***
Burning Rubber.

2008 F1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix
The World's 1st night race.
Making History on Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Every day i see all these phrases all over the newspaper, internet , tv etc etc.

I am not a F1 fan.
I only know Michael Schumacer and he's from ions ago.

But reading newspaper everyday gives you a crash course on F1.

Suddenly i feel like going.
And (thanks to Papa Ong) when i know that i've tickets to go i am elated!

Woo Hoo!!

The story of the tickets is another long story but anyway what matters is i have tickets! :D


Lewis Hamilton !! Kimi Raikkonen!!
Saw these kick ass huge poster at Paragon.
Tag Hauer Poster Boys.


Look at the Steering wheel - so many buttons!!
Have to meddle with it while zooming at speed up to 300+km/h!


My Pass!


Stupid Smellycat is the only fella i know who feel "forced" to go F1 with me.
WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!


When i told Smellycat that he is wearing Ferrari's Signature Red color (like the 2 ferrari fans behind us in the MRT), he shrugged and claims he just so happen to wear this shirt coz its what he wore to the market this morning ( "-__- duhhh) .


Smellycat refused to take a pic for me in the MRT so i took one myself.
Heehee :P


On the Shuttle Bus from Lavender to Gate 1 Entrance.
Nothing Special, just a SBS double decker.
Wahhahaahhahaha.


Couldn't help but checking out the Ferrari Fan in front of me.
Ferrari Puma Shoes, Ferrari Clothes, Ferrari Bag and Ferrari Cap!


I'm here! Everything screams F1!!
It kinda reminds me of Origmmar from WOW where everyone is just walking around and be merry. Ha!


As stupid Smellycat forgot to bring home from work the earplugs (despite numerous reminders), i made him pay for the $2 Survival kit.
Anyway the proceeds goes to Red Cross so i am asking him to do a good deed. Ha !


Wanna know why my eyes LIT up?


Shopping!!!
Ferrari's booth! Losta People!


Wahh!!! Everything also feel like buying!!!
While i am wondering which one to buy, Smellycat came and give me a knock on the head and pulled me away :(


So in the end, i only can see the stuff but cannot buy any....
He claims the prices are insane ($70 for a cap???) and the fact that i am not a F1 fan!
Vio: But i think mini v will look cute in the Ferrari racing overalls!
Smellycat: Don't you dare try.
Vio: :(


Smellycat refused to take picture of me (again) in front of the shopping area so i have to take myself and pretend to be happy when actually i feel like killing him for not allowing me to buy the Ferrari coveralls for Mini v!
*Envisioning how Cute Mini v will look in it *
Sigh...

I wandered off away from Smellycat a few times coz all he does is to complain and complain and i wanted some peace...

Chanced upon this collection of Vintage cars.
So retro! I like!


Think this is a Ford 500 or something.
The blue reminds me of my Lapin!


Old Skool Bentley.


Love the Bullestic feel of this old skool Bentley.


I forgot what car is this. hahahhahahaa :P


On my way walking to the grandstand after a series of phonecalls from Smellycat telling me to hurry up laaaaa!!


Its quite nice really to relax by the riverside, enjoying the breeze with some friends and some booze.

Its a nice stroll to the grandstand, you don't feel like you are in Singapore coz everywhere you turn you see more foreigners than locals.
Despite the insane queue for Food , Booze and toilet, the place is orderly and everyone feels so happy and F1 feverish.
I kinda regret i am not decked in Ferrari gear.
Oh well. :P


The grandstand structure.
Impressive. Like a giant ge tai! Ha!


Forced Smellycat to take a proper pic of me at the Pit Grandstand.
Lotsa Ferrari Fans!


I got a pleasant surprise when i got to my seat.
We are sitting opposite the Ferrari pitstop!
MummyAngie who went the day before never told me that!!
If i know i would have brought Smellycat's Bino and see Kimi to my heart's content!!


I am just just sooo happy!!!
(though in this pic i dun really look like i'm happy coz it took stupid smellycat 3 shots before i have a decent one of me and a glimpse of the Ferrari's pitstop)


OMGGGGGGGGG!!! Kimi Raikkonen!!!


