A white Honda Civic crawls to a stop at the Tuas checkpoint. The radio clock shows 12.45am and the view out of the front windshield says not a car in sight. The driver, a young NSF in his late 19s, hands over his passport in anticipation to the checkpoint lady. She looks at him with an impatient look and he looks back confused. After an awkward 10secs his passenger realizes what is going on and tells the driver with a laugh, “Insert your cash card la.” The driver obviously having never done this before, slides in his card and gives the lady an embarrassed smile.

A few other checks and one mounted curb later, the duo finally clear the initial & only hurdle of their adventure. The driver takes a quick look around and enjoys the dark silent night which surrounds the white car, but his gaze soon gets distracted by the 3km of 3 lanes that lies in front of him. He takes in a deep breath of the cool night air as his passenger, a veteran to this experience, readies him for the green light. “After this turn, own time, own target carry on”.

A silent night no more… Like a beast which has been released after being kept in a cage for too long, the Civic roars to life. V-Tech kicks in as the floored accelerator pushes the rev counter past 5 and the speedometer climbs to a hundred steadily without any sign of slowing down. 110…120…130….140……..150………160 The 1.6L engine appears to be tiring but he growls forward with perseverance as the accelerator remains stuck to the floorboard.

A lonely JB car travels humbly by at 110km/h along the 2nd link, the driver, half falling asleep glances instinctively into his rear view mirror. WTFF!! A white light in the blackened night appears on it and a second later it burns pass him.

A maxed out Civic approaches the end of the 3km. He has given his all and has no more power left in him. The driver takes a steady hand off the steering wheel. With that hand he takes his colleague’s camera phone and aims it at the speedometer. The feeling of pure joy and exhilaration floods & consumes him as he gives a wide =). Click!