Top gear-any fans here?
- khmerhit
- In 93! - I was here, man, you know
- Reactions: 10
- Posts: 3026
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:22 am
thank you for posting those links hanky----here is a pic of the runway but not the other stuff--it is as if it were classified info--there is also a youtube video of the recent (march 10) weapons test exercise on the site
See full size image
250 x 333 - 19k - jpg - upload.wikimedia.org/ wikipedia/commons/thumb/...
Image may be subject to copyright.
Below is the image at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Rolea_B%27ier_District
ah I must have mistaken the narrow white roads for the airstrips---its possible we were not able to enter the airport and instead rode the roads up the small mountain as described in abobe poem (1998).
does anyone have any photos of the refuelling depot or whatever it is which is nestled in the hillside and thru which the road loops around ? im not really up on military infrastructure but it seemed rather heavy duty and heterodox --i mean just one look and you know it is not cambodian-designed and it sure aint european. Would anyone have photos or could you re-find that link Mr Latham? thanks, no worries if not ...
See full size image
250 x 333 - 19k - jpg - upload.wikimedia.org/ wikipedia/commons/thumb/...
Image may be subject to copyright.
Below is the image at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Rolea_B%27ier_District
ah I must have mistaken the narrow white roads for the airstrips---its possible we were not able to enter the airport and instead rode the roads up the small mountain as described in abobe poem (1998).
does anyone have any photos of the refuelling depot or whatever it is which is nestled in the hillside and thru which the road loops around ? im not really up on military infrastructure but it seemed rather heavy duty and heterodox --i mean just one look and you know it is not cambodian-designed and it sure aint european. Would anyone have photos or could you re-find that link Mr Latham? thanks, no worries if not ...
- khmerhit
- In 93! - I was here, man, you know
- Reactions: 10
- Posts: 3026
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:22 am
here is a Post article -- a nyt piece from 1999 discusses the mystrious dr iain grays plans to create a regional transport hub, but that (er) will take some time, however i did see a google refernce to a joint venture agreement signed recently but didnt follow it up dr gray was quoted: businessmen dont come to cambodia, entrepreneurs do--something like that anyway. acording to the piece below, the airfield was purely kr-contructed (uh huh right)which just goes to show what quality and durability can be had with the help ofscores of thousands of slaves. i like the quote about the phone.
At a lonely airstrip, there are more cattle than planes
TUESDAY, 16 MARCH 2010 15:00 ROTH MEAS --from the Post
The runway, built during the Khmer Rouge regime, is now the scene of a struggle for control between cows and the Royal Cambodian Air Force
Photo by: Roth Meas
Peace and quiet rule at the so-called Chinese Airfield.
Kampong Chhnang Province
WHERE planes once landed, there is now little more than a massive concrete runway surrounded by fields of palm trees and low shrubs. There are a few rusty fuel drums, a ruined control tower, a few decrepit buildings, but there are no runway lights, wind vane, parked aircraft or airport staff.
The eerie site, located in Palarng village in the Rolea Paea district of Kampong Chhnang province, is known by locals as the Chinese Airfield.
Despite appearances, the old airport is not completely abandoned. It is manned by a skeleton crew of security guards from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, whose job is to prevent illegal use of the runway and to clear the way on those rare occasions when authorised planes do approach for a landing.
The runway is so little used nowadays that it sometimes serves as an extension of the surrounding fields where local villagers raise their animals.
Villager Kheat Kong, 52, said she always releases her animals to eat grass around the airfield, but sometimes they slip through the fence and graze inside the perimeter.
“Before 1999 this wasn’t possible because planes landed here all the time, but now I almost never seen planes come in,” she said.
“When they inform us not to release our cows because a plane is landing, we’ll tie them up,” she said.
Kheat Kong said she moved to Palarng village in the early 1980s and was therefore not around to see the construction of the airfield in 1977. She said that when she arrived in the region, the 2400-metre-long runway and airport buildings were already there, as was the 10-kilometre paved road connecting the airport to National Road 5.
