Tales from a motorista

Late Post: 2011 F1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix

2011-11-14T15:27:00.000-08:00

I haven't had time to post about my Singapore Grand Prix experience last September due to some pressing matters of work, family and other stuff that tend to keep one away from leisurely pursuits such as updating this blog.

In any case, I had a fun trip although not as hectic than the previous year. This time, I only booked three nights in Singapore, and bought only the raceday walkabout tickets.

Treb and Rene, my old pals and colleagues from AA/Smart, would be joining me on this trip. We surely missed Nappy who couldn't come along this time around. Me and him had a great time at least year's race and would have wanted to do it all again together this year.

Our access areas were the Zone 4 walkabout, which isn't that bad coz it gave us access to the exciting parts of the Marina Bay Circuit, the food stalls and the Padang Grandstand, where Linkin Park was slated to perform after the Chequered Flag.

I wasn't able to explore this area during last year's race, since our seats at the Marina Bay Grandstand were quite comfy, so it was a good change this time around.

As usual, we checked out some of the tents selling F1 merchandise right after entering the venue, and at various locations around the circuit. We spent some time scanning the grounds for an ideal vantage point from which to watch the race.

It was a fine day for a race, with the sky a bit cloudy and the late afternoon starting to cool off. The venue was filling up by 4pm that afternoon, but you can't ignore the fun and festive atmosphere emanating fro the F1 fans in attendance.

Some fans wore the colors of the team they were rooting for, so there was a preponderance of the bright crimson red of the Scuderia Ferrari team. There were also quite a lot of people sporting the silver and bright orange livery of Team Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes.

Then there were loyal Red Bull fans in deep dark blue, proud of the fact their No. 1 driver, and reigning Driver's Champion, Sebastian Vettel was in contention to win it all again that night.

The race was clean, uneventful, but provided enough excitement to keep most fans interested till the end. Since we didn't have permanent seats, we started walking about after the race started, checking out the food and other booths and stalls inside the circuit.

We also spent some time inside one of the malls near the convention center to cool off from the heat outside. Got us some cold beers at half the price being sold in the circuit so that was good.

Towards the latter part of the race, we made our way to the Padang Grandstand area to secure a place that would give us a good view to watch Linkin Park. We sat on the grass, watching the big screen monitor that flashed the video coverage of the race.

Felt bad to see seven-time champion Michael Schumacher crash out in the final few laps of the race. I was silently rooting for him, hoping he gets back into the same form that helped him dominate F1 for seven years. As a consuelo, I headed to the tent selling his personal merchandise and bought a silver and red cap bearing his signature brand.

The race ended with Vettel taking the top spot, followed closely by McLaren's Jenson Button and Red Bull's Mark Webber to round out the podium.

Once the trophies were handed out and the bubbly had been sprayed all over the audience, it was time for Linkin Park to hit the stage. And it was a kick-ass moment when the first strains of their first song started coming out of the speakers. They were here, singing, live and in person! It couldn't get any hotter than that!

Once we'd heard our favorite Linkin Park songs, we went out the race track once it was opened to audience. We walked a part of the circuit, taking photos of the corners and the skid marks on the tarmac. We also got our photos taken with the capable marshalls that helped organize and run this successful F1 event in Singapore.

Overall it was a fun time at the 2011 F1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix. We'll see if we can come back in the succeeding years. Maybe its time to check out other F1 races in other venues.

Cheers!

Some photos of the F1 Singapore GP experience:

Merlion's Roar

2011-09-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

Walked around Singapore today, going in and out of the various malls around Orchard Road.

Later that evening, we heard the shrieking sounds of F1 engines zooming all over the Marina Bay Circuit. By that time, we had already walked from Lau Pa Sat where we had a sumptuous dinner of beef/mutton/chicken satay w/ peanut sauce, lemon chicken, kailan w/ garlic, cereal so tong (calamari), nasi goreng salted fish fried rice and nasi goreng beef fried rice, and some roti paratha.

Got a glimpse of the new Fullerton Bay Hotel, a new property that opened just in time for the Singapore Grand Prix. This one is along Esplanade Drive near the Merlion Park. Which was a good thing coz this would be the very first time I got near the Merlion statue, and at night to boot!

Amid the defeaning sound of V8 engines, we took some photos of the Merlion, ever-constantly spouting a spray of water from its mouth.

We'll see how this F1 race turns out.

Vroom: 2011 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

2011-09-22T02:08:00.000-07:00

Flying off to Singapore tomorrow for the F1 weekend!

Got tickets just for the night race this time, not the whole 3-day package. I figured it'd be too costly and tiring to have to cover all three days. Instead, will just focus on the race itself.

This might be the last time for me. Will try to catch the F1 action in other circuits next time, hopefully Suzuka or Canada.

Will post highlights and photos of this adventure as soon as I get back!

Cheers!

Reese's Ford Mustang GT

2011-06-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

Yep, you read it right!

My kids gave me this car on Father's Day!

It's a spanking new, bright orange Reese's Ford Mustang GT... at 1/60 scale.

Cool, ain't it?

My F1rst Grand Prix!

2010-10-21T23:22:00.000-07:00

And so I arrived in Singapore just in time for the 2010 F1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix, an event that I had been dreaming of probably ever since I became an avid spectator of motorsports.

Its one of those must-see events if you're into this sort of thing. The first ever international race I attended was the Macau Grand Prix back in 2001, and then the Proximus 24-hrs of Spa in 2003. I can still remember those experiences: the smell of burnt rubber mixing with the cool, crisp air; the ambiance of the whole race circuit; the thrill of walking through the paddocks and pit area.

This all happened in my previous career as an online journalist managing and editing a motoring website. Apart from the international races, we'd also cover the local races at the Subic International Raceway and Batangas Racing Circuit. Those were the heady days of Philippine motorsports, and you'd wonder why such enthusiasm for the sport did not snowball into something bigger as the years rolled on. Maybe it was due to economics and the whole financial aspect of running a race and managing a racetrack.

