Talkin-Typewrita.
- Critique Talk
Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.
Saturday, September 27, 2008, 15:52
F1 racing kicked off this week.I'm nothing but excited.
Goodness I heard about it a good year or two ago and was actually anticipating the entire event since then.
What's the big deal you might ask?
Malaysia, china , and japan.
They have already been there, done that, took a photo and got a souvenir.
So have most of the European countries.
Now take a moment and compare the size of Singapore and the other countries.
Yes, please come back to the fact that we are still a tiny weeny, small little red dot on the globe.
E.T can't even see us from the moon.
Singapore has constrained space, unlike the other countries who have hosted this mega event.
Hope you still realise that infrastructure locally still have a "the higher the better" concept.
Race and rally courses have been made and built specially for F1 racing, but in Singapore, the drivers race on the streets.
Our streets in fact, streets that we've tread on, places that you and i have fond( or bad) memory from.
They race on landmarks, our landmarks that hold special meaning to our glorious though tiny island country.
It's different i tell you, when you go to a race course and see the car zoom past at supersonic speed, liken that to the smell of burnt rubbers and smoky exhaust of the F1 cars that wooosh by you in a blink of an eye WITHIN our very city itself.
I'm proud of our nation( for a rather unpatriotic person myself).
I mean, I've been put in charge of events before, like supper night for my army guys, graduation parties when my batch of trainees got promoted and became sergeants and many other minor events or parties.
And the only fun part were the meetings, where we generate and brain storm for ideas.
Following that, the preparation and executing phases gave me problems and headaches that when it came to the actual day of the event itself, i was totally not in the mood and only wanted to get it done and over with.
Why am i saying this? Because our nation lacks both the area and resource to actually host such a mega event don't you think?
The only resource we probably have is our population, money to flow and the cash to throw.
So far i think we did a good job.
Well this IS the country that i served undying for 2 full years anyway right, might as well be proud of it.
Well guess not every one is happy about the F1,You can't possibly please the whole world right?
A friend was dissing the entire event due to the fact that he can no longer drive into the city area, Friday was the first time in 5 years he took a train to meet his friends.
Friday was the maiden night time practice sessions in our city street circuits.
As expected, running beneath floodlights instead of in natural daylight proved spectacular for spectators(those that weren't caught in the downpour at least) and trouble-free for the drivers.
Having a first-ever night practice and soon to be followed by the actually race in the dark would mean that the drivers have to cope with the danger of poor visibility.
That could really prove to be a big obstacle because at the speed that this sonic chariots are spinning through, they are only protected by their lighting fast reflexes and calculated decisions.
Not being able to see properly, in this case... will be nothing short of fatal at all.
However more whats more challenging was coping with the numerous bumps on Singapore’s Marina Bay circuit, the very high humidity, an ambient temperature of 28 degrees Celsius (despite the late evening hour) and just an hour between sessions instead of the usual two and a half.
That means they get to rest much much less than usual.
And i won't dare to imagine racing in the noon under the midday scorch of the sun.
Here’s are a handful of interesting facts and figures to help you get better acquainted with the city and the track…( cited from http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/9/8428.html)
- The new anti-clockwise 5.067-kilometre (3.148-mile) street track is located in the heart the city, with its famous skyline, scenic harbour and Padang Park all used to great effect. Made up of public roads, the Formula One drivers will race down the historic Raffles Boulevard, as well as cross over Anderson Bridge and under a grandstand.
- This weekend’s Grand Prix will be the first night-time event in Formula One history. The timing of the night event, with the race getting underway at 2000 hours local time, means it can be broadcast at a convenient time for European television audiences, whilst also thrilling local fans.
- Singapore is the smallest country in South East Asia, with its 63 islands making up a surface area of just 684 square kilometres (264 square miles). The event will be the second race of the season to be held in a city state, Monaco being the other. The Singapore circuit, however, is wider and faster than the one used in Monte Carlo.
- An average speed of about 175km/h has been calculated for the circuit, with drivers expected to reach approximately 290km/h along the main straight. In contrast to the recent inaugural Valencia event, the Singapore track’s slower corners make it a high-downforce circuit.
- With most of the action taking place after the sun sets, the entire circuit will be floodlit with the help of over 108,423 metres of power cables, 240 steel pylons and around 1,500 light projectors. The light created is expected to be four times brighter than that used at sports stadiums.
- As well as making history as Formula One racing’s first-ever night race, the race will also mark the introduction of electronic flag displays to the sport. The new technology will be used in conjunction with the traditional flag signals waved by marshals. Thirty five display panels will be situated around the Singapore track, each controlled by handheld panels operated by officials at each marshals’ post.
- The pit building for the event is a permanent three-storey structure located on the city’s Marina Promenade. Whilst the ground floor features garages for 12 teams, the second and third levels house race control facilities, the media centre, the winners’ podium and a Paddock Club large enough for up to 4,000 guests.
well all in all, i'm really proud of our country, we have one of the best education system in the world, we are one the only few first world country in this part of the globe, and WE ARE HOSTING THE F1 1ST EVER NIGHT STREET CIRCUIT RACE!
Okay we won a few gold medals at the paraolympics too (sorry i know this sentence is lame, well pun intended)
With that i leave you with some pictures just so if you've missed out this weekend.
( one of the reasons why men LOVE this race )
Labels: Alex