Not forgetting Felipe Massa!!


The qualifying rounds start 10pm so there are some time to chill.


Doing what i like to do best- force Smellycat take photos!!!
Hahahahahahahaaaaaa

I also like to keep on making this " UmmmZooooommm...." sound mimicking the F1 Cars sound till it errks him so much that he gives me a knock on my head (literally).

Smellycat: Shut the fark up la! So irritating!
Vio: *ouch* ummm... ummm... umm... Engine spoil already. Hahahahahaaa!!
Smellycat: Arghhhhh!!!!

:P


Too bad the i am only watching the qualifying, tomorrow Papa Ong will have a bird's eye view of the Prize giving ceremony since the stage is just right in front of us!


Doing some safety checks before the race starts.
And the only car whose picture i can take so clearly.
You will know why.


How to take when they are zoomming past at 200++km/h!!
All i get is a series of blurs!!


McLaren - Mercedes car.
I really dunno if that is Lewis or Heikki.


Beemer zooming past....


.......
Really have no idea which car is that!

I really wanted to take a pic of Ferrari's Car zooming past but despite numerous try i couldn't get it!
Arghhhhhh *tears hair*!!!

In the end, i gave up taking anymore pictures of cars coz my camera is not powerful enough.
I just sit back and relax and enjoy the cars zooming past.
Memories like this etched in the brain can last longer.


This young Ferrari fan uber kawaii!
He was waving his flag earnestly whenever a Ferrari zoomed past.


Soon after, his Ferrari Junior Fanclub members came and join him.
One is kawaii, a group of them is scary!
O.o

They were soon chased away by the ushers coz one of the people sitting nearby complained that they are blocking his view.

And when Massa came in with the best qualifying time, the Ferrari Fans went crazy!
It was then i noticed something....


The Ferrari Junior Fanclub is nothing compared to their dads!
Check out his head to toe Ferrari Gear and a big kick ass Ferrari Flag to boot!


I'm happy that Felipe and Kimi got the best 1st and 3rd qualifying timing but these guys beat me hands down anyday!
They are simply estatic!


Most people started to go home when the race ended but i stayed on and i can see the media going crazy over Kimi , Felipe and Lewis!
Its photos, photos and more photos for them.
At one point, i can even see Lewis wave at us before he went into the building but too bad my camera is not those ultra zoom kind so i couldn't capture it!

On our way back, we passed by the Ferrari mechandise area and again i attempted to buy the Ferrari Racing overalls for Mini v.
But Smellycat caught me in the act and dragged a very grumpy me away before any damage to my wallet is done.

Smellycat: Girls wear dresses not Ferrari's Racing Overalls!!!
Vio: *sulks* :(

Then as we walked further on, i see little kids wearing Ferrari gears, vodaphone mclaren caps and i wanted them sooo badly!!
*Shopaholic instinct in me surfacing*

Vio: Later you go and snatch the little boy's cap and run away. He so small he cannot catch up with you wan.
Smellycat: whatever for?????
Vio: Coz that cap cost $70 and you don't let me buy so you snatch one for me la!
Smellycat: ........ ARE YOU CRAZY?? 您有病啊!!!
Vio: :P Hahahahahahhahaaa!

I thought the journey home will be damn long but to my surprise everything is smooth and we didn't take THAT long to reach home.


Smellycat is simply pooped and slept throughout the train ride.


12:31am and we are in the train on the way home...

The downside is though SMRT extended the Train service, SBS didn't extend the bus services!

So in the end we have to walk home from the MRT station.
Thank God its only a 10 mins walk home.

While walking home...

Smellycat: You see i am wearing Ferrari's color.
Vio: "-____- Thought you say you anyhow pick this shirt to wear???!!!
you only say that coz Felipe got the best qualifying timing!
Smellycat: Hahahahahahahahhaahahaaaa

Though he is full of crap but he makes the 10 min walk home less boring.

:)