Well, my motoring journalist days are over, so I won't mess my head with such ideas. I went to Singapore to watch Formula One, and that's what I was determined to do!

As soon as I arrived, I could see that Singapore was abuzz with F1 fever, an annual spectacle that allowed the whole country to show off what it had to offer visitors. This was Round 15 of the F1 World and Driver's Championship, ensuring an exciting battle between drivers and the teams they belong to.

They built a race circuit around Singapore's busy streets, no mean feat for a small country! But they did it perfectly. The best part about it is that this was the only night race on the F1 calendar, and race organizers made sure the whole circuit would be lit up like daylight. Right there, Singapore had something to be really proud of!

As I walked down Orchard, Singapore's prime shopping avenue, on my first night, I came across white tents where F1 merchandise were on sale at strategic locations! You can practically choose the team jerseys, caps and other souvenir items you want. But the items being displayed were mostly of popular teams like Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull Racing.

Spent most of my second day doing some window shopping at ION Orchard, Singapore's newest high-end mall. Then met up with Nappy in the afternoon after he texted me to say that F1 driver Jarno Trulli was signing autographs at one of the tents outside ION. So I rushed to the tent to catch some pics of him doing the meet and greet.

FRIDAY PRACTICE
The Friday before the race is usually the final practice sessions for the team and drivers. It had rained earlier in the afternoon, so the track was wet. But good thing it stopped raining right before we got to the circuit, giving us enough time to walk leisurely from Gate 3 to our seats.

This was our first time in an F1 racetrack, and the Marina Bay Circuit seemed to be ideally built for spectators, with various spots from where you can watch the race. It was a great feeling to finally be here, after months of planning and waiting. The excitement was almost unbearable. Nappy and I were smiling from ear to ear! We made it just before the start of the first session at 6pm.

We made sure to get our Survival Kit, consisting of one pair of earplugs and one poncho, in case it rained. The earplugs was needed if you expect to be near the track where the loud roar of engines would be quite unsettling.

We saw the pretty Singapore girls maning the F1 merchandise tent, so I made sure to have my photo snapped with them! We didn't buy anything, though! Hehe!

This would be our first look at the Formula One cars and at the most, the drivers' helmets. Our tickets gave us seats along the Bay Grandstand area, a pretty good vantage point for watching since this section was where the cars would slow down as they turned left under the grandstand (Turn 18).

They say you haven't been to an F1 race unless you've heard the loud roar of the engines. In Singapore, it gets a little bit louder since its a city circuit, wherein the tall buildings provide an echoing effect. No wonder most of the city's promo copy say: "Its Going to Get Loud!"

We had a great view of Marina Bay Sands and the tall buildings of Singapore's downtown area, plus there were two widescreens directly facing the grandstand, giving us the benefit of watching the race broadcast. Behind our seats, we could see the Singapore Flyer looming in the background. It was a pretty sight, especially at night with all the lights on!

During the second practice session, I went down to the Esplanade Waterfront area to check out what was there. There were various food stalls and refreshment lined up, with tables in the middle, a good place to have a bit in between races.

I walked further down and found myself staring at a spectacular view of of enchantingly lit Marina Bay Sands, with three beams of light shooting up out of the Skypark on top! As I gazed toward the other end of the scenic view, I saw the glittering skyline of Singapore's business district -- an equally great view!

It wasn't difficult to take photos of the circuit. With 1,500 light projectors shining out an estimated 3,180,000 watts, this circuit was brightly lit, actually four times brighter than floodlights at sports stadiums.

After the second practice ended, we trudged back out to Gate 3 and looked for a place to have a late dinner. We ended up having some Hainanese Chicken Rice at Swee Kee behind Raffles Hotel. Then we went to Clarke Quay to meet up with Anmar for coffee.

SATURDAY QUALIFYING
Qualifying Sessions were scheduled to begin at 10pm so I had most of the day free to do what I wanted. Mai took me to a nice breakfast place and then I headed to Vivo City Mall to check out the NatGeo store. From there, I went back to Robertson Quay to meet up with some former BusinessWorld colleagues who were living in Singapore. It was a great lunch of pizza and catching up stories.

I spent the afternoon visiting the MINT Museum of Toys, something I had really planned to do on this trip. It took me about 45-minutes to get through the toy displays which were very interesting and nostalgic! Then I made a short trip to ION Orchard to get some stuff, then went back to the flat to get some rest.

I met up with Nappy and Kannitha at the McDonald's store in Raffles City, which was near the Gate 3 entrance of the circuit. It was already past 9pm by then and I just had enough time to devour the big MegaMac burger Nappy had ordered for me! It came with an equally huge box of french fries and a tall cup of Coke! Whew, that was a huge meal!

We hurried into the circuit to get to our designated seats. Along the way, we checked out the various F1 and SG Grand Prix merchandise for sale. The prices were so high! Good thing we got the lower-priced Singapore GP stuff at ION Mall the night before.

Qualifying began with much excitement! The audience knew this would be a good indication of how Sunday's race would turn out. We could see a sizeable number of Ferrari fans in their crimson red attire. On another side, we could see the McLaren die-hards in their silver-grey colors. Then there were the Red Bull fanatics, mostly Aussies rooting for championship leader Mark Webber. I also got a Red Bull shirt to wear on Sunday, so I guess I'm one of 'em RB fans!

It was a hard fought qualifying session, with the lead switching between two or three drivers throughout the one hour intervals. In the end, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso got pole position for the Sunday race, followed by the Red Bulls of Vettel and Webber, and then the McLarens of Hamilton and Button.

These five would be the ones challenging for the Driver's Championship as the season heads on to the last four races in Japan, Korea, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

The circuit was nicely laid out, with lots of opportunities for cool photos! Yun lang, you'd have to be really diligent in selecting your spots as it got crowded in the walkabout areas. During practice and qualifying, its easier to go around and plant yourself somewhere with a good vantage point for photo-shooting. However on raceday, the marshalls are stricter and usually cordon off or cover the fences so that you wouldn't want to stay there.

