Marlon’s Travel log continues...now I am off to the Sentul Circuit near Jakarta, Indonesia, for the next Formula BMW Pacific race as part of the Asian Festival of Speed and after that I travel back to Europe and start my 3 race guest stint in the BMW Europe series in Budapest, Valencia and Spa."
"Between all my activities in Europe I had a few days in Zurich, Switzerland. I was invited to an event of the Gody Naef Fan Club. Racing is supposedly for young people. But check this out:
Gody is Europe's most senior race driver! He is 88 years young and invited me for a ride in his Vintage Amil car. My God he throws that car around...! I had to hold on cause I feared to fall out and - beginners mistake - bruised my elbow on the old timers tires. They are right next to you when you sit in it. Look at the pictures. Gody still races hill climbs in all sorts of cars and I remember watching him a few years ago together with my dad racing up the Alps in a red Chevy Corvette convertible.
Watch your elbows! Specially in vintage automobiles
like
Gody Naef's Amilcar
for more Photos of Marlon and Gody Naef and the
cool vintage car
click on the image above or this
link.
Now I am on his website
in the 'Friends of Gody' section right next to
Peter Sauber. Well if that's not
being famous...!
Check out his website @ Go to www.godynaef.ch he is
Europe's oldest race driver.
Many thanks also to Hansueli 'Joeggi' Rihs, founder
and co-owner of Swiss high tech company
Phonak Hearing Systems, also a
friend of Gody and the organizer of his fan club.
I had difficulties from the beginning of this year
with the ear plugs of my in-helmet team radio. It is
crucial for the communication between driver and team
during races, like: team to driver: 'careful there is
a carabao (water buffalo) crossing the track at turn
five, reduce speed!'...joking...I have actually
experience goats, dogs and lizzards...specially on
the infamous Batangas Racing Circuit
near Manila!
My new friend: 88 years young Swiss racing
legend
Gody Naef
for more Photos of Marlon and
Gody Naef and the cool
vintage car
click on the image above or this link.
Mr. Rihs was kind enough
to organize the tailor making of special ear plugs
for me that reduce sound clutter but still let you
hear vital engine sound. That's very important for a
racer! The plugs now also fit snugly into my ears
inside the helmet and don't hurt anymore. The team at
Phonak did a perfect job producing and fitting the
plugs in the short time I stayed in Zurich.
Thanks again to them and special thanks to
Joeggi Rihs!
Now I am off to the Sentul Circuit near Jakarta,
Indonesia, for the next Formula BMW
Pacific race as part of the Asian Festival
of Speed and after that I will travel back to Europe
and start my 3 race guest stint in the BMW
Europe series in Budapest, Valencia and
Spa."
Marlon