Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Singtel F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2008
38 days. It felt like I was never away for that duration in the first place. I haven't missed blogging a single bit during the time I was away. It felt like a rest I have long warrented. The timing of my laptop's death couldn't have come at a better time. I still haven't got my new laptop yet which is quite annoying and bothersome, but I felt I needed to blog about such a historic and memorable event - The first ever F1 night race held in Singapore.
I've been an avid fan of F1 for the last 2 years and so when they announce last year that we would be hosting the first ever night race in 2008 I couldn't contain my delight. That delight would soon turn into a series of moans when the ticket prices were released. $168 being the cheapest 3 day pass and that does not provide u a seat at a grandstand. The most expensive was the mind blogging $6500 ones but I figure out a $1399 one would be great enough. The problem was that the tickets were released in Febuary this year and the race only took place in September. A mad rush for the tickets, especially the cheaper ones ensured the moment they were on sale. The only F1 friend I could think of didn't wanted to go so I just gave up the idea. It seem at that point of time that watching my first ever F1 race live would have to wait at least another year. That was until Friday.
I woke up with a swollen left eye on Friday morning and with it being a Friday I decided that seeing a doctor doesn't hurt. There was another thing on my mind - F1. Friday was the first day, the practice sessions. But I shrugged it off and got myself ready to see the doctor. Then, as if heaven had the script written for that day, it rained. A morning thunderstorm at 8am. Without a choice, I had to delay the visit to the doctor. I started surfing some classified sites like ebay and came across a number of people placing their F1 tickets for sale. Like a heorin addict who haven't had a jab for a couple of hours, I started an intensive search for a suitable package in terms of price & types of seats. I wasn' even aware that I wasn't supposed to go and I had nobody to go with. That would wait though as I soon chanced upon a great offer of $1100 for a pair of grandstand tickets. There were other options as well and for the next 1 hour or so my phone buzzed non stop with all kinds of offers and trading activities. While negotiating with various people, I started thinking of who I wanted to invite. Finally I settled on Denise for the practice session with me and Jos watching the qualifying and race with me. It was quite a chaotic last minute decision and with the exception of Friday, I was always sure who I wanted to watch the race with. Initially we had only decided on the qualifying on Saturday before she changed her mind saying it's wierd to watch the qualifying without watching the race - muc to my delight and relief.
I could write all day long about everything that took place through the 3 days so to summarize it up, it was simply a magnificent and memorable experience. The kind that I could relate to my grand children and the kind whereby in a decade's time people will still be talking about it. And me? I could proudly say: "yes I was there, I was there when it took place and I was there when Nelson Piquet crashed his Renault."
The whole event obviously cost alot of money, and to most people it's simply insane paying over a thousand to watch cars but to me it was worth every single penny of it. I must have spent something close to $1400 for everything (tickets, transport, meals, souvenirs, etc) over 3 days but there's no regrets it was an experience of a lifetime.
The only general unhappiness was $10 for a plate of cai tao kuay (carrot cake) and it took 30 mins to cook, almost got me late for my race! Oh red bull cost $4 a can too!
A fabulous skyline view of the circuit
Expensive race passes
Can u spot Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari's 2007 world champion)?
Priceless photo!
Friday - Practice Session
A crowd gathering outside city hall mrt hoping for a free peak into the circuit on Friday
Spectators find all sorts of ways to take a rest from the heat
Me & WeiXiang
Me & Denise
I like this picture, i think it looks great!
BMW formula V6 cars
Ashton Martin
Nico Rosberg's Williams
McLaren Mercedes
Marina Bay Grandstand
In front of DXO
View from Esplande Waterfront Grandstand
Toyota
Red Bull
Honda
Ferrari
Toro Rosso
Lewis Hamilton
Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari
Robert Kubica's BMW
Spectators without tickets
Saturday - Qualifying Session
Some unknown race marshall i grabbed to snap a photo with
USA modeals - they look more like ladyboys to me lol
Vintage car - check out the spare tyre location!
Our famous 'durians'!
In front of the supreme court
Zouk at the padang!
Drinks menu!
So cute! I mean the greeny icon haha
In front of the Ferrari store!
Anderson Bridge
Slacking at work? They dont get paid anyway!
Brazilian street performances by ladyboys
Mark Webber's Red Bull Renault
She could hardly snap any cars, too fast lol
Eagerly anticipating the moment of their lives.....Jus kidding!
BMW
In front of the Zouk Resident DJ
BMW formula V6 cars
Kimi during qualifying
The track and grandstand at Padang
McLaren in full speed during Qualifying flying lap
Sunday - Race Day
Chilling before the race
Race Marshalls positioning themselves to snap priceless pics during the drivers parade before the race! Damn it, jealous!
Drivers Parade - Kimi Raikkonen (The rest are in videos)
In our seats
Before the race
Nelson Piquet crashed in front of us!
Help and safety car arrives
Fernando Alonso
Lewis Hamilton
Towing the car towards us...much to everyone's delight!
Nico Rosberg
Closed up view of the screwed renault
The marina bay grandstand
After the race. Satisfied - fully!
Video Clips
Some are not uploaded, too many to upload!
