A Night of Racing Dramas

Singapore F1 GP Night race concluded 2 days ago, on 28 Sept.
And what a surprise result for all F1 fans when Alonso took the
chequered flag!

Which means I said on the papers is nonsense!

Alonso was dealt with a cruel card during qualifying with a high
pressure fuel line problem, started 15th on the grid.
However when Nelson Piquet crashed and the SC was deployed
Mr Fernando benefited. He had just pitted thus will have a huge
advantage.

But the drama of all dramas was Massa pit stop. How bad can
a pit stop be? It was almost 10/10 BAD for the Ferrari team.
Their light system to release driver from the box was at fault,
prompting them to use the lollipop for the next stops.
Yes, Massa drove off with the fuel line attached to his car,
and poor Kimi was delayed in all of these.

In the end, the ones who gain most was McLaren and Lewis Hamilton
in their Constructors' and Driver's championship bid for 2008.
When Kimi crashed out with 4 laps to go and Massa finished way back,
zero point for the team in red, it was 6 points for the Silver Arrows.

At present, after Singapore F1 GP, Lewis is now 7 points ahead at
the top of the table and McLaren 1 point in front.

Will Mr Hamilton ready to be the youngest F1 Champion? Let's
see


It was indeed an unexpected result from what the qualifying grid
tells us on a street circuit.
It is great ! More of such in 2009 Singapore F1 GP, Please!

Paddock Access!

My good old friend Jeff with a walkabout can access the Paddock!
my golly!

Qualifying at Night, F1 GP Singapore

As I was working on Fri evening, this is the first time I took my seat
at the Padang grandstand. The view is great, but the seat is a bit wobbly.
Which means if you like a rocky chair, you will enjoy it!
I arrived at my gate for entry, just in time to watch the Formula BMW
cars past by. It seems like a good race. From where I am seated I could
actually hear the commentary, which is good as most time fans on the
track do not know what's really happening.

Shortly after the support race, me and my colleague went off to get
some dinner outside the track. This proved wise as it is much value
for money than what they offered in the track, expected though.

Upon returning to the track and our seats, the lights were on for
Practice 3.

Quite a sight. Beautifully lit up.

How fast is the F1 cars? Can you see the Ferrari in the pic above?

As there are 2 long hours between the Practice Session and the
Qualifying, we decided to get some beer just behind our grandstand.
The atmosphere is quite a buzz! Zouk did a good job in
drumming up the spirits of many race goers especially for the
tourists.


Back to the Qualifying, Massa got pole position while Hamilton
second, followed by Kimi, then Kubica.
And so, it seems like it's going to be an interesting race on Sunday.
I hope!

F1 in Singapore! Night race, no less

In about a day, Singapore will hosted its 1st F1 Grand Prix
race. And to make it more exciting and appealing race will only
start when the sun is set. It is the first ever night race, of course,
next year will be the second...

Let me just say that it is very exciting to have the world top drivers
going around our street circuit. F1 has never been more popular
in Asia, therefore, to have a race here on this island will somewhat
promote our tiny island nation in terms of tourism.


However, there are some rumblings (as usual) from the people from the
streets, including me. Why? Roads closure. Which effectively means jam
around the area leading into and away from the Suntec & Marina Centre
areas.
Well, we better get used to it as it will be at least 3-4 more Grand Prix to
come.

Next, shops, eateries, restaurants in the immediate area had commented
that business had been slow and almost non existent in the 1st day of
roads closure. All I can say is that Singaporeans are always about
efficient and conveniences, and so if they have to walk a bit more to
where they like to eat it will be a no go. I just hope the shops in the
area will benefit from the world class event, rather than have to suffer
through it.
Although, I have a suspicious it will be tough few days for them in terms
of lack of business, or getting too busy e.g. hotel staff or crews at
watering holes like Paulaner!

Now to the race. Ferrari boss had commented that more street circuits
in the F1 calendar is bad for the sport. I somehow have to agree.
Let's just look at the new race addition, Valencia. It is a street race too.
Qualifying looks great as the back drop is amazingly scenic. But the
actual race is a bore. Some report has described it as a expensive traffic
jam.


Personally, I hope Singapore race will be different. Very different.
Else, I may just fall asleep... Don't forget, it's a bloody night race.

I will be going into the circuit park tomorrow and take some pics.

(pics you see now are from http://www.itv-f1.com)

What did I say.... on ST

As it is drawing nearer, the excitement of the Singapore F1 Night Race
will be raising all the way to the actual race on Sunday, 28 Sept 2008

Roads in the areas are due to closed from 23 Sept to ensure everything
is in order.

Incidentally, I was asked about the race for a report in the papers
yesterday. And this is it...

From ST:

Another fan, Jonathan Lai, has tickets to the Padang Grandstand. For him, the drivers' championship equation will keep him on the edge of his seat.

Hamilton leads the standings with 78 points, just one ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

Experts have predicted that the Singapore race could go a long way in determining the season's outcome.

Said Lai: 'Just like Monaco's street circuit, overtaking opportunities are limited in Singapore.

'So, pole position will be a huge step to victory.

