Formule 1.

We went to Montréal this weekend. We went for the Canadian Grand Prix. That's right: Formula One racing. I really believed I would hate it. I was rolling my eyes going. Then, it captivated me. This is one of the great things about being in a 'mixed couple' - making 'cultural' discoveries you would never otherwise have made. The Formula 1 track in Montréal is on an island in the middle of the Saint-Laurent river. So we took the metro and got off, surfaced and immediately felt the agitation in the ground under our feet. And that says nothing of the blast in our ears. You had to put ear plugs in, if not, hearing damage was assured. Even with ear plugs in, it was almost like a concert - the zips and the whines and the tremor of the pitch of the cars. You could walk over bridges and feel an intense vibration even in your nostrils when they would pass underneath. Maybe a reasonable person can only enjoy something this tawdry if it is a lived experience - if all 5 senses are taking it in (that is what I am telling myself). The fumes were even compelling.

The cars go 360 km/h (220 mph). They do 70 laps around this race course with hairpin turns and long stretches (this is not Indy-whatever where they just whir around a loop again and again). They stop 2 to 3 to 4 times strategically during the race to change tires and refuel - this is like a 4-second stop. 4 seconds. Insane. Below there is a video of the pit stop - and a pit stop that resulted in a huge fire (not surprising considering the heat of the things + petroleum). Xavier can do the noise of these cars really well. He practiced a lot as a kid in Europe (I think most European kids like Forumla 1). I used to make fun of him for it, but now I'm going to start practicing myself. Monaco is next.


(Photo credit here).