RACEDAY
We arrived at the circuit early on raceday, giving us time to check out the F1 merchandise again. I ended up buying a blue F1 Singapore Grand Prix cap!

We also took as many pictures as we could, knowing that an opportunity like this might not happen again in a long time (well, we might be back next year!).

We were able to see each driver clearly during the Driver's Parade at 6pm! They went around the circuit onboard some vintage cars, possibly of a local vintage car club based in Singapore.

This time, almost everyone in the audience were going crazy with excitement! All the fans brought out the best of their race gear, with flags and banners even!

I wore the Red Bull shirt that I purchased a couple of days before and I was just as glad to see that my team was among the frontrunners.

It was a great F1 race, to say the least. It was a long race, that's for sure. Sixty-one laps around a circuit measuring 5.073-km for a total race distance of 309.316 km! The lap record belonged to Kimi Raikkonen who managed 1:45.599 in 2008.

Alonso won the race, his fourth of the season, and clocked a fastest lap of 1:47.976. Not enough to beat Kimi's record but enough to hold off Sebastian Vettel's sustained attack throughout the race. Read the full race report from Formula1.com here.

Red Bull made it a 2 and 3 finish as Webber followed Vettel to the podium, a great result for the team and additional points to add to Webber's lead. Hamilton did not finish the race due to a broken suspension after colliding with Webber on lap 36, a sorry day for him.

It truly was a great experience to be there. More than the race itself, it was the thrill of being near our F1 idols, the ambiance, and the collective "magic" that only Formula 1 racing can provide! Its gotten me hooked again! Hopefully, I get a chance to watch this again in 2011!

Check out my Flickr gallery of the 2010 F1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix!

Watch this space...

2010-10-02T18:50:00.000-07:00

...for an update on how my Singapore Grand Prix experience turned out...

Still editing pics and working on the summary!

Cheers!

All Set For the F1 Singapore GP!

2010-09-19T20:25:00.001-07:00

I'm scheduled to fly out to Singapore on Wednesday morning, a good two days before the start of Friday practice, and I can't help but be excited!

Here's the latest bit of news coming from the Singapore GP website:

"2010 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
Off To A Great Start

20 September 2010 – The track barriers are in position, the lighting projectors are being tested, and the FORMULA ONE teams are arriving at the Marina Bay Street Circuit for the 2010 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX.

Mark Webber of Red Bull Racing leads the title race and enjoys the Lion City although he has yet to score a point here. "I like Singapore; it's unique as we race at night," says the Australian. "You get the impression the crowd is pretty close to the track in most sections, so it's certainly cosy. I'm hoping to improve on last year's result, as it's a high down-force street circuit that should suit our car. It's got some similarities to Monaco and Budapest and we did well at both those circuits."

Lewis Hamilton, who won the 2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, is just five points behind Webber and ready for the renewed challenge. "Winning in Singapore last year was one of the most satisfying victories of my Formula 1 career," says Hamilton. "It's difficult to say accurately how competitive we'll be in Singapore but the engineers are positive that we've made some good progress, so I'm looking forward to getting out on track and sampling the changes for real. The race should give us a clearer indication of exactly where we stand."

Teammate Jenson Button agrees: "The Singapore Grand Prix will be a very interesting weekend because I think it'll give us a clearer idea of the destiny of the world championship," says the man Hamilton succeeded as title-winner. "Singapore will be interesting for all of us – we'll not only get an idea of the speed of the Ferrari and Red Bull, but we'll get to see for the first time whether all our efforts over the past two months have helped put us back in the ballpark at high-downforce tracks."

Continue here.

I haven't really decided on which F1 team to cheer for. I'm just elated to be able to enjoy the F1 experience. At this point, I'll just let the whole thing sink in and roll with it.

But some of the teams & drivers I won't mind performing well are:

- Red Bull Racing, specifically Mark Webber, who's turn to win the Driver's Championship is next. I also plan to get some RBR team souvenir items like a shirt or cap maybe, depending on the budget.

- Jenson Button, who I also believe needs a good win to cement his place as a consistent champion.

- Mercedes Benz. Can't help but still be awed by Michael Schumacher, despite all his success being stuck in the past. It would be great to just see a semblance of brilliance from this guy at the SG F1 circuit.

- Ferrari. Of course, one can't really enjoy a great F1 race without the strong participation of the red team.

This. Is. Gonna. Be. Great!

Civic Images via LX3

2010-08-16T03:51:00.000-07:00

Pics of my ride, taken with the Panasonic Lumix LX3.

Update: My 2010 F1 Singapore Grand Prix

2010-08-10T20:57:00.000-07:00

Just got word from my good friend in Singapore that she has already secured my 3-day passes for the 2010 F1 Singapore Grand Prix Night Race!

Race weekend is on September 24-26, and I'm so pumped up for this I can't wait till September rolls around!

I purchased the tickets online, then indicated that I'd have someone pick them up at a designated post office in Singapore, so I can save on shipping charges. I'll just get the passes from my friend when I land in SG on Sept. 22nd!

Here's a photo of the F1 passes!

See you there!

Can't Wait for the Singapore F1 GP

2010-06-04T01:19:00.002-07:00

Got my F1 tickets online. Booked my flight via Jetstar. Then I'm off to watch the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in September!

All these years, I've dreamt of witnessing this world-class racing spectacle -- the pinnacle of motorsports competition -- and now that I found an opportunity to do so, I made sure to grab it!

Race weekend is on September 24-26, and it'll be a great three days of practice runs and qualifying sessions culminating on raceday Sunday! Boy, I can't wait!

