F1 virgin no more

I always used to think that motor racing was nothing more than cars going round in meaningless circles, and a waste of fuel and money. But hype over the first ever race to be held in Singapore piqued my interest, and this past weekend, I was initiated into the world of grids, circuits and chicane turns.

I'd primed myself with all the necessary info, but nothing prepared me for the scene that met us upon entering the race premises. There were people everywhere: officials hawking earplugs and paraphernalia; at each turn, fans craning their necks for a glimpse their idols' helmets and photographers standing by for those precious few picture-perfect moments; tourists brandishing portable ($100/night) TVs blaring second by second updates; fanatics wearing and waving huge Ferrari/ Finnish flags... could not quite get my mind around the fact that everyone, everyone in the place had a ticket for the F1!

Then of course, there was the race itself. I watched in awe as shiny creations zipped by in blink-and-you-miss-it moments, and witnessed pit crews change tyres and fill tanks at no less impressive speeds. It was also amusing to watch cars tearing past City Hall in the opposite direction of the arrows on the roads and the large signs that read 'S-L-O-W' =P Above and beyond all the visual enticement, there's something very primal and alluring about the roar of an F1 engine that, after the first 2 nights, I still could not get enough of.

Sunday was a night to remember. Sitting on the Padang with hundreds of people, locals and tourists alike, we watched the giant screens in disbelief as Massa pulled away with a fuel line still attached to his vehicle, and joined in the collective gasp when Raikkonen crashed out. 61 laps, 119 minutes of thrills and spills. I went away impressed and caught up by the machine that is F1 - a machine that is constantly turning and as Sunday proved, highly dynamic.

Have been converted into an F1 fan... would that I'll be here next year to catch the races at trackside. Looking forward to seeing Singapore improve and prove herself again!

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Cheesy afternote, from lunch with the colleagues:

End Of The Road
- Boyz II Men

(spoken)
Girl you know we belong together
I have no time for you to be playing
With my heart like this
You’ll be mine forever baby, you just see

(verse)
We belong together
And you know that I’m right
Why do you play with my head
Why do you play with my mind?

Said we’d be forever
Said it’d never die
How could you love me and leave me
And never say good-bye?

Girl, I can’t sleep at night without holding you tight
Girl, each time I try I just break down and cry
Pain in my head oh I’d rather be dead
Spinnin’ around and around

(chorus)
Although we’ve come to the end of the road
Still I can’t let go
It’s unnatural, you belong to me, I belong to you
Come to the end of the road
Still I can’t let go
It’s unnatural, you belong to me, I belong to you

Girl, I know you really love me,
You just don’t realize
You’ve never been there before
It’s only your first time

Maybe I’ll forgive you, hmm
Maybe you’ll try
We should be happy together
Forever, you and I

Girl, you'll love me again like you loved me before
This time I want you to love me much more
This time instead just come to my bed
And baby just don’t let me, don’t let me down

Chorus

(spoken)
Girl I’m here for you
All those times of night when you just hurt me
And just run out with that other fella
Baby I knew about it, I just didn’t care
You just don’t understand how much I love you
Do you? I’m here for you

I’m not out to go out and cheat on you all night
Just like you did baby, but that’s all right
Hey, I love you anyway
And I’m still gonna be here for you ’til my dying day baby
Right now, I’m just in so much pain baby
Cos you just won’t come back to me
Will you? Just come back to me

(lonely) Yes baby my heart is lonely
(lonely) My heart hurts baby
(lonely) Yes I feel pain too
Baby please

This time instead just come to my bed
And baby just don’t let me go

Chorus ad infinitum