2009 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix

I was at CHV today for the launch of BC41. Apparently, TF had shifted the venue of the launch from STC to CHV to avoid the expected huge volume of human traffic at City Hall MRT and I must say that this is indeed a GOOD judgement call! The presenters were 3 of the better instructors in TF's stable and thats the main reason why I'm even there. I'm not sure if I would have attended had it been other mediocre fellows....

We all had our own programs after that and thus didn't wait up with one another for dinner. For me, I went around near the F1 Trackside, hoping to buy some F1 merchandise after having seen some of the fans wearing the better looking ones. Sad to say, besides the stall I saw in Orchard Rd yesterday, the few I saw just now were all within the F1 Spectators' Area which is obviously out of bounds to me unless I forked out some dough for the tickets.

By the way, the 2009 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix (official name) is in town this weekend for the 2nd consecutive year. Actually, Singapore used to host the Formula Libre events back in the 60s & 70s but thats eons ago...

Disappointed, I then made my way to the MRT. Along the way, I noticed the heavy police presence in the vicinity and noted that those under SPF had, strapped to their left thigh, a black bag which I assumed to be containing a chemical defence suit similar to the one I've been trained to put on back during my NS Days. WOW! Looks like they had even factored in chemical terrorism into their security plannings. Splendid job by the organisers!!

Up till yesterday, I was actually still harbouring hopes that someone would somehow have a spare ticket or 2 to give up and I would be the lucky recipient. :p But then again, reality isn't as such. As I walked along on my way to the MRT, memories of my experience at the very first F1 'Night' Race came flowing back. I was very lucky to have gotten 3 free passes for the Friday 'Practice' session thanks to my Bro-in-Law who had bought the tickets for his staffs as incentives but they prefer monetary rewards. Thus, the 3 passes become excess. If I had not been scheduled to depart for my US Trip the following day, I would have tried ways and means to get the Sunday passes instead!

Attending the race and watching it on TV is a totally different experience. Being on the ground, you'd see the cars for only a few seconds each time due to the speed at which they are going. You'd only get to see them for that bit longer if they had to slow down due to cornering or if they had a crash. Most of the time, you'd turn your head from right to left, back to right and then to the left again as the cars zoomed by. The noise generated by the engine can go up to 140 decibels and if you do not use earplugs, good luck!! If you're near enough to the tracks, you'd be able to smell burnt rubber, probably due to the friction between the road and the tyres during braking.

I must say I'm extremely lucky to have experienced all these last year and am looking to be able to tilt my head right-left-right, hearing 140 decibel noise and smelling burnt rubber in 2010 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

I strongly recommend you to try watching it on location at least once to experience it. If you've already done so, stick to the TV for its commentary, race statistics and most importantly, for the numerous camera angles!!

Singapore Grand Prix

For the first time since the 70s, the F1 is coming back to SG! This time, it's going to be held at night! This is yet another first for SG, the world's 1ST NIGHT FORMULA 1 RACE! How's that for a 1st-loving SG?

Please pardon me for show-boating abit today but I'm really excited and proud to be one of the 1st in the world to watch the F1 cars in action at night. Thanks to my bro-in-law who mistakenly bought 3 Marina-Bay Grandstand tickets for his staffs. He handed me 3 Friday Passes and I went crazy. I've been waiting to see the F1 on TV and now I'm going to see it live!

I was in the underpass on my way to the Grandstand when I heard the cars already going at it. The engine sound is thunderous, yet to the thousands present (me inclusive), this is music to our ears.... Over at the Grandstand, I was fortunate to be able to grab a spot near one of the turns where the cars will have to slow down before exiting the Grandstand. Not only can you catch the cars in slower motion, but you will also be able to catch the 'aroma' of burnt rubber from the tyres. You may think that is crazy, but to me and many others too (I'm sure), what's a car race without having smelt burnt rubber?

Enjoy the following pictures taken by my pal CK....

