Eins.. Zwei.. Sweet Sechzen.. Sweet Sweet Sixteen!!

If you have been watching the 2014 F1 season, you probably would have noticed the presence of a lot of stats and numbers. At the opening round in Albert Park, there were plenty of these, excluding the numerals that come with commentaries on the technical side especially in the dawn of a new weird era in F1 as one major news outlet puts it. 

The Wizard of Oz

2014's Wizard of Oz - Nico Rosberg

Among the primary stat was that of Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One team's Nico Rosberg's win at 2014's first GP. The win down under was also the first win at the first race of the season for the latest generation silver arrow F1 W05; and the 100th F1 victory for Mercedes-Benz power. Some say, the first of many to come. Interestingly enough, Nico's win in Melbourne was also.. wait for it.. the first time that both father and son have won the GP down-under.

When asked about it at subsequent media engagements, Nico was very cool about that stat, but the German who speaks .. wait for it.. five languages, is his own man and quickly played down that stat. Rightly so! Why would you need him to walk in his father's shadow. He's happily casting his own shadow over the rest of the paddock this season. I am sure Nico, 2014's Wizard of Oz, will certainly have more stats to throw at you through the rest of this season. 

From the Outback to the Oven 

Then came the race in the sweltering tropical humidity of Sepang and a second win for Mercedes AMG PETRONAS. This time courtesy of Mr. Lewis Hamilton. Winning from pole to flag, the Briton's win was also his 23rd career win, one that eclipsed Damon Hill's race win tally. Congrats Lewis!!


The outing in the Malaysian sauna was also Mercedes' first 1 - 2 finish in 60 years! Hooray to the Silver Arrows and to the guys back in Stuttgart & Brackley. The various reports across the world's media in the days that followed included all the stats I've mentioned above. 

Awesome duo - Lewis and Nico

Alles super!!! Great.. but somehow I got the feeling that some stats were missing from the Malaysian GP. Stats far closer to home, if you're Malaysian that is.. Geek-mode activated.

If you were listening to the commentaries on the live feeds on either free-to-air or satellite, I couldn't help but notice that only one of them gave a vague reference to what the race meant to Malaysia. And, by Malaysia, I am also referencing directly to the lead protagonist of the Malaysian GP - PETRONAS.


Red, White, Blue and a Yellow 14-pointed Star

While serving the final months of my exile in Europe, I recall watching an F1 race in 1997 on TV. Well, it was more the TV was watching me. Anyway, what caught my attention then was a word emblazoned on the side of a very striking blue-green F1 car flash by on screen. The recognition of that name probably comes from a memory stored in my prefrontal cortex.

Wikipedia

It later dawned on me that the name belonged to Malaysia's own national oil and gas company. Wow, I thought well done lah PETRONAS! Makes sense, oil company-racing, not an unusual pairing. After all, there's Shell-Ferrari and Texaco Havoline Racing.. That realisation reignited my interest in F1. After Ayrton's horrific accident and death, I had relegated my interest in F1 to the back of my mind and focused on finishing my masters.

Anyway, fast forward to 2014. As I reflected back on my first Malaysian GP I realised that there are some landmark stats for Malaysia and PETRONAS that deserve a mention. Granted, some may claim that I am biased. Maybe I am.. So what?!


20 - Twenty - Venti - Zwanzig: 
I am proud of the fact that it's been twenty seasons since the name PETRONAS appeared in F1 on the rear wing end plate of the Sauber C14.. 


3 - Three - Tre - Drei: 
The PETRONAS name was already on the podium in third place, three times prior to the inaugural 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix - Monaco 1996, Hungary 1997 (both Johnny Herbert) and Belgium 1998 (Jean Alesi). 


7 - Seven - Sette - Sieben: 
When F1 landed on these tropical shores in 1999, Jean Alesi claimed a seventh place finish for Sauber PETRONAS C18, PETRONAS' first home race.


2nd - Secundo - Zweite: 
Prior to PETRONAS' relationship with Mercedes in 2010, it's best home result was second place - Robert Kubica's 2nd place in 2008 and Nick Heidfeld's 2nd place in 2009. 


2009: 
I cannot forget that bizarre 2009 race simply because that was also the year when the race started later for European audiences. The angry sky prior to the start of the race was making everyone nervous. When I saw over 90% humidity on the timing screens, I knew that this was going to be interesting. Well, it was. And I simply cannot erase the memory of seeing a very very famous F1 commentator sprinting down the paddock from the TV compound after Zeus unleashed his thunderbolt on the TV antennas. It was hilarious!

