Malaysia’s premier Kustom and Counter Culture event
If you came across mean machines zooming past in uncountable numbers across the Klang valley on the first weekend of July, they were headed to Malaysia’s premier Kustom and Counter Culture event. After overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic, Art Of Speed (AOS) made a return in a big way for this 10th anniversary celebration.
We went along too and were greeted by vehicles parked to the maximum amidst the greenery of the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park, Serdang (MAEPS) in suburban Serdang.
Upon parking, we even spotted a camel grazing and found it odd to see one out there when just opposite was the event with all these speedy means of transport.
A sea of faces greeted us and we were thankful to be in the media lane as thousands lined up for tickets to get in.
After overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic, Art Of Speed (AOS) made a return in a big way for this 10th anniversary celebration.
In Art Of Speed tradition, joining the event were also its international guests, who are car and bike enthusiasts that find it a chance to meet every year. This year the distinguished international guests included:
• Emi Suganuma, “Sunny” Yano & Michi “NATQQ” from MOONEYES; Japan
• Scott Johnson from Mama Tried Motorcycle Show; USA
• Warren Heir Jr. from Flat Out Friday; USA
• Chopper and Kustom artist Russell Murchie “MOW” from Australia
• Dino Dalle Carbonare from Speedhunters.com; Japan
• Yasuo Sekijima and Satoru Ise from Vibes Magazine; Japan
• Pinstripe artists Mil of Millart, Indonesia
• Aekalak Kitdusitpong diecast modeler from AKARA; Thailand
The AOS Invitational Bike Build Off 2022 once again featured seven talented builders from across Malaysia competing for a RM10,000 cash prize (jury selection) and RM5,000.00 cash prize (public choice).
The overall jury pick winner was awarded to SKATECTURE from Kuching, Sarawak with builders Mohammad Nasir Morni, Umar Sulaiman, Hafiq Kamaluddin, Amin Ridzuan and Hafiz Yem.
The public choice was awarded to MOTO BURUK GARAGE from Penang with builder Mohamad Aidzam Alias.
There was plenty to see, from custom bikes on show to endless rows of bikes from various clubs, merchandise booths and impressive exhibits of vintage vehicles and new products. The two days program was full of activities for visitors.
Picking up a rather nice cotton T-shirt design I was taken back by the cost. Apparently, streetwear is more costly than one might think but enthusiasts are willing to fork out money to look right.
Stickers, vehicle accessories, camping tents, toys, food, fashion and more had crowds all checking them out.
It took hours to complete the few halls that spread out to form the AOS event space. Aweing the crowd was Hot Wheels offering a life-sized Bone Shaker Monster Truck where plenty of visitors queued up to take professional pictures with it along with a life-sized Hot Wheels blister pack backdrop.
Lining up Hall C was NoEqual.co’s NEAT Fest with their curated “Garage Life” exhibit, alongside the return of Hail Vintage with a vintage work wear exhibition and even more specialist vendors from the previous editions of AOS. Also featured in this year’s Hail Vintage was the Jubilee Antique Café, which served up exquisite flavours of Kelantan kopitiam food.
Newly introduced for AOS 2022 was an expansion into Hall D which became the exhibition center for the Off The Grid outdoor camping and lifestyle. This year’s Kustom & Koffee Talk was hosted by Qhalis Najmi from NoEqual.co and featured overseas panelists Scott Johnson from Mama Tried Motorcycle Show and Warren Heir Jr. from Flat Out Friday. The forum discussed the latest trends in bike and car industries.
Other AOS 2022 activities included the Two Wheels Gathering & Outdoor Festival supported by Retro Mania; La Cultura — Malaysia’s first Chicano Culture Appreciation Gathering; Vintage Flea Market; Alfa Romeo Club Malaysia Gathering; Hot Wheels Club Malaysia (HWCM) Convention (Hall D); Streetware Con streetwear fashion vendors galore (Hall D); Mini Crawlers RC demo and display; product launching on stage and test ride zone for bikes (Royal Enfield, Vespa, Aprilia and Harley-Davidson).
We even spent more than an hour watching those competing in breakdance and freestyle battles to the beats of the DJ, cheering along with the crowd for our favourites.
Especially impressive was an exhibit where 1.5 million pieces of Lego were used to enhance the body of the MYBI HOT ROD according to its designer of the Bryks Team.
Returning with AOS 2022 was the highly popular Sound Circus Festival at the outdoor section of MAEPS, with a line-up that featured Hujan as the main headline alongside bands such as Sekumpulan Orang Gila, Flop Poppy, SweetAss, Iqbal M., Balok People and many more.
The winners of Best of Show motorcycle and automobile categories won package trips to the 30th Annual MOONEYES Yokohama Hotrod and Custom Show this coming December as Guests of Honour.
The event also witnessed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between Elders Elettrico and 405 Industries as technological partners for EV conversion. The partnership aims to expand the EV conversion market in Malaysia and work with the government for the development of regulatory matters in regards to EV conversions.
NASTY, the producer of Global ENDS, served as the Title Presenter for AOS 2022. “We’re huge fans of Art of Speed Malaysia, and to receive this opportunity and the chance of a lifetime to be closely involved with its 10-year anniversary and this event is something we couldn’t possibly pass up,” said Shariffudin Bujang, founder and group chief executive officer of NASTY.
AOS Malaysia was supported by Tourism Malaysia under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) through the Tourism Recovery Plan 2022 which was launched by Datuk Seri Hajjah Nancy Shukri, with the slogan ‘Cuti-Cuti Malaysia 2022’, in an effort to increase domestic tourism.