“I didn’t know who built it, but people in the village called it ‘Chinese Airfield’, so I did the same,” Kheat Kong said.
Despite the name, the airfield was not built by the Chinese.
“The airfield, including the control tower and other buildings, was built in 1977 by the Khmer Rouge regime,” said Hing Suntara, the vice commander of the Air Force’s Kampong Chhnang division. “At the time, the Khmer Rouge used the airport to serve its air force.”
He said that as soon as the regime was overthrown in 1979, the new government took it over for use by its air force. It is now under the control of the Royal Cambodian Air Force and has never been used by commercial aircraft.
Hing Suntara said the airfield is still nearly 100 per cent functional, although some of the rubber between the concrete slabs is deteriorating from exposure to the sun year after year. He added that as far as he knows, there have never been any plane crashes at the airfield.
“These days if a plane is going to land, we are notified by phone,” he said.
Hing Suntara said the biggest problem was preventing domesticated animals from crossing the airfield. “We tell the villagers not to release their animals near the airfield because there is no gate and it’s easy for them to get in,” he said. “I still station troops around the airfield to try to keep animals and people outside.”
Hing Suntara said the airfield’s concrete can support the weight of bigger planes, but the runway would have to be lengthened if plans were made to allow such aircraft to land there.
“We are preventing villagers from expanding into the area around the airfield so that someday we can lengthen the runway to 3000 to 3500 metres,” he said.
At a lonely airstrip, there are more cattle than planes
TUESDAY, 16 MARCH 2010 15:00 ROTH MEAS --from the Post
The runway, built during the Khmer Rouge regime, is now the scene of a struggle for control between cows and the Royal Cambodian Air Force
Photo by: Roth Meas
Peace and quiet rule at the so-called Chinese Airfield.
Kampong Chhnang Province
WHERE planes once landed, there is now little more than a massive concrete runway surrounded by fields of palm trees and low shrubs. There are a few rusty fuel drums, a ruined control tower, a few decrepit buildings, but there are no runway lights, wind vane, parked aircraft or airport staff.
The eerie site, located in Palarng village in the Rolea Paea district of Kampong Chhnang province, is known by locals as the Chinese Airfield.
Despite appearances, the old airport is not completely abandoned. It is manned by a skeleton crew of security guards from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, whose job is to prevent illegal use of the runway and to clear the way on those rare occasions when authorised planes do approach for a landing.
The runway is so little used nowadays that it sometimes serves as an extension of the surrounding fields where local villagers raise their animals.
Villager Kheat Kong, 52, said she always releases her animals to eat grass around the airfield, but sometimes they slip through the fence and graze inside the perimeter.
“Before 1999 this wasn’t possible because planes landed here all the time, but now I almost never seen planes come in,” she said.
“When they inform us not to release our cows because a plane is landing, we’ll tie them up,” she said.
Kheat Kong said she moved to Palarng village in the early 1980s and was therefore not around to see the construction of the airfield in 1977. She said that when she arrived in the region, the 2400-metre-long runway and airport buildings were already there, as was the 10-kilometre paved road connecting the airport to National Road 5.
“I didn’t know who built it, but people in the village called it ‘Chinese Airfield’, so I did the same,” Kheat Kong said.
Despite the name, the airfield was not built by the Chinese.
“The airfield, including the control tower and other buildings, was built in 1977 by the Khmer Rouge regime,” said Hing Suntara, the vice commander of the Air Force’s Kampong Chhnang division. “At the time, the Khmer Rouge used the airport to serve its air force.”
He said that as soon as the regime was overthrown in 1979, the new government took it over for use by its air force. It is now under the control of the Royal Cambodian Air Force and has never been used by commercial aircraft.
Hing Suntara said the airfield is still nearly 100 per cent functional, although some of the rubber between the concrete slabs is deteriorating from exposure to the sun year after year. He added that as far as he knows, there have never been any plane crashes at the airfield.
