THAILAND: CART RACING - Hmong hill tribesmen in the northern Thai province of Chiang Mai hold their annual cart race

Hmong hill tribesmen in the northern Thai province of Chiang Mai held their annual cart race on Saturday (December 23). 'Loh mai' or 'wooden wheels' is the local name for the competition held on a downhill, 250-metre dirt track sloping 30 degrees...braking is allowed. Riders from 12 villages are selected in events throughout the year for Saturday's finals in which there is a prize, but the prestige of winning is priceless. Race organiser Thay Thip-pinthong said the challenge is for the riders to show what they can do in front of a large crowd, particularly women. "The race is the proof of manhood. In the old days, after farming, men went looking for women and the duel racing was proof who was a good man," he said. The race is a true test ofbravery, said Thay. "The cart has wooden wheels on wooden axles, so it creates tremendous vibration, unlike a car that is built with shock absorbers. So when you ride it downhill it is bumpy and shocking enough to make your eyes blur and you cannot see the track distinctly, so it is up to you if you are brave enough to keep speeding downhill to the finish line." Although crashes are part of the excitement, there were no serious injuries on Saturday. After colliding with a rival just 20 metres from the end, 28-year-old Tailah Saedee managed to push his cart over the line to win the 15,000 baht (430 U.S. dollar) prize.

ITN Source | December 25, 2006

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