I was fortunate enough to be invited by Shell to witness the Singtel Singapore Formula 1 GP up close. I was part of a group which were brought around the track and general area by Shell technical directors from London and KL, we were given free tickets for the day to catch the action up close at the grandstands by turn 1, which is just little off the pit building. Not to mention some pit-action thereafter as well.

The F1 2009 SG GP

Niffy kangarooTV

At the pits

On top of the action, we were also issued these rather cool Kangaroo handheld TV sets which I recall only can be seen in the most hardcore of F1 fans abroad, it’s not really widely used here and it seemed like a novelty to be able to utilise it for the day. It’s like a mini-computer and receive signals via wi-fi. It is perfect if your grandstand seat is tucked away without a giant screen in sight- you can catch all the TV footage, commentary as well a in-car camera views from all the cars on the grid.

After the track action, we were given exclusive entry to the paddock area and were brought around by Shell’s Stuart Humm. Besides a tour of the garage and how the engineers work on the car, such as the tires (and the warmers), spoilers and stuff, we were introduced to various Shell V-power crew working there, such as Lisa Lilley (Shell Technology Manager) and her crew in the Shell brewery and testing lab. There, we got to check out and learn about Shell’s leading fuel research and analysis team for the Scuderia Ferrari.

In the brewery!

Warm tires

And Raikkonen’s ones too

There we were told of Shell’s very close relationship with the Ferrari team in Formula One to develop the highest performance Shell V-Power race fuels. Shell V-Power has been formulated by the Shell scientists who developed Ferrari’s Formula One race fuels. These learnings are used to develop Shell V-Power fuels for road cars, to help power and protect them worldwide.

The fuel used by the Scuderia F60 is formulated very much similar to that used for cars as Shell V-power, a translation from track to road, hence the term “Shell V-Power, Ferrari fuel for your car”. A dedicated team of Shell scientists use the Formula One environment as a laboratory, working on many factors that affect a car’s engine, then use these insights when formulating Shell V-Power fuels, helping to benefit drivers in many countries. Shell V-Power’s is also formulated with various unique cleaning agents and powerful cleaning Friction Modification Technology (FMT) designed to help increase an engine’s responsiveness, deliver more power and improve driving performance.

A view of the turn 1 grandstand

An aerial view

Action at the pit area

I did not manage to catch any of the drivers Fisichella or Kimi around, but the experience was quite an eye opener particularly all the action going on at the pits and considering that not anyone can have access to the paddock area. Glad that I was able to stay in Singapore long enough to witness this event before flying off to UK over the weekend.

When Felipe Massa crossed the finishing line last Sunday, he was the 2008 world champion for a moment, till Lewis came and took it from him 38.9 seconds later.

For the Brazilian, it was a picture perfect finish, maintaining pole from start to finish, it was something Massa could do given the support from his fellow countryman in Brazil, but nothing can change the fact that the world title belonged to Lewis.

All what it needs to make Lewis and McLaren’s day was finishing the bare minimum fifth to win the world championship, ending the season with 98 driver points, 1 point ahead of Massa’s 97, it a complete reversal of the position for the world title one year ago. Kimi Räikkönen finished with 75 points putting the 2 Scuderia Ferrari drivers within the top 3 drivers for this season behind the Briton, with Ferrari themselves at 172 points in the constructors ahead of McLaren-Mercedes’s 151 points.

Sometime, you need not have a perfect finish everytime to see the bigger picture, and win the world champion, it just repaints the saying “losing the battle to win the war”.

Lewis finally did it, etching his name into the record books as the sport’s youngest ever world champion by claiming the fifth place he required to seal the crown, although it came in hugely dramatic circumstances with a pass on Toyota’s Timo Glock at the final corner, which was a typical “do or die” situation and I would say the main decider for the driver’s title this year.

Things are up and coming for the 23 year old Briton, with plenty of playing field and grunt ahead of him, even Michael Schumacher recently commented that he might one day go on winning more than his record of 7 world championships, there is just so much ahead of Lewis.

