With a focus on interesting and high-mileage vehicles often overlooked by the masses, By The Billions has gained a following with its events such as Land Cruiser Day, 4 Wheels Festival and Rainforest Trophy Expedition 2024. Its most recent event was the Rompin Beach Bash which was held on the idyllic beaches of Pahang’s southern coast.
Bringing communities together
Camping, 4×4 and motorcycle enthusiasts, mainly from the Klang Valley, had made the journey across the peninsular from Ironman 4×4’s flagship store in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur. 4×4 owner groups such as Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Malaysia and Santai Drive joined in, bringing their communities together with their camaraderie.
Also enjoying Malaysian hospitality were participants who drove their own vehicles from Singapore, Vietnam, and even from as far as the Netherlands. In total, there were over 90 4x4s and SUVs, 50 motorcycles, a couple of campervans, with more than 300 people
The event kicked off at the Rompin seaside with the aroma of Mexican and Asian fusion wafting through the air as the Outdoor Cooking Challenge had participants going head-to-head to show off their cooking prowess.
Useful 4×4 lessons
As the sun peaked at high noon, instructors from M4TREC, an off-road driving and safety provider in Semenyih, demonstrated basic 4×4 recovery techniques. The participants not only watched but were also given a chance to try some of the vehicle-saving techniques on the beach.
Later in the afternoon, some 32 vehicles made their way across the beachside forest, driving past an abandoned resort to enter the 4×4 Sand Challenge. Here, a specially-designed sandy track would test their driving skills in a time trial. The champion was Khairuddin, a coffee shop owner from Pontian, Johor, who drove his Suzuki Jimny skilfully and won himself 4 AMP tyres.
Another exciting event was the Motorcycle Beach Drag which had over 50 custom motorcycles racing each other alongside the South China Sea. The cash prize pot for this event was RM6,000 and winners got to take home Michelin tyres as well.
Positive feedback for event
Once again, BTB provided an event which bridged the gap between casual campers, motorcycle enthusiasts, outdoor lovers, overlanders and the participating brands. “The immediate feedback we received was that everyone had fun and were already looking forward to the next event we host,” said Afiq Feisal of By The Billions. “Seeing people from all walks of life and corners of the globe – families, 4×4 and motorcycles enthusiasts, and sponsors – cook, race and camp side‑by‑side proves the spirit of adventure is alive and well.”