I could hear Nick on the radio saying he simply could not see anything once the heavens really opened up. He kept saying over and over "it's too dangerous!" The race was stopped after 31 laps and as it didn't reach the required 75% distance, the top 8 drivers were awarded half-points for their efforts - the 5th time in F1 history that that has happened. The drivers had completed a race distance of just under 172km, which was also the 5th shortest race in GP history.

P2 - Secundo - Zweite: 
Was PETRONAS' best qualifying result on home soil, courtesy of Nico Rosberg in the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS car in 2010. Michael Schumacher's best effort with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS on my home soil was P3 in 2012.


2121 days or 303 weeks or 5years 9months & 22days: 
That is how long ago it was since PETRONAS' claimed its first ever race win and first ever 1-2 race finish. It came in the way of then-backed team BMW Sauber F1 Team's Robert Kubica (1st place) and Nick Heidfeld (2nd place) results at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. 


Sweet 16: 
How apt then that PETRONAS would get it's second 1 - 2 finish, its first ever on its own home soil and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS' first home race of the season in 2014 right here in Sepang on the PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix's sixteenth edition. 


The waterworks are on now..

I miss Robert and Heike.

Despite the fact that I am probably biased, I cannot help but feel good at those facts. Since my time in the industry, I recall a lot of happy memories sunning under the blazing heat of the Sepang paddock. For instance, when a usually cool and collected Nick Heidfeld gave me a rather emotional hug after finishing fourth at the 2007 PETRONAS Malaysian GP; or Robert Kubica's high-five and back-slap after his second place at the 2008 PMGP. Weirder still was Mario Theissen hugging me that same year.. now that was a super shock, if there ever was one.

As I struggle with the memories that seem to be flooding out of my prefrontal cortex and emotions from my amygdala - I will end this post with this thought. People often critique and find faults in what PETRONAS does in F1. While I am predisposed to understand the motivation, I am proud of having been a part of this historic journey, both as an observer and participant. 

arguing with 1996 world champion Jacques Villeneuve..

I am proud to have crossed paths with so many souls whose names most will never know, whose roles were insurmountable over the past 20 years. The congratulations that PETRONAS earned at the sweet 16th home GP last weekend I believe also belong to those names buried deep in the archives. 

This post is dedicated to those soldiers who laboured so hard against the adversities thrown at them from members of parliament, politicians, editors, journalists, members of the public, fellow colleagues.. etcetera. Theirs was a struggle against all the antagonists and adversities that has eventually turned into a positive, culminating in that landmark 1-2 result on March 30th. Take pride in knowing who you are/were and what you've done. You should! I am. 

We miss you Arwah Tun, Arwah Yati, Tan Sri & Puan Sri H, the late Ute Cohrs, RR... 

Deuce.. set point.. and we are racing!!

Whether you are a fan of F1 or otherwise, I think one would agree that there has been quite a lot of chatter about the brand spanking new 2014 season. Initially, pundits and fans took a cautious approach to the new technical regulations during the pre-season testing. So, the pitch and volume of the chatter were somewhat reserved. "We'll wait and see after we get the first couple of races out of the way," was somewhat the preferred tone of response to those changes. 

Since the curtain was raised for the world's biggest motor racing circus at the opening round in Australia on March 16th, what seems to have changed is indeed the volume and pitch of that chatter. Interestingly enough, one can now actually hear the arguments (pun, intended)! 

Backhand.. forehand.. and again, backhand.. forehand.. 

No doubt the 2014 cars are technically complex with its two energy recovery systems, more torque at lower revs and fuel limits capped at 100kg. Reading the regulation changes at the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile website - for a non-technical person like me - is almost like trying to translate ancient Nubian hieroglyphics into both sanskrit and aramaic using binary code.

Having said that, reading the views for and against the raft of regulation changes made me feel like I was watching a rather odd, painfully long but beautiful tennis rally. With the arguments flowing from one end of the court to another, I am assured in the fact that I am probably not alone in feeling the presence of a growing but dull throb somewhere in my cerebral cortex. 

I do not intend to regurgitate those arguments here as there are plenty of websites out there that will happily spew out the analysis for the discerning fan. However, I will say that we are all in for a very very very long tennis rally, at least for a while. Remember that ferocious 50+ shot exchange between Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal at the US Open final last year? Well, by my reckoning the arguments will rage on with some intensity, at least during the first flyaway races and perhaps through to the start of the European leg of the season, maybe. 