Short race report
The race tonight was cool, not that it rained (it was a warm night), but the spade of activities which occurred could be one of the most interesting to watch for this whole year- interestingly cool I will put it. Though there is no record for the number of cars which crashed for a race tonight (sorry destruction fans), there were 2 major crashes and the safety car was called out not once but twice due, which to the dismay of many is rather drenching for leading cars to fall back and lose the lead they are trying so hard to maintain.

The favorites for tonight’s race have to be the McLaren and Ferrari, but that didn’t seem much of the case after the race started given the spade of activities which happened for team Ferrari themselves. Given Nelsinho Piquet first spectacular crash at one of the bumpiest high speed corners, the rush for impromptu pits stops by many teams created some rather interesting pit drama (not to mention large re-shuffling of positions as well), such as the Massa’s Car laughingly pulling the fuel line, not only giving the pit crew the full knocks of the sub 700 bhp engine and ripping the fuel line off and trailing off till the end of the pits lane as. Well now that’s entertainment from discord! Massa disappointment on that incident really affected his race performance, dropping from pole to finishing 13th on the race, questioning not only the bad performance as a whole on the team but the reliability of the stop go pit light system (in absence of the lollipop man) as well. Just as you can visualize Michael Schumacher possibly jumping up and down in dismay at while watching the race, Kimi’s crash at Lap 58 gives Ferrari the final blow for tonight’s race for them.

The Renault and Force India made a rather bold moves at the start by cutting the first chicane for position. Being the real rookies, Force India kept on in the race as cars just get plucked off the track one by one, a good start for the newest F1 team this year for a finish tonight. Team Toyota is impressive as well, considering their entry into the sport at 2002 (which I stopped following till now). Timo Glock just simply paint the fact that besides having a German at the wheel this largely Japanese “branded” team is coming up rather quickly and not just one that is just always there, or not “up” there, but one too also never far from from the back either (they are 4th in the constructors now), something I guess you have to ponder to Team Honda (pka BAR) who entered F1 since 1964 but still yet to win a championship.

Lewis was cool and steady, despite pit penalties, but he managed to pull of quite a good sint from the back of the pack to finishing top 3. About the decision not to pull and aggressive stance for the 2nd position at the last 5 laps from his 3rd could largely due to the “play safe” strategy- Lewis has taken many risky overtakes to get up to 3rd, all that could come to an end on just a false move for that 2nd position, and I glad that the team kept to that and secured the points rather than risking it all, nevertheless, a perfect finish for the Brit Rookie as well.

Whether you say Fernando Alonso deserves the race title today is very much open to comments by many. The facts are, despite an engine failure on qualitfying and starting 15th on the grid, it’s not small feat to find yourself slowing inching up to pole and getting the checkered flag, impressive on it’s own. After all he has the 2005 and 2006 championships under his belt, so that is still something not too far fetched and the very large possibility of a win by him as well. The renault team was one the only few who openly came to Singapore early to test out the race, they have a considerable amount of pre-race preparation even before the season started, so it’s only deserving that I say, Fernando to take the chequered flag for Formula 1 first night race.

Now as you can hear all the contractors packing and cleaning up the place overnight for the road opening tomorrow, it will be a year before the race comes back to Singapore, for now, its Fuji speedway (Japan) to go next.

Drivers/teams who did not finish

Interesting notes of the race:

• Various cutting of the chicane at the 1st lap (IMG Renault, Panasonic) – Various pit penalties metted out
• AT&T Williams (Nakajima)- Wheel lock on brake first spectacle and tire flattening smokes
• First crash Nelson Piquet Jr. (BRA) Renault after making the Suntec straight- notoriously bumpy area at the junction
• Impromptu pitstops- Ferrari pit-crew failure to disengage fuel line, ripped from station and crew injured as Massa leaves and as Kimi enters
• Impromptu pitstops- Various pit drive through penalties and pit (hold) penalties
• Rubens Barrichello (Honda) – Engine failure, retires in pits
• Mark Webber (Redbull)- Engine failure, retires in pits
• Jarno Trulli (Toyota)- Transmission/engine problem crawling on track, retires in pits
• Minor Fuel hose problem for the Red Bull Team (Coulthard) at the pits, car stopped in time and not ripped off like the Ferrari’s
• Felipe Massa (Ferrari)- Skids trying to overtake Jarno crawling at the floating platform, spins into barriers (No damage) spilling accumated water from barrir onto track
• Adrian Sutil (Force India)- Crashes right into the barrier which Massa knocked into, just seconds after Massa left the area
• Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) Crashes at the Suntec straight- notoriously bumpy corner