38 days. It felt like I was never away for that duration in the first place. I haven't missed blogging a single bit during the time I was away. It felt like a rest I have long warrented. The timing of my laptop's death couldn't have come at a better time. I still haven't got my new laptop yet which is quite annoying and bothersome, but I felt I needed to blog about such a historic and memorable event - The first ever F1 night race held in Singapore.
I've been an avid fan of F1 for the last 2 years and so when they announce last year that we would be hosting the first ever night race in 2008 I couldn't contain my delight. That delight would soon turn into a series of moans when the ticket prices were released. $168 being the cheapest 3 day pass and that does not provide u a seat at a grandstand. The most expensive was the mind blogging $6500 ones but I figure out a $1399 one would be great enough. The problem was that the tickets were released in Febuary this year and the race only took place in September. A mad rush for the tickets, especially the cheaper ones ensured the moment they were on sale. The only F1 friend I could think of didn't wanted to go so I just gave up the idea. It seem at that point of time that watching my first ever F1 race live would have to wait at least another year. That was until Friday.
I woke up with a swollen left eye on Friday morning and with it being a Friday I decided that seeing a doctor doesn't hurt. There was another thing on my mind - F1. Friday was the first day, the practice sessions. But I shrugged it off and got myself ready to see the doctor. Then, as if heaven had the script written for that day, it rained. A morning thunderstorm at 8am. Without a choice, I had to delay the visit to the doctor. I started surfing some classified sites like ebay and came across a number of people placing their F1 tickets for sale. Like a heorin addict who haven't had a jab for a couple of hours, I started an intensive search for a suitable package in terms of price & types of seats. I wasn' even aware that I wasn't supposed to go and I had nobody to go with. That would wait though as I soon chanced upon a great offer of $1100 for a pair of grandstand tickets. There were other options as well and for the next 1 hour or so my phone buzzed non stop with all kinds of offers and trading activities. While negotiating with various people, I started thinking of who I wanted to invite. Finally I settled on Denise for the practice session with me and Jos watching the qualifying and race with me. It was quite a chaotic last minute decision and with the exception of Friday, I was always sure who I wanted to watch the race with. Initially we had only decided on the qualifying on Saturday before she changed her mind saying it's wierd to watch the qualifying without watching the race - muc to my delight and relief.
I could write all day long about everything that took place through the 3 days so to summarize it up, it was simply a magnificent and memorable experience. The kind that I could relate to my grand children and the kind whereby in a decade's time people will still be talking about it. And me? I could proudly say: "yes I was there, I was there when it took place and I was there when Nelson Piquet crashed his Renault."
The whole event obviously cost alot of money, and to most people it's simply insane paying over a thousand to watch cars but to me it was worth every single penny of it. I must have spent something close to $1400 for everything (tickets, transport, meals, souvenirs, etc) over 3 days but there's no regrets it was an experience of a lifetime.
The only general unhappiness was $10 for a plate of cai tao kuay (carrot cake) and it took 30 mins to cook, almost got me late for my race! Oh red bull cost $4 a can too!
A fabulous skyline view of the circuit
Expensive race passes
Can u spot Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari's 2007 world champion)?
Priceless photo!
Friday - Practice Session
A crowd gathering outside city hall mrt hoping for a free peak into the circuit on Friday
Spectators find all sorts of ways to take a rest from the heat
Me & WeiXiang
Me & Denise
I like this picture, i think it looks great!
BMW formula V6 cars
Ashton Martin
Nico Rosberg's Williams
McLaren Mercedes
Marina Bay Grandstand
In front of DXO
View from Esplande Waterfront Grandstand
Toyota
Red Bull
Honda
Ferrari
Toro Rosso
Lewis Hamilton
Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari
Robert Kubica's BMW
Spectators without tickets
Saturday - Qualifying Session
Some unknown race marshall i grabbed to snap a photo with
USA modeals - they look more like ladyboys to me lol
Vintage car - check out the spare tyre location!
Our famous 'durians'!
In front of the supreme court
Zouk at the padang!
Drinks menu!
So cute! I mean the greeny icon haha
In front of the Ferrari store!
Anderson Bridge
Slacking at work? They dont get paid anyway!
Brazilian street performances by ladyboys
Mark Webber's Red Bull Renault
She could hardly snap any cars, too fast lol
Eagerly anticipating the moment of their lives.....Jus kidding!
BMW
In front of the Zouk Resident DJ
BMW formula V6 cars
Kimi during qualifying
The track and grandstand at Padang
McLaren in full speed during Qualifying flying lap
Sunday - Race Day
Chilling before the race
Race Marshalls positioning themselves to snap priceless pics during the drivers parade before the race! Damn it, jealous!
Drivers Parade - Kimi Raikkonen (The rest are in videos)
In our seats
Before the race
Nelson Piquet crashed in front of us!
Help and safety car arrives
Fernando Alonso
Lewis Hamilton
Towing the car towards us...much to everyone's delight!
Nico Rosberg
Closed up view of the screwed renault
The marina bay grandstand
After the race. Satisfied - fully!
Video Clips
Some are not uploaded, too many to upload!
posted by mango at 1:54 PM
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