The last time I experienced a professional international motorsports event was in 2002, at the Spa-Franchorchamps circuit in Spa, Belgium. That was a 24-hour race, with touring cars of different classes. I can't recall exactly how we got there, except that all I know is that we spent all of 72-hours in Europe. Flew in on a Friday and left on a Sunday evening! That was hardly enough time to see any sights, except for a 1-hour stroll around Frankfurt, Germany, waiting for our flight back to Manila.

Previous to that, I was able to watch the 2001 Macau Grand Prix, and we had a lot more leisure time to enjoy the sights on that trip.

Can''t wait to be in Singapore this September. I'm flying alone, without M. and the girls. But I'm meeting up with Nappy there. He's flying with his GF via CebuPac a day after me.

I'm treating this as my reward to myself for a being a "good boy" hehehe. That's one item checked off of my bucket list! I'm glad M. and the girls understand. I'm really a lucky guy!

Can

2010-06-04T01:19:00.001-07:00

Wash Your Car, Boy!

2010-05-07T08:45:00.000-07:00

Ever since I got the Civic, I've been a little bit OC about keeping it neat and clean. I wasn't exactly like that with my previous car, although I did treat that old Lancer to a regular high-powered car wash every now and then. But with the Civic, I almost always have to have it washed more than once a week, and treated to a high-definition wax job at least once a month.

And my current car wash of choice is Hillsborough Car Spa and Detailers, along Jupiter Street, in Bel-Air, Makati. I've been taking the Civic here regularly ever since I discovered it from a friend early this year. They do a pretty good job with washing and making sure the car is squeaky clean after.

The place is usually busy on weekend mornings, so I bring my car there on the off-hours, usually weekday afternoons or during my lunch break. They've got a high-end clientele that you can tell from the various exotic car models that frequent the place. I realize that they must really do a good job for the owners of these cars to leave their prized possessions here to be detailed.

And the prices are pretty reasonable. Premium wash including vacuum and tire black is P200 (P150 without the vacuum). If you have it waxed, just add P250 more. I've also tried out their new high-definition car wax (P1,200) and this extends the sheen and shine of my car by a couple more days between washing. But they offer more services than the usual, like total paint makeover, Show Car Waxing, Interior detailing, glass watermark removal and engine detailing, among others. You can actually download a copy of their pricelist from the website.

The Hillsborough boys also do a fast job of it, ensuring that you're in and out in no time at all.

Hillsborough is also present in the Eastwood area, so you can try it out there if that is nearer to you. Keep updated with the latest news from Hillsborough by adding their Facebook page. Just search for their name and you'll get there!

In the meantime, safe driving to all!

Travelling on a STAR

2010-04-15T00:26:00.000-07:00

First post for 2010! I can't believe I've neglected this blog for a long, long time!

Well, we've done a fair amount of land travel since then: a trip to Clark for work; to Subic for a weekend; and south to the beaches in Batangas.

Driving to Batangas used to be a chore. Its such a big province, and to get from Manila to the best beaches can take a couple of hours or more. We first went to Canyon Cove in Nasugbu, by way of Tagaytay, so this one is relatively near. The beach area is clean and neat, and the resort is just as clean. What we enjoyed about this trip is the stopover in Tagaytay, both for going and coming back. Cutting your trip in half and having lunch in Tagaytay is a good idea when travelling this side of the south.

On another occasion, we took the long drive down to Laiya, in San Juan, Batangas. That was a good 3-hours from Makati. To get to San Juan, you need to pass thru the STAR Tollway. STAR means Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, and it was designed to cut travel time to more than half.

I remember a couple of years back, before the STAR Tollway was created, how long it would take us to get to the Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas. I think it took about 4-hours to get there!

Now, this 42-km stretch of asphalt gives motorists a direct line from Sto. Tomas (the last exit on SLEX) to Batangas City. Its a fast, 6-lane expressway that allows cars to travel an average of 80-90kph. One can go a bit faster than that, but for some reason, I try not to due to the uneven surface.

The tarmac is built on concrete, with some parts in asphalt, but I notice that its not entirely flat. I always recall a colleague's words the first few times we drove on this piece of road. He said that the highway was constructed by nautical engineers, since driving on it is akin to riding a fast boat on a wavy sea. The road gradually inclines up and down, giving you that same sea-sick feeling. In the local language, it's termed as "ma-alon" (wavy).

Anyway, the view on STAR Tollway is terrific. Mostly green fields, a few hills, and a stretch of mountains on the horizon. At night, thought, it can get quite dark due to the distances between lamp posts (if not the absence of some).

But I don't mind, coz overall, the STAR Tollway closes the gap between me and an ideal beach holiday. Plus, motorists like me always take every opportunity to take their cars for a long, therapeutic drive on a dark, deserted highway.

It is for roads like these that we motorists would not think twice of taking a long drive just to get to the beach and other worthy summer destinations!

Car Wash

2009-11-25T00:12:00.000-08:00

Ever since I got a new car, I always make sure to have it washed at a reputable place. My choice: Big Bert's.

The first time I needed to bring the car to Big Bert's, I went to their shop at the Ortigas Home Depot. After a couple of months, I started bringing my car to their other shop along Araneta Ave. in Quezon City, which was a nearer location from my house.

What I like about Big Bert's is the extra care that its washers put on each vehicle that they wash. They make sure that the car comes out spotless and clean. And you can also point out specific stains or dirts on the car that they will willingly rub out using a wax or rubbing compound.

I've also tried their waxing service (P500) after which my car comes out sparkingly clean and shiny!

The only bummer deal is whenever the rains come down as soon as you drive out of the carwash! Well, that's usually what happens so better get used to it.

I regularly treat my car to a car wash at least once a week, and a fullbody wax job at least every other month. This ensures that the car's paintjob will last longer.

My Ride

2009-11-05T21:45:00.000-08:00

Here's a rare pic of me beside Civ, my 2009 Honda Civic 1.8S!

It's an automatic transmission version, so its not too much of a chore to drive it to the office everyday in EDSA traffic.

