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AOS

After a 2-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the well-established Art of Speed is making a comeback. Malaysia’s premier Kustom & Counter Culture event will celebrate 10 years of cool bikes, radical rides, art and culture, and it’s going to be big this year.

To be held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park in Serdang (MAEPS), which is outside Kuala Lumpur, the Art of Speed 2022 (AOS 2022) will be on July 2, 2022 (10:30 am – 8:00 pm) and July 3, 2022 between 10:30 am and 8 pm on both days.

Art of Speed Malaysia (AOSM), which has the support of Tourism Malaysia, is well known beyond Malaysian borders too and many foreign guests from the international custom community and media will also be attending the event.

Notables among them are Emi Suganuma, ‘Sunny’ Yano & Michi ‘NATQQ’ from MOONEYES Japan; Scott Johnson from Mama Tried Motorcycle Show in the USA; Chopper and Kustom artist, Russell Murchie ‘MOW’ from Australia; Pinstripe artists Mil of Millart, Irvine Jasta and Fahmi Freeflow from Indonesia; and Aekalak Kitdusitpong, a diecast modeler from AKARA in Thailand.

AOS 2022 will have many different activities during the two days. The main highlights for AOS 2022 will include the Invitational Bike Build Off 2022, Hot Wheels Legends Tour, Hail Vintage (a vintage work wear exhibition), Off The Grid (outdoor camping and lifestyle), and the Sound Circus Festival (for ages 18 years old and above only).

Qhalis Najmi from NoEqual.co will be this year’s host for the Kustom & Koffee Talk. He will be joined by overseas panelists Scott Johnson from Mama Tried Motorcycle Show and Warren Heir Jr. from Flat Out Friday. The forum will discuss the latest trends in bike and car industries.

Additional AOS 2022 activities include Roda Rumble (a Two Wheels Gathering & Outdoor Festival), La Cultura (Malaysia’s first Chicano Culture Appreciation Gathering), Vintage Flea Market, Alfa Romeo Club Malaysia Gathering, Mini Crawlers RC demo and display, as well as bike test rides of well known brands.

Naturally, during the event, visitors will get thirsty and hungry, and there will be Food Park vendors and trucks on-site. They are located in a sheltered area so no worries if it rains during the weekend.

At the conclusion, there will be a lucky draw with two lucky winners. One will go home with a Classic Vespa EV (fully restored by Kluk Klek Soul and EV conversion by Elders Elettrico), and the other will win another Hausboom customized EV Classic Vespa.

AOS 2022 will reintroduce the Speed Lane ticket priced at RM55 valid for both days. With this ticket, visitors can enter one hour before the official opening time. The weekend pass is available at the door and online for RM35, with children below 12 years old entering for free. OKU (disabled) Pass Holders will also enjoy free entry.

Incidentally, Sound Circus Festival outdoor only tickets are already sold out, but the Sound Circus Festival + Weekend Pass combo is still available online only. For purchasing online visit aos2022.qtic.my.

The 3rd Hot Wheels Legends Tour which was run recently saw Malaysia being the first host as well as the first Asian country to be invited to join the event. Art of Speed hosted the event which is normally held on-ground but had to be conducted online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that didn’t see diminished interest and over 1 million Hot Wheels fans across the globe tuned in to watch the livestream of the Finals.

Art of Speed hosted the first leg of the 2020 Hot Wheels Legends Tour which had to be done online due to the pandemic.

67 local entries

Twelve out of the 67 local entries were chosen to be showcased before the panel of the judges made up of respected Hot Wheels designers. After the votes were cast, it was Johor-native Ravinder Singh   who clinched the coveted spot in the Finals as one of 13 international entries with his ‘Mercenary’, a modified Morris Minor.

Each entry was judged on three criteria: Authenticity, which is a measure of how well a car captures that genuine Hot Wheels spirit; Creativity, based on how unique the build is; and Garage Spirit, which carries the unmistakable air of ‘built not bought’.

Hot Wheels Legend Tour

Ravinder Singh’s winning ‘Mercenary’ was created from this old-timer.

Hot Wheels Legend Tour

Created from the Morris Minor

Ravinder’s ‘Mercenary’ carried a clear inspiration from American hotrods but was created from a British Morris Minor. The build was praised for its use of period-correct tyres and unique choice of parts – most of which aren’t available in the USA – giving it a distinct and memorable silhouette. The motorhead described the Mercenary as ‘built for himself to bring his vision to life’.

Of the thousands of submissions from around the world, 13 finalists were chosen with the winner being Riley Stair from California. His 1970 Pontiac Trans Am will be immortalised as an iconic 1:64 Hot Wheels diecast model.

Hot Wheels Legend Tour
The winner of the 2020 Hot Wheels Legend Tour

Ravinder Singh’s journey to the Finals of the Tour is not insignificant. For years, Malaysia has been host to a healthy and thriving community of car fanatics who celebrate their hobby at events like Art of Speed Malaysia, now in its 9th year.

Ravinder, an electrical and electronics engineer graduate, is now the owner of The Classic Garage based in Johor and has, for a long time, been a contributor to the community. He shares his own builds as well as provides services to others in the hobby.

Scenes from earlier Art of Speed events

Annual Art of Speed event next month

Those who are interested in knowing more about this aspect of car culture can drop by at the annual Art of Speed even to be held from December 30 2020 to 3rd January 2021. The venue is the 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor and admission is free.

The very exciting Art of Speed Malaysia 2019 aka “Malaysia’s premier Old-Skool & Kustom Kulture event” has just concluded its eighth installation last weekend. Held at MAEPS Sedang, over 55,000 attendees came for the weekend extravaganza and if you missed it, we’re truly sorry because what you’re about to see next is a huge dose of awesomeness. (more…)

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