Biffo at Bira again

The last round of the Thailand Touring Car Championship at the Prince Bira circuit was action packed. First and second on the grid were the two "works" Toyota Corolla Altis cars driven by regulars Natavud and the film star "Pete". Behind them was the first of the Hondas with the Singha Beer team, driven by Apathorn. The second Singha Beer car had been destroyed in practice during the week. Behind them were another 17 cars.

At the start of the "warm up" lap, Pete stalled the Toyota and had to have outside assistance to get it fired up. Confusion reigned supreme as he tried to resume his second grid slot. Eventually he was relegated to start behind the field from the Pit Lane, despite much protestation from the Toyota crew.

At the green light for the start of the 15 lapper, Natavud was either in the wrong gear, or lost cogs in the box as he was swamped on the run down to the first tight left-hander. As the mob jostled for position, Natavud received a helping hand towards the shrubbery and rejoined at the tail of the field.

Meantime, internationally experienced driver, Grant Supaphong (Honda Civic) had made a lightning start to lead the 20 car snake across the line for the first time. The action at the front was very close, with Apathorn in the Singha Beer car harrying Supaphong at every opportunity, but there was even more action coming through the field. Within four laps Pete was up to sixth, with Natavud closing very fast. Two laps later Natavud was up to 4th, albeit with some deranged bodywork as he pushed his way through the Honda brigade.

Supaphong’s race ended prematurely, with the engine on his Honda letting go on the main straight and Apathorn was left on his own out front. The Toyota express were still not out of trouble however, with Natavud again in presumed gearbox difficulties, letting Pete through at Honda corner (not a good place for Toyota’s!)

At the chequered flag it was Apathorn in the Civic from Pete in his pristine Corolla and Natavud in his somewhat second-hand model.

In the Showroom 1500 cc Class, the all the way winner was the very much improved Anothai Eamlumnow in his Honda R who is now showing the advantage gained from his time overseas at the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School in the UK.

With this sort of close racing at the Bira Circuit, the next meeting should be very interesting, being held on the 17th and 18th July and is Round 2 of the Thailand Grand Touring Series.

“Love” this Game

The Sri Racha Racquets and the Naklua Nets took the court at the weekly Pattaya Sports Club softball game on Sunday, June 6. The tennis mavens at Roland Garros have nothing on these guys as the ground strokes and drop shots went back and forth all afternoon, until each team scored a victory to split the doubleheader.

The Racquets opened the action with four in the first behind the hitting of Alan (Y. B.) Baa and Aloha Tom.

The Nets took up the challenge and served up two of their own in the bottom of the second with Jimmy (The Key) Lockhead and Gordon Lightfoot doing the damage.

Each team added one in the second and were held scoreless in the third. But the Nets tallied four in the fourth with Dick (The Stick) Cagg, Kiwi Rick and Vagabond Mike doing the damage.

Mike (Mr. Ice) Berg tied the score for the Racquets in the top of the fifth with a two run dinger to left.

The Nets volleyed for one in the bottom of the fifth and put the game away in the next inning when Esso Mike singled home two giving the Nets a ten to seven victory.

The nightcap was another closely contested match up with the Nets breaking loose for two in the first and two in the second, thanks to timely bloopers by Mahalo Ken and M. J. (Coffee) Jim.

The Racquets put up five in the bottom of the second when Copasetic Curt and Bill (The Thrill) brought home the RBIs.

The Racquets added one in the third and appeared to be in control but the Nets added five runs in the last two innings to take a nine to eight lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

The Racquets refused to go into a tiebreaker and when Aloha Tom’s blooper to center fell in, two runs scored ending the drama with a ten to nine win for the Racquets.

Games are every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Pattaya School #7 on Sukhumvit Hwy just past Greenway driving range and Caltex gas station. Equipment is provided and refreshments are available. All are welcome.

Masculine Hashers Boop their way to Delaney’s

Did someone spike the punch? Put something in the beer? Or was there really a bunch of otherwise masculine men completely willing to dress in women’s clothing, run around in the jungle, then crowd into Delaney’s Irish Pub last Monday...

The Pattaya Hash House Harriers held their annual Betty Boop Run on Monday, June 7th, inviting all men to attend the hash in women’s clothing. Those who did were treated to free beer.

(Right) Does it get any worse than this? Big Chief Wombmaster (left), aka Kim Fletcher, Manager of Delaney’s Pattaya, goes for the denim look, while John “Chicken Fellow” Macallen prefers silky, virgin white.

Can we really call this a sporting event? For the sports pages? I suppose a few men actually did run around in the jungle in their tight dresses. More likely, the sporting adventure came whilst dodging jealous katoeys on the way home.