Current Driver standings and Constructors on the click:

Current Driver standings

Current Team Constructors

I believe nobody is any stranger to Toyota, rightly or wrongly, can be is widely considered the greenest automaker. For automotive news, the company hopes to solidify its hold on the title and move beyond oil through a series of plans to produce cleaner, more efficient cars beginning with a plug-in hybrid which we can see rolling on our streets by 2010. Well so now goes my plans for a plug-on Smart Fortwo.

“Without focusing on measures to address global warming and energy issues, there can be no future for our auto business,” Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters in Tokyo, adding, “Our view is that oil production will peak in the near future. We need to develop power trains for alternative energy sources.”

Sometimes old habits are quite hard to kick- That’s not to say the oil wells will run dry anytime soon or the bulk of Toyota’s cars won’t rely upon internal combustion for many years to come. “People often ask us whether the vehicles of the future will be hybrid vehicles or clean diesel cars or electric vehicles,” Watanabe said. “Our answer is that it will not be one technology because energy situations vary from one market to another.” So don’t expect to drive pass laughing at people at the pumps for now…

On the forefront into developing better and more efficient hybrid technology, Toyota is joining longtime battery partner Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. in launching a program to develop batteries it says will outperform lithium-ion batteries. With these plans ahead, Toyota will introduce hybrid versions of every car in its line-up, in other words, having hybrid as a standard component in all Toyota vehicles, private commercial etc. We will only see that sometime between 2020 and 2029 as it is being progressively introduced.

Though I have a whack more for continental cars more than Japanese tuner cars, the recent formula tuner drift held on April 27 was a sold out crowd at the Changi exhibition center, with Team USA’s Ryuji Miki taking the crown in his RX-7. You can check out more on their site at www.formuladrift.com.sg.

So the Japanese who started the drift craze will more or less be the naturals in the field (with the exception of tofu delivery on Akina), here is a small short video of zen in appreciation to just what they do as a pastime back in Japan ontop of the quickest way of turning rubber into smoke:

Well, we’ve seen self parking cars in the Lexus IS series, and Volkwagen with their “Park Assist”, in its Touran, Tiguan, Passat and Passat estate to help drivers parallel park. Now Volkswagen is presenting the next evolution of self parking cars with it’s new “Park Assist Vision”. Now parking a car out of it will definitely turn heads!

Source: VW Release

Fast and Furious (FF) 3 was Tokyo Drift and there is a 2009 sequel coming up right too, was actually in the theaters. Unlike the old dumpy FF2 which was descent and the given fact that FF3 simply screwed up the whole series, FF4 will feature the original cast from FF, well most of them… Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster and some new ones. One of the featured cars in the show will be the BMW E92 or the 335 we mostly come to know it as and it officially becomes a Ricer in Fast and Furious 4!

Apparently news of the confirmation of the movie was revealed after some spy shots of filming and the sudden concentration of few tuner vehicles out of the blue. I hope this 4th series won’t be as disappointing as the rest, only time will tell when it hits the silver screen 2009.

For upcoming movies, “21″ looks kind of a nice show with a nice twist of Harvard grade students versus the Casino system- perfect entry movie for “who knows what will happen” with our textbook stricken students and upcoming IR Casino developments.

