AIM to Please!

AIM Motorsports in Thailand ran a very slick meeting at the Bira Circuit just outside Pattaya last weekend. This was the first outing this year for the powerful Thailand Grand Touring Cars (TGTC) at the local circuit and was also the first time that the new AIM Concept cars competed here.

Thailand Grand Touring Cars put on quite a show at Bira Circuit last weekend.

The AIM Concept cars are probably the best “starter” formula I have ever seen (a full report on these cars is available in Automania next week) and the standard of racing was very good from the novice drivers. Good fields of 15 cars were the order of the weekend, with some close and spirited driving being shown. Quickest all day was Sant (from the Boon Rawd Brewery family), followed home by Sanchai and Wutikorn after second place qualifier Tongchai spun out of contention.

The other supporting class on the card was the Thailand Touring Cars Group N for category B and C drivers. Twenty plus cars per race and more action than a non-stop go-go bar! Plenty of lead changes as they all scrambled to get the last bit of traction from the predominantly Honda Civic race vehicles. The performances displayed by a couple of these drivers showed that they will soon be elevated to A Grade and gain the opportunity to compete with the “big boys”. Top slot for both races was taken by Prasert after race long tussles with Pibun in the Vatana Motorsport entry.

The main category, the TGTC performance machines again put on a good display of close racing for the GT fans. Some drivers are yet to learn, however, the difference between close racing and aggressive tactics. This could not be said about the winner of both rounds, the former SEAZONE Touring Car Champion Kirakiat in the Shell sponsored BMW, who raced cleanly and professionally, pulling himself up from a poor start despite gaining pole position on the Saturday Qualifying. Surprise of the category in the second race was Chonsawat in the Vatana Motorsport Mitsubishi GT who capitalised on a brilliant start from 8th on the grid to lead the race for most of the 25 laps, finally succumbing to the persistent pressure from Kirakiat’s Shell BMW.

The race meeting was the venue for a Rock Concert at lunchtime on the Sunday, and the many sponsors tents and marquees certainly gave Bira a very professional air. There is no doubt about the fact that motor sport is picking up again in Thailand, after a period in the doldrums following the economic crash.

The next meeting at Bira will be on the 16th and 17th of July for the Thailand Touring Car Championships and the next TGTC round will be on October 28th and 29th.

Asia/Pattaya Marathon this weekend

Panthers Maul Nomads

British Club goes on to defeat combined Panther/Normads

In the match of the day, the Pattaya Panthers defeated the Manilla Nomads by a whopping 33-7 last Saturday at the ISR grounds.

The British Club and the combined Panther/Nomads packing down for a scrum.

As a true testament to the intensity of play, two players were taken to hospital in the first 2 minutes of the game. Chris Hartley of the Manila Nomads and Jeff Horan of the Panthers were carried off the field for their efforts in what was described as a “heroic try saving tackle” 5 metres from the line.

The second match of the day was a close fought battle between the Bangkok British Club and a combined Panthers/Nomads team. A tight game all the way, the score was level at 5 - 5 at the break. However, the Bangkok Brits went on to defeat a tired combined Panthers/Nomads squad 12-5 at the full time whistle.

All players were later seen relishing the day’s play at Delaney’s Irish Pub in Pattaya, nursing some cold amber liquid and watching the international boys in action.

Big week for Fred Lewis

TAGGS 4th of July tourney this weekend

As an Englishman, local PGA pro Richard Livingston hardly qualifies as a Yankee Doodle Dandy. He is, however, somewhat of a dandy and he was born on the Fourth of July. Every year the TAGGS group holds a Stableford tournament with the pretext that it is The American Independence Day Open Golf Tournament. The real reason is that it’s Richard’s birthday and by the time July comes around the local golfing community is more than ready for a big competition.

Tuesday, July 4, will mark the first time that a tournament will have been hosted by The Haven on Soi 13. Like a Phoenix, The Haven is rising from the ashes of The Hare House, which, sad to say, is no more. Appropriately enough, the competition will be held at Phoenix on the Mountain and Ocean combo. The entry fee is B.1000 and includes green fee, caddy, commemorative golf shirt, and post tournament buffet at The Haven. There will be trophies for winners, runners up, and third place in three men’s divisions. There will be Near Pins and Long Drives, a Ladies’ Winner, and Best Gross.

This tournament is only a few days away. Head on down to The Haven on Soi 13 and sign up today. You can check out the new home for TAGGS, eat some great food, and if Richard is finished with his day’s work at Diana Golf, you can wish him Happy Birthday.