Naturally, like all debates, there are those for or against, and those that sit on the fence. Being the second round of the championship in this brand spanking new 2014 season, the PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix has certainly given quite a number of journalists I know ample material to work with. 

I especially enjoyed "watching" the pre-race weekend sparring between Button and Vettel about how it feels to drive the new 1.6L V6 powered cars. My imagination got the better of me as I started seeing the two of them with tennis racquets in their hands, slugging it out on centre court at Roland Garros at the height of the French summer. OK, granted, I have a strange sense of imagination.

"CAN YOU HEAR ME?!"

the complicated aero designs of an old F1 car from the 2008 season

Back to reality. I was given the chance to speak to several people within the industry about some aspects of the arguments. For instance, the debate on the deafening silence of the 2014 cars and the new fuel restrictions have been flying back and forth. 

While the season is only 2 races old, it already feels like it's been argued to its death. Jumping on the bandwagon, I too had to ask the same questions. A former Formula 1 world champion said, "It's good to have a change and I think Formula One needs to have a change." 

On another side of the argument, another former F1 driver said, "Formula 1 has gone a bit backwards, a little bit in performance and outright speed because of the restriction..". He later qualified that by saying Formula 1 does not stay still and it would be interesting to see what develops through the course of the season. 

The thing is, I guess I have to wonder whether the seemingly "lack of noise" in F1 actually diminishes the sport's appeal. I say that because these regulation changes were already in the works for over a few years now. Engine manufacturers like Mercedes had started working on these power units as far back as 2010. I recall a media briefing with several tech-journalists back in 2011 and among the questions that were raised included the impact of these smaller power units, that included the sound levels these units would produce. So, I am kinda surprised at the 'surprise' reaction. 

Sure, we miss the outrageous roar of the old V8 engines or even the V10s of the 1990s. Sure, there is that sense of romanticism behind the herculean roar and thunderous vibrations caused by an F1 car at almost 300+ km/h. I'll admit, I miss those days. On the flip side though, whenever I'd go to a race back then, I always left the circuit with a bad sore throat and clubitis. It's probably worth that experience, though my ENT specialist would mightily disagree. 


We all missed the turbocharged era of the 1980s but the thing is, like with all changes, I think eventually people will get used to it. We'll start focusing on other things instead. For one, F1 today is probably more accessible to those under the age of 12, the future fans of the sport, perhaps? And that then begs the question, perhaps F1 is evolving to suit the needs of the world we live in today and of the future. Perhaps it is embracing the future to ensure that it continues to remain both entertaining and relevant.

The angry skies over Sepang is kinda reflective over some of the reaction to the a new era in F1. 

The E factor.. not the drug.. 

The same former world champion asked me, "when you look at the world we live in today, what do you see?" That is the challenge for F1. To survive as a sport in a world today besieged with problems - energy crisis, food shortages, civil wars, higher cost of living.. etcetera. To survive as a sport that continues to inspire a younger audience that is more in tuned and conscious of the world they live in, far more than probably my generation ever were when we were younger. 

And, these changes that seems to have ushered in the dawn of a new era in F1 are not unique to F1. There's the new Formula E powered exclusively by electricity. Jean Todt, President of the FIA comments on the series as, " an opportunity to share FIA's values for clean energy, mobility and sustainability. The FIA is definitely looking to the future!" 

There are even energy restrictions in this years 24 hours of Le Mans. A renowned F1 journalist even quipped with me and said, "soon MotoGP will also be as quiet as F1. We're all headed in the same direction."

The two main things that seem to scream out are energy and the future. 

Back to my train of thought. Has F1 forsaken it's place at the top of racing's technological pyramid? I am not so sure. In fact, I'll stick my head out and say, I don't think so.

The fact that the 2014 car are so mind-bogglingly technically complex is testament to the technological prowess that not only defines the sport but keeps it at the top of the proverbial racing food chain. 

It can't all be about speed, dude.. 

I didn't get to drive this but sitting in the cockpit of a 2009
F1 car does make you marvel at the brains behind these
complex machines.

The tech-brains behind the sport - who are amongst the most brilliant minds - have been given a new set of challenging parameters to which they are having to come up with new innovative solutions. Sure F1 is not as fast today as it was 10 years go. 

But how fast an F1 car goes is no longer the sole determining factor anymore. To the naked eye, the cars seems slower. But, the paradigm of racing has changed. Its about who's fastest in the most energy efficient, most reliable and economical manner. 

