It’s Formula One season once again and I remember being surprised two years back by a former colleague’s admission that she’s an avid F1 fan, collecting every item she can afford (except perhaps the cars and well, the drivers. haha!). I was surprised not because she’s a woman but because it’s rare to find women who are die-hard fans of this great sporting festival. I hope feminists out there see the difference between the two 
And I’m sure she wouldn’t mind me saying this because she would be too preoccupied watching every leg until it culminates in Brazil this November. Of course she would root for McLaren; she likes it because it’s the underdog to Ferrari. Sorry, not for me. I could root for the underdog in tennis, in boxing, in volleyball, even in sungka, but not when it’s F1. I’ve always been for Ferrari, even with the retirement of Schuey, and this season I’m confident teammates Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen will win the driver’s championship and for Ferrari, its constructor’s trophy.
She-ann, if you’re reading this, sorry to break your heart: Your Lewis Hamilton crashed into the wall and crashed out of the timesheet during the Bahrain practice yesterday, giving Ferrari the command to win it all in tomorrow’s race. Harhar! 
The good thing about Ferrari is that it doesn’t need any introduction. The Horse Rampant insignia is perhaps one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. The November 2007 episode of National Geographic on Ferrari’s top-secret factory in Maranello, Italy (which is one of my all-time favorite episodes on NatGeo) is a mesmerizing showcase of Ferrari’s car engineering genius—turning metal into a two-hundred-miles-an hour sports car. And did I say I like Ferrari because I cannot afford it?
Being the loser that I am, I joined Shell’s promo last December and in two weeks, got myself all the 6 Ferrari models: F50, Superamerica, 360 Spider, F2005, Enzo Ferrari, and the F430. A few years back I got the bigger model of the F50, also from Shell’s promo. This is perhaps the closest I’ll ever get to owning a Ferrari. 
And because I didn’t win in the Shell promo that would have brought me to the Ferrari factory in Maranello, I took great joy in seeing the Ferrari store in Xin Tian Di, Shanghai, China last year. Too bad we got there when the store closed for the day and so, being the loser that I am, I just took a snapshot of the store facade with my Nokia while inside the vehicle.
Enough with this Ferrari fever. Let’s get on with the race. Here’s a preview of the race tomorrow.
Wouldn’t it have been nice if you made that trip to the secret Ferrari factory ? hehe
I’ve seen F1 races here in the city and man, you’d need mufflers in your ear ! But hey, stats have shown that race car drivers are the most sought after sports celebs by women - nope, not tennis, basketball or baseball celebs. So you’re spot on with your choice of sport haha
Too bad… I will never OWN a Ferrari!
Maybe in a next life!
bw: LOL! i believe you—you seem very credible on this subject based on your experience. haha!
Sidney: yeah, we can only dream of owning a Ferrari (and the perks that come with it: women!)
I am so intrigued how Ferrari has this rumored (but now confirmed)secret technology in the manufacture of the engine in their models. Since it’s a secret, of course I would have no idea. But do you think these red flaming cars are using jet engines instead of the usual? I wouldn’t be surprised if that’ll be the case.
asteeg! simula na nga pala. thanks for the link update on the Ferrari fever.
majort tom: F1 engine development is definitely an interesting subject; engines, afterall, are what make the speeding cars such a thrilling sight. Interestingly, the FIA imposed a ban on engine development in 2006, which means that the F1 races you’re watching now will be more a test of driver’s skill than of engine.
donG hO: as bw suggested, bring out the mufflers!