i have never, ever seen a race like that before.

CNG Honda Civic Explosion

Funny!

amazing.

By Ian de Cotta, TODAY | Posted: 02 April 2007 1411 hrs

First, it was Formula 1, a glamorous annual event to ratchet up Singapore’s image as a cosmopolitan tourist puller and put the Republic’s skyline on hundreds of millions of television screens worldwide.

Now, that once-a-year race through city streets could be given a turbo-charged boost — adding to the lucrative dollars that the motor-racing industry generates — with a plan to build a permanent race track to feature races throughout the year.

The benefits to Singapore’s fledgling motor industry would be enormous, sources told TODAY. In Britain, the heart of Europe’s motor-racing community, the industry is worth £3 billion ($9 billion) a year, employing over 38,000 people across 4,000 companies. Singapore’s automotive spare parts industry generates $800 million in annual sales, servicing both local and regional needs. Motor sports also provide invaluable technology spin-offs to the automotive industry.

According to sources, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) is considering building the permanent track facility off the East Coast Parkway, near the Changi Naval Base, which could cost between US$150 million and US$200 million ($228 million and $304 million).

The circuit, an FIA Grade 2 track stretching between 3.5km and 4km, will be capable of hosting major motorsports events, except for F1 races, which need Grade 1 circuits.

Singapore Sports Council chief executive officer Oon Jin Teik feels it is critical that Singapore takes advantage of the momentum, when it wins the rights to host an F1 race in Singapore. “A permanent track is ideal because we can’t possibly close our streets regularly. It is just not viable,” he told TODAY.

Even as F1 enthusiasts are enthusing over seeing the likes of world champion Fernando Alonso of McLaren-Mercedes and Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari in action, fans of two-wheelers will be keen to watch MotoGP champion Niki Hayden do battle with five-time world champ Valentino Rossi. Then there’s the World Superbikes series, A1 Grand Prix, the American Champ cars and the World Touring Car championships, which could turn Singapore into a hub of motor-racing activity.

Local sports car owners, who head to Sepang in Malaysia regularly for a spin, are looking forward to using a track in Singapore. “At least 50 car owners will want to rent the track every weekend,” said Mr Arjunan Kulasegaram of Stuttgart Auto, who organises trips for Porshe owners.

It is believed MCYS is looking at the business model of the Sports Hub, where investors will be invited to bid to build and maintain the facility. Among those who are interested is Australian Ron Dickson, whose company D3 has built several street and permanent tracks, notably the Surfers Paradise Track in Gold Coast Australia and Mexico City.

The Australian, who is in Singapore to deliver a talk on racing circuits at the Grand Prix for Marketeers forum at Pan Pacific Hotel (April 3-4), has said that he has had discussions with the MCYS and other government departments and is currently doing a feasibility study on the project.

“Not only is it going to be a top-notch circuit, it will also have space for entertainment for the public and for corporate events,” he said. - TODAY/sh

boys and girls please do not try this at home

that’s the best you’re looking at

what a sad day.

THE former rally driving champion Colin McRae was killed and his five year-old son feared dead in a helicopter crash yesterday afternoon. The aircraft came down in Jerviswood, Lanarkshire, half a mile from the family’s home and burst into flames just after 4pm.

Jean-Eric Freudiger, McRae’s agent, said the 39-year-old driver had been piloting the helicopter himself. Also on board were believed to be his son Johnny, another adult - said by locals to be a school friend of McRae - and another child. McRae’s wife Alison and their daughter Hollie, 9, were not on board, friends said.

Strathclyde police said in a statement: “Four people were onboard the helicopter,” adding “The bodies were found within the helicopter which is owned by Mr Colin McRae of Jerviswood House, Lanark. It is believed he was onboard the helicopter.”

McRae became Britain’s first World Rally champion in 1995. He was one of the country’s most successful sportsmen, achieving 25 wins in World Rally events and 42 podium places. He was a flamboyant driver, inspiring one the world’s best-selling computer rally games.

Related Links

A legend of the road

The people’s champion

The helicopter came down within half a mile of McRae’s 16th-century home, which has an adjacent helipad. The weather had been overcast, with southwesterly winds gusting to 30 knots and good visibility.

Officers with dogs and torches continued to comb the woodland near the crash into the night.

McRae’s wife, a childhood sweetheart and his former co-driver, was taken back to the house under police escort shortly after 6pm.

McRae’s friend the rally journalist Jeremy Hart, who flew with him several times, described him as a “very good, very measured pilot”.

“Colin regularly flew all over the UK and into Europe,” said Hart. “He knew the terrain and conditions at Jerviswood very well.

“As a sportsman he was a true hero. As a driver Colin was misunderstood slightly as being reckless but everything you saw with him came from pure raw talent as opposed to being learnt. He was the Michael Schumacher of rally driving.

“It’s so ironic that he should die in a helicopter crash when he had competed and had brushed with death so many times as a rally driver.”

Additional reporting: Paul Lamarra

from here

my little tribute to Mr Colin McRae… From X Games 12

RIP