lance and I have had a long history with the RFC over the last 20 years as both competitors and officials so we were happy to attend the 20 year reunion and catch up with some old friends. After the RFC we were fortunate enough to join some other RFC'ers to build a house for some flood displaced people and to have a bit more 'jungle time'. Just to note, RFC competition vehicles are no longer required to be 'street legal' so we're talking a very different beast.

 

[Michelle@EarthCruiser]

a photo and vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38Llphoxi9c

 

[Spiglord]

Thanks Michelle.

Looks like the RFC is a pretty epic event..... Was there any part of you that wished you could have taken part in the Earthcruiser..?

 

[Michelle@EarthCruiser]

No, the competition stages are designed for very specialised vehicles these days (more rocks less mud). It was and is a great event and I'm very happy we've been involved on many levels.