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Tuesday, February 28, 2006

malaysians can sit on the grass


[]

if i remember correctly, sepang has been hosting the malaysian f1 gp for seven years now. yet seven years later, average malaysians still find it difficult to afford the tickets to enjoy the sport.

actually, i believe these malaysians are capable of buying the tickets if they wanted to. the problem is the average malaysian will feel the financial pinch too painful to take. other than that, spending rm1000 for an afternoon just doesn't seem to make any sense.

the organizer is fucking brilliant as well. to try and get more people to attend the qualifying, they've combined most of the tickets to a 2-day and 3-day packages. people are thus forced to pay extra for something they don't even want. if you want a one-day ticket, the best will cost you rm500. ouch, isn't that just bloody expensive?

let's do a comparison:
when i went to the indianapolis f1 gp, i bought a one-day ticket at the first corner of the circuit for us$75 - which is only rm278. as for sepang, there isn't a one-day ticket for the first corner. instead, you'd need to pay rm700 for a two-day ticket (rm350 per day) at the first corner. for better seats at the first corner, it'll cost you rm1000 for a three-day ticket (rm333 per day). oh right, parking is rm50.

you do the math, and tell me whether any of the combination is worthed it or not.

let's not forget about the transportation fee to go to the circuit. if you drive, it'll be 90min worthed of petrol (which is now 30 cents more) plus toll money. for a 2-day ticket, you times two. for 3-day, you times three.

if you think taking the public transportation is the best option, then you'd be half right. the erl ain't cheap, it is just slightly cheaper than the normal rate. plus it isn't direct to the circuit, you'd need to transit through coaches. if you don't mind waiting long hours and then needing to shove onto the bus, then be my guest and go ahead with the coaches.

with all the above constraints in mind, no wonder so many malaysians are turned off by it. unless you get free tickets, nobody will really bother to go. the result of that is low interest from the public; thus low attendance (which means less money for the organizer to make).

although this year sepang is giving a price slash for the hill tickets to only rm50 as well as further discount for student, i don't see that as a complete solution. the message they appear to be conveying is that, "malaysians are poor and they only can afford rm50 tickets. plus, they can just sit on the grass and burn to death for all we care."

what the organizer needs is to do is give reasonable ticket price for the malaysians. i am talking about providing more 1-day tickets for those high-end tickets. for example, rm280 for a one-day ticket at the first corner is very reasonable, or rm500 for a one-day grandstand ticket is still affordable.

it's time to allow the common people a chance to truly enjoy f1, not put them on grass and under hot sun. if they liked their first experience, they'll be back year after year. if you give them cheap tickets but a bad experience, then you are basically business suiciding. you'll be back to square one.

seven years is a long time. to the organizer, heed my advice, you won't regret it.




Sunday, February 26, 2006

f1 fever hits kuala lumpur


[2006 preview]

with a mere two weeks to the first race of 2006 at bahrain, and three weeks to raceday at sepang, malaysia is gearing up full speed in promoting the malaysian gp.

the truth is, i didn't even noticed that within a fortnight, motorsport's biggest circus will finally be kicked off. all those winter testing and pre-season news are really causing me to feel slightly turned off. i really needed some real action.

so as i was strolling in a local mall past friday, my f1 blood was reignited with the sight of a very beautiful f1 car on display. it was the replica of the ferrari f2003-ga, and boy was i excited.

ferrari f2003-ga

there i was, staring at it nose to nose. thank god for the camera phone i was able to get several pictures of the car - you know, for memories. even though it wasn't a real car, but its strong presence still left me totally in awe. it was the first time i was this close to the ferrari red. oh well, it was a weird feeling and it's just hard to explain.

it was actually a bridgestone promtion. there were many tyres on display, and they had simulation games and lucky draw. i sucked at the simulation game, but it was fun pretending i was an f1 driver. the 'flappy' gearbox thing was interesting as well. i also filled up their questionnaires for the lucky draw, so i am hoping maybe i could win some free tickets.

i can hope can't i? please please please... (fingers crossed)



previous posts:
2005 season review 3
2005 season review 2
2005 season review 1

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Friday, February 24, 2006

f1's biggest waste of time


[opinion]

that's how i feel about the aguri team, whatever its name is.

i remembered when red bull joined last year, i was so glad a new look is on the grid. although it just replaced jaguar at the last minute, i thought it was worthed the fuss and attention it was getting. most importantly, they made an impact to the f1 spectacle as a whole.