What do you get when you cross the front of a Liana and the rear a Chrysler Grand Voyager? You get the 2008 Honda Odyssey Touring. Contrary to the 2007’s lower and more sportier Odyssey, the 2008 model had definitely much grown up with more practically as a family MPVs it provides for. Honda’s incrementalist approach to improving its models continues unabated – with a facelift to match it with the new similarly styled Accord.

It seems that the Stream and Airwave models in Singapore will still continue as the lower end MPVs. And while this new this look will come much of a disappointment who those who fell for the 2007 Odyssey looks “with the unmatchable sports handling from an MVP”, it’s time Honda set it crosshairs straight on their flagship people-carrier model to achieve what MVPs are built for – for the down to earth and practical family people.

Practically comes with practical looks – off with the flashy low profiles and glaring front headlamps in place of more conservative looking face which won’t give your children the chills when come to. But the main difference is the engine of the Odyssey EX-L, spotting a more fuel-efficient, 3.5-liter V6 Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) i-VTEC powerplant. This deactivate two or three of its six cylinders when they’re not needed, such as during cruising or deceleration.

The Odyssey comes filled with toys too, with new Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and onboard Navigation just to name afew. Throw the baby in reverse and see the rear-view mirror come to life with video feed from the rear camera display, with memory-linked side mirrors with tilt function.

The 2008 Honda Odyssey Press Release at the bump:

2008 Honda Odyssey Press Release

The significantly-updated-for-2008 Honda Odyssey minivan receives new exterior styling along with a more fuel-efficient version of the available Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM) i-VTEC V-6 engine. Exterior styling focuses on a bolder, six-sided grille design and a front bumper fascia with crisp lines that add to the vehicle’s dynamic and premium appearance.

“The Odyssey is the king of the Honda lineup when it comes to moving the maximum number of people in maximum comfort,” said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “For 2008, the Odyssey strengthens its styling and functional advantages while adding even more premium features.”

Four new and notable available premium features include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink (available Odyssey EX-L and Touring), 4-way power passenger seat (standard Odyssey EX-L and Touring), rearview camera display integrated into the rearview mirror (standard Odyssey EX-L) and memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down (standard Odyssey Touring).

Interior styling receives updates in the form of new colors and textures for the instrument panel, along with premium fabric for Odyssey LX and EX seating surfaces. Further interior refinements include an additional storage bin in the 2nd Row PlusOne Seat (standard on Odyssey EX, EX-L and Touring), standard MP3/Windows Media Audio (WMA) compatibility (CD-based) and a standard auxiliary input jack.

The Odyssey achieves the highest five-star crash safety rating by the federal government for both frontal and side impacts. In keeping with the Honda “Safety for Everyone” initiative, all Odyssey models are equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), also known as electronic stability control; standard anti-lock brakes with brake assist; advanced dual-stage, dual-threshold driver’s and front passenger’s SRS airbags; front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Protection Detection System (OPDS); three-row side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; and a pedestrian safety design in the front of the vehicle. An Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure provides enhanced occupant protection in a frontal collision. New for 2008, active front seat head restraints and daytime running lights have been added.

Known for its industry trend-setting One-Motion 60/40 Split 3rd-Row Magic Seat, the Odyssey’s innovative eight-passenger seating areas (seven-passenger on LX) quickly and easily adapt between passenger and cargo duties. The 3rd-Row Magic Seat can accommodate up to three passengers and still provide 38.4 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the seats, or fold completely flat into the floor for cargo duty to create 91.1 cubic feet of cargo volume while still maintaining room for five passengers (four passengers on LX). With the second row seats removed, total cargo volume expands to a voluminous 147.4 cubic feet. Total interior volume measures 209.8 cubic feet for passenger and cargo volume combined – representing a total volume greater than two Civic Sedan interior volumes combined, for comparison. The 2nd-Row PlusOneSeat integrates a new storage bin inside the seat structure and is standard equipment on the Odyssey EX and EX-L (as before). The 2nd-Row PlusOneSeat has been added as standard equipment to the Odyssey Touring, replacing the standard removable center console, while retaining similar functionality and adding a seating position to the previously seven-passenger Touring model.