Take all the different considerations in place in today's regulations and then consider this: Juan Pablo Montoya's lap record at Sepang in his Williams 3L V10 BMW engine in 2004 was 1:34.223. Lewis Hamilton's fastest lap of the race in his 2014 Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 W05 1.6L V6 was a 1:43.066 on the same circuit. At face value, way slow, right? Well..... Given the size of the power units compared to the monsters F1 had 10 years ago, the V6 turbo cars have higher top speeds. So how come the slower lap times? Well, there's more power but the cars have less downforce. So, the drivers are struggling to get the power down especially coming out of slower corners. 

Anyway, I am getting into territory that I am not smart enough for. 

Suffice to say, the nature of F1 is that it will continue to push the brains behind the sports. Engineers are constantly challenged to find solutions that make their team the best. In that respect, F1 has not changed. They'll continue to push the envelope of technology and unlock the performance of their cars. Drivers will continue to be pushed to the limit, even if in a quieter environment. At least they can now hear your screams from the grandstand. And you might not have to worry about premature deafness. 

And fuel regulations? I don't know about you, but I wonder about how far my car can go on XX litres, while still being able to go that little bit faster than that gas-guzzling monster Porsche Cayenne beside me on the highway. Perhaps, it was about time F1 did the same. After all, fuel regulations have already been in place for some years now. No refuelling regulations have been in place since 2010, so teams have had to figure out the best way to deliver maximum performance on XX litres of fuel. This year, they have to ensure that the fuel flow rate is within regulations, yet another complex challenge. 

Phew.. that's off my chest. I could go on and on.. but I wont.

Well, I guess like a long tennis rally, this set is likely to continue on for a while until someone wins the point. Then, another debate will emerge and yet another long rally will ensue. I'm interested to see how this match will play out. Like any kind of competitive spirit, on or off the race track, I know I will keep coming back for more. 

Formula 1 Fever Returns to KL

More than 17 years ago, when the idea was first mooted for Malaysia to play host to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, it didn't come on the back of a fanciful idea. Rather, it was the byproduct of a nation already imbued with a love affair with fast cars and bikes. In along with a heritage of hosting world championship-level events from as far back as the late hippy 60's and a cult of diehard petrolheads, it was evident that Malaysia possessed the motor racing DNA.

The boys from the Malaysian Cub Prix championship 
'on-track' for the demo

Like the weather and all things fad and fancy, the passion for motor racing has had its fair share of fluctuations. So, perhaps - in my humble and uneducated point-of-view - the motor racing gene had gone dormant for a while. It needed a foreign and external agent to reawaken the dormant gene, and a timely boost. 

Since landing on our tropical shores, through the impetus provided by Formula 1, motor racing has found itself well and truly entrenched in some form or another. 17 years on, that passion is evident from the main protagonists in this still-young industry to the average Mat, Ali, Tan and Jo on the street. 



The 2014 Edition

The 2014 FIA Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix is the 16th edition of this race event. To mark the occasion, the national oil and gas company PETRONAS - who are also the title sponsor of the race as well as the primary brand to a phalanx of racing teams - organised their almost-annual PETRONAS Demo Run on the streets of KLCC. In the early years of F1 in Malaysia, they used to take demo to various parts of the country. Since 2009 though, that tradition has somewhat found itself now based around the company's HQ, KL. 

As a prelude to the race weekend itself, the event is intended to give fans and spectators a taste of not just F1, but also the other motor racing activities. This includes those that exist in Malaysia and where the jade-green PETRONAS oil drop is present elsewhere else. Held on a glorious and scorchingly hot and humid afternoon, the cavalry came out to play on Sunday, 23 March 2014. These are some of the picture highlights from that event.

2-wheel fun

Some of the young lads who race in the PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub PRix Championship, under the Hong Leong Yamaha marquee 

Kenny Chua from team PETRONAS Yamaha AHM Malaysia has been involved in motor racing for decades participating in the various motorcycle championships in and around the region. A young rider from Kenny's stable named Ramdan Rosli will head to Europe to ply his motorcycle racing trade in the CEV Spanish National Motorcycle Championship. Go Ramdan!

Ramdan Rosli on his 600cc bike ahead of his demo run

Monsters on 4-Wheels - Mercedes DTM Debut 

The Mercedes DTM car made its debut appearance at a PETRONAS Demo Run on Sunday. The German auto manufacturer uses its C-Coupe in the highly competitive Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, DTM (in the common tongue - the German Touring car championship). The competition is still against the likes of Audi and BMW.  