Other options I asked from the dealer include the following: rear back-up sensors, leatherette seatcovers, floor mattings, foglamps and ABS.

It's already been a year since I got this car, and I've taken it to many places outside Metro Manila: to Baguio; Subic; Clark; Bataan (Anvaya Cove); San Juan, Batangas; San Mateo, Rizal; among other places.

The family loves it!

Drive-by Shooting during Milo Marathon

2009-07-16T21:32:00.000-07:00

During our support efforts for the Milo Marathoners a couple of Sundays ago, some hot cars came out cruising at The Fort.

Here are some pics I managed to snap before they zoomed away!

Baguio Road Trip 2009

2009-06-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

Its been a long time since I last drove far and away. Well, about a couple of months ago we went to Subic. That's as far as I drove and it wasn't even summer yet.

So before I get stuck in the doldrums of deskwork and online chatter, me and M. decided to pack up the kids and head somewhere North, where we haven't been before. I was looking forward to the long drive, especially with the Civic just coming off its 10,000km service check-up a couple of weeks ago.

This trip to Baguio had been in the works since December, but due to a death in the family, we had to forego our holiday and plan it some other time. Well, it was time to cash in on that plan and with nary a couple of weeks of summer left, I hurriedly booked a room at AIM-Igorot Lodge inside Camp John Hay, and filed my VL from the office.

Ironically, this will be the very first time I'll be driving all the way up to Baguio City. In past trips for BWorld Online and during our Mobile Media days, I'd usually take the wheel for the first leg of the trip, then hand it off to another driver for the last leg going up. The last time I went to Baguio was in 1995, I think, and we took the bus going and coming.

The prospect of long drives doesn't worry me. In fact, I relish those times I can spend long hours behind the wheel, especially now with a powerful (1.8L) automatic transmission car, strong A/C and leather-covered seats.

We left Manila a bit late at 5am. I was aiming to be at NLEX by 5 but due to some delays (like the slo-mo ritual of getting out of bed to get ready) we got behind schedule. The girls were still sleepy but their excitement about the whole trip ensured that they were strapped onto their seatbelts in the quickest time possible.

Traffic was already building up on EDSA, especially at the turnoff to NLEX in Balintawak. I just told myself not to get too pressured and to just relax and enjoy it. Its not like in the old Motorista days when we needed to be either in Subic or BRC (Batangas Racing Circuit) before noon to catch the first round of Sunday racing. That means, out of Manila by 7 am because travel time was all of four hours in the pre-SCTEX and Star Tollway years.

Back to the present, our trip was made quicker and easier via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). Really convenient to start a long trip on a wide, smoothly asphalted highway! We entered SCTEX a little past 6:30am and sped thru it as the sun was coming up on the horizon.

Exiting Luisita, we made a pit-stop at Jollibee to stretch our legs and use the CR. The girls were up and about by now, munching on the buttered pita bread M. prepared as our in-car breakfast fare.

I'd say one of the more boring sections of the trip to Baguio is the one between Tarlac and Pangasinan, along the old MacArthur Highway. The kids agree with me, too. Every time I pass thru there, I don't retain any image of what I see. Weird. It all usually comes back the next time I pass thru. But before and after a trip, I don't have a visual image of this part of the highway. Whenever I make a return trip to Baguio, that's when the route starts becoming familiar, as I drive through it. Looking back now, I guess it just matched the name of the highway, from the WW2 American general who coined the famous phrase: "I shall return!"

We took Kennon Road on the way up, only because I wanted the girls to experience the zigzag road. The views up the side of the mountain were still spectacular, wowing the girls and keeping them wide-eyed. It was already 10am by this time.

The Civic did well on the drive up. It was light yet powerful enough to easily make the steep zigs and zags without losing momentum. Handling was great and responsive.

A quick stopover at the Lion's Head, then the Viewdeck, and we were almost within city limits. The welcome sign into the city was a rusty old metal billboard sponsored by McDonald's. Not funny.

Traffic was really bad at this portion, just upon entering Baguio City proper. I can't believe it took us about 20minutes to get past this intersection!

Driving inside Baguio City is just like driving through Little Baguio in San Juan. There were several one-way roads but it didn't help funnel out the traffic in a smooth manner. I guess arriving in Baguio in the middle of a Saturday isn't a very good idea.

Later that day, we drove through the city, parked inside SM City Baguio, and walked down and up Session Road. Then I drove around Burnham Park to get back to Camp John Hay. All this to familiarize myself with the immediate vicinity.

On our last day, we drove to La Trinidad Valley to check out the strawberry fields. Going there took quite a bit of time, with heavy traffic as you come out of the city center and turning left into Magsaysay Ave. Then you follow the winding road, passing thru the flyover and then the Boundary Arch to La Trinidad.

The Strawberry Fields is where you can go strawberry picking, but on the day we were there, all of the strawberries had already been harvested. The rains came early, someone said, so they had an early harvest. We just checked out the souvenir stalls that lined the road. Got some brooms, jams, some more igorot woven mats and stuff. The girls enjoyed fresh strawberry ice cream from one vendor.

We then drove back the same way, noticing the heavy traffic going back in Baguio City. It was our last morning so we proceeded to Mines View Park. Mines View had changed over the years; there are now more souvenir shops outside, more restaurants and resorts in the immediate vicinity, and more people of course. We took our obligatory souvenir pictures with a view of the mines in the back. Actually, the mines aren't there anymore. All we could see were houses and houses.

We stopped for lunch at PNKY Bed and Breakfast along Leonard Wood Road. The food was great and the place was quaint and relaxing.

Soon enough, it was time for us to say goodbye to our room at the Igorot Lodge. Its a simply laid out establishment, operated by the Asian Institute of Management. Reasonably priced considering its inside Camp John Hay. Its just a few minutes walk from The Manor Hotel, surrounded by pine trees.