Designed with families in mind, a total of three Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) child seat attachment systems exist: two are located in the outboard second-row seating positions and one is located in the middle third-row seating position.

Standard comfort and convenience features include dual-zone air conditioning (tri-zone automatic climate control on Odyssey EX, EX-L and Touring), tilt and telescope steering wheel, power windows and door locks, keyless entry and cruise control.

Available premium features include the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition, an 8-inch screen, and Zagat Survey restaurant guide information, and a Honda DVD Entertainment System with a 9-inch screen. A rearview camera aids rear visibility on the Odyssey EX-L equipped with the available navigation system. Odyssey EX-L models without the available navigation system provide a rearview camera display via a 2.5-inch monitor embedded in the rearview mirror.

Determined by specific model, two engine variations exist. The 3.5-liter, all-aluminum, SOHC VTEC engine on the Odyssey LX and EX produces 244 horsepower at 5750 rpm and 240 lb-ft. of torque at 5000 rpm. The Odyssey LX and EX models achieve an EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 16/23 mpg.

The Odyssey EX-L and Touring models feature a 3.5-liter, all-aluminum, SOHC i-VTEC V-6 engine with VCM for enhanced fuel efficiency. This engine produces 241 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 242 lb-ft. of torque at 4900 rpm.

For 2008, a new generation of VCM provides the additional capability to selectively deactivate either two or three of the engine’s six cylinders during cruising and deceleration (instead of three, exclusively). Similar to the new VCM system available on the 2008 Accord, the Odyssey’s new VCM engine expands the cylinder deactivation operating range, which helps to increase fuel efficiency in a wider variety of driving conditions and speeds. An “ECO” indicator light illuminates on the instrument panel when the vehicle is operating at an optimal level of fuel efficiency. The Odyssey EX-L and Touring models achieve an EPA-rated city/highway fuel economy of 17/25 mpg2.

Vehicles equipped with VCM use both an audio system-based Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system and a chassis-based Active Control Engine Mount (ACM) system to cancel noise and vibration that can occur during cylinder deactivation.

An independent front and rear suspension and a rigid unit body structure help provide comfortable and refined ride performance. Additional chassis components include power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes and variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering. Odyssey LX, EX and EX-L models have 16-inch wheels (alloy on EX and EX-L) with all-season 235/65R16 tires. Odyssey Touring models are equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and all-season 235/60R17 tires (standard); Michelin PAX System run-flat technology wheels and tires are available (460 mm wheels and 235-710R 460A tires).

Back in 1979, BMW had their last mid-engined supercar the M1 which not really saw the light in of mass production, price and having to pry the designs off Lamborghini who was faced with bankruptcy then. The M1 was also the first car produced by BMW M Division, aka the blue red and purple stripped Motorsports people who, brought the world their souped up roadsters, coupes and supersaloons which we all come accustomised too, such as the z4-M M3, M5 & M6.

We don’t really know what the rocket scientists in the M division would be brewing out next, but if you wish and if cash is not a problem for you, then can actually place a desposit with BMW, bypassing the hassles of middle man dealers or “performance motors ” for one of the most-sought after mainstream supercars come 2008, standing side-by-side with the F430 and the Gallardo, the BMW Z10.

The Z10 will be a mid-engine supercar powered by a 5.0L V10 found similarly in the M5 and M6. Only that it would be likely to be tuned up coughing out 550hp with a a power to weight ratio of 458bhp/tonne, given the expected curb weight of about 1.2 tons. In comparison, it’s M1 predecessor had a minute 3.5L inline 6 with 24 valves chruning out 277bhp & 324Nm of torque @ 6500rpm.

It’s a mixed bag when it comes to BMW’s controversial styling, which tested loyalists and fans with the sedans of 2005. Personally I see the Z10 more like a Gallardo Spyder with it’s front chopped out with 2 kidneys and badging in place. Look closely and you may hey! even recognize it’s blood parents: say… a cross between a Porsche Carrera GT mistress too? But like it or hate it, the z10 is still simply astonishing and a beauty to look at.