Renault's Fernando Alonso, winner of the Singapore GP 2008

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari's Felipe Massa

Manchester City

*Extracted from the 7th Sept STi*
---------------------------------------

Dear _______ (Sir/Madam/Manager/Owner/Fellow billionaire/To whom it may concern) of _______ (Manchester United/Chelsea/Arsenal/Liverpool/Real Madrid/Barcelona/AC Milan/Inter Milan/Juventus/Bayern Munich)

Allow me to introduce myself.

I am Sulaiman Al-Fahim.

I represent the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment, the new owner of Manchester City.

I am also known as the 'Donald Trump of the Gulf' due to my real estate company and my hosting of a TV series in the Middle East which looks like The Apprentice.

However, I would be just as honoured and pleased if somebody considers me the _______ (Bill Gates/Warren Buffett/Don Corleone) of Abu Dhabi.

Let me clarify first.

Although it sounds like it, Abu Dhabi is not the name of a midfielder in Arsenal or a prison in Iraq where people are tortured.

No, you are confusing us with Abou Diaby and Abu Ghraib.

We are a very wealthy emirate, one of the seven states which make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

You may have heard of us - the stadium at Arsenal is called Emirates Stadium and one of our fellow emirates, Dubai, is hoping to buy Liverpool once the American owners there declare _______ (bankruptcy/ insolvency/foreclosure/a fire sale/a suicide pact).

As you are probably aware, we are in the process of transforming Manchester City into the biggest football club in the world.

We are already the richest club in the world, overtaking even Roman Abramovich's Chelsea.

We do not want to boast, but our financial muscle of US$_______ (1trillion/2trillion/3trillion), depending on the price of oil, is more than Mr Abramovich's who, by the way, is welcome to join forces with us as our _____ (assistant/trainee/butler/ jester/falcon trainer).

As you are probably aware, we have just bought Robinho of Brazil.

_______ (Pele/Maradona/Cruyff/ Beckenbauer/Dr Phil) may question Robinho's judgment and sanity, but he is our first superstar at Manchester City.

I can assure you, sir, that he will definitely not be our last.

I am writing to you now because we are very keen to add to our collection to form the Greatest Team Of All Time.

As such, we wish to buy _______ (Cristiano Ronaldo/Fernando Torres/Francesc Fabregas/Kaka/your best player) from you.

He is a wonderful, wonderful player, befitting the ambitions of The Biggest Club In The World.

We are very eager to acquire him as our coaches have already engaged the services of _______ (Usain Bolt and the entire Jamaican Olympic sprint team) to train him to be even faster.

You should be pleased that your player is heading to a better place.

At Manchester City, we call our home New Paradise, we have a former Thai prime minister on our board, and part of our development plans is to include similarly powerful people such as a _______ (president/king/emperor/United Nations secretary-general/American game-show host) in our committee too.

Please remember, sir, that in our business dealings, money will never be an object, a subject or a reject.

We do not concern ourselves with such trifle matters.

There is no question of how.

Abu Dhabi United Group is used to getting who, what, where and when it wants, and we are very happy to have invited ourselves to come and play with you.

Please name us a price for your player but again, as I have stated, do not be intimidated by the extra penny or two.

US$ _______ (100/200/300/400/500) million will be wired to your Swiss bank account.

If you prefer the amount to be in more tangible terms, we can always throw in _______ (Hull City/Stoke City/Newcastle United/Tottenham) too.

Our manager, Mark Hughes, will be in touch.

If he does not call due to his busy schedule, kindly contact _______ (Kevin Keegan/Alan Curbishley) who is now part-timing with us in view of his recent resignation from _______ (Newcastle United/West Ham United).

I would appreciate if you could reply to this letter soonest.

Bearing in mind that kick-off next Saturday is at 5pm.

Thank you,
Sincerely yours,
Sulaiman

PS: Please call me _______ (Donald/Bill/Warren/Don Corleone the Godfather)
---------------------------------------

Looks like we're going to see an abundance of Man City fans around soon.... :(