The sand-and-mud all-weather tracks in Barangay Sindol were unforgiving to the early birds who saw action in the 2nd Jun Ebdane 4x4 Offroad Challenge that kicked off before a big Saturday crowd in San Felipe, Zambales.
Jep Magsombol, only 17, and Noel Bartolome Sr., a many-time national champion, yielded to the extremely technical and demanding Tracks A and B, respectively, winding up with DNFs (Did Not Finish) across their names in the eliminations of the event that showcases one of Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Endane Jr.'s sports program and activities.
Twenty-seven drivers from major offroad clubs are entered in the challenge, ready to conquer the tracks designed by the National Association of Filipino Off-Roaders.
But it turned out it takes more than skills and equipment to conquer the tracks that featured deep, muddy and wet obstacles, a five-foot high mound of tires and and even a higher "Governor's Hill," a 10-foot mound of sand that squeezes out the cunningness of even the most grizzled off-roader.
Ebdane flagged off the competitors following a mid-morning ceremony attended by offroad enthusiasts and Second District Rep. Omar Ebdane, San Felipe Mayor Caroline Farinas and thousands of locals who witnessed how the roaring and powerful machines on four wheels take on the treachorous tracks.
After Saturday's eliminations, the event that offers more than P200,000 in prizes and organized by the Zambales Sports and Youth Development Office under Eric Matibag shifts to the finals Sunday.
The participants included drivers from the Pampanga Off-Roaders Club, San Jose del Monte 4-Wheelers, Bicol Off-Roaders Club, Land Cruiser Club of the Philippines, Santiago (Isabela) Extreme, Cauayan (Bulacan) Off-Road Club, Binangonan Rizal Off-Roaders, Suzuki Club, Ilocos Sur 4x4 Offroaders and Nueva Ecija Offroaders, among others.