Jump-starting a new high

The excitement in the oppressive air is palpable, and has been building for days, weeks and even months ... your body struggles to breathe through layers of hostile clothing and 5-point harness safety belt, anti-flammable mask clinging to your face and covering your mouth; further, the intercom piece is squashed into your ear by the helmet ... your hands are covered in racing gloves and your feet contained in racing boots ... the temperature outside reads 43ÞC – are you certifiably insane or still have not been properly diagnosed?

That is the first question I ask Emil Khneisser, training manager at Al Masaood Automobiles by workday, but who on weekends transforms into a well-known figure in the UAE Rally circuit for both his love for rally driving and his vehicle building skills.

Ever wondered what it would be like to build your own car?

Emil Khneisser has pursued his dream and developed
a 4x4 racing buggy from scratch – every little piece bears his fingerprints, from the frame up. He currently races as part of the FURY Racing Team, and he has built a totally unique racing machine – the FURY Buggy!

Ever wondered what it would be like to race competitively in the Desert Challenge, the FIA affiliated cross-country rally which is part of the international rally circuit and every year attracts the top teams to the high sand dunes of the UAE desert?

Well, Emil competed for the first time in 2004 in his home-built racing machine!

Emil, would you tell us a bit about your vehicle – what model and year is it, and what are some of the specs?

I finished manufacturing my buggy in 2004, when I participated in the Desert Challenge International Rally. Most people will take an existing car and build it up; but I wanted to custom-design it to my own specs from the ground up.

So the only things I imported in are the 5.3 L GM Vortec engine, the 4L60E automatic transmission, and the transfer case from the donor vehicle, a 2003 Chevy Avalanche pick-up.

The frame and suspension are all custom made, with a double wishbone independent front and solid axle coil
3-link rear. It has a complete tubular carbon steel frame where the roll cage is an integrated part and the whole buggy has been designed to be FIA homologated to participate in international races. So it was conceived from the start to be a professional rally machine.

Just like that. And let me tell you that The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the governing body of motor sports world-wide, overseeing most rally and track championships including Formula One, is not a pushover when it comes to regulating the construction of race vehicles!

Safety determines the specifications of every part and details the type of construction and equipment that is and isn't allowed, so not only is building an entire car from scratch an amazing feat, but building it to racing specifications is all the more incredible!

So, you built this car yourself from the ground up. It must have been a monumental task – how did you organise yourself?

Yes, it has been designed completely by me and is not based on an existing car, so a lot of the work was done pre-construction. The design phase was absolutely vital and even before I could think about cutting metal or installing parts, I had to know exactly what the frame was going to be. That took a very long time.

I had a lot of help from friends and colleagues and other rally enthusiasts, and we were a very small team consisting of a fabricator (Elie Haddad), mechanic (Raymond Manalac) and backup and support from George Azam's workshop and friends Wissam Abdel Ahad, Elie Dorro, Zaher, Joseph Totunjian, Rashad and others whom I'm very thankful to for making my project a very successful one.

However, the number one reason I could get this project to completion, and compete today, is due to the fantastic support of my wife – I'm a very fortunate man!

I should say so – looking at the FURY Buggy in person, and the equipment that goes with it, I can certainly see the mechanical expertise that went into the project, but I can also infer the amount of sheer determination, discipline, problem-solving and simply the astounding number of hours – shall
I mention money? – that must have been dedicated to attaining this lifelong dream.

But the result is really something special! It is a work of pure genius, a structure that would grace any engineering museum. You look at it parked there, and it is not asleep –
it is resting, awaiting the ignition key.

Artistically poised on its racing suspension set-up, which can easily absorb bumps at speeds of 160 kph, it appears springy and soft. Yet, the metal frame and chequered plate panels, and the big front eyes overpower that softness, and scream heavy metal!

Then the engine starts up and the throb hits you in the guts – bomp bomp bomp, at idle. Effortless and yet so powerful, the sound vibrations resonate through your chest cavity, stroking the heart. As an automotive enthusiast, I have never experienced such a beautiful exhaust sound – and that's at idle!

Emil, compared to other cars you've driven, how does driving the FURY Team buggy feel?

It is awesome! The high precision of handling, excellent stability at curves and the very best safety give a feel that is totally unique. No other vehicle can compare. I once rolled over at a speed of around 120 km/hr and the buggy kept on running with no mechanical problem or deformation in the structure, and not one single scratch on me or my co-pilot! This is thanks to the integrated rally cage we built.

Driving off-road, which is my main hobby, I compete with my friends who all have very heavily modified vehicles. I can be very fast on the dunes because of the much better stability, lower centre of gravity and awesome angles of approach and departure.

And on the competitive front, how is your vehicle performing?

So far I have participated in one international event (the 2004 Desert Challenge) and I was doing excellent until my co-pilot abandoned me in the middle of the race.

I started the UAE 4x4 Championship this season with 9th position overall in the first event, and my aim is to stay in the top ten. I'm also preparing for the Desert Challenge
of this year. And that will be this coming November, so we can all look forward to seeing the FURY Buggy do what it was born to do – race competitively!

Is attracting sponsorship one of your goals?

Absolutely, because up to now all has been out of my personal pocket and I feel lots of guilt towards my family. For me to be able to compete for the top five positions, I will definitely need the backup of a sponsor.

Again I would like to thank my family and especially my wife for her full support and understanding – rally racing is a team sport, and they are my number one fans!

And speaking of spousal support, I just had to ask Emil's wife: As the spouse of the multi-talented designer/fabricator/ driver Emil, how do you feel about his enthusiasm?

Well, this is such a passion for him that I understand; even if at times it is difficult, he has the skills to do an amazing job and the results speak for themselves, so I find I am also fascinated and attracted by his progress.

He has my support like any wife would give to her husband, and more: I am there to cheer him on and I will use the trophies he wins to decorate our house! I also think it is an important role-model for our children - if you are passionate about something, you should find the way to follow your heart.

Follow your heart seems to be the underlying philosophy here; how many times in our lives does practicality, or reasonability, get in the way of our dreams?

Emil: The Buggy has been created out of my passion for off-roading and racing, based on 15 years' experience at upgrading performance cars, and the fans understand that I am not only a driver but also the manufacturer and I didn't just modify an existing product with lots of aftermarket goodies, so the grassroots support for FURY team members and our fan website at www.emirates4x4.com is a real driving force for me – now I'm looking for professional sponsors whose brand name will benefit from the double exposure of a winning team but also capitalise on the message that if you love something strong enough, and if you believe in yourself enough – there is nothing you cannot do!
•••

Indeed, the FURY message is loud and clear, and it calls out to enthusiasts in any field, be it model building, or gardening, or any hobby your heart follows – you can do it! Whatever project you have been dreaming of, whatever half-finished ‘monstrosity' you have tucked away in the garage, take heart from Emil Khneisser's story: you can do it!