No doubt a full write-up of the event will appear in next week’s Pattaya Mail, so stay tuned to see what really happened!

Big week for Sticky’s Dad

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, June 2 - Phoenix Country Club (Stroke Play)

1st: Bob Westendorf, 68 net
2nd: Mike Canney, 73 net C/B
3rd: John Bullock, 73 net

If Ken Langbell hasn’t found a Canadian in Pattaya yet, he should stop by the Hare House on any Wednesday or Friday afternoon. That is when The Alternative Golf Gentlemen’s Society gets together after a competition and drinks away the winners sweep, and a fair number of those "gentlemen" actually come from places like Montreal and Moose Jaw. There are so many, in fact, that they are having the Canadian Jack-a-lope Open Golf Tournament on September 3.

One of the participants in the Jack-a-lope Open will be Bob Westendorf, who hails from Alberta. "Big Bob" just won his first competition out of the Hare House on Wednesday, June 2, when he captured the stroke play Knotted Putter trophy with a net 68 at Phoenix Country Club. Mr. Westendorf became the sixth different Canadian winner in individual competitions with TAGGS since the beginning of the year. So we know there are at least six Canadians in Pattaya.

On a windy day when the average score for the tournament was a net 77, Mike Canney took second place in a count back over John Bullock with a net 73. Also taking home an original Fobe’ golf shirt were Gary Parkinson with a net 74 and Philippe Berra with a net 76.

Friday, June 4 - Phutaluang Royal Thai Navy Golf Course (Stableford)

1st: George Jackson, 41 points
2nd: Russell Finch, 40 points
3rd: Bob Westendorf, 37 points

George "One Ball" Jackson won the TAGGS Stableford competition with 41 points at Sattahip on Friday, June 4 and took home his first Red Eyed Rabbit trophy. That’s the trophy you get for winning a Stableford event out of the Hare House and it will go nicely with George’s Knotted Putter trophy he won in May for a stroke play tournament. It appears that ol’ "One Ball" isn’t slowing down a bit since he won the ‘A’ Flight of the Presidents Bowl Eclectic.

In second and third place were a couple more red hot golfers. Long hitting Russell Finch had 40 points on a course that suits his game to a "tee". With ideal conditions of overcast skies and very little wind, Russell’s four under par wasn’t quite enough and he found himself in the familiar position of nipping at George’s heels.

Bob Westendorf capped off a fine week with 37 points taking the third spot after winning at Phoenix on Wednesday.

Ebrahim makes it a double at Phoenix and Bangpra!

Pattaya Sports Club Golf from the Café Kronborg

Phoenix - Monday 31st May (Stroke)

A rain free and breezy day gave the players a good chance of returning good scores. Ebrahim came out the clear winner with a net 68, followed by Rick Evans and Pete Galle with net 71.

Winner: Ebrahim, Net 68
2nd: Rick Evans, Net 71 C/B
3rd: Pete Galle, Net 71

Bangpra - Thursday 3rd June (Stableford)

On a course surprisingly dry with all the recent rain and looking as good as usual, a small field battled with the fast greens and sadly worn holes to make the putts. Ebrahim came out on top again with 37 points, followed by Philippe Berra with 36 points.

Winner: Ebrahim, 37 points
2nd: Philippe Berra, 36 points
3rd: Jim Boyd, 33 points
4th: Svein Vistung, 32 points
C/B Bernie Tuppin & Mike Latham

A five club victory

PSC Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker

Siam Country Club was the venue of the Pattaya Golf Society Stableford competition held on Tuesday, June 1st.

It should be noted by members that the Player of the Month format has been reintroduced from this date.

To participate, one has to play in three of the four fixtures, or in a five week month, four out of five competitions.

This week’s competition was played in perfect conditions with good run on the fairways but with relatively slow greens.

In a winning vein last year, Tommy Jeeves was described as "Four Club Tommy wins again". Well, Siam C. C. saw Tommy at the head of matters again, this time with his best ever performance of 39 points.

However, on this occasion, he took an unfair advantage by using 5 clubs. In addition, he was seen to consume at least five cans of Heineken and his win could well lead to a sponsorship with this company.

Second, but without the aid of beverage, was consistent Hannu Kemila with 36 points. His motto these days should surely be "have clubs, will travel", as his face is becoming familiar on all courses with due success.

Third, with a placing for the first time, was Vic Symons with 32 points. Needless to say, he was delighted and later was seen in deep discussion with the winner on the day over the use of the well-known beverage to further his game.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.