SINGAPORE: This year's MediaCorp Subaru Challenge winner is 46-year-old technician Aloysius Lim, who lasted 75 hours and 17 minutes.
Lim drove away with a brand new Subaru Impreza 2.5 MT Sedan after outlasting hundreds of other contestants in a competition that tested both physical and mental endurance.
Altogether, 400 people, including 80 from the region, took part in the contest which began at 1pm on Saturday.
Contestants have to stand and place their hands on the car, and the last man or woman standing drives away with a brand new car.
Contestants are only allowed a five-minute break every six hours.
As the days went by, with no sleep, food, water or shelter, the numbers dwindled till 51-year-old Abdul Hamid Jonie and Lim were the two men left standing.
Family members tried to keep the men's spirits up by encouraging them, but it finally got too much for Abdul Hamid Jonie and Lim was declared the winner.
"I never think of winning the car. But just try my best," said Lim.
Lim added that the competition was more a mental challenge than anything else.
"This task is different type of endurance. It's a mental endurance. It's not running a marathon where you have a final destination. But this one is stretched. It keeps on stretching."
This is the first time Lim has participated in the event, after his wife told him to give it a try and it was obvious he was very grateful to her.
"Without my wife, I won't get it," said Lim as he gave his wife a kiss to show his appreciation.
Despite skin that was red from sunburns, Lim was still in full vigour and was even game enough to pose for the cameras.
When asked how he managed to keep going, Mr Lim replied, "My family played a very important part, their support got me through."
His wife, Sandy Wong, who is a housewife, said that while he was at the competition, she was having a tough time as well.
"I couldn't sleep because I keep thinking, 'he is suffering' and I felt my heart break every time I see him out there," she said.
On reaching the first aid tent, Mr Lim admitted to fatigue and even hallucinations.
"I was hallucinating about contestants getting into the car!" said the 46 year old.
Fortunately it did not affect Lim's chances, as Dhalia Zunnaiddin, Vice President of English Programming for MediaCorp Radio revealed that contestants in previous contests who succumbed to hallucinations ended up being disqualified because they inevitably moved their hands on the car.
Paramedics on the scene said that hallucinations can occur as the contestants endure long periods without sleep.
The record for the Subaru Challenge was set by Singaporean George Lee in 2008, at 81 hours and 32 minutes. Last year's winner, Mohammed Anuar, lasted 77 hours and 43 minutes.
-CNA/wk/fa/rl
i'm impressed!!!
LOL... The record is getting lousier and lousier....
Anyway, does the car come with COE?
any chance a woman will ever win the subaru challenge?
why not? its just that women see it as a 'manly' challenge so subsequently, few ladies take the challenge
Originally posted by Junyang700:LOL... The record is getting lousier and lousier....
Anyway, does the car come with COE?
Of course it doesn't! Which prize car in singapore ever came with COE?
5min break every 6 hours, no wonder the record getting lousier. The first time they did it was like 5-10min break per hour.
Originally posted by Casopia-maplesea:why not? its just that women see it as a 'manly' challenge so subsequently, few ladies take the challenge
i cannot imagine a sg woman being able to not eat, sleep, endure rain and sun for 70+ hours.
Actually women are more persistent.
But I would say not for a car.
If its an LV bag. Stand in the hot sun and touch the LV bag. You try, they can endure 200 hours.
Originally posted by ditzy:Of course it doesn't! Which prize car in singapore ever came with COE?
5min break every 6 hours, no wonder the record getting lousier. The first time they did it was like 5-10min break per hour.
Haha... then win the car also no use. LOL.. The COE price is about the same as the car!
so you think he will seel the car or use the car? got come with COE?
sigh the rec is getting down and down from 09 onwards
Normally, if I win a car in Singapore, I would put it up to sale ASAP. If I win that lamborghini playing jackpot machines at RWS, I would still sell it.
Originally posted by ditzy:Normally, if I win a car in Singapore, I would put it up to sale ASAP. If I win that lamborghini playing jackpot machines at RWS, I would still sell it.
actually if that were to happen, you can opt for $300k++ cash or the lamborghini
Originally posted by PedoBear:
actually if that were to happen, you can opt for $300k++ cash or the lamborghini
thats only for $25 per game jackpot machines right?
Originally posted by PedoBear:
actually if that were to happen, you can opt for $300k++ cash or the lamborghini
Nope, its either $600K or the car.
Originally posted by dragg:
thats only for $25 per game jackpot machines right?
Nope, its the $5 machines.