At the helm of the Mercedes C-Coupe DTM car is young Spaniard Daniel Juncadella, who is in his debut season for Mercedes in the 2014 DTM season. Good Luck Daniel! 

Daniel trying to stay cool in the scorching heat.

Juncadella let loose on Jalan Ampang with his DTM monster. Awesome.

And then indulges the crowd with his smokin' donut! 

Formula 1 Fever - the return of the noise, for just one day

There's been considerably debate over the deafening 'silence' of Formula 1 in the 2014 season. The regulation changes have significantly altered how F1 looks, feels and sounds. The infamous sounds of the roar of a monster 2.4 litre V8 engines are gone, thanks to the mandatory switch to the 1.6 litre V6 turbo engines. 

Just when we thought the glorious ear-bursting F1 sounds were gone for good, the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team decided to bring it back to life, just for one Sunday afternoon. 

The Mercedes AMG PETRONAS W03 from 2012 came out of retirement for just one day to thrill KL-ites

The two-week break in the Formula 1 schedule between Melbourne and Sepang meant that instead of having the reserve drivers, fans and spectators got the treat of having the F1 car driven by its two main drivers - Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, the latter making his PETRONAS Demo Run debut. 

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg from the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team

Nico and Lewis indulging the sponsors with a spot of PR in the hot sun. 

Lewis takes a spin on Jalan Ampang, KL

Then decides to add his own tyre-mark graffiti on the tarmac.. 

It's the 2014 Australian Grand Prix race winner, Nico Rosberg's turn at the wheel. Last minute twitter pic selfie..

Radio check? The mechanic's right behind you bro!

I kinda dig Nico Rosberg's new helmet for 2014.

Lewis Hamilton: "I don't know how you all do it in this incredible humidity!"

 

All in all, despite the sunburn, it was fun being back in the thick of racing. I do miss the people and friends I've made in the 16 years I was involved in motor racing. So, my thanks to Paulynne, Two Wheels Motor Racing, PETRONAS, Ramdan, Afiq, AHM riders, Dani, Georg, Nico and Lewis for a scorching Sunday afternoon! 

The 2014 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix takes place 28 to 30 March at the Sepang International Circuit.

شكرا جزيلا & Ramadhan Kareem my luggage store friend..

"Just over three months.." I answered when I was queried about a recent turning point in my life. "Wow.." is usually the response I get. Perhaps that it was unexpected? Was it too random? Or too impulsive. Goodness knows. Typically, whenever there is a discussion about "change", I am often bemused. Bemused by the reaction it provokes, bemused by the bewilderment it conjures up and even slightly amused by the varied facial expressions that usually accompanies the topic. 

But I was recently involved in a rather random and unplanned conversation about change with a certain individual that for some unknown reason, has had me constantly think about it. I was in a mall, wandering about when I walked into a luggage shop. I had finally bought my snowboard boots and realised that I had no space in my check-in luggage. Thus, my stop at a luggage shop in this particular mall in a certain Arabian metropolis.

Anyway, having become accustomed to being attended to by my fellow Asians working abroad; in this particular instance, I was attended to by a rather pleasant young Arab man. Hmm.. A nice change (and admittedly, pleasant to the eyes too, with his greenish-brownish eyes). He offered to help me solve my luggage woes, when I accidentally blurted out what I was thinking, which was that he wasn't from this particular neighbourhood. Perhaps he was curious too, as he too blurted out what he was thinking. 

After getting passed that awkward "you're not from around here" conversation, we exchanged our Salams and I asked him where he was from after he had rather accurately guessed where I was from. 

Hama @Wikimedia

"Hama," he said and lowered his head. A glimmer of what I was sure was a teeny tiny tear in the corner of his eyes made my heart drop to my foot. As the store was fairly empty, (bar one weird lady who had laid out every single luggage on the floor making it impossible for anyone else to move around) and his manager nowhere in sight, the conversation continued with me blurting out, "oh goodness."

In my best bimbo impression ever, I asked, "Syria?" "Yes", he replied. We carried on talking as he relayed the ordeal of running from his beloved city, and how everything he had come to know was now virtually unrecognizable. Not prejudging on whether he was one of the more privileged than those friends or acquaintances who remain in Hama today, here was a young man whose life, as he knew it, was turned completely upside down and inside out. Where he eventually ended up, was as far as he and part of his immediate family could feasibly go, start fresh and rebuild. Some of his friends attempted to run even further. Even to as far as Malaysia. Though he was visibly sad; he was incredibly calm and kept saying الحمد لله throughout. 

