When losing is actually winning

Putrajaya, Malaysia – This is an awkward time. It was only last Saturday when the whole “team” from Goodyear Philippines was celebrating because they made it to the Top 32 qualifiers in the “Goodyear Formula Drift” competition here in Malaysia.

We were especially proud since David Feliciano of the Philippines made it to the 27th slot in a very tough elimination round featuring more experienced, better equipped and well funded drivers and their drift cars.

Last Saturday was also vindication for the team that did not even get into the qualifying round when they competed in Bangkok, Thailand a month ago. While the team earned the respect of other competitors in Bangkok, the Philippine delegation was not spared the ribbing and joking that they had a good driver but he had a “sissy car”.

What happened was the Pinoys brought a car that had some 240-horsepower, which was competitive in Manila. Unfortunately, most of the competitors in Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia had cars with at least twice that power. So the “sissy car” got whipped.

In the old days, national pride would have been enough reason to start a rumble particularly for our basketball teams. But not the Goodyear-DMF boys, what they did beginning in Thailand, and crossing over to Malaysia, is show how losing can be just like winning.

After being knocked out in the Thailand eliminations, the Pinoys did what we do best, they stayed friendly, attentive and always willing to help or lend a hand.

On one stage they gave their stock of high-grade transmission oil to a team who sprung a leak and would not have qualified in the top bracket. Another team got a boost when the Pinoys lent their high-end aluminum jack to a team that needed to change tires in a rush but had a damaged jack.

The height of generosity came when the team even lent a driver’s seat to a team who did not realize that their seat had an expired safety period for use. I learned that this international event follows very strict standards of safety.

No cheapo imitation helmets allowed, you wear or use safety equipment with a “shelf life” or expiry date, and for competitors who like to argue and contest, if your complaint proves to be invalid you pay fines that are around several hundred US$.

If the Pinoys did not offer to lend the seat, that team would have been automatically disqualified from the race because they had an “expired” equipment.

The winners and qualifiers were further amazed when the Filipinos’ declined to accept payment for all the various help they gave. As it turns out, generosity and goodwill can be contagious. One Malaysian qualifier decided not only to match Pinoy generosity but to do one better.

The Malaysian group offered to work on the “Sissy car” if the Pinoy team would bring it to Malaysia for the next round of competitions. Some three weeks later, the “Sissy car” had steroids equivalent to 110-horsepower more.

The Filipino mechanics that came with the car were introduced to a higher standard of knowledge and a more intense work ethic. The exposure to the technical standards here in Malaysia will certainly raise the level of competition and technical standards in Manila.

If the Filipinos had won in Bangkok, the team would not have been able to display sterling qualities of generosity and willingness to help. They would not have learned what they still needed to know and worse, they would have gone home to Manila with the same “Sissy car”.

It’s only been a few hours after we dropped out of the second stage here in the Formula Drift Malaysia. The first hour is usually the worst. You don’t know what to say because in an international competition, there is no place for excuses. The Philippine team offers none. They were up against good and experienced drivers.

But rather than being dejected, all the Pinoys here have quietly sat down holding little pow-wows and addressing the questions: What must we learn from this and what do we take home with us?

I recently read from the book “The Last Lecture”: “Experience is what you have when you don’t get what you wanted”.

What the Filipinos got here in Malaysia is without doubt a lot better than just a trophy. They come home with knowledge, vision and a mission. Soon we will all be faced with a Challenge not just the drifters but as a nation if we are willing to raise the bar.

Can we, and will we work together to help raise the bar in technical knowledge for motor sports particularly “Drifting” in the Philippines? Can we follow in the steps of Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia that have all successfully planned, organized and hosted a truly international motor sport event such as the Goodyear Formula Drift?

I learned that the Singapore traffic authorities actually played a major role in launching the event in their country because it provided them an opportunity to interact and connect with enthusiasts who would be more cooperative with law enforcement.

In Malaysia, I was told of the discovery that the more tracks they built and the more competitions they staged, racers and enthusiasts actually preferred to stay off the streets.

Rather than be small-minded about staging events, let us allow ourselves the right to have Big Dreams and greater missions. Rather than be closed-minded, let us consider fast cars and fast drivers a valuable asset for international competitions and a sector worth hosting international events that can both be profitable and a source of national pride.

Let us put a stop to saying Filipinos are crazy drivers. Let’s call them potential great Drift drivers.