Reviving the Scout Car Grand Prix

The Scout Car Grand Prix or as known as Soap Box Derby is a pedal race which was first introduced by the Penang Free School B-P Guild in 1969 . It was then taken over by the PFS Rover Scout Screw and the Combined Scouts Council to inherit this event.

Here's one of them !

In 1972 , over 30 scout groups and 14 guides & rangers companies participated in this successful event. There, they've manage to present 11 scouts cars which were engineered with only scrap materials and spare parts of a bicycle. In some of cars, there were even up to 9 gears and I’m still wondering how on earth could they do that because it was an astonishing achievement . In 1974 , the forth scout car grand prix took place in Gurney Drive which attracted numerous crowds and tourist which made this event very well known. That venue was the perfect spot due to the long straight road with minimal traffic till Gurney Plaza was built. From there, everything has changed .

For a more detailed history , click here.

Most ingeniously built scout car

However , after the year 2002 this prestigious event was called to a halt . Why ? Dont bother asking me , Im still figuring out what had happened. Some said , its all thanks to the the new Gurney Plaza .

Then recently , our new principal En Jalil Bin Saad who's also an ex-free decided to revive the Soap Box Derby. He suggested that this event will be held during Co-Curriculum day, if we don't have enough participating schools. Few weeks back , Mr Lye Poh Chye from 1st Georgetown South called all the representatives from each troop to the teacher's canteen to discuss about this matter and have decided to have a workshop regarding how to build this scout car . He even suggested that we should track back to the ex-scouts who might still be having one of the cars to ease our burden. Not forgetting , everyone here is welcomed to help us out as we dont have a blue print or any idea how construct an awesome car .

Excited for this event? May this be the most anticipated activity for us scouts, sea scouts and also to the sister guides who MIGHT be reading this ! 

For more pictures , click here

The 1969 Scout Soap Box Derby Report

Here's the highly anticipated report of the historic first Scout Car Grand Prix back in 1969 - the Scout Soap Box Derby at the City Stadium - as reported in the Scouting Herald of Penang Free School 1969, Volume 1 No. 3. This is part of a series of articles to debunk claims that the pedal car race organised by the Penang Turf Club in August 2007 is the first ever pedal car racing in Malaysia as claimed by them and rubber-stamped by the Malaysian Book of Records. Let's now relive what happened on that historic day.

Results of the 1969 Soap Box Derby

Previously, we promised the next installment in this series to debunk claims that the pedal car race organised by the Penang Turf Club in August 2007 is the first ever pedal car racing in Malaysia as claimed by them and rubber-stamped by the Malaysian Book of Records, is to be the report of the first Scout Car Grand Prix back in 1969. Before we get to that, wouldn't it be interesting to know the results of the race first? Here's the list of winners for the Scout Soap Box Derby of 1969.

Participants of the 1992 PFS Scout Car Grand Prix

In recent weeks, we highlighted some foreword messages found in the 1992 PFS Scout Car Grand Prix souvenir magazine and published a brief history of the PFS Scout Car Grand Prix to debunk claims that the pedal car race organised by the Penang Turf Club in August 2007 is the first ever pedal car racing in Malaysia as claimed by them and rubber-stamped by the Malaysian Book of Records.

As promised, in this instalment we will publish the list of participating schools and scout cars for the 1992 PFS Scout Car Grand Prix.

A Brief History of PFS Scout Car Grand Prix

Previously, we highlighted some foreword messages found in the 1992 PFS Scout Car Grand Prix souvenir magazine to debunk claims that the pedal car race organised by the Penang Turf Club in August 2007 is the first ever pedal car racing in Malaysia as claimed by them and rubber-stamped by the Malaysian Book of Records.

Here, we would like to publish in verbatim the introduction from that same souvenir magazine which gives us a great look at the history of the PFS Scout Car Grand Prix.

The 1992 Revival of PFS Scout Car Grand Prix

There are many meanings when it comes to "The 1st Malaysian Pedal Car Race". It could mean that this is the first of many to be organised by a particular organisation (ie. Organisation A's "1st Penang Treasure Hunt", although obviously it is definitely not the first ever treasure hunt to be organised in Penang). It could also mean you are really the very first, the pioneers to organise the event (ie. "1st Malaysian Horticulture Exhibition" that has never been organised by anyone ever before).

Debunking So-Called Malaysia's First Pedal Car Race

Time and again, they rubbed salt in our wounds and throw dirt at our face. I really don't see why it should be any different this time around.

It's not enough that they ridiculously claimed to organise the FIRST pedal car race in Malaysia. It's not enough that they foolishly claimed to have INTRODUCED the "new" sport to Malaysians. It's not enough that they absurdly RIDICULED the Scout Car Grand Prix, which existed way before they knew anything about pedal car racing, as a "past-time sport". Now they went one step further by getting the Malaysian Book of Records to rubber-stamp them as the "First Pedal Car Race" in Malaysia. All this when the Scout Car Grand Prix (formerly known as the Scout Soap Box Derby) existed way back in 1969.

Ten Schools To Participate In Scout Car Clone

Penang Free School will be among ten schools to participate in the so-called "inaugural" Pedal Car Race.

Race gets good response

[...] Ten schools will be participating in the one-day event. They are Penang Free School, St Xavier's Institution, SMK Hutchings, SMK Haji Zainal Abidin, SMK Sungai Ara, Sacred Heart Secondary School, Chung Ling Private, Chung Ling High School, Han Chiang High School and SMK Chung Hwa Confucian.