“These days if a plane is going to land, we are notified by phone,” he said.
Hing Suntara said the biggest problem was preventing domesticated animals from crossing the airfield. “We tell the villagers not to release their animals near the airfield because there is no gate and it’s easy for them to get in,” he said. “I still station troops around the airfield to try to keep animals and people outside.”
Hing Suntara said the airfield’s concrete can support the weight of bigger planes, but the runway would have to be lengthened if plans were made to allow such aircraft to land there.
“We are preventing villagers from expanding into the area around the airfield so that someday we can lengthen the runway to 3000 to 3500 metres,” he said.
That would have to be a Drew Bowler "Nemesis" for me - either Race or EXR.Nate wrote:what would your dream high performance yet practical car for cambodia be?
Drew Bowler's website wrote:
Wheelbase (mm) 2745.13mm (108'')
Overall length (mm) 4436mm
Overall height (mm) 1730mm
Overall width (mm) 2000mm
Drivetrain (FWD/RWD/4WD) 4WD
Weight Distribution (Front/Rear) 51/49 @ min weight
Weight FiA specified (kg) 1978
Engine capacity (Litres) 4.4 ltr
Transmission type 6 Speed Manual
Gearbox ZF
Number of forward gears 6
Drive Bias (Front/Rear) 40/60
Max engine revs (RPM) 6500
Please Note. The following figures are for an engine fitted with a FiA 32mm air flow restrictor.
Peak power (BHP) 252BHP
Revs for peak power (RPM) 4500
Revs for peak Torque (RPM) 4000
Peak Torque force 410NM
Fuel load (litres) 386ltr
FRONT Ground clearance 310mm
REAR Ground clearance 300mm
FRONT Track width 1998mm
REAR Track width 1998mm
FRONT Tyre dimensions 275/65R18
REAR Tyre dimensions 275/65R18
http://www.bowler-offroad.com/CarMagazine wrote: How much?...............£80,000
On sale in the UK:.....Now
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Sea ... r-Nemesis/
2 tonnes of utter mayhem.
The airstrip out there is really a fun venue but is definitely out of place. I stopped by there about 4 years ago on a motorcycle trip and some of us drag raced our dirtbikes down the strip. When I was there I was told that the Americans built it during the Lon Nol regime to monitor Vietnam but from what I'm reading on here that seems to be wrong.
A month or two ago a Khmer buddy of mine with quite the impressive car collection told me about him and his cousins going out there with their cars to drag race. He sent me these videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd2DHI6qsFg
I thought his 911 turbo was crazy for cambodia untill i saw this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt4iU90OUZc
As much as I would love to have a Ferrari I don't think I would want one here.
A month or two ago a Khmer buddy of mine with quite the impressive car collection told me about him and his cousins going out there with their cars to drag race. He sent me these videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd2DHI6qsFg
I thought his 911 turbo was crazy for cambodia untill i saw this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt4iU90OUZc
As much as I would love to have a Ferrari I don't think I would want one here.
The TG programme that featured Vietnam recently was originally supposed to be a 3-country trip through Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The producers didn't go for it in the end and just chose Vietnam, as it was less demanding. I think they made a mistake but it does open up the possibility of a solo Cambodia special in the future. As someone said, Clarkson came here on a family holiday at the same time so he knows what Cambodia has to offer, and his word is law when it comes to TG.
-
- I live above an internet cafe
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 134
- Joined: Thu Dec 25, 2008 10:07 am
- Location: NW England
- Contact:
New series starts this tuesday, there is a double bill over the christmas period, including one of there roadtrips, this time from Iraq to Bethlehem.
Here is the YouTube trailer -
Here is the YouTube trailer -
GolfCambodia.com - A golf course guide to Cambodia.
Eagerly awaiting new episodes.
The show was featured on 60 minutes here in the states, mass hilarity.
torrent:
- Torrent link removed -
I've been so bored I recently started watching Top Gear Australia. Everythings the same, just Aussies.
