Singtel Singapore Grand Prix 2010 Pt 3 (Sunday)

On Sunday we headed down to the National Stadium to be bussed into the circuit once again. This time I was prepared and packed as little as possible into my messenger bag and went through security with as little hassle as possible.

We headed up to the suite at the Paddock Club where I met up with my friend Nora; her husband Darryl was down at the actual Paddock working with Team Redbull - and as you can see, I was wearing my Redbull Cap in a show of support. I must have brought them some luck as Redbull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber came in second and third and were narrowly pipped at the finish line by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

I wish there were Brazilian dancers at all of my meals.

Anyway as we were about to head to place our orders for dinner, Brazilian Carnival dancers burst into the room, shaking their feathers and various body parts to the beat of the drums.  Now, it would be fantastic if every meal started this way, wouldn't it? After the pre dinner entertainment and after I stuffed my fat face, I decided to try my luck and see if I could go on the pit walk before the actual race started.

Lucas Di Grassi, Virgin Racing

The throng of guests were ushered along and instructed to keep moving. Some, however, had to stop and pose in front of their favourite driver's pit. I was just about to head back up to the suite, when security pushed me back and a human barrier formed right infront of me. The drivers  were about to go on their drive past around the track. I tried to get a photo of 7 time champion Michael Schumacher, but some jackass standing behind me thrust his cell phone infront of me blocking my view.

Sebastian Vettel at the Pit.

Michael Schumacher.

I finally managed to get to a spot where I could view the drivers waving to the crowds on their drive by only to realize that my camera was running out of batteries and I had forgotten to bring any extra! Thankfully I had a friend who had some on hand so after a quick change of batteries I managed to snap the following shots. As you can tell, a photographer I am not. I haven't gotten the hang of using my new canon camera. I suppose reading the instruction book should help.

The Drive by

Anyway after watching the drive by I headed up to Jean Georges to get something to eat: A couple of wagyu beef hamburgers with truffle oil among other things. Then I headed up to the suite for the start of the race.

Everyone had taken the prime spots in the suite so I decided to head on outdoors to the grandstand to see if I could get a better view.

The start of the Race

We left slightly before the end of the race to avoid the crowds. Last year it took me about an hour to leave the circuit and I was positively drenched. I headed back home, relatively dry and got ready to head out again to meet some friends for post-race drinks. I'm kind of surprised that we spotted some drivers out and about soon. If it had been me, I would have been completely KO'ed after driving for two hours around the track. The one question I've always wanted to ask, but have never had to cojones to do so is what do they do if they've got to poop or pee in the middle of a race. Do they just do it in their pants?

Rubens Barrichello, AT &T Williams

Jamie Alguersuari,Toro Rosso

Anyway, that's about it for this year. We bumped into more drivers at one of the after parties. Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen was kind of surprised when I spoke to him in Finnish, so much so that he started speaking to my friend Joyce in Finnish as well.  Kovalainen provided some dramatic tension when his car burst into flame on one of his last laps. It's no wonder he needed to head out for a drink. We also spotted Rupert Grint again as well as several other drivers.  We called it a night at about 4:00am, yes I am such a party animal.  Children's authors are a wild bunch! Thanks to my family for a terrific weekend.

Rupert Grint

Heikki Kovalainen, Lotus

Singtel Singapore Grand Prix 2010 Pt 2 (Saturday)

The Press Room @ the Paddock

As I stepped out of the suite, I walked across the corridor which overlooked the Paddock area, where I spotted Mark Webber posing for pics with some fans and Jenson Button stepping into the MClaren headquarters after stopping to answer some questions from reporters.

Mark Webber

F1 2009 World Champ Jenson Button

I tried taking some photos from the third level but they didn't turn out as I had hoped, but I really wasn't too bothered about that as I had met the two drivers  a few days before.

My growling stomach screamed: Feed Me! so I headed back to the suite where I bumped into my friends Darryl and Nora. After catching up

Darryl and Nora at the Paddock Club

with them for a bit, I headed down to the second floor,  where celebrity master chef Jean Georges Vongerichten and a team of chefs were whipping up such culinary masterpieces such as Foie Gras with caviar, Tuna Tartare, wagyu beef hamburgers with truffle oil.

Foie Gras with caviar

I caught up with more family there before I decided to head on down for the 'Pit Walk', where  guests get the opportunity to view the team garages up close.  

As I was lining up for the walk I spotted a familiar face - Rupert Grint aka Ron Weasley of the Harry Potter films who was obviously there to watch the race with us muggles.

He stopped for a quick photo but I have no idea what the deal is with those Yoko Ono sunglasses at night!

Rupert Grint aka Ron Weasley

Lotus's Heikki Kovalainen at the Pit

 As the line for the pit walk had grown to large I decided to head back up to the suite to watch the race that would determine the pole positions for the Grand Prix the next day and that's pretty much how I spent the rest of the evening, before heading home...To Be Continued...

                                                       

Singtel Singapore Grand Prix 2010

Busses headed to the Paddock Club

This year, I was lucky enough to be invited to the Paddock Club once again, thanks  my brother and sister in law I was lucky enought o view the practice session and the main race and, yes, to people watch. Once again we headed down to the National Stadium to go through the prerequisite security checks and to be bussed into the F1 circuit.

