KUALA LUMPUR: Watching his friends modify their cars piqued Gary Lau Chee Kion's interest to “pimp up” his own car a hobby that has now won him a living room full of trophies.
The car service workshop supervisor had never thought he would be good at modifying cars until he started doing it and found that it was something he loved doing.
“I knew nothing about modifying cars. But after a friend introduced me to the hobby and encouraged me to take it up, I was instantly hooked,” he said.
It has been four years since Lau started modifying his second-hand 1995 Proton Satria, but the 38-year-old bachelor said it had been winning him many awards in various modified car competitions.
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| Team Cyfer revelling in their victory last night. |
Lau won first prize for the Best of the Best Individual Car award at The Star Motor Carnival Auto Salon Night. He also won the top prizes in the “Best Interior”, “Best Audio”, and “Best Lighting” categories.
Winning the “Best of the Best Car Club” award was Team Cyfer for their eight modified cars.
Lau took home RM1,500 while Team Cyfer received a cash prize of RM2,000.
Petronas Dagangan Berhad Retail Business Division general manager Faris Mustaffa presented the awards at a prize-giving ceremony.
Over 200 cars and 22 car clubs competed in a series of categories ranging from “Best Performance” to “Best Overall Outlook” at the four-day carnival at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, which ended yesterday.
Meanwhile, not allowing his disability to limit him from doing what he enjoys has won sports car racer Benedict Lim many awards including the “Determination Award” for the carnival's Ultraracing Pro-Gymkhana challenge.
The 31-year-old marketing manager was seriously injured as a teenager after a motorcycle accident that caused him to lose almost all sensation in his left leg.
Lim said winning awards like these encouraged him to carry on with his hobby, adding that while his disability was a disadvantage. he overcame it because he loved racing.
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| Lau with his winning entry. |