for aguri, i couldn't even bothered. whether it's in or out of the 2006 season, it wouldn't matter to me at all. whether it is legal in using the old arrow cars or not, nobody cares. and whether it will be fast enough to be part of the grid or not, that's no point to it. i just don't understand why they bothered.

when the car rolled out from the garage for the first time, i had the feeling of deja vu. it was as though i was transformed back few years ago and watching the 2002 grand prix. it was more like a mockery, because how dare they let such old crap onto the f1 scene - the pinnacle of motorsport?

what also bothers me is the fact sato will be back on the track. no disrespect to him, but he just doesn't cut it to be among the best. i am sure he has good skills and what not, but he is infamous for being impatient and unanalytical. although all sato wants to do is to impress, instead he became well known for being the 'accident boy'. remember spa 2005?

and who's the second driver? mmm... ide something. don't know.

what i know is that during the more recent testing at barcelona, the aguri driver were more than nine seconds behind the fastest driver (kimi). nine seconds! if that is their pace during racedays, then i hope the 107 rule is back to keep out the too slow cars. in formula 1, slow cars are hazardous, and the aguri cars will be hazardous. period.

actually, i'm all in for new teams in f1 - the more the merrier. however, i just can't get excited about aguri. i foresee disasters and a short future for them. besides, the boss aguri is already talking about retiring before the first race started. wtf?



previous posts:
2005 season review 3
2005 season review 2
2005 season review 1

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Sunday, February 12, 2006

formula 1 and winter olympic


[news]

so what does formula 1 have to do with the winter olympics? nothing really... unless the country hosting the winter olympic is totally car-crazed.

this year's winter olympic is hosted at torino - italy, and there is no second guessing that those italians are crazy about their beloved ferrari. so the committee probably thought, "why not feature a ferrari in our opening ceremony and show people around the world how cool they are? ooooh, why not get the f1 car!?"

why not? so they did it!

luca badoer drove a f1 ferrari to center stage and did several doughnuts (check out the picture). he did five smoky doughnuts in exact, in which he was attempting to do the infamous olympic rings. whether he managed to successfully do it or not, it would have been a pretty bold attempt. i'd love to see the end result.

anyways, who would've thought an f1 car would be featured in an opening ceremony of an olympic event? what more a winter olympic event. boy, those imaginative italians.



previous posts:
2005 season review 3
2005 season review 2
2005 season review 1

[tagged: , , , ]




Saturday, February 11, 2006

mclaren mp4-21 livery: smoking hot!


[2006 preview]

no wonder so many people like team mclaren. they are more than just a racing team, they are a fashion statement! their cars are beautiful, their drivers are all business, and even their pit crews are mechanics in space suits.

now check out the 2006 livery. just look how it shines in silver. those materials must be from out of space - it looks like a ufo on wheels:

mclaren mp4-21 2006 livery [mclaren.co.uk]

click the picture for larger view.

for another angle, click here. this car is definitely smoking hot, can't wait till they drive it on the track. fabulous!

for more information and specs, visit mclaren.co.uk



previous posts:
2005 season review 3
2005 season review 2
2005 season review 1

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Monday, February 06, 2006

rossi to formula 1


[opinion]

whether valentino rossi makes it to formula 1 or not, i don't really care. in my opinion, there are more talented drivers out there with the proper f1 pedigree who deserves the opportunity than a motogp sensation. however if he does transfer, then all the best to him.

i still don't get the point for ferrari to continue having rossi practice in their car. instead of having a proper test driver shaking-down in preperation for 2006, they are wasting money and mileage on rossi's practice. i'm not sure what's ferrari's priority, but they should focus on their biggest goal - regaining the championship.

is this a publicity stunt? maybe we are supposed to be all excited about the idea of having a successful transfer of a motogp star driving an f1 car (although not unheard of). at least the media is pretty excited. or maybe we are supposed to be inspired by the fact that an italian will finally be driving and winning in the italian car. but wouldn't it be easier and cheaper if they just get fisichella? i bet fisichella is thinking the same thing, and is probably quite insulted by ferrari.

i hope rossi doesn't change over to f1 in anytime soon. he's the most successful motogp racer at the moment, so why throw all that away and risk having his reputation dented by the possibility of failing miserably in f1? i think he should stick to what he's truly good and a god at, and that's two wheel racing.

p.s.: and why is biaggi also testing f1 car now!?



previous posts:
2005 season review 3
2005 season review 2
2005 season review 1

[tagged: , ]