It's V's B-Day!

Good morning ... good morning ... Our trip is almost over and we’re feeling a little sad ... But, this is not the day ... It’s Vince’s birthday and we want to make this a special day!

So, this is what we figured ... don’t tell Vince, but we got a couple special pit passes that will allow Vince and us to get into the Formula One Grand Prix a day early to watch and talk to the drivers. Sunday’s general event tickets are going for $400, so you can imagine that a little extra funny money has gone into the deal hehe.

V and us talked about the general anxiety from most of China not being able to afford the event. There is one promotion going that allows folks to get in cheaper if they buy a carton of US cigarettes. Least that’s what our special cab driver has been telling us. The cost for the smokes is $1100 yuans or about $137. Most folks don’t make much more than about $200 a month.

Vince has arranged for our cab driver and his father to have tickets tomorrow. It is our way of saying, "Thank you" for the wonderful job he has done for us this week. Liu Ming, our driver is so appreciative, that I believe he’s offered to name his first born child after V. For a professional driver though you can imagine how excited Liu Ming is.  Car racing isn’t as important to the general country as say, basketball or soccer, but China is working on their image due to their hosting the Olympic games in Beijing four years from now.

Vince has had nothing but racing on his mind for the last couple of days. I’m becoming quite an expert *giggle*.

He says, that this race is the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix. V’s taken delight in that there will be some twisty sections and he’s explained that the drivers need to have very stable cars then under breaking. He also says that there aren’t any obvious opportunities for the cars for passing, but his guy Michael is confident. Michael’s (Schumaker’s) Ferrari is sponsored by Marlboro and there hasn’t been any shortages of funds put into the car. Vince says it will be a real test of the car’s balance.

I guess the driver’s have been getting used to the track this week, but it will take them a few laps on race day to really accustom themselves to it. The surfaces will be slippery since there is no rubber on the track. The driver’s have gotten used to the track on a simulation course so they pretty much know the gear changes, but the grip will need to be felt out. By now they’ve been running the cars in preparation and they’ll be pretty excited to get the race under way.

Vince says Michael is a world champion driver, but that it’s his first visit to China. He and the other drivers have looked forward to the new experience just like Vince and us. Vince explained that China has already hosted big profile events in golf, tennis and soccer and that next year they will take on the motorcycle circus and amateur boxing. He says we’re staying over in the World’s Hotest new sports spot in the world! To think ... I was just looking forward to a good Governor’s Chicken! They’ve been reported to have put $240 million into the track.

We’re going to have quick brunch ... V thinks we’re going to another museum, but Liu Ming’s already been tipped off. I can hardly wait!

The newspapers here are saying that the track "loosely follows the Chinese character for "shang", meaning upwards." They say I can hold 200,000 spectators which include 29,000 in the stand across from the pits. They expect during the 56 laps (5.45 km each) to top speeds of 320 km/hour. I’m not too good with km, but Vince says it’s pretty fast!

Michael said yesterday, "Nobody knows the Shanghai circuit and that will make the race very exciting," Sure has Vince revved up!! I guess we better get going ... Can’t wait to see the look of V’s face when we surprise him with an extra "day at the races." Happy Birthday V!

* Only virtual airplanes were used in the making of this story and all but one was not seriously harmed.  :)