We carried on talking, until his manager reappeared. I hastily paid for my new bag and gave him my salams and left. I continued on my Arabian adventure only to realise that I never got the name of my brother.. 

Fast forward to a few days ago. An article appeared of a Palestinian man and a Syrian family, stranded at KLIA. I wont recount the article or how they ended up here, but it reminded me of my luggage shop brother. Whatever apprehension, anger, annoyance, frustrations along with a myriad of other emotional turmoil at the changes I've recently undertaken; was put into perspective. As much as I wish to end the hurt caused by those folks who manipulate and blatantly lie; I am reminded by my luggage shop brother's story.. That my circumstances are not that bad and that I really ought to face it with grace and dignity; be grateful and thankful. الحمد لله

Thank you my brother, for your story has reminded me to remember the importance of humility so that I can keep my feet on the ground despite whatever lofty ambitions I may have;  إن شاء اللهThough he won't be reading this; Salams and Ramadhan Kareem to my luggage shop brother from Hama, Syria and to my friends in Cairo, Alexandria, Khartoum and everywhere else - may it be a blessed one for you and your family.

Footnote:

Hama (or Hamah) is a beautiful ancient city located on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria. Located about 200+kms north of Damascus and 40+kms north of Homs, Hama is the 5th largest city in Syria, after Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and Latakia. The city is known for the 17 remaining ancient "Norias" or wheel of pots / waterwheels along the Orontes river. Possibly rooted in the Byzantine era, these Norias served to take water from the river and channel it through aquaducts and other channeling systems to irrigate nearby farms. 

lies.. damned lies.. and statistics..

I was mulling about doing my own thing on a particular Saturday when I noticed something that set off a few alarm bells in my head. A group of people were seated together talking in a rather serious manner. The fact that the conversation was held in such a public place was an indication that one half of the party couldn't care less for the other parties' reputation or standing; and that the other party was either oblivious of that fact despite their polite courtesy. 

Anyway, I loved the opportunity that it presented as I quietly observed the body language of the participants of this debate. From the moment they sat down and the nervous glances it was pretty clear that this wasn't going to be a pleasant gathering. By the end of it, one could have tried to cut the air with a 300hp chainsaw to no avail as the tension lingered on in the air. 

Mid-way through one could already determine the two main protagonists, the one who spoke a lot and the other who whilst saying virtually nothing spoke volumes as it was obvious that he (who I will now call the "Mr. Director") was the one orchestrating the entire play - all from the sly glances, odd hand gestures and offensive seating stance. Didn't really fancy the vibe from the Blabber Mouth who did all the talking either. Within 10 minutes I grew to really dislike either men. Both gave off really bad vibes and I started to feel kinda bad for the other side. 

Safe to say at this stage - I knew the group, I knew what they were doing, I knew exactly what was going on and I knew the news that was being delivered.. and I also knew that there was something odd in the equation. 

The best part was this - not long after that unceremonious exchange, the news that I had already anticipated and known about for some time made its way to my ear; but not from the grieving party. I guess the grief must've / would hit later..

.. It felt kinda like a delayed reaction a spouse who has been told that their significant other has dropped the bomb that theirs was a relationship that isn't working..

..the kind of reaction that comes from the realisation that actually the statement that "it isn't you darling, it's me. I have to reconcile that with myself.. blah blah blah.." was a half truth to mask the reality that their other half was seeing someone on the side.

.. It's the kind of reaction that comes when one discovers that after the process of cordiality in getting the various separation documentation done yada yada yada.. news floats to the ears of the saddened spouse that their former-significant half got themselves hitched quicker than it took the ink to dry on the divorce papers.. 

Anyway, back to the story. So the news was delivered to me via Blabber Mouth who again oh so unceremoniously announces in public that the marriage was an utter failure; as the other party had demanded too much.. this, that and the other .. etcetera etcetera..

Of course, I had also noticed Mr. Director lurking about nearby.. Before Blabber Mouth could complete the first sentence I could smell the rat and it stank like crap. If it weren't for a need for a kind of decorum in public, I might have unleashed a tongue lashing for the mere fact that Blabber Mouth simply had no manners and was clearly delighted to both wash the linens in public and demonstrate his delight at rubbing salt into the wound..  Was für ein dummkopf!

