Crash999

The saddest thing in this lousy world. Read about a friend that has met her demise in this way. No matter foul play or not.

She had talent, beauty and all things going for her I can only close by asking WHY? Or Who and WHY?

Bye Pik..

The same thing happened to me- I read about a friend's murder several years ago here on the Thai Visa Forum. In her case the murderer was her boyfriend, a farang.

Wouldn't be surprised if jealousy played a role here as well.

The airport train in Shanghai suffers from a similar issue- it's less of a hassle, and not much more cost, to take a car directly from the airport to one's hotel or home. And in Shanghai they have the added novelty of the train being a Maglev.

But let's see how it goes. I remember when the Skytrain first opened there was massive criticism saying it was too expensive for Thais to use, not convenient, the stations were a pain, and it'd take many years to break even. Bit by bit escalators were added, walkways were built and connected to buildings, and improvements were made that made the Skytrain an indispensable part of Bangkok daily life. The airport link isn't going anywhere and over time I suspect will be the same.

Yes, though 'tam ngaan yuu' would be less formal.

Well we'll have to agree to disagree then as your characterization of stateside tracks are not accurate and comparing a track with history and ambiance like Lime Rock to Bira borders on blasphemy in the racing world and while it's length is similar it's layout is much more liberal, safer and quicker then Bira.. For example the speed carried down the front straight which is probably twice as long as Bira from the down hill momentum is top gear into turn one braking hard and is nothing like Bira where it is nearly a 1st gear corner, off camber and up hill after coming off of a very slow right hander entering the straight 130mph upwards for a car like the Super cars here where as Bira is only about 100mph if lucky..

Anyhoo it's been nice debating it, back to the OP the reason it is illegal to do without a work permit is that it just is!!! I'm not the one to debate it with the Thai government is the one for that, but it is in any definition a form of working and as such requires a work permit for foreigners in Thailand regardless of the payout, as T/A said, and I can't believe I'm quoting him, even painting ones own house is technically against the law here as a foreigner. If you want to do it (racing)legally you'd have to apply for a work permit under the auspicious of the entertainer exclusion which allows for such purposes but only on a limited basis and that would still provide a work permit...It's a technical loop hole but it does apply sadly enough if anyone wanted to be a real jerk about enforcing it...

We'll have to agree to disagree. Lime Rock has history, and it definitely has character, but there are a lot of drawbacks as well. If you've driven there you know what I am talking about- the eases, the uphill, and diving turn all have very limited runoff and as you mentioned the speeds are faster becasue of the track layout and faster classes run there. In terms of safety, slower speeds are of course not a bad thing.

As for the original subject, painting one's house does not quality as work as one isn't being compensated for it. It's no more a work activity than making one's bed in the morning.

The ex-girlfriend was car shopping a few months ago and we checked out the Jazz and City. Considered the Yaris but she didn't like the look of it, and other brands were out due to resale values. Finally went with the Jazz as it had superior utility, looked better (IMHO), and we thought it would be easier to sell when the time came.

So therefore it must not be illegal just because it's never happened that YOU know of? I hate to tell you but ignorance of the law is no excuse in any society and racing without a work permit regardless of what is gained is technically against the law and in the spirit of that law...

I don't see how it's against the spirit of the law. Drivers are paying out of their own pocket to race on private land and at most receiving a few items of negligible value if they win. Even if it was an international racing series there would not be an issue unless drivers were paid locally.

Part of the problem with your analogy is that there is no tracks of Bira's length in the states that host spectator events only club courses. Secondly those tracks and instances you mention while not uncommon are not in danger zones per se for the driver or the spectators and actually the ones you mention are mostly unused now for spectator events in part due to those deficiencies. Nelson Ledges which is 2 miles long about 4 times longer then Bira?? That is one of the most wide open and safe tracks in the states and in a completely different league as a place like Bira.

Lime Rock is a similar length, has a similar character) and hosts lots of spectator events. There's also precious little runoff in many corners and a couple of notorious corners like the uphill. It's what Bira reminded me of when I first drove on it. As for Nelson Ledges, the track is so narrow in places that when we first drove to the track we drove right past it as we thought it was a go-kart circuit!

As for the height of the walls, it could be low but considering the speed of the cars and the runoff available I don't think it's a major issue. If I thought it was unsafe I wouldn't drive there.

rabbits etc.. But to my knowledge neither was a paying human customer nor a cause for concern if one were to get hit (except to those politically correct wildlife advocates), in the case of the boar I seem to recall that at least 2 cars aimed for it as wild boar is fantastic BBQ . Actually quite a few people (not me however) also find gator meat quite enjoyable ...

