We Were Out Early,

but I managed to complete my exercises this morning,

upstairs at the back of the house, taking a break and looking towards the new buildings,

 I noticed one of them was being painted,

 being afraid of heights,

 this this one job that I would not be doing, still the painter is well equipped, long brush,

 silicone gun,

a short brush and nerves of steel!

 breakfast over and just over an hour later and we were on the beach at Ban Saen,

 and this is what we had come for, the Bangsaen Thailand Speedfestival, 

featuring the Finale Round Thailand Supercup,

 there were big screens around the circuit, so we could follow the action as it happened,

 we made our way along the deserted beach,

 until we came to the pit section, 

 a minor adjustment or repair on one of the super cars that would be racing in the late afternoon,

 between the beach and the pits,

 there was ample seating area,

 with lots of vendors,

selling foods,

of all sorts,

 and fresh coconuts for drinks,

 it was almost a shame we were still full from breakfast,

 the prawns looked so tempting,

mangoes and coconuts,

there were mobile food sellers there as well,

 we continued our way along the pit lane,

 Red Bull were here naturally,

 I know it was still early Friday morning, but we were amazed that the beach was empty,

 as was the food seating area,

 I guess it will fill up later in the day,

 back to the cars,

 a Ferrari looking splendid in the only colour I would have a Ferrari in, red,

 the first race of the day was a 4 hour endurance trial around the 3.7 kilometre circuit,

 the idea was that the winner is the car and driver that completes the most laps in the 4 hours, within that a number of classes depending on the size of the cars engine were racing,

 I decided to have another look at the beach, facing inland looking to my right,

 and then to my left not a soul insight except the beach chair vendors,

 some of the race girls,

 decided to have a look at the beach as well,

practise was going on all morning, here is a look at the circuit, it is marked in grey, the cars going anticlockwise, we positioned ourselves at the pit and paddock area, that way the cars would be coming straight at us before breaking and turning a sharp hairpin left,

 then the race started,

 after only a few laps we could see that some cars had a bit of contact damage after suffering an oops! moment,

 I was taking pictures through the wire, there was no other choice, but that is where I wanted to be,

 up there with him!

 the racing was exciting to say the least,

 theses two competitors neck and neck the whole race through and eventually taking first and second place,

 look out behind you!

 pedal to the metal,

 at the corner we were on it was always going to be a trial as to who could keep off the brakes for the corner till the last possible split second,

 and some left it just a tad too late,

 on another part of the circuit,

  more than one time,

 which meant that the safety car was out till the track was cleared,

the good/bad news was that all of the cars bunched up behind the safety car which when it left the track meant that another rolling start took place,

 and soon the race,

 was back on again,

 and close it was too, the race over in the allotted 4 hours,

 it was then that I noticed so many dragonflies in the air above the building opposite,

 on to the next race, the Super cars,

 but it was over before it had started for a short time, firstly on the slow show lap a driver managed to stuff his car into the wall on the right of the picture, imagine the red car at the bottom going straight on into the wall, so one more slow lap then a car lost a lot of oil and left a trail of it round most of the track, so that had to be cleared,

 but then the race was on!

 as the super cars thundered round the track,

 originally for 19 laps,

 now down to 17,

 because of the time taken to clean up the oil,

 although it does not look it,

 these cars were going so fast,

 many of the drivers getting into their own mini races,

 and despite the cost of the cars,

 no quarter was given,

 as drivers held their line into the corner,

it was close racing,

and no mistake,

 a Porsche giving all that it has got, the rear wheel lifting slightly as it turns for the corner, 

 and previously speaking of mistakes,

 with cars well past the 50 meter sign,

 I was hoping,

 none of the drivers made a mistake,

as all that was between me and them was some wire and a few tyres,

 the 37,

 and 38 Toyota go flying past, 

 the race finished we made our way back to the car,

 and naturally had to say goodbye,

 to some of the ladies from the race teams,

 I took a panorama of the beach, looking inland still hardly a soul here, 

 the chicken smelt so good but Diana had put a beef stew on in the morning for when we returned,

 a few of the race ladies took a stroll along the sand,

 another view of the deserted beach, so if you want a nice quiet beach give Ban Sang a try, but I guess it will be packed at the weekends,

 looking to the right,

 and left you still almost have the beach to yourselves if you were here, we made a move home and got lost, somehow we were heading to the airport just 40 kilometres away on the motorway, a few more detours, panic attacks and finally asking for directions, (and that was an adventure in itself), we made it home,

 we missed the weekend night market by a comfortable margin,

 so we stopped at a local one for some bits and pieces,

then home feet up and we finished the last of series 2 of Mr. Selfridge, with that we were off to bed.