The thing is.. even before the day Mr. Director and Blabber Mouth came to that meet, I already sensed and smelled the deception.. Someone was telling a lie.. the half-truths, the totally incomprehensible and totally exaggerated excuses filled with grand supercalifragilistic superlatives .. were just a bit too much.

My conscience led me to one day accidentally drop the suggestion into a random conversation with the other half of that ill-fated relationship, it was clear that it wasn't welcomed.. Hmm.. Pride? Ego? 

During the couple's courtship, right from the get-go, this was a relationship I didn't completely agree with all on the basis of meeting Mr. Director and Blabber Mouth for the first time.. I couldn't trust either of them and I wasn't in a position to advise the other half. So, in true Yoda mode: endure, one must; in silence, watch, one must. 

The sad part, I grew to really like some of the members of the other half's family. I can only hope the acquaintances I made with some can grow into lasting friendships.

The other sad part is that the grieving half.. who somehow doesn't seem to realise it's even grieving will be the one to get the most vicious criticisms and the unbelievable grief from highly opinionated armchair commentators, over and over again.. and not the cheating and deceptive half because Blabber Mouth directed by Mr. Director would have either created another deception with honey-coated words to blindside everyone else. I guess it's a given that even if I still love your family, I have no shred of respect for you Mr. Director or Blabber Mouth. 

Boxer Muhammad Ali once said: “Give up what appears to be doubtful for what is certain. Truth brings peace of mind, and deception doubt..” what irks me is if there was an inkling of doubt, which was clearly evident from the very beginning, why agree to having the nuptials??! I suppose when one is hopelessly in love one didn't heed Aesop's advise - "Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow." (??!?)

Der Schein trügt.

Right.. that's off my chest.. 

Traversing here, there and everywhere..

It has been bloody ages since I had the inclination to scribble something on this notepad. Goodness knows why.. Despite my ever growing stack of half-read books that sleep beside me at nights, inspiration has been rather thin of late.

But i recently got a nice hello on twitter all the way from the Dominican Republic. Though I know no one from there, it put a nice wee small smile on my face though I was literally drowning in work. That tweet and the 40+ hour motorsport marathon over the weekend (that produced a warm fuzzy happy feeling watching someone I think of as a friend win the 24Hours of LeMans); a wet and soggy Silverstone MotoGP race as well as truly long drawn-out race in Montreal; and a series of work trips, I thought.. OK let's revisit this notepad.

Despite my vehement protests I've somehow managed to clock up quite a bit of mileage on my passport that I'm already dangerously close to being out of pages and facing the prospect of renewing that little red book.

Hola Barcelona!

Back in the Eurozone

May 2011, my work travels had flung me across into the Euro zone into Espana, Barcelona specifically. It was my second time, though I am not quite sure if the 72 hours in February counts as a visit once you've discounted the jetlag, etc...Anyway.. this trip was truly memorable on so many accounts.

I had the pleasure of working with a certain rider plying his trade in the MotoGP, who was a guest to a certain F1 grand prix event. In the course of the discussions -  some good, some not so good - someone asked me which of the personalities from the two worlds I preferred working with... Without batting an eyelid, my heart chose the former over the latter, but what came out of my mouth was, "they're different and it would be unfair to compare them in that manner." The person read between the lines and got the gist of what my heart chose. 

Two weeks later, I found myself back in the Eurozone, this time.. Italia. I had not been back since Monza in 2006. As a kid and through the late 1990s; I realised that most of my travels to Italia had taken me to the western side.. 

This time, the group I was traveling with were taken across an almost 5 hour road trip to the Eastern side of the boot, on really challenging terrain that is the E35 and A1 Autostrada del Sole. The great ancient Roman highways are really well preserved with virtually no upgrades in the past two millennia.. only the methods of travel must adapt to the terrain.

*Note: if you own a vehicle with more than 2 horse power and intend to use it in Italy; marry a mechanic or invest in the mechanical repair industry.

Sleeping through most of that road trip, we eventually arrived in Forli and in the next days spent a lot of time in Faenza and Brisighella. It was my experience in these two little towns that drew me to this notepad.

Two time zones on the Faenza clock tower?

While the crew busied themselves over angles, lines, scripts.. and me keeping a watchful eye for undercover hey-touristfolks-you-are-not-allowed-to-film-here-and-will-shoot-if-you-do-not-obey-capiche?-cop .. a smartly and neatly dressed man in his fourties on a bicycle stopped right in front of our host and me and said with a huge smile .. "Hello! Welcome to Faenza! You are filming here? Good! Enjoy your stay!! Ciao!" and rode off.. 