I think I'd crap myself if I was on a straight and I saw a deer ahead of me. Where I grew up in the US deer strikes were an issue and there are plenty of cases out fhere of people being killed. Some gory pics out there. They're at the right height where their legs get taken out and the body flies straight into the cabin.

Since those series were my concept originally early upon my arrival here several years prior to their existence they are relatively level and cost effective which is why I proposed they begin them in the first place as there was no cost effective entry level series prior and their participation numbers were rapidly dwindling... The only classes available were expensive touring car classes with quite a bit of costly open mods permitted which did not provide any way for a novice driver to measure whether or not they had talent or were just budget short and/or technologically deficient..

Though there has been some farangs running somewhat successfully in those classes you're still always going to be under more scrutiny then a local sorry to say they can always find some way to restrict your competitiveness against the local talent. Having said that though I have quite few legal tricks to increase performance well within the confines of the rules but would make one stand out in the crowd having several years experience with these type of series both as a driver and as an engineer..

Since finding an edge is what is provided in the rules of given class if one is very thorough in evaluation of them one of numerous reasons I won't invest in an expensive touring car here is because as of the last time I asked they won't provide a translated version of the rules and require you to get it done yourself which is a big out for them since no 2 translations are alike making it very easy for them to claim you misunderstood especially where technical regs are concerned..

The first folks I saw who were doing a one-make series were the AIM Motorsports guys around 10 years ago. They had an arrive-and-drive junior series that was relatively affordable, though the various chassis/engine combinations were not as comparable as they could have been. And like you said, the rules were changed halfway through to benefit a certain someone whose family is very well known in racing and who wasn't performing as well as he wanted to during the series. So I dropped out before the end of it.

Even when I raced in the US there were always people looking to get a one-up. Factory engines will always have a difference in performance and a 2% difference in HP over the course of a race makes a huge difference. So folks would purchase multiple engines and use the strongest for racing, the others for testing sessions. As people used to say, "all cars are equal, but some are more equal than others..."

Anyhow, it's not something that would dissuade me from racing again. It's not only about winning but also about the whole experience. I can't go to a track without getting the overwhelming urge to jump back behind the wheel, even if it's the slowest bucket of bolts out there.

gam lang ja+ verb........for example กำลังจะออกจากบ้าน=just leaving the house I myself use when I forgot a date and my friend calls to remind me of our date.

At least you say that you're leaving the house and not 'thung leow'!!!!!

]

Thanks for this:

gam lang verb = is/am/are verb-ing

gam lang ja verb = about to verb

Let me try again:

I am eating - Pom gamlang kin khao

It is raining - Fon gamlang tok

It is about to rain - Fon gamlang ja tok khab.

I am about to go running - Pom gamlang ja wing khab.

Many thanks for all this.

ianwuk

Your understanding is correct. Would just add that it sounds a bit formal. If someone asks what are you doing and you want to tell them you're eating then 'kin khao yuu' is enough. And 'fon tok' or 'fon ja tok' is enough for it's raining or will rain.

Hi Crash,

This is obviously a very open question which will be sure to generate some comments.

For entry level I would allow 300k for the car just to get on the circuit (in very basic but safe trim).

Then another 2 - 300k for ongoing mods and running costs.

The money pit will then grab you and spiral out of control until you give up counting.

Some customers choose this route and other go straight in at the 700 - 900 k mark before they hit the track.

If you are genuinly interested you are welcome to drop by and see us.

Hi Chav,

Sounds interesting. Where are you guys located? I'm out of Thailand at the moment but flying back in next week and would like to drop by.

A few years back I saw that there were several one-make races where (presumably) the inevitable money pit would be kept under reasonable control. Is it a relatively level playing field or can folks buy their way onto the podium?

All the best,

Crash

(ps- don't worry, it's only a nickname!)

.

Really? How so? And it was just but one scenario the point is valid about work permit what about that?

Surely you jest regarding Bira safety compared to the U.S. what tracks have you been too?? It's about 20 years behind in safety and in safety training of workers, they never remove the broken down cars from danger zones and just fly the yellow preventing passing on a track already severely limited, besides more potential damage to competitors cars and other cars.

The wall at the end of the front straight into turn 1 is way too low with no safety fence and only about 6 inches thick with numerous structural cracks already and about a 30ft drop off a hill potentially on to spectators and even possibly back onto the track at the bottom, already there has been some very close calls where a car backed into that wall and almost went over it last season.. There is little to no crowd control fencing either, the entire paddock is open to the track with only a 1 meter high wall with no catch fence separating the track from the spectators and crew to stop anyone from entering the track or any flying parts from entering the paddock..

I was at a race there some years ago when a car broke down exiting turn 2 and the flag man was waving both the yellow flag and the pass flag at the same time to other cars as the broken down car was coming to a stop. The course workers never even motioned the driver to move his car as far off the racing line as possible so I did it as he was about to park it right on the track edge when he saw me motion him he moved over close to the wall. While I give credit for some changes over the years and some improvements really the list is endless and they have miles to go before they even come close to western standards and forget the other tracks mentioned they're all death traps if not for drivers for spectators potentially...

