Was it I, minus the moustache?

If you’ll watch this week’s edition of Motoring Today (Sunday, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on Channel 4 Manila and nationwide via satellite on the National Broadcasting Network), which shall spotlight the 3rd leg of the 5th staging of the Honda Media Challenge, you might find the young lady co-hosting with local racing’s "living legend" Pocholo Ramirez, looking very much like myself, only without my trademark moustache. Her name is Kristine Patricia and your guess will surely be as good as mine as to why she looks very much like me.

That was only the second time I missed covering a leg of the event in its entire 5-year existence, the first time was 3 years ago when I went on a pre-scheduled vacation in Mactan Island, which went smack right into the series’ schedule. Being part of the so-called "veterans" or "graduates" of previous years’ series and declassified from present participants, I would have also had the opportunity to compete against the new racers as this leg of the 2002 City Media Challenge offered such a chance to prove our worth to be called as such–veterans.

This yearly event that’s perennially sponsored by Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) that is organized by ADBM Resources, ably headed by Belle Alba, with the races managed by Triple "A" or Activity Asia Association, was conceived by HCPI’s Deputy Head for Marketing and the Japanese carmaker’s highest ranking Filipino executive, Arnel Doria, together with his group of similarly creative minds.

The objective of the motor sport event was to give journalists a chance of being covered as participants in an event and at the same time experience for themselves the durability, reliability, responsiveness, etc., of Honda stock models while in actual racing competition.

The Veterans, a guest team composed of Arnold Belleza of Business World, Andy Leuterio of Philippine Star and Jess Garcia of DZRH, stood worthy of its name by finishing with the best team time of 3 minutes, 52.81 seconds.

Jess Garcia lead the veterans by registering a blistering best time of the day of 1 minute, 13.21 seconds, besting the novices who were lead by Ferdie Baja of DZEC with a time of 1 minute, 14.15 seconds, followed by Dodjie Aguila of Today with 1 minute, 14.41 seconds with Bernard de Lara of Tempo running third wit a time of 1 minute 15.31 seconds.

The 4th and final leg of the 2002 City Media Challenge, a "time trials" event, that is held at the CCP grounds fronting the World Trade Center in Roxas Blvd., is slated on the 12th of October.

Perfect Road & Weather for Test Drive & Ride

Did you know that there’s a place in Davao City where one can really commune with nature in peace and tranquility? And not many seem to know about it.

It’s known as Eden Nature Park. It’s at least 2,500 feet above sea level, giving this "paradise on earth" such scintillating cool climate.

And this was where the Ford Group Philippines brought a bunch of media men composed mostly of the members of the "exclusive family" of local motoring journalists last weekend (Friday & Saturday) for what they called "Ford Escape Media Ride & Drive".

Being nestled on the upper slopes of grand old Mt. Talomo, the trip to Eden Nature Park from the Ford Davao Dealership located in Davao’s city proper gave us journalists composed of Pinky Colmenares and Anjo Perez of the Bulletin, Brian Afuang of the Star, Popong Andolong and Erle Sebastian of Today, Vernon Sarne of Rev, Ron delos Reyes of Auto Review together with Michelle Pritchard of C!, Raul Promeda of Motoring Today and Gilbert delos Reyes of Auto Review, the opportunity to test drive and ride the newly-launched compact SUV from Ford Philippines, the Ford Escape through different kinds of roads and weather.

We rode though well-paved cement roads from the Ford Davao dealership (similarly headed as president by Willy Tee Ten of Ford Makati) up to near the foot of the mountain where a long winding asphalt laden road met us to provide the media group the experience of driving and riding the Escape on tarmac. And then it was gravel and some stretches of rough roads all the way to our destined "paradise on earth", for some "rally-like driving experience". And to make the "drive & ride" more complete, nature cooperated by opening up the skies for some pouring rain making some of the rough roads a little muddy and a bit slippery.

For a while Ford Group vp for marketing, Dave Macasadia and avp Maricar Parco were apologetic that it had to rain during our trip. But the "exclusive family" of motoring journalists were one in saying, "What else can we ask for in a test drive? All the elements we needed to size up the Escape just seemed to come together during this trip."

Well, the Ford Escape did not merely "escape" with flying colors, it "stood firm" in confirming all its claimed attributes to support its contention of not only being a comfortable means of city transport, it’s an outdoor lifestyle vehicle to boot.

Formula One Update

Home, sweet home.

Ferrari celebrated their homecoming by taking a 1-2 finish at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher were once again on a class of their own, as was the case in practically the entire duration of the season. Rubino took top honors while teammate Schumi was content in taking home the silver since he already has the championship trophy safely in a glass case at home in Germany.

Juan Pablo Montoya was on pole position, but unfortunately had to retire on the 34th lap due to suspension problems. Ralf Schumacher’s day was even more of a nightmare than his teammate’s - his Williams gave out very early in the race due to engine failure after cutting a chicane.

Team McLaren also failed to take home championship points, though David Coulthard put up a very good fight and ended up in 7th place. Kimi Raikkonen was in 4th when his car gave out in the 31st lap. Perhaps the biggest news of the weekend was Eddie Irvine stepping into now unfamiliar territory — the podium. He capped a dream driving weekend with a 3rd place finish after qualifying for 5th place in the grid. Rumors of him leaving the Jaguar camp have been circulating since early this year, and he said that though winning points in Monza was nice, it wasn’t enough to change his mind.

The people of Renault went home with huge smiles on their faces as both their drivers took home championship points. Jarno Trulli and Jenson Button came in 4th and 5th place respectively. BAR Honda’s Oliver Panis rounded up the winner’s circle by coming in 6th.

Sampaguita Rally of Veterans

I’d like to thank Mandy Eduque for the invitation I received to run once again with the "sampaguita rally veterans" as the AAP or the Automotive Association of the Philippines (formerly PMA) has lined up the 2nd Dodo Ayuyao Sampaguita Rally to be held on September 21, a Saturday.

I would also like to thank Tony Mapa for his e-mail informing me and likewise inviting me to the prestigious event. If you remember, Tony in tandem with Dave Arcenas joined us in the Shell Helix-Motoring Today Motor Sports Challenge, also a sampaguita rally, which we held last summer in Subic.

I will not miss this chance to participate in such an exciting motor sports event competing against the best of the best, which I always frustratingly fail to do being an organizer.

Happy Motoring!!! Email add: [email protected]