The girls bade farewell to our room and to the pine trees around the lodge. They had a lot of fun, with the cold weather, the walking on forest trails inside John Hay, the drive to the strawberry fields and Mines View. Now that we know how easy it is to go to Baguio, we can definitely do it again soon.

On the way back to Manila, we took Marcos Highway going down to Pangasinan. We were going to visit a friend and former colleague of mine in BW Online. She lives at her parent's house in San Fabian although she's now based in Mozambique, Africa.

The view along Marcos Highway was different from Kennon. We saw thick fog blanketing the mountainside. We passed through the long tunnel and the girls found it exciting.
Had a tasty merienda during our 2-hour stopover at my friend's place in San Fabian.

It was almost 6pm when we said our goodbyes. Good thing my friend's dad recommended a different route that would take us through a secondary road parallel to MacArthur Highway, thus avoiding the traffic in Urdaneta and Dagupan.

This route was drawn by hand on a clean sheet of paper. from San Fabian, we were to take the road going to Mangaldan town, where we could also get the native delicacy called tupig. From Mangaldan, we passed thru the Y-intersection, heading left into Sta. Barbara town. Next town is Malasique then Bayambang, which means we would already be in Tarlac province!

From Bayambang, we traverse that stretch of road past small towns and villages, schools and churches to get to Camiling. Then on to Sta. Ignacia, the last town before Tarlac City, which is where Hacienda Luisita would be, and further along, the entry into SCTEX back to NLEX.

That whole route took us about three hours, on neatly asphalted and cemented roads, sidestepping the busier intersections and poblacions. By the time we exited SCTEX, it was already 9pm.

And it was straight and steady driving from there, making a quick stop at the Shell station in NLEX.

We entered the gate into our compound in QC by 11pm, which means the whole return trip from Pangasinan took all of five hours! Not bad.

It was a great drive back to end an equally fun holiday in Baguio City!

My Ferrari 250 GTO

2009-04-26T23:29:00.000-07:00

I finally completed my collection of Shell Ferrari toy cars! This further expands my growing loot of Shell-Ferrari collectibles, starting with the 6 Ferrari car models from two years ago, and then last year's Die-cast iron key chain collection. These items are still in mint condition: still in the box and unopened!

For 2009, Shell decided to offer seven new 1:38 scale model Gran Turismo Ferraris: Ferrari FXX, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Ferrari F430 Challenge, Ferrari 250 GTO, Ferrari F40, Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale, and the Ferrari 575 GTC.

I managed to complete my collection after my weekly fuel runs to the Shell Station in T. Morato Ave. in Quezon City. For every load of up P500 worth of V-Power, you get to purchase one of these babies for only P50!

Now that my collection is complete, I can get some more as "service units" that I can play with...hehe! First "extra" unit I got is this lovely baby pictured here! This particular model actually came in first in class at the 1963 24-Hours of Le Mans! A truly speedy sportscar that still makes heads turn. The 250 GTO is reportedly the most valuable Ferrari ever, costing up to US$15-million! Only 36 units were built by Ferrari.

And I have a mini-version of it! Sweet!

Cheers!

Skyway Run

2009-04-16T07:10:00.000-07:00

Had an opportunity to get on the Skyway heading south a couple of weeks ago. These are some photos taken from behind the wheel. Don't try this at home!

Goodbye old car, hello new car!

2008-12-26T17:01:00.001-08:00

Saying goodbye to the trusty old family car wasn't easy. It has served us for the best of the last 12 years or so, ever since it came into my possession after my younger brother decided to move to the US.

The car, a 1995 Mitsubishi Lancer GLXi, was part of our growing family, and both my kids grew riding in that car to go to doctor's appointments, parties, family gatherings, out-of-town trips, school, and many other destinations.

It's a hardy automobile which has seen many mishaps (not so major bumps and scrapes on both ends and the sides, piston-breaking incidents and timing belt breakages). But for every incident, we made sure to fix her up right away.

The time finally came to let go of it before it got any older. Driving around in a 14-year old car is not a joke, no matter how well-maintained it is.

Which is good timing, too, coz it had already been fixed up with a new coat of paint not more than two years ago, overall body repairs included. I also removed the tint recently to make it look clean and new! The interiors were well-maintained, too, despite going through the growing years of two children. The upholstery has had its share of baby vomit and various other liquid substances spilled on it.

To advertise the car, I stuck a big FOR SALE sign on the rear window and parked it along our street for a week. In a couple of days, I got a lot of text messages and calls asking about the price. Some wanted to get it really low but I didn't bite.

In the end, it was sold for a reasonable amount, not too far from the standard selling price of such models in the market. I'm glad to let it go while it was still running well and in good condition.

What replaced it is a new Honda Civic 1.8S automatic transmission that came as a perk in my new company. Its sleek Alabaster Silver finish makes it look really sleek and sporty! The kids now have bigger room in the back and a more stable ride for out of town trips. Yet its still a passenger car, a bit bigger than the Lancer, but the more powerful engine will make it just as exciting to drive!

@ the 2008 Manila Auto Salon

2008-12-04T01:52:00.000-08:00

November saw me heading out to SMX Convention Center beside the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay to take part in the 2008 Manila Auto Salon, a show that gives local and international manufacturers, distributors and dealers of the automotive aftermarket industry an opportunity to showcase their latest stuff.

Incorporating two long-running events – Custom Car Show and the Sport Truck Show with the Bike Show and 2nd Mobile Electronics and Technology Show, MAS 2008 is conceptualized and produced by the Philippine’s leading motoring events organizer – Tradeshow International, Inc. (the team behind TRANS SPORT SHOW).

As is the case, the cars were all well-prepared, and it gave us a chance to see what kind of talent the Pinoy car-lover possesses!

The four-day event was highlighted by the competition for the best cars in various categories, as well as a sound-off competition for the loudest and best-designed car audio equipment!

Of course, aside from the hot cars, most of the booths were decorated with attractive females! Definitely, cars and girls go together!