The  Paddock Club Pass

At the F1 circuit there was another round of security checks - our passes were checked and our carry-through items - camera bags, waist pouches etc had to be screened before we were waved on through into the Paddock Club. I don't know why, but every time I go through a metal detector I set it off and the security personnel always insist on checking my bags. 

Guests were already mingling at the outdoor cocktail area, soaking in the sights and sounds of THE sporting event of the year and noshing on appetizers like lobster sliders, while being entertained by classical girl band Escala.

Elsewhere in the F1 park, guests were being treated to performances by several musical acts and loads of ladies headed down to catch the men of Chippendales. I think my friend Joyce found it one of the highlights of the entire race.

We made our way to the third floor suite and were offered cold wet towels for our brows, drinks and appetizers as we were shown to our table. I grabbed a pair of earplugs and ventured out to explore the rest of the Paddock.

Paddock Club ear plugs

To Be Continued...

Singtel Singapore Grand Prix

Back in 2008, I was thrilled when my big brother invited me to the Paddock Club to watch the inaugural Singtel Singapore Grand  Prix. Security was tight and we had to be bussed into the Paddock Club from the National Stadium. Once we arrived at our destination, I saw one of the most stunning visions I have ever seen in my life. No it wasn't one of the F1 cars, it was Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela.

Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008

I turned into a complete babbling idiot as I approached this Latin goddess and asked for a photo, which my big brother took before I settled down at our table for a sumptuous gourmet dinner. As I gazed around the room I spotted Mark Burnett, creator of "Survivor", socialites and captains of various industries. I felt like I was on a segment of Sesame Street, the one that Grover sings. "One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn't belong." OK, you can pretty much surmise which 'thing' I was. Regardless, I had a blast.  Over the course of the race weekend I was also able to meet some of the F1 drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso, and F1 legend Mika Hakkinen.

Mika Hakkinen

Nico Rosberg

Lewis Hamilton

Fernando Alonso

Nelson Piquet Jr.

That first night race was memorable for lots of things: 1) Ferrari's Felipe Massa took off from the pits with the fuel hose still attached to his car 2.) Fernado Alonso won the title 3.) Renault boss Flavio Briatore and driver Nelson Piquet jr, were implicated in a cheating scandal, one of the worst scandals in F1 history.

It's been two years since that inaugural race and excitement for the Sporting event has grown exponentially. Last year there was an F1 Rocks concert hosted by Lindsay Lohan and featuring Beyonce, the Black Eyed Peas, and No Doubt. This year Missy Elliott, Adam Lambert, Mariah Carey and The Chippendales were flown in to entertain spectators between practice sessions and after the main race. A slew of pre/post race parties sprang up with race fans paying big $$$, hoping to mingle with the drivers and other glitterati. It's no wonder the main event sold out!

To Be Continued...

A Flash into the Past and a Podcast for New Dads

I guess one of the reasons I became a children's book author is part of me doesn't want to grow up. (Well my family insists I still haven't grown up and hence they're constantly telling me to do so). I'm into comic book superheroes, Star Wars, action figures and the unexplained etc, etc.  So this post I'll be talking about the podcasts that I've found on itunes that I enjoy tremendously  and allow me to remain in part of my childhood.

As I said my family thinks I haven't grown up (My theme song is 'I'm a Toys 'R' Us Kid'). So it shouldn't be a surprise that I really enjoy Flash Past on itunes. Now, if you're looking to relieve your childhood or youth, then check out Flash Past with my friends Dan @DanFugate and Steve @Wavesoftech on itunes. Each week the guys discuss something from the past: fast food restaurants, motorcycles,  rollercoasters, TV shows, you  name it. Needless to say the show's an absolute blast. You can even join them live while they're podcasting. There's also a trivia quiz, but you might not want to answer as you may be showing your age. Dan and Steve have great podistry: pod chemistry. Also check out the other podcasts on Waves of Tech. It'll be great to share these shows with your dad.

Speaking of dads, being a dad is a lot of hard work, just ask my dad or big brother.  Ok, before I go any further let me just say that I'm not a dad or a dad-to-be. For that I would have to find a willing accomplice to inflict that kind of cruel and unusual punishment on this poor unsuspecting world. But what I have recently come to realize is that there is not a lot of information for dads-to-be and new dads. While there are  numerous books for expectant mommies, there are hardly any guide books for expectant or new daddies. They're plunged into the deep end of poopy diapers and  hit face first with errant streams of golden newborn pee. If you're about to traverse the joys and travails of fatherhood, where do you turn? Fret not,  there's hope for new dads in the form of  the Daddy on Board podcast, hosted by Clayton Morris and Mike Quackenbush. Childhood chums Mike and Clayton  have come up with exactly what new dads need -- a weekly podcast addressing everything from big DO dos to big Do nots. If you like their hit podcast The Grizzly Bear Egg Cafe, which covers everything hip &  happening in the world of music, gadgets, comics, entertainment and everything else,  then you're going to dig Daddy on Board.  It's hilarious, it's a riot and more importantly it's informative. So if you're a long time dad, a new dad, an expectant dad or even if you're not, follow them on twitter @TheDaddyonBoard and subscribe to their podcast on itunes.  Also you might like to check out Mike's other podcast Chikara  Video Podcast A Go Go, and Clayton's other podcasts Today in Social Media and The Paranormal Report which he co hosts with Jim Harold  on itunes.

 And if you're kind enough, please give the podcasts a five star rating. They all deserve it.