The rest area along the Karak Highway, which meanders from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan, was abuzz that Friday night.

Throughout the day, rumbles of high-powered motorcycles attract glances of bystanders as small groups of motorcyclists stop for drinks or to fill up on petrol.

Most are used to the sight of groups on motorcycles - those ‘mat rempit’ on their low-powered bikes whizzing through the city.

They are also used to the superbikes that come out on weekends, their owners discarding their luxury cars and drivers for a little thrill at the end of the week.

But tonight is a rare sight.

Whether or not one is a motorcycle enthusiast, it is hard to peel one’s eyes off this group. Where else can you see a bevy of classic British bikes (outside of a 1970s film)? How many times have you seen a flock of Harley Davidsons, stripped down to the frame?

Smoke billows out of the hood of a car, parked on the roadside next to the Genting Sempah petrol station. A middle-aged man stands by his broken-down car.

Even he is intrigued by the motorcyclists.

“You’re all going to Pantai Balok? What’s happening there?”

Pantai Balok is 261km from Kuala Lumpur and 15km from the capital city of Pahang, Kuantan.

Balok is not as popular as Teluk Chempedak. But for two days every year, it is the centre of the universe for motorcycle enthusiasts in Malaysia and Singapore.

Welcome to Rollin’ Wheelz

According to organiser Banjaros Malaya, a biker club formed in the 1990s, the Rollin’ Wheelz event started as a ‘friends and family’ only affair three years ago.

It was indeed a family day - tents on the beach, a bonfire, music and dancing, and children running on the beach. But they all got there on the back of motorbikes.

These days, Rollin’ Wheelz is open to anyone on a two-wheel machine. But most participants arrive on classic motorcycles as per tradition.

The loose term ‘classic motorcycle’ refers to motorcycles which made a name in its era, and still have a strong following to this day.

The motorcycles are classified according to production year, the engine make or even if they have made cameo appearances in 1,001 motorcycle tales still talked about today.

The motorcycles like the AJS and Triumph Bonneville are rarely seen on roads today and only sometimes make appearances at motorcycle shows.

But at Rollinz’ Wheels, one is spotted going full throttle on the beach track during the main event.

“It’s a race we wait a year for, but it ends in 20 seconds,” one racer says.

No track girls

The race is open to anything that has two wheels, an engine and can be straddled by a rider. There are only two classes - 250cc and above and 250cc and below.

It is a far cry from the Sepang Moto GP, but safety remains a priority. Helmets and shoes are compulsory (stylish Ray Ban sunglasses and Red Wing shoes highly appreciated).

There are no charts, no schedules, no track girls to shade riders, and no fuss.

Two names are called, the linesman counts down and it’s all go. The first to take a U-turn and make it to the finish line wins and advances to the next stage, until there is just two. And then there is only one - the champion.

But fun is the order of the day so, according to organisers, “everyone is a winner” here.

Really? It is hard to say. Everything gets lost in the rumble of hundreds of high-powered engines, enough to leave a ringing in the ears for days.