'That's why the Singapore race could be special, as the qualifiers could make or break the drivers.'

Do Not Stop & Stare - Plentong on 21 Sept

Once again, my need for thrill and speed is back!
Once more, let me show you what i have to drive through
to get to track.
In recent times, the dirt road had become worse.
The pot holes bigger and deeper. Rocks are more apparent on it.
I guess this is due to the rain that fell during the earlier part of Sept.
With much huge trucks that going in and out very often, it is
making some of the ditches very difficult to navigate through.

However the road condition is before the kart track may be, Tony and
I arrived and ready to put our kart on the track at about 9.20am.

The day started with me just check the kart in general.
Battery had to be charged, and so I leave it to the charger for about
30 odd minutes. Meanwhile, I observed Tony changed his Rotax Max
Air box and the Power Valve plastic cover and something...
While I just busybody around the track and took some picture of the track.
To be precise I took 2 !
It is where normal guys have their balls Shrank, and gals scream!
And on 20 Sept, one guy in a fun kart was very badly hurt when his
friend spun and hit him. He flew out into the tyre wall.
Accordingly to the mechs who are there on the scene, bone can be
seen from the gushes on his elbow area

Here is it, the down hill straight. Perhaps the picture do not tell
much of the gradient of it But it's steep. Also the picture do not tell us
that before this stretch is 2 long straight as well.


Thus the speed before this hairpin is FAST. And I kid you not that
I do hear gals scream plenty times like they are in a roller coaster.
But the fact is that, some accidents at here can be very awfully painful
whereas in roller coaster you are 99% safe.

It is also at this hairpin that Tony later crashed heavily into a fun kart
causing him a broken steering column. It is why I always allow fun
karters to go past the hairpin before I accelerate away. As the grip
level of the fun kart tyres are well almost non existent relative to
what we used on race kart, I cannot fault them for spinning for going
out of the track.

I just have to be more careful with them around.


I did 3 sessions with my kart. Only difference this time was that the
tyre pressure is lower as the tyres are balding.

1st session, I think I did about 7 laps. I felt good. Meaning I wasn't
puffing and huffing too much. The engine feel great, but I can
only get to 12700++ RPM on the main long straight.
I need to get another 1000 RPM out from it. How, is now the
question.

When I came into the pit, before i climb out of my seat. I was asked
to get out again. Kelvin wanted to kart together with me. David
wanted to see if Kelvin's shifter kart is better after some maintenance
works was done.

2nd session, interesting run of about 8 laps. Kelvin wants to be leading
the way so that he can gauge if his shifter can overtake me at which
points of the track. During this run, the lack of low end torque become
very apparent at corners and the hairpin. Yes, the shifter does have low
gear selections to push it out of the corners but mine was like almost to
a halt in relative terms. Something had to be done. However, I
discovered that I was able to pull some distance away in the straights
which make it slightly more difficult for him to overtake me.

3rd session, Tony, Kelvin, and myself got on to the track to have a mini
race. We all have a single warm up lap with Tony leading followed by me
then Kelvin. When the 'race' started we were all quite very close.
No clear gap. However, when we started our downhill descend I could
see a fun kart in front making the hair pin turn. I slowed. But Tony was
turning into it just as the fun kart spun and both clashed... thankfully,
drivers are ok. At that instant, I quickly glanced and focused where
I should go for the turn avoiding them. Cannot stop and stare, as the
'race' is still on. There wasn't much challenge from Kelvin until at a
later stages when he over took me somewhere... I really forgot where.
One of these laps, one fun kart spun right in front of me at the circle..
that was close, too close for comfort.
Then I started to chase after him. During these time behind the shifter
I realized I can catch up with him on the high speed straights.
Well, catching up is one thing. Overtaking is another.
The race ended quite abruptly as Kelvin went into the pits leaving me
to drive around for another 2 laps. His carb component broke.

It was a good day for me. Timing wise, I am not bothered. At least I do
not feel as if I am dying like the 2 previous track days.
Just got to find a better throttle control ,race line and physical fitness
to go faster and focus on the track better.

What I can do in 50 Seconds is ...

what KP can do in 48 sec...
and what Leo can do in 46 sec!
darn, am I slow and unfit!

some consolations... I think I did a high 49 sec on the new
1.1 km Plentong track.

Where am I slower and how exactly can I be faster??

Firstly, I felt I have to overcome my fear of my previous brake
issue. Now that my brake is rather biting, I should put faith in it
to brake as late as possible and still know that I can slow in time
for any corners.

Then I should start to throttle as early as I can after corner.
I realised that it does take a moment or two for my engine to be
at the optimal RPM, and all these moments at a few corners cost me
much time I think.

Thirdly, perhaps perhaps, I should change a seat. Or I should slim
down considerably so that I can fit into my seat comfortably.
My seat currently is just a tad too fitting. Which may be causing me
some real discomfort during a run.

BUT it's all excuses!!!! I should go faster! Faster! and Faster!
Throttle earlier, and No fear!

Hope my next entry will see myself saying I had put in a good lap
with a good time in the range of 47 sec!