I arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning for the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix and attended the Friday practice. What an incredible display!!! The high-pitched wail of 18,000 rpm, uncanny braking, and acceleration are almost cartoon-like! We have seats in the grandstand right at the fastest point of the entire track. We sit at the end of the back straight before the last 180deg turn taken before accelerating down the front straight toward the finish line. It's like we're kids able to reach down and pick up our slot cars, it's so close!!! We can almost reach out a hand and touch them!!!! There is a commanding view of a double-apex turn, two long straights, and two braking/passing zones,in addition to the giant-screen TV covering the rest of the circuit.

At the end of the back straight the cars come screaming toward our seats, accelerating to 180mph, and throw on the brakes just as they arrive right in front of us. They decelerate from 180 mph (290 kph) down to 60 mph (96 kph), all within 75 meters. I tell ya, it's like watching a cartoon!!!

And the crackle of the motors as they shift down thru the gears is exhilerating! The carbon brakes glow a bright orange, like fireplace embers stoked behind the wheel spokes. Under braking the tails wag slightly as the drivers haul down from unbelievable speed while turning in toward their apex. We glimpse the occasional locked left front wheel and witness real-time brake modulation as the driver releases slight brake pressure, watching as that wheel struggles to roll again. All the while, the car lays down a lurid black streak. And the scent of super-heated carbon brake dust is heavy in the air!

The Royal Malaysian Air Force put on a demonstration during the lunch break right over the main grandstand. No, I mean RIGHT OVER the main grandstand. Not above it, not near it, but RIGHT OVER it! Watching their F-18s almost made me miss flying fighters!

Saturday we're going to see morning practice and afternoon qualifying.


Race Distance 310.408km / 192.879m
Number of Laps 56
Lap Distance 5.543km / 3.444m
Lap Record Hakkinen: 1'38.543
Qualifying 13:00 - Mar 17/2001
Race 15:00 - Mar 18/2001


The Sepang circuit, at a minimum of 16 meters, is very wide even by modern Grand Prix standards, allowing for varying lines into corners which is designed to encourage overtaking. There are 15 turns and eight straights, the longest of which is 927 meters. Cars arrive at Turn 1 having built up speed down half the length of the main straight in 6th gear, at about 185 mph. The right-hand corner leads immediately into the left-hander with 2nd gear being held all the way through and the speed dropping to 60 mph. A high positive camber promotes a good overtaking opportunity. The track forms a sweeping right hand curve that takes cars onto a short straight where the speed will reach around 155 mph in top gear before hard braking for turn 4 - a tight right hander - brings them down to 2nd or 3rd gear and 75 mph. Turns 5 and 6 are short high speed left and right handed corners requiring precise positioning and a slight lifting of the throttle to get through them successfully. Then it's through gears 4 and 5 up to 140 mph to the double apex of turns 7 and 8 which are taken in 4th gear at around 110 mph. A short 5th gear straight taken at 170 mph leads into the very tight turn 9 which is navigated in 1st or 2nd gear at 50 mph. Accelerating briefly to 4th before dropping to 3rd leads to three fairly quick corners. Turn 10 is taken at around 135 mph breaking to 90 mph for the long right hander, Turn 11, that leads into the back straight where 6th gear takes cars to 155 mph through Turn 12 before slowing to negotiate a relatively slow Turn 13. The pick-up from 30 mph to about 80 is an ideal place for the well placed driver to out-drag his opponent before the all important 185 mph back main straight leads cars to the final hairpin. This is taken in 2nd gear at about 65 mph and can seem endless as drivers pass the end of the futuristic main Grandstand before accelerating up to the start finish line.

That's frigging Awesome!! I hope to attend an event this year!! Have Fun!:)

I hosted a three Singapore Airlines flight attendant friends, who flew up yesterday morning. I originally invited Pearl, who had just returned to Singapore from Auckland late Friday night. After being up all night packing she took the first flight into Kuala Lumpur (KL) with Ann and Candy.

We met at my hotel breakfast and coffee, following which we ventured to the Sepang Circuit to see about getting two more tickets. I showed the ladies around the entrance, visiting different vendor stands and snapping photos. We decided that Pearl and Ann drive into town and get some much-needed shut-eye at Ann's apartment while I escort Candy for practice and qualifying.

Once again the RMAF F-18s put an awesome show (OK, I'll admit it. This time I actually did miss flying my F-16. Something about the roar of afterburner at 8Gs, contrails off the leading edge strakes, and the smell of JP-8 jet fuel just stays in your blood, ya know?), following which Alex Yoong, the Malaysian native, took the track first to the applause of his hometown crowd. The next hour was a duel primarily between the BMW Williams drivers (Go Montoya!!!) and Ferrari.

Ralf Schumacher took an early pole about 25 minutes into qualifying, which lasted for just a little while until older brother Michael went out. Michael quickly captured pole position with a time in the high minute 35s. Of course, I was there in BMW livery, waiting for my boy Montoya. He set a blistering lap, 1:35.6 or so, to start what became an all-out shootout!

Coulthard, Raikkonen, Ralf, and Rubens all tried to top Montoya's time, to no avail. Then Michael took to the track once again, taking pole from Montoya with a time around 1:35.4. Montoya returned to the track during the last minute rush hour, with about 6 minutes to go. Unfortunately, he was unable to get a clear track with all the traffic. So, it's alternating red and blue up front, with M. Schumacher, Montoya, Barrichello, and Ralf filling the first four spots, followed by the pair of McLarens.

I gotta say this early: I think this year we're gonna see a season-long shootout between Michael and Montoya. Just seeing Montoya drive, tilting his head into each corner with his peculiar style and body language, you can actually hear his mental determination to unseat Michael and take the championship.

That evening Pearl and Ann joined us at the Pan-Pacific hotel, where the drivers are staying. I took a pic with Montoya before adjoining for dinner. Others in our party of 20 got autographs/photos with Coulthard, Salo, Bernoldi, Villenueve, Frank Williams, Sir Jackie Stewart, and several others.

After dinner we drove the 45 minutes (30 minutes for us!!) to downtown KL for a full night of mischief and hooliganism. The air was electric, the streets packed with race fans! We danced to live and DJ music at several venues, finally retiring at 5 am for needed rest.

I'm off to the track again, now. It's 9 am local, and we wanna avoid the traffic jam. More news at 11!!

1 and 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:redspot :buttrock :boobies :boink :b_blue:

Awesome weekend for BMW!!! Too bad they weren't at Sebring. . .:(

I am impressed with the way Montoya and M. Schumacher came from way back in the pack and made 2nd and 3rd by the end of the race. Those two rule! How about Ralph! :clap:

Yeah, how incredible was that?! It's really going to be an intense shootout this year. Hope not too many other people get in the way. ;)

I just remember seeing the classification charts come up every few minutes (boo Malaysian TV) with JPM clicking up a couple of places each time, yeah baby! And then, all of a sudden, Schumi's right behind 'em!

Here's to Brazil ...

Originally posted by UD///M
I am impressed with the way Montoya and M. Schumacher came from way back in the pack and made 2nd and 3rd by the end of the race. Those two rule! How about Ralph! :clap: