My Formula One Experience

Last month I managed to secure tickets to the upcoming Singapore Formula One Night Race in September

I managed to get the tickets with ease on the second day of sale. I was particularly surprised as there was plenty of reports about how the system crashed due to overwhelming response

The organiser wasn’t well prepared for this and they’re at fault. They should have contingencies plan

As for me, I bought it at a SingPost outlet in Woodlands Civic Centre. The queue was negligible also. So maybe this should be the spot for you to buy the tickets next time round

I’ll be going with Hairol and I can’t wait!

This is not my first time attending a Formula One event in fact. It will be my second

Me and Azfarul

I’ve been following Formula One since McClaren’s Mika Häkkinen vs Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher days

That was back around 1997

I was crazy enough to travel across the causeway and attended the Formula One at KL, Sepang back then

I went with a National Service buddy and it was exhilarating!

We did some KL shopping. My backpack filled to the brim going back

Aside from the exciting race, it was us just two backpacking. We decided that we love F1 so much, we chose a date, packed light and left abruptly

There’s an air of uncertainty to our trip as we didn’t quite planned it throughly. From our accommodation to transport route that we should took.

Not knowing what’s around the next bend, well that’s what makes it so ‘fun’ I guess

It was Formula One week back then in Kuala Lumpur when we arrived, so we expected hotels to be fully booked. And it did.

So we scoured the outskirts of KL for budget hotels.

Our humble accomodation

We found one after much search. It wasn’t the Four Seasons but it’s livable

In fact, my travelmate commented I’m one of his better traveling companion, being that I’m not that fussy of a person.

So *hint hint* I’m the perfect companion for anyone who wants to go on a holiday, plus I’m easy on the eye, haha

It was scorching hot, this photo didn’t do justice to the hot weather

The very first thing I recalled being in Sepang then was how hot it was! I mean I was literally ‘melting’.

I should have just came in my slippers, singlet and shorts plus plenty of sunblock

Getting to the Sepang circuit from our hotel took about an hour I think. But I wasn’t worried about the traveling time as we managed to view KL and it’s outskirts

During the train ride from KL to Sepang, I was amazed by the new Sepang airport which was newly built back then. It was huge, even from a distance

Yes I look like a turd here … I was a big McClaren & Hakkinen fan back then

If I could change one thing back then, it was the seats. We got this grandstand seats and it doesn’t have a good view. We should have chosen seats which allow us to roam and moved around

There was gentle hill slopes at Sepang circuit. Those who bought free and easy tickets which allows you to move around, well they had a great view if they chose their slopes right

So this time round for Singapore Formula One, I choose the tickets that allows me to move around. So I bought the Walkabout at $168 per ticket

But I fear, the view will be blocked by barriers and Singapore route doesn’t have the slopes that allow vantage point for great viewing

Well I’m taking a risk with these tickets, but I’ll try my luck

My advice to F1 noobs: Buy earplugs, it’s deafeningly loud!

We got the three days passes at Sepang, but we went for the two finals days only. Qualifying and Final

We left Friday evening, caught two exciting F1 days and we left on the Sunday early as the next day we have duties back at our respective National Service units on Monday

My companion was a happy lad then as his Micheal Schumacher of Ferrari got the better of my idol Mika Hakkinen, by winning this Sepang leg

Schumacher just have this air of aristocracy that I felt compelling to smack his face just by seeing him. Anyone feels the same?

This was our seating views

When we were there, I noticed plenty of ang mohs (Caucasians) in the crowd. I think the major bulk of the supporters outnumbers the locals

Formula One has major following and I’ll bet we’ll be able to see a whole diversity of faces and colors at Singapore Formula One this year

During my trip for Sepang, KL it was really an eye-opener

For one, the trip itself taught me about the ropes of traveling and of course meeting F1 stars up close. That’s was a kick!

I can’t wait for Singapore Formula One!