Can someone please explain your Australian kilowat/horsepower equation, and why???
Two of the guests in season 2? are aus. supercar drivers, the guy who broke the lap record at Bathurst. WOW.
The show was featured on 60 minutes here in the states, mass hilarity.
torrent:
- Torrent link removed -
I've been so bored I recently started watching Top Gear Australia. Everythings the same, just Aussies.
Can someone please explain your Australian kilowat/horsepower equation, and why???
Two of the guests in season 2? are aus. supercar drivers, the guy who broke the lap record at Bathurst. WOW.
Love Top Gear, very funny....The episode with the "Ariel Atom" is great!
-
- Feminist Watch List
- Reactions: 38
- Posts: 5697
- Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2003 8:56 pm
- Location: Paradise sur Mer; aka Sihanoukville
Missed this when you first posted it.
Yes it is a good show.
I have all 16 seasons plus heaps of Jeremy Clarkson specials on my hard drives. About 80gb's worth.
One thing I will say about this show is .. although it appears to be spontaneous it really looks to me like it is well scripted.
Apparently the Vietnam episode/adventure is one of the favourites of the presenters.
I hope you came up with a suitable challenge/angle to entice the producers to make it to Cambodia.
Yes it is a good show.
I have all 16 seasons plus heaps of Jeremy Clarkson specials on my hard drives. About 80gb's worth.
One thing I will say about this show is .. although it appears to be spontaneous it really looks to me like it is well scripted.
Apparently the Vietnam episode/adventure is one of the favourites of the presenters.
I hope you came up with a suitable challenge/angle to entice the producers to make it to Cambodia.
Note to self: Must be nice to morons.
-
- 440 newbie - handle with care
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:54 pm
- Location: England
Here is a little taste of Jeremy's dislike for expats. wonder where it comes from, Paddington himself was an expat
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/commen ... 992555.ece
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/commen ... 992555.ece
This is NOT a dress rehearsal!
He's an intolerable little man. If the chance ever presented itself, I'd happily bundle him into the boot of a 126 and leave it at a level crossing for ruining what was once a perfectly good consumer show.
i agree with cable guy. it was good a long time ago. wayyyy too scripted to be enjoyable these days. its like watching "friends".
-
- Where Did All the People Go?
- Reactions: 42
- Posts: 2555
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:04 am
- Location: RESISTANCE IS NOT FUTILE. IT'S VOLTAGE DIVIDED BY CURRENT.
Yeah, Clarkson and Hammond - but particularly Clarkson, are seriously annoying assholes. The show was entertaining until maybe five years ago but now these morons just have to welcome a crowd of people who are geeky enough to cheer moronically at their contrived antics and who have been on a long ass waiting list to be an audience member for a show being filmed.
Really they "jumped the shark" at least half a decade ago, now we just see tired old stereotypes trotted out.
Really they "jumped the shark" at least half a decade ago, now we just see tired old stereotypes trotted out.
-
- I Love 440 More Than Real Life
- Reactions: 12
- Posts: 2760
- Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:12 am
- Location: entering the void
Jackal wrote:Yeah, Clarkson and Hammond - but particularly Clarkson, are seriously annoying assholes. The show was entertaining until maybe five years ago but now these morons just have to welcome a crowd of people who are geeky enough to cheer moronically at their contrived antics and who have been on a long ass waiting list to be an audience member for a show being filmed.
Really they "jumped the shark" at least half a decade ago, now we just see tired old stereotypes trotted out.
I totally agree with the above. To put it mildly Jeremy Clarkson is a cunt of the highest order. An awful ex public school boy Daily Mail reading bully who thinks his opions about Ferraris actually matter? Hammond is a midget spineless toad boy who I wish would attempt the land speed record just one more time in a faster and less stable car. That show was good in maybe 1994/95? Maybe.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 0 Replies
- 1589 Views
-
Last post by Ouch
Mon Jul 08, 2019 2:01 pm