Crazed to Race at the Caltex Amazing Craze

Life is much too boring without competition. Human beings are noted for being highly competitive, whether in the workplace or otherwise. This is why most welcome the idea of being challenged into a game or a similar activity at least once in their lives. And, for those who religiously follow the Amazing Race series, the recently held Caltex Amazing Craze provides the opportunity for one to experience the pressure and the drama brought about by the aforementioned franchise.

Ten teams comprised of four members each assembled and participated in the exciting (if not physically challenging) tasks that Caltex had prepared for them during the said event. Aside from enjoying the game, The Amazing Craze was a venue for participants to experience the power, flexibility, control, and security that its fleet management system brings to its patrons. The Caltex StarCard and StarCash, as it is more popularly known, was the only allowed mode of payment during the game.

The participants were as diverse as the StarCard uses itself — different representatives from the different StarCard clients and friends from the media joined in. Prizes at stake were trips to Hong Kong, an overnight stay at Baguio’s Camp John Hay Manor, and an overnight accommodation package at the New World Renaissance Hotel in Makati City. The mere mention of the prizes was enough to light the competitive spark in everyone as the game commenced. But it was not as easy as it seemed to be.

The first three tasks were situated at the Caltex SLEX Super Station, which included a balancing act, a signature campaign, and a puzzle game. The first task, although very easy understand, was actually a lot harder to do. Team members were asked to balance on their heads pots filled with water, negotiate an obstacle course of pylons, and then pour the pot’s contents into a pail at the course’s endpoint, and then go back. This writer’s team, composed also of representatives from IMI and the Manila Bulletin, weaved in and out of the course in almost seamless fashion, that is, until this writer’s turn. The potholder proved too big for this writer’s small head. So he had a hard time "balancing" the balancing act. Nevertheless, the group still managed to finish it in time for the second task.

The second task involved a lot of running and looking for the right persons, for it required the teams to gather the signatures of the station’s manager, the fast food joint’s dining crew, and other similar roles, quite similar to what a Fleet Manager would do. Without noticing it, the teams circumnavigated the entirety of the stations’ complex, almost making friends with everybody, from the forecourt (where the pumps are) to the food establishments around the complex.

The third task, on the other hand, was a rather "simple" puzzle, but the subject words weren’t in the sheet provided. The team has to look for the keywords in the supplied StarCard product brochure in the participants’ individual kits. Ten words were needed for the next task, which was at the spanking new Caltex Yatco Station in Mamplasan, Laguna.

The next pit stop was the perfect opportunity for all the teams to experience the convenience that the Caltex StarCard brings to its clients. Upon arrival at the aforementioned station, teams were given a choice to either sort or find, both arduous tasks. The team of this writer, the Light Blue Team, made a unanimous decision to find, which was actually, finding the team’s three color flags planted around the complex. What do the sort and find tasks have to do with the StarCard, one may ask? None, actually, because the StarCard conveniently eliminates the hassle of maintaining a large volume of paperwork, as it eliminates the use of purchase order and cash. In addition, a monthly report is sent to clients every month, thereby increasing efficiency in fleet control due to lesser time spent in monitoring fleet costs. Worth mentioning also is the fact that the StarCard includes another feature, which is the StarCash, which enables one to buy fuel and merchandise at any Caltex Station by using the StarCard. A pre-set credit limit allows ultimate control of fleet-related expenses.

The next task was a dirty one, much like how Caltex with Techron cleans the car’s engine: teams were asked to clean placards containing Caltex Techron information, which revealed a clue to the next destination after lunch, which was Caltex Sta. Rosa. There, teams were asked to devour a whole box of buko pie, which is incidentally Laguna’s well-known delicacy. After this task, the teams were asked to dance some "Techron" steps as a means to get all that buko pie into everyone’s tummies. After eating and dancing, teams were asked to call a hotline, which provided clues to the next pit-stop, the Philippine National Police Academy in nearby Silang, Cavite.

Upon entering the said complex, teams were asked to run alongside the "road of discipline", wherein vehicle speeds were limited to 30 kph. Another StarCard feature, security, was highlighted in the tasks inside the police academy. Every StarCard transaction was verified and recorded on line, and every transaction detail was captured and documented.

After completing the tasks inside the academy, teams were asked to travel all the way to the last pit stop, which was Manila Southwoods in Carmona, Cavite. After a brief rest, each team was asked to perform the tire-changing task, wherein the first pair of the team would remove the tire, and then the last pair would reinstall it. After a series of physically-challenging obstacle courses, the Light Blue Team managed to end up sixth.

Winners of the Hong Kong tour turned out to be the Green Team, comprised of members from DHL, Stoplight TV, and Auto Review. The White Team got the Baguio tour, which was composed of media personalities from Business Mirror and GMA 7. The team who bagged the Makati Tour was the Dark Blue Team, comprised of Coke employees and Manila Bulletin representatives.

Overall, this unique activity was indeed the perfect way to demonstrate the features and benefits that Caltex StarCard could offer, which is power, flexibility, control, and security rolled into one fleet card. Say goodbye to logistics nightmare and inefficient fleet management, the StarCard is here to serve every fleet, whether big or small.