I guess BMW can have plenty to brag about the Z10 come next year. With the exception of Porsche strangely going towards sedans and more SUVs next year, I believe one of the reasons of the Z10 is the increased pressure on BMW to produce a mid engined car given increasing competition from VW’s “Veyron” and Audi’s R8. Furthermore backed by demands from fans to produce a true bred supercar in line with BMW’s relatively long experience in Formula 1, it’s about time BMW came out with a mid engined car to live in the light (or cover up the failue) the M1 always had till today, only time will tell.

And yes, on Cars. Dad came around one day with mum asking about plans for our next new family car. Despite all his talk on Renaults previously, he was considering the 2006-2007 1.6L Mitsubishi Lancer which is going for a dirt cheap $43,000 with COE at C&C, which is close to half of how much we paid for our current 1.5GLi Toyota almost 10 year ago with it’s COE expiring in a few years time. To dad, “a car is a car which gets people from point A-B and B-A, any other questions asked? and no, we do not need a convertible….”

This decision came about after serious considerations whether into continuing maintaining our 9 year old car which will needs an expensive overhaul for inspection soon or just scrap it and get a new one after this Chinese New Year? I suggested the standard Subaru Impreza 1.6 going at around the same affordable price. But as dad as dad, who had previously worked for Subaru and always bragged about how good their flat fours are, amazingly did not want to own a Subaru this time! And neither would be a Toyota, Hyundai, Mini, Volkswagon, Ford, Datsun (and the list goes on…) as he had owned them all first hand before, even before I was born! and wanted something different this time. But didn’t he own a Mitsu before when I was a kid?, “”that previous one was a resale”, he said… *collapse*

Another contender in the sub $43,000 priced car would be the 2nd most common car in Singapore – The Nissan Sunny 1.6L, (with the Lancer in Third and the Toyota Corolla in First). But if my eyes don’t fail me the new 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer is really pretty though, it’s like a cross between the old Mitsu Gallant and Volvo front styling, totally niffy. The thing I heard that variants starts at 1.8L up to the 2.4L in the 2008 Lancer EVO X. So the $43,000 price tag might not stay especially for a 1.8L.

However, realistically speaking, I actually do not need a car, it’s more of a want – something that almost all guys will spend on their first contact with big bucks. Even if one may argue driving a car allows you to take the shortest possible route to your destination (in my case most school and town), thus saving time. But if I get to drive one to school, the shortest route I will be taking is the exalt same route my bus takes me to school everyday. Same for town and such, it just IMPOSSIBLE to find a parking lot in the city – Let be wasting at least 30mins to even an hour waiting or trying to look for one, where all I need is a short bus trip from home to town and back.

In the Singaporean context, the car functions more of a social status as our very commendable network of public transport fully substitutes it in terms of it’s basic function relating to personal transport, contrary to other larger countries. Furthermore, with bus lane rules are getting stricter with dedicated lanes as well & so are rising fuel prices & taxes, pollution & stricter emission controls, things don’t look good & does not justify the perceived “good”.

Furthermore, we can fully exploit the opportunity cost of the money saved from buying a car – we can do alot with it like investing it or use it to fund further studies, so as mum hinted occasionally.

Though one can argue that a car is an invaluable resource at times of critical need and emergencies, I guess that only comes out of the blue where the true value of owning a car really shines. But there are vehicles called “Taxis” as well. Mmmm

Well I can’t deny that if I can afford it, I would still buy a car, in fact I was torn between the support for green cars, namely the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid, but the price ($80,000-$100,000) cannot justify itself where I can get another equivalent sized saloon of the same capacity at even less than half the price.

Besides that, I always have a soft spot for convertibles as well. For the record, the 800,000th Mazda MX-5 ($90,000) has recently rolled out of the factory, maintaining in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest selling most affordable 2 seater convertible. For me, a 2007 BMW E93 Cabriolet Hardtop Convertible 325i ($200,000) is what I can realistically dream for.