"Our objective is to encourage Malaysians especially school children to love the environment and we hope it can also help to promote tourism in Malaysia, particularly in Penang, during Visit Malaysia 2007," said Penang Turf Club (PTC) committee member Alex Rodgers.

Rodgers also hoped that the participating schools would encourage their students to build their own pedal cars for next year's event. [...]

Sponsors are asked to pay five thousand for a car. With that amount of money, we could easily produce five scout cars of better quality than just the metal frames they are offering. Maybe we've to factor in inflation and the increase of metal prices since the last time we constructed a scout car, so let's say RM5k will be enough for three cars instead. Is the troop willing to take up the challenge of building a scout car to participate in next year's race and teach them a lesson for belittling the Scout Car Grand Prix?

Scout Car Grand Prix - A Past Time Sport?

First, they claimed it to be the FIRST pedal car racing in Malaysia. Then, they claimed they INTRODUCED the "new" sport to Malaysia. As if there was never any event like it organised in Penang before, now they claim that pedal car racing is making a DEBUT in Penang through their efforts while the scout car was being ridiculed as a "past-time sport".

Pedal car racing to debut in Penang

MALAYSIANS will soon be able to watch a new sports novelty – pedal car racing.

The 1st Malaysian Pedal Car Race, organised by the Penang Turf Club (PTC) in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007, will be held at the Esplanade, Penang, on Aug 19.

According to motor sport racing enthusiast Kayes Choo, who is also organising chairman, the inaugural race is the first competitive event at national level.

"In the past, pedal car activities were mostly organised by scouts as a past-time sport. Old bicycles were to put together to make these cars then.

"It is different now. We’ve engaged a local engineer to manufacture a more professional vehicle based on British specifications. Penang Motor Sport Club officials will officiate this one-day competition," said Choo. [...]

Those who were heavily involved in building the scout cars would tell you that the Scout Car Grand Prix was no "past-time sport" and I dare say the quality of scout cars in the last few years were very, very good, if not great. The cars didn't need "a local engineer" to manufacture "a more professional vehicle". The scout cars, produced by scouts who had no knowledge of engineering except for those learned in school, books and the internet, were definitely top notch.

It may have started as a project to utilise scrap metal and old bicycle parts in making a scout car but as the years progressed, those "discarded" components were replaced by newly acquired parts. Looking at the photos of their pedal cars, they look more like the scout cars in the 1980's and early 1990's. A look at our Vital Statistix alone and we'll know which one the tourists will flock to. Not to be mistaken as mere eye-candy, Vital Statistix has ruled the last few Scout Car Grand Prix and had even repeatedly beaten 7th South's legendary Jody, rumoured to be manufactured by "a local engineer".

Since the organisers of the so-called "1st Malaysian Pedal Car" making it's so-called "debut" in Penang seems to downplay the scout cars as being "unprofessional vehicles" made from "old bicycle parts" only for a "part-time sport", would their cars stand up to the challenge of the scout cars, assembled only by schoolboys? Now, that will be really interesting to watch!

Scout Car Idea Turned Tourist Attraction

Our lose, somebody else's gain. The stalled Scout Car Grand Prix (can't even recall when was the last one) could very well have made the same headlines like this article here but like always, many lacked the foresight to see its potential.

Club to introduce new sport to M'sians

IN conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2007, the Penang Turf Club (PTC) will be introducing pedal car racing in Malaysia and the inaugural event is set to take place in Penang on August 19.

Themed 1st Malaysian Pedal Car Race, the PTC hopes that the introduction of this environmental-friendly sport will instil in Malaysians, especially schoolchildren, love and concern for the environment. [...]

For this inaugural event, the PTC has commissioned a local engineer to build 12 professional cars based on British specifications.

The PTC Penang Pedal Car Race 2007 is an eight-lap relay team competition with 10 cars on the grid and two cars acting as back-up in the event of an accident.

Each team will have four crew members and each member will have to pedal for two laps.

Each lap will cover about 1.1km and the route of the competition will see participants passing by several landmarks in Penang like St George’s Church, Fort Cornwallis and the Jubilee Clock Tower at the Downing Street/Light Street roundabout, the Esplanade, King Edward Place and Beach Street. The race will start and end at the state legislative assembly building in Light Street.

A pole position in the Penang Pedal Car Race 2007 is vital and in this case, each rider will have to do battle in the practice session before the main race to secure a good position. [...]

Those who saw its potential were labeled ludicrous and the idea outlandish by the very people who were too lazy and nonchalant to entertain the idea. Our scouts today has become complacent and contented with whatever small 'achievements' and 'standards' they've achieved. Hardly anymore breaking down barriers, reaching new highs, challenging greater obstacles. Always seeking the easy way out. That's the problem with our scouts today. They've become accommodative to mistakes and weaknesses. They've become receptive to mediocrity. They've become the pansies Red Crescent Society.

It could have been a cash cow and good PR exercise for the three scouting groups of PFS but now it will end up as somebody else's. At the very least, we all know the Scout Car Grand Prix existed way before the "1st Malaysian Pedal Car Race". Working race cars built by boy scouts, not engineers and we have pictures as documentation. That they can't take away from us.