Posted: 18 Mar 2006, 12:23
20 and april the 17th, 21
Down memory lane...
My first F-1 race was the 1967 race at old Circuit of Jarama near Madrid, where I lived. I was 8 years old. My uncle took me to watch Jim Clark winning. I think it even wasn't an official race then, but it surely was next year, the magical 1968. I went to all the Jarama's races until 1980 or 1981. BTW, this was a narrow circuit but very similar to Tilke's designs. mmmm....
I saw James Hunt winning there in 1976. I was his fan because he was a great pilot. BTW, he was called "Hunt the Shunt" because of the horrific crashes he had in F-3. This guy simply could not let the race line slip by.
Then I moved to Colombia, when satellite TV was in its infancy. I remember the huge 15-foot-diameter dish we used to watch NASCAR races and I falled instantly in love with Petty and his moustache. These races are fun, let me tell you.
They say that the difference between children and men is the price of the toys... My little electric tracks now were for real. I could collaborate in the design of the first race track constructed in Bogotá.
You can imagine my satisfaction when Roberto Guerrero became the first colombian to race in Indy Car. He was not the best but he was a fine and noble driver.
Then I saw Diego Guzmán, another colombian, winning Saab open-wheel races in USA starting in incredible grid positions. He was a really good driver that never made the big leagues.
A friend I had, who was piloting a cargo plane, told me that Juan Montoya, who we saw together competing in kart racing, was riding his plane on the 5 am flight. Juan sat on top of the newspapers that my friend delivered to Miami, to compete for the first time on this series, because the guy thought he could do it without any money, just by his skill. I thought it was impossible. His dad was nuts for the sport and the guy was good, but money goes first, does not?
Then, Juan won the Indy Car championship. Then, he won a seat on an F-1 car.
Meanwhile, I participated in the design of three more tracks in South America. My vision of transportation for Bogotá became a reality with Transmilenio, transforming the lives of the people around me. I am, truly, a happy man because of cars.
Sorry for the length of this post, but the 40+ish around surely are full of it...