You can always expect something when dad leaves home on a saturday morning to work, on overtime. Strangely commuting to work by bus & leaving the car parked at home. Sure enough, mum later approached me asking: “shaun the car’s ours & I’ve got an assignment for you: I need you to drive us around the place today” Today as in yesterday, Saturday. Oh darn. Next thing before I know, I am am on my way from home to granny’s at Ang Mo Kio for some “special lunch gathering” with me as the chauffeur… After a good lunch at grans, it was so good that mum doggie bagged some food to be brought to Dad at his workplace as lunch, whos gonna do that? Me of course, sadly. So off from Ang Mo Kio we headed to Pasir Panjang, where my dad works, talking about personal deliveries… A long 15km + journey to delivery some nicely packaged food complete with china cutlery included. Thats first class dude, fit for a king? or dad who was just starving at the gate as we are about 1 hour late past lunchtime. duh!

Since its about 2pm++ We decided to drop by nearby Ikea for some shopping & stuffs. Parking is unusually easy due to the strange lack of cars, (usually adding to congestion) in Ikea considering it being a Saturday. Got a paper/note holder & some racks to keep my room & homework organised. Dumped our stuffs into the car before hanging out at the opposite AnchorPoint for some grocery shopping at cold storage & stationary. Its not long before its 4.30pm when mum called dad asking whether he needs to be picked up after work. & yes, cos he is not used to taking the bus! So its back to Pasir Panjang, then off back to Ang Mo Kio for Part II of granny’s special – Dinner! But before that, as all mums who just can’t take a miss of the grocery bargains. We found ourselves none other than at Ang Mo Kio’s premiere bargain market- Ang Mo Supermarket, where we spent the next 1/2 hour or so joining her in her indulgence, before settling down for a coffee break at the nearby coffeeshops.

Line Dancing @ AMK	Cold storage’s cold selection	Dinner at Grans

They are having some interesting line-dancing event in the area too, a social event you can’t miss but hilariously watch how clumsy people can be! Later spent the night at grans after dinner, only to leave at about 8pm+ to head home, this time its dad’s turn to drive, I was too tired from a whole day of driving! With 1/5 of the fuel tank emptied today & about close to about 100km travelled today, dropped by office-1 whole salers at bukit merah to get some printer ink cartridges before calling it a day at home.

Luckily I didn’t have to pay for any petrol…

Woke up at a dumpy 6.30am today, (only had 6 hours of sleep) as my driving lesson is one this morning. Had one at 8.30am and the other at 12.55pm in the afternoon. Through these two lessons & being my first time “singlehandedly” driving the car, managed to learn the following stuffs in circuit:

Start/stop/reverse the car
Changing up/down, to/from 3rd gear respectively
Wide and 90 degree sharp turns
Lane change left/right
Turning in/out, from/to, main/side road
Target stopping

My 1st lesson slot didn’t ring me much good impression as the instructor by the name of Mr Quek (couldn’t find his name on the instructor board anyway) obviously, having his first work of the day as rather quiet & dull (not to mention old- bad combination) & its a challenge trying to squeeze out whatever info I needed from him just to make my $58 for 100mins worth. On the other hand the 2nd instructor for the day (by the name of Mr lee, was rather funny and… not too old) was definately the better one of the day, always chatty and giving hints here and there, not to mention (and most importantly) having trust in your trainee. E.g. not stepping on the secondary footbrake at any slightest mistakes- as if your car might go runaway & smashing up everything & mincing up every predestrain in sight. Haiz… some people.

Moreover, a more positive instructor does bring up the in their students too- Mr lee said that I would be on the public road the next lesson if I could carry on the today’s performance, sounds rather assuring, although I was still rather jumpy on the moving off on 1st gear part.

Overall, the lesson(s) today do definately crave a better impression I have on BBDC, though theres always the cheaper.. private alternative. Moreover at BBDC, instructors will always change for me as I just dun find it worthwhile to pay additional surcharges for a fixed instructor, what really matters lies within and mainly yourself. Instructors good or lousy will serve their purpose as ballast on the passenger seat anyway…