View my online gallery here.

At home on the Ranger

2008-09-06T08:54:00.001-07:00

Ford Ranger Trekker A/T
One of the vehicles I recently had the opportunity to test-drive was the Ford Ranger Trekker A/T. It was a great pick up, and I had a lot of fun driving it around town. Which is ironic since pickups usually belonged to the great outdoors, all torqued up and loaded with stuff, rumbling through unpaved roads, ditches, rocky streams and riverbanks.

But these days, pickups are commonly seen on EDSA. Not everyone has use of a 4x4, so there have been compromises in the once purely utilitarian pickup truck. The Ranger, however, has tried to remain as close to its original roots as possible. The little upgrades and enhancements actually add a bit of smoothening of the rough edges, so to speak. But it's all good.

My review of the Ford Ranger Trekker can be read in full at www.autoindustriya.com. Check it out and see what I mean...

Little red....

2008-08-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

... riding fast and low to the ground!

is how I can describe this little roadster that I had the pleasure of driving a few months ago. Our friends from Mazda Phils. have something good going for them with the MX5, and they willingly loaned it to me for a week, perhaps just to prove the point that you don't have to be a European brand to come out with an adequately balanced, low-riding road monster that handles like a dream with the looks to boot!

Excuse me if I sound simply enamored by this little piece of machinery. And why shouldn't I be? What used to be called a Miata was reintroduced early this year as the MX5, seamlessly tuning in to the whims of roadster-hungry car freaks who by now have gotten used to the usual Bavarian variety, to the point of exhaustion. The Miata was once the yardstick by which all inexpensive roasters were measured, and the MX5 manages to uphold that image, perhaps even lifting it up a notch.

A few days behind the wheel of this 2.0-liter baby can spoil you. Maximizing its power to weight ratio easily, the MX5 is perfect for snaking around slow-moving traffic, and once you hit the open highway, you can hit 6th gear without batting an eyelash! Moving up the different gears isn't that difficult, as each one shift into its designated slot precisely.

The novelty of having a top-down roadster is the idea that you can pop the roof back on whenever you need it. This time, Mazda put in an automated contraption to bring the roof up or down. Just press a button and hold it till the buzzer sounds, signaling that the roof is in place, after which you clip it on from the inside, right between the sun visors. To fold it, unlatch the roof, then press and hold the button till the roof disappears. It actually folds neatly between the back seat and the trunk lid, in a way that one can best describe as "Transformers-like."

Inside this roadster, its all leather and vinyl. Neatly arranged instrument panel, with most everything you need within easy reach. Funny but I didn't notice the presence, or lack of, a cup holder. I guess when you're driving a car like this, you wouldn't want to be holding on to anything else!

Yep, the MX5 is a great car to have, that is if you have other cars in your garage. This isn't for your daily family drive, hey, its only a two-seater! This won't also be advisable as your daily drive to the office due to its high fuel consumption. Maybe you can take it for a spin on weekends, on long drives up to Tagaytay or even Baguio, with one passenger beside you. Its a two-liter two-seater costing two million pesos!

Go here for a more technical and expert review of the Mazda MX5

The New Subaru Forester

2008-07-30T03:14:00.000-07:00

Subaru launches the third generation Forester

After much worldwide anticipation from Subaru followers and the general public, Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. has launched the third generation of its award-winning crossover sports utility vehicle, the all new 2008 Subaru Forester.

The completely redesigned new model boasts a bolder, sleeker look, with a more towering stance than previous models. Motor Image calls the new Forester the “epitome of form and function” with its vast improvements in design and comfort while maintaining its focus on safety, quality and capability. The new look is far removed from the old station wagon appeal of the first version. This time, Subaru wants everyone to take notice because now the Forester means business.

Read the full article here.

FIRST LOOK: 2008 Honda Accord 3.5-liter V6

2008-07-30T02:39:00.000-07:00

A new car is really a sight to behold. All the more if it looks totally different from its previous iteration. For many people, a car is a car is a car. But for others, a car is more than just a car.

Recently I got a glimpse of a car that could be worthy of the term "more than just a car." But then, it'll have to take a lot before a particular car model can have full rights to a moniker like that.

But for all intents and purposes, the all-new 2008 Honda Accord 3.5-liter V6 is right up there with the best of the lot, well at least in overall looks and street appeal. For the brief moment I had full claims to it, the new Accord did a good job in impressing me and delighting my passengers.

To put it simply, Honda’s new Accord promises to be one of the most significant introductions of the 2008 model year. And like most Honda products, the automaker has decided to let the product do all the talking.

I'll post a review of this car soon, along with some photos of our brief encounter.

Drive-by shootings

2008-04-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

Out of town, on the road

Nothing beats a long, easy drive down the expressway onboard a dependable piece of machinery.

We did that last February using my colleague's old-school Mercedes Benz 1-2-3 type body. It ran on diesel, yet it glided effortlessly down the smooth, paved asphalt of NLEX.

Shot these pics right from the front passenger seat....

The call of the open highway is as addicting as any narcotic, capable of rendering you glassy eyed, yet fully focused.

With hands gripped firmly on the steering wheel, and eyes high-beaming straight ahead at the vast expanse of tarmac, this moment counts as one of the rare times that man becomes one with his machine.

Everyone gets that urge once in a while. For some, it becomes a regular thing. For others, it becomes something to look forward to after getting tired of the regular grind. Driving is in itself an occasion of celebration, of fulfillment. Its when you realize that not all races have to be run fast, nor does one need to win each time.

And when all other rationalization doesn't make sense, you can always fall back on the fact that you relish the journey more than the destination...

Imagination in Motion

2008-04-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

2008 Manila International Auto Show
http://www.manilaautoshow.com/

This year's theme for the Manila International Auto Show captured what most car followers may have in mind. From creative imaginings spring forth the actual product, and the latest car models and kits displayed at the MIAS made sure that people's imaginations came to life.

