Astra to hold RI's longest touring rally

JAKARTA (JP): The longest touring rally covering some 7,000 kilometers from Banda Aceh, on the western tip of Sumatra, to Larantuka in East Nusa Tenggara will be held early next month.

The event, officially called 'Lintas Nusa '95' or Across the Archipelago 1995 is to highlight Indonesia's Golden Anniversary, and is organized by Toyota Astra Motor which will parade 50 of its popular vehicles, the Toyota Kijang light truck, Rudyanto Hardjanto told reporters yesterday.

Toyota Astra Motor president Rudyanto said the touring rally, due to start on July 1 from Banda Aceh, was scheduled to finish at Larantuka in East Nusa Tenggara on Aug. 5.

"The event which will cover Sumatra island, Java, Bali and Lombok before reaching Flores has been named one of the major events in Indonesia's Golden Anniversary celebration," explained Rudyanto.

Twenty cars, part of the 50 cars especially painted the national colors of red and white, yesterday were officially sent to Medan, North Sumatra. The first batch of cars, totaling 30, were shipped to Medan earlier this month.

"The rally, on a relatively very good road, will be used as the right place for the national discipline campaign," said Soejono, director-general of land communication. Yesterday he officially sent off the fleet of 20 Kijang vehicles to Medan.

He said that all the road and ferry transportation to take the vehicles from Sumatra to Java and to Bali and Lombok and on to West and East Nusa Tenggara "has been made ready for such big event."

Soejono believes all the major roads on the route from Banda Aceh to Larantuka are in very good condition. He said the 7,000 kilometer stretch can actually be covered in six or seven days if the person driving only makes necessary stops during the trip from the west to the east of Indonesia (rsl).