Lewinski’s/Orchid Retain Ryder Cup

Out with the old, in with the new

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, June 21 - Plutaluang Navy Golf Course (Bogey)

1st: Marc Jernigan, 2 Up
2nd: Stephen Beard, A/S
3rd: George Jackson, A/S

The newest 18 holes at Plutaluang played host to the TAGGS group in a Bogey competition on Wednesday. The greens were rock hard and would hardly hold a well -struck lob wedge. In addition, the green speed was un-even and surprisingly slow on some holes. But whatever the conditions, the course was the same for every golfer in the field, including Marc Jernigan who whipped the East/West combo with a score of two up.

This was Mr. Jernigan’s first win in 2000 out of the Hare House and it may be his last. The Hare House is going to that big bar round up in the sky. Stephen Beard is moving the operation two sois north to his new place that will be known as The Haven. The Haven opens its doors on July 1 and will host the American Independence Day Open on the Fourth of July. Perhaps with a name like The Haven, and considering its inaugural event, Steve should put this inscription from the Statue of Liberty above the front door:

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

Friday, June 23 - Century Rayong (Stroke Play)

1st: Garry Parkinson, 69 net
2nd: Mike Davies, 72 net
3rd: Jimmy Little, 74 net

One of the “wretched refuse” that has washed up to Pattaya’s teeming shore is Australian Garry Parkinson. Garry was temepest-tost from the Land of Oz with a six month visa and he plans to use every day that he has been granted. Playing off seven, and in only his third competition since his arrival, Mr. Parkinson shot a scratch 76 down at Ban Chang and took the Stroke Play trophy by three.

Second place went to Mike Davies who had a net 72, off 26; and third place went to Jimmy Little with a net 74, off eighteen.

The count down to the last competition out of the Hare House has begun. By the time this story is published that venerated old watering hole will be history. But you must go check out the new TAGGS home at The Haven on Soi 13. It will make you forget any time you spent on Soi Post Office. The Haven is that good and it will be a great addition to the golfing scene in Pattaya.

Fitness Tips: Causes of weight gain - part 3

by David Garred
Club Manager Dusit Resort Sports Club

G’Day All,

If you have been keeping up with my articles of late you will be thinking right about now that there seems to be heaps of reasons for putting on weight. This week, part 3.

Obesity and being overweight are common in modern society. While the underlying problem appears to be environmental, there is a range of individual causes. The following is a list of potential culprits. Check to see which is/are the biggest danger(s) for you. The problem could be on the energy intake (food), or the energy expenditure (exercise) side of the equation.

This list is not a whole bunch of excuses but a lot of issues that you need to be aware of so that you might be able to make the best choices in how to cope with them.

As I said last week, be proactive, don’t be a victim.

A. Other Possible Causes

1. Thyroid problems: This is highly overrated and occurs only in a minority of those people who have a weight problem.

2. A slow metabolism: Again an overrated excuse. However, metabolic rate may be negatively affected early in life by dieting and inactivity; this can lead to later problems. Some families also have low metabolic rates but this can only be determined by laboratory testing. Increasing muscle mass is the only way to increase metabolic rate.

3. ‘Yo-yo’ dieting: Bingeing and fasting through life (particularly early adolescence) can cause long term changes in fat cells and metabolism which make lifetime weight loss a problem. Better to stop it in kids before it happens.

4. Genetic problems: Genes are important, and weight problems do run in families. However, if the family dog is also fat, then this would tend to suggest a less genetic reason behind the human obesity – they might just over eat.

5. Early experience: In women in particular early experiences in life such as physical and sexual abuse can be linked to later weight problems. This requires delicate psychological treatment.

6. Age and sex: Body fat is higher in women than men and increases gradually with age (although this is not inevitable).

7. Lifestyle changes after pregnancy and menopause: Although it’s commonly thought that physiological changes occur at these stages leading to weight gain, a number of studies have now shown that it’s lifestyle change which is the culprit, not some strange unknown factor. Lifestyle change at these times is inevitable, but often not realised.

8. Fear of failure: Fear of failure can drive some people to become overly conscious of weight gain and subsequently react by eating more.

9. Fear of success: As with failure, success for some people can be a problem. With previous failures being the burden they have to carry, they convince themselves they can never be truly successful; physiological reason again for overeating.

If you find yourself in any of these sets of circumstances, counseling from a recognised professional physiologist is a great start to getting your issues dealt with.

Exercise will take care of the body after the mind is healed.

On the other hand, if you don’t have any physiological issues a chat with a professional health and fitness instructor might be the stepping stone required to a happier, healthier life.