I was half expecting a citation or a little black notebook, or .. nevermind.. I simply stared in disbelief with one hand in the air doing a semi-wave back to him..



Medieval Marvel

A view of Brisighella from above

Later that day, we found ourselves in a quaint little medieval town of Brisighella. If one ignores those horse-powered machines with four and two wheels, the communication towers atop the gorgeous rolling hills lined with olive and fig trees.. not a thing has changed since the 12th century. As is typical in some medieval towns, the characteristics of the town includes a sanctuary, a fort and clock tower. If you need a visual-feel to the place.. think "Under the Tuscan sun".. the movie.. cobbled streets.. narrow and uneven lined buildings..  minus Raul Bova.. 

But, what was even more gorgeous was this wonderful young lady who walked up towards us to point us in all the right directions. After climbing up the hill to the top of the little town, we met the young lady again.

Look up "nice and friendly people" in the dictionary and you will find "Brisighella"... Seriously.

Farah's Formaggio

Turns out the young lady's name is Chiara; owner of the Osteria della Fonte, purveyor of extra virgin olive oils; rare and forgotten local fruits and produce in the area; and my 2011 Miss Congeniality award recipient. After discovering my love for cheese, she created a dish for me, which she might put on her menu as "Farah's Formaggio"..

On the penultimate day of our trip we found ourselves back in Brisighella, but sadly that day was also the one day she shuts the Osteria.. so I didn't get any olive oils to bring home.. Nevertheless, my producer and I decided to sit in a hotel cafe nearby while the rest of the crew went about finishing their shoot.. After the event we attended had finished, the town went back to its regular routine bustling about at an eighth of the pace we city-folks are used to. 

The waiter came and we ordered. After observing his demeanor, my friend and I came to the conclusion that here was the town's odd one out. The hair, earring and dress sense was too city-like and concluded that Mr. Waiter was dating the goth Miss Waitress with funky flame red dreadlocks from Chiara's Osteria. As he came back with our orders, I put on my tourist cap and asked about where we could source some nice extra virgin olive oil. 

BOOM.. he transformed into the tour-guide pointing us to many different directions. Turned out Mr. Waiter was also the local tourist information kiosk. As if that wasn't enough, he went back in to answer the phone at the hotel reception. I am sure in the morning he does housekeeping at the hotel; every other day the postman; the summer months the tour operator; owner of a vineyard and the town's medieval festival coordinator.  

After letting my imagination go off tangent, I realised we weren't the only customers there. There was a rather sharply dressed gentleman, who chose to sit at the table next to ours. Striking up a conversation with us, Giorgio (I think and someone will correct me here) turned out to be a really pleasant fella who is in the antique coin minting business. As a traveling salesman I kept thinking how he would meet loads of people along his travels but few end up as friends. We talked.. about coins.. and he figured out what us odd looking folks were doing in Brisighella. He got up half way through his brunch, left everything on the table dashed to his car. 

His excitement ached me so I indulged him. He whipped out his ipad, showed me a video presentation on the rare minted Enzo Ferrari 1:18 scale model his company made. Only 300 pieces in the world at Euro 35K. OK.. I was convinced it was made out of platinum.. We went on our way eventually, and once again Giorgio was all alone again.. I really hate seeing people eat alone.. 

Un viaggio di emozioni

On the final day, realising that Imola was only 40kms away.. i had to .. please??!!! Off we went to Imola. When we got there, the dude at the cafe right across the entrance to the Imola grandstand pointed us to where we wanted to go. He was so nice despite his really scary looking 6foot 5inch tall girth. 

After some 500metres walking through Imola's really beautifully manicured Acqua Minerale park, we were at Tamburello corner... Honestly, flashback to that May Sunday in 1994.. as my elder sister sat with her jaw on the floor and my late younger sister in the garden of our student home in England.. If Monza is La Pista Magica, Imola è un posto molto emotiva.

Imola è un posto molto emotiva

All in all, it was a pleasure meeting all these people and hats off to these hard working folks! Best of luck to Jorge, Gavin, Hector, Ricky, Albert, Chiara, Giorgio, Mr. Waiter-tourguide-postman-dude and his goth-girlfriend, the lady at the Sanctuary; Franco; Mr. Bandini's sister; the bartender, waiter and waitress with the funky cool hair in Faenza.. may lady luck cross your paths and stick around with some good mojo..

Grazie.