THE third annual custom car and bike festival ran for four days starting last Wednesday at the Dhahran International exhibition center in Rakha, Dammam, where hundreds of local and expatriate automobile enthusiasts thronged the arena. On display were extraordinary varieties of custom model cars and bikes, and Saudi youth, in particular, were given the opportunity to exhibit their skills, Ranging from 60,000 to 1.2 million Saudi riyals, the vehicles were a testament to the participants' efforts at making their car unique in some way. The most expensive car was owned by Hisham Al-Mulla with his Chevrolet Corvette costing approximately 1.2 million Saudi riyals and boasting of an 840 cc engine, 2800 horse power and a speed of up to 395 kilometers an hour. The car also consisted of a twin parachute used for reducing the speed and stopping the car as well as a body made of carbon fiber chrome steel. Normally perceived as a drag race car, Al-Mulla's vehicle also had C16 special racing fuel capacities used via two nitrogen cylinders attached to the car's rear. Another participant in the show was Iqab from Dammam, who is currently working as a personal administrator in United group and is the chief of the crew for the Chevrolet Pontiac race car. He told Saudi Gazette that these kind of shows encourage young people to display their interest in cars in a healthy way, as well as upgrade their knowledge about the different types of vehicles in the market. Iqab himself has won several races in the GCC, including twice in Bahrain and once in Qatar using his Pontiac. The beautiful car costs approximately a million Saudi riyals, according to him. One participant from Qatif, Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Ateeq, was displaying his 1970 olive green Chevy pick-up truck with fixed hydraulic airbags, diamond-studded logo and a massive, twenty-inch wheel. The big car also featured a state-of-the-art sound system and costs approximately 200,000 Saudi riyals. Faisal was participating for the third time and told Saudi Gazette that he was the first runner up last year. Sherif Al-Ghamdi hails from Jeddah and his 1984 Cadillac boasted of a circumference coming up to 28 inches. Al-Ghamdi works for Nissan and told Saudi Gazette that he was participating for the very first time. The massive wheel itself cost him 60,000 Saudi riyals. “During the weekends, I drive it along Jeddah's Corniche or Tahlia Street area,” he remarked. “My car is unique as it has a complete glass ceiling and 5000-watt horn. Moreover, the front of the car is designed the same way as a Rolls Royce.” Another participant from Jeddah was Yassir Al-Othaibi, whose black Hummer's wheel topped the previous two contenders with a whopping 30-inch circumference. He has also fixed an extra power engine in the car and an exhaust system to boost the vehicle's power. The Hummer also features an LCD monitor in the rear and a 1,000-watt speaker and sound system. An extraordinarily beautiful silver car - an Audi 2007 V.I.P model - was also on display, owned by Ahmed Bin Mohammed Azooz. The car reportedly cost Azooz 500,000 Saudi riyals, and is a luxury car out and out. Azooz works in the Arab National Bank in Jeddah and remarked to Saudi Gazette that he paid 75,000 Saudi riyals for the fancy license plate featuring “9999 LEA.” Ali Abbas and Muhsin Al-Qalaf from Saihat also displayed their 1972 Chevrolet Cameron racing car - one which has won them the first prize at the Bahrain car race this year. Boasting of a 592 cc engine, 1600 horse power with nitrous support and 7.5 sec Quattro mile, the car was indeed, a winner. The two are members of the Saihat racing team.