It was the first car show of the year and what better way to bring it on than with some of the best and brightest machines in the local automotive industry. Like in years past, the Manila International Auto Show presents an exciting look at the newest car models to hit Manila's showrooms. Add to that the huge participation of car tuners, bodyshops and auto restorers who come out with their best custom cars and classic vehicles to the delight of a huge following of young and old car buffs. More on this later.

MIAS 2008, held at the World Trade Center Manila and the adjoining airconditioned tent on April 3-6, is probably the biggest car show to date. Of course, other car shows yet to be scheduled this year are aiming to top it -- with more booths, a larger participation from the auto manufacturers and a bigger show area. Nevertheless, what MIAS tries to do every year is to put more focus on the cars, because that's what a car show should be all about.

Like the year before, Subaru brought in Russ Swift, world-renowned veteran precision driver, who did three exhibition shows each day during the four day expo. It was a sight to see, a tall Englishman throwing a new Subaru Impreza WRX STi all over the place. He executed moves one usually sees on TV and the movies, commanding the WRX to turn at the right moment and stop at a dime. He used a different Subaru for a spectacular stunt that entailed driving the car on two wheels. The audience loved it! This was the first time I saw his show live, coz I missed the last one. It was worth the price of admission, I tell you that.

A sideshow of the MIAS although equally huge is the Custom and Classic Car Competition, situated at the airconditioned tent beside the main WTC halls. This year, we got to see some vintage sports cars, old school Japanese models and customized American SUVs. The competition was conducted by Team Lightspeed and they managed to give ample exposure to all the entries.

One of the more anticipated booth exhibits in the show is the one owned by Motul and Autoplus. Their main centerpiece was the Z Machine -- the Motul-Pitwork 350Z, one of the fastest machines ever built by man. The Z race car is the most successful race car to ever compete in the Japan Grand Touring Car Championship. Flown in from Japan for an exclusive series of tours in the Philippines, the 350Z is inarguably one stunning piece of machinery. Many show visitors made sure to have their photo taken beside the car.

Going around the exhibit hall, one can get pretty excited with all the neatly laid out show areas of the participating car models. Mazda Philippines took advantage of the event to give more exposure to the newest members in its stable: the Mazda 6, CX-9 and MX-5 PRHT.

The CX-9 is a real head-turner. I saw one on the road last month and was immediately attracted to it. It looked miles apart from the usual SUV: sporty, hefty yet streamlined and visually exciting. This one comfortably seats seven people, though you wouldn't guess it by just looking from the outside. The SRP for this 3.7-liter-powered, fully imported (CBU) SUV is around PhP2.7-million.

Other than the CX-9, my other favorite was the Hyundai Santa Fe. I think its just the right size SUV for my needs, and I've been hearing good things about it since it was launched last year. The Santa Fe has a look that doesn't get easily tired or outdated. I just wished it came out with more color options than the usual gray, black, white or maroon.

The Nissan booth had its usual X-Trail and Murano stars, yet both are not exactly new models. Same with Honda, which showcased the relatively new version of its popular CRV. Some hot bikes were also on display, courtesy of the Hardcore Brothers Custom Bike Shop.

Not to be outdone, Mitsubishi showcased its newest Evolution Lancer, the Evolution X. Other highlights of the MIAS was the launch of the Chana brand of cars from China; the introduction of Bridgestone's Turanza AR10; a car audio competition by the EMMA (European Mobile Media Association); a display of 4x4 vehicles; and numerous test drives conducted by participating car dealers.

All in all it was a great show. Like most car shows, you can never go wrong with machines that run on four wheels, or even two. And the sprinkling of fine young ladies draped all over cars and such did help a lot in the visual sense!

On to the next car show!

More AutoShow photos here --- http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeantigua/sets/72157604394464643/show/

Picking up where it matters

2008-01-31T17:04:00.000-08:00

2007 MITSUBISHI STRADA 4x2

Everyone loves a pickup.

That being the case, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to assume that everyone loves a pickup all the more when it rides like a luxury car.

In the old days, a pickup’s ride and handling is usually described as “hard”, “bumpy” and “jarring” even. Which is really typical, given that a pickup is a vehicle designed to carry heavy loads and work like a horse. Oftentimes, only when the pickup is fully laden with cargo can one notice an even and stable ride, the suspension being weighted down by the payload.

These days, advancements in automotive design and engineering have helped manufacturers produce pickups that replicate, or at lease emulate, the ride and feel of a luxury car. Notice, too, how I’ve managed to not use the term “Pickup Truck” when mentioning this type of vehicle that doubles as a cargo hauler and everyday service. Even if pickups are still called trucks, the meaning of the word has started to become less and less applicable for every new generation pickup model that hits the showroom.

Which leads me back to my original pretext that anyone would definitely love to ride a pickup that doesn’t feel like a pickup. And this becomes all the more evident when one gets behind the wheel of the new Mitsubishi Strada.

Check out the full writeup here.

Revving it again...

2008-01-31T16:57:00.000-08:00

Since I decided to restart Motorista back in May 2007, I wasn't able to do what I intended to do. Work and other concerns tend to divert one's attention from other trivial pursuits. But just the same, the effort is now back in full swing. As the saying goes, its the journey, not the destination.

So I continue my journey to reviving (or revving up) my once "blooming" motoring journalist career. Good thing my friends from Autoindustriya.com agreed to "adopt" an old, dog-eared once-promising writer to contribute to their young, hip and exciting motoring website!

Now I start off with my very first submission to their website, which took a long time in coming!

Hope this is the start of something good...In the meantime, enjoy the ride!

Motorista is back!

2007-05-27T22:50:00.000-07:00

There used to be a Motorista website, but sadly, that has ceased to exist except only in our memories. I have been planning to revive it although time and cost are the constant challenges for such a pursuit.

But now is the best time to resurrect the Motorista name.

Hopefully, I get to maintain this site as an extension of what I used to do.