Carpe’ Diem

PH3 Run 850

19 June 2000 - Hares F&F and The Pope. Having just been had by a traffic cop on the corner of Walking Street/Beach Road for illegal parking (all 30 seconds) whilst picking up Hash photos, I was just in time for the sign up at 4:25 p.m. I was very pleased to have caught the bus, or so I thought. Myself and six others had to charter a baht bus thanks to Needle “high jacking” Dick. This was no problem as Pinky was there with his red metal box full of Hash money. My first idea was to go on the piss around town with all this money but Fossil put me back in my place very efficiently with a dagger stare threat. Anyway, Needle Dick got his later with a Hash S@#t unanimous vote.

The A-site was surprisingly close to town yet the run was good hash countryside, very smart I thought. The run was good, too, with the hares both paying me 100 baht each to be a nice scribe. This was alien corruption which was also evident in the bribery hotdogs and heavily subsidized T-shirts. (Great shirt guys.) At only fifty baht a shirt this had all the tight fisters doubling up on their hash wardrobe. The stampede to purchase this shirt was something for sore eyes. I was expecting the red & blue flags to be part of some alien landing strip; in fact, it was there to trip up drunk people in the dark. F&F’s sense of humor is definitely alien!

Next we had the raffle, including a nice generously donated Chiang Mai Hash shirt from Poke Her Haunches, recently back from Chiang Mai. The Pinky/Ewok raffle conspiracy theory was in evidence this week, in reverse this time with Ewok giving prizes to Pinky for a change.

Returners were in with Fairy Dicking Sorta Poofta resuming his Hash piss job to the relief of Spaghetti Head. New Hash crash Spaghetti Head got 2 out of the 3 strands of hair on his head caught up in the spokes of his mountain bike and took up bungee jumping thereafter.

Jealousy was abundant with the R.A. upset about my black bra. Apparently he prefers to spend his money on more macho items like Gerbil knives and Lagerman tools. Each to their own I say. I have about as much use for knives on the Hash as Sir Airhead has for an exercise bicycle in TQ1. Whilst we are talking macho, Sir Airhead taught three new recruits the art of mud spinning. Culminating in a well balanced 3 1/2 ice spin. Something of a record for a beginner and something that got Ewok’s (crack ice spinning champ) attention. Meanwhile, back at the beer truck, there was screaming and crying noises from Chicken Nugget who was locked up by Chicken Fellow in the front seat with no beer! The Pope (a hare) had his 250th run today, his first being run #7. We all wish him well for his new job down in Singapore. Hope you can get here to do another 250 runs. The Pope composed a good song to the tune of Yellow Submarine about some silicone bitch or something to that effect.

Glass Hopper was hopping around the circle as emergency Hash flash, finally succeeding in annoying the R.A., who finds concentration something of a problem nowadays. Later, Glass Hopper returned the Hash camera to me - now broken! Katoy Anal Swamp Master was iced for some infringement I didn’t catch.

Leavers were 1/4 Pounder With Cheese back off to Yemen (I don’t think they have a Delaney’s there mate!) and Yao Yao who told me he was going back to India for a short time!

After the Hash Hymn we were off for the last time to the Hare House. Always sad to say goodbye to long time Hash bars, but it happens.

Over all good run, good circle, good food, good shirt (that will cost you extra F&F).

On Out - Festering Streaker

Devonshire upsets Mick’s

Mick’s Place looked headed for an easy finish at the top of the table in the Friday Night Mickey Mouse Darts League, but Devonshire had other plans last week. Despite scoring 7 under 10s to Mick’s 4, Devonshire defeated the top ranked Mick’s. Adding insult to injury, Devonshire also walked away with the beer leg.

Mick’s loss gave hope to Rising Sun, who, by defeating Palmer’s last week, now sits just one game back in the standings.

In other week 12 action, Beer Put won the match and the beer from Yorkie, while Cheers managed the thirsty sweep over Pleasure Dome as well.

Roy from Cheers has the league’s highest check, 129.

This week (30th June) sees Beer Put v Rising Sun, Palmers v Cheers, Pleasure Dome v Devonshire and Yorkie v Micks Place.

League Table

	Won	Lost	B/L	U10S
Micks Place  Rising Sun  Beer Put  Pleasure Dome  Cheers  Palmers  Devonshire  Yorkie	9 8 7 7 5 5 5 1	3 4 5 5 7 7 7 11	7 3 7 6 9 5 5 5	37 59 48 63 65 54 65 83