There are dozens, if not hundreds of foreigners who have raced in Thailand over the years- myself included- and I've never heard of anyone having issues due to work permits. If someone was hired by a racing team and was receiving a salary then that would be a different story, but as typical winnings are nothing more than motor oil, energy drinks, and trophies I somehow don't think racing is a big target for the Thai immigration authority. Also most of the folks who get involved in racing have the means and contacts to get out of any potential issue.

I've been to circuits all over the US east coast and I'd say that Bira is comparable to many of a similar length. For example Nelson Ledges (which hosts a 24hr race) has a narrower track and less runoff at the end of the straight. It also has an issue with local wildlife straying onto the track. Hitting a deer at racing speeds is not pretty. Lime Rock's uphill corner has very limited runoff and there have been a couple of cars going off into the woods (not to mention the flaggers have to make a run for it). Very few circuits have cranes to move cars from the circuit and at Lime Rock I've personally been in a situation where I spun off at the same point as a previous car (due to oil on the track) and wound up being collected by another car spinning off behind me. It's up to the flaggers to make a determination of what constitutes a dangerous situation- enough to red flag the race, put out a hazard warnings, yellows, etc.

Having someone stop on the racing line is moronic- this reflects badly on the driver and the race organizers to allow someone in who has such little knowledge of basic safety procedures. I've also seen some other dumb moves like someone practicing a standing start on the straightaway while other cars were still in practice at full speed. Also from what I saw little was taught in regards to how to handle lapping situations, what to do with one's car if there is a mechanical issue, if there is a fire, if someone loses braking, etc. It's up to the race organizers to ensure that safety procedures are followed by drivers and to review safety situations with flaggers.

I'd say that the most dangerous corner for spectators is the first one, but even with full loss of braking power (something I experienced at Bira before due to improperly bled brakes) it's possible to decelerate to a point where the tyres and barrier is strong enough to contain a car. And at the races I've been to I've not seen spectators allowed through the tunnel into the inner part of the circuit.

As a whole I don't think Bira is particularly dangerous. Would like to see improvements made to safety briefings but this isn't an issue of the circuit itself.

Nice to see that you are all have competetive egos - if any would like to hit the track to see how well you perform out there I would be pleased to build a car for you.

As for testing - The BMW is already well proven thanks.

An answer to another question - I am Ferang

As for the results

F5A (Open rear wheel drive)

Qualified 5th

Heat 1 2nd

Heat 2 2nd

F6 (Retro Euro)

Qualified 3rd

Heat 1 1st

Heat 2 1st

All in all a brilliant weekend despite being shunted up the rear by my pit mate in his 2JZ E36.

Chav,

Congratulations on the results! Just curious- what do you reckon is a budget to build/acquire a competitive racer and maintain it for a year's worth of a full racing schedule? Doesn't have to be the quickest class but should be a strong contender.

Cheers,

Crash

Alex, I suggest you get in contact with some folks who organize car exhibitions and regional races in Thailand to review the procedures they use to bring vehicles in. Go pay them a visit rather than sending off an email.

Thai customs is infamously mercurial when it comes to imports of autos for personal use- there are many stories (some on here) of cars sitting in storage until they are eventually abandoned. This is likely what some folks are thinking about here, but of course for exhibitions and regional races cars are brought to Thailand and re-exported all the time.

This is a pretty far-fetched scenario. What's more likely is the person who is losing suddenly benefits from some performance boosts that are somehow overlooked by scrutineers.

As for safety, I've not been to the smaller tracks in Thailand but the Bira circuit is comparable to many circuits in the US with proper gating, barriers, and adequate runoff for the classes of cars that compete on it.

You should have received a little bottle of liquid. Use cotton balls with the liquid to get rid of the logos- don't use anything stronger like alcohol or nail polish as it can damage the film itself.

Better yet, have the garage who installed it take off the logos.

Excellent, thanks for the replies guys. To give you a bit more info, I bought a Nikon D90 with a kit 18-105mm lens and also bought a 50mm 1.4/f AF-D lens. Have been practicing a fair amount and know the basics about shutter speed, aperture, and so forth and am familiar with the functions of the camera (though I always forget where things like burst shot are).

Will look into that Bangkok photo school, though it looks like I just missed their one day courses.

Yeah some people play WoW every day but it's a minority. The problem starts if you roll several characters- then you wind up doing the same things over and over which ultimately is futile as with the new expansion packs there is always better stuff coming out around the corner.

These days if you raid in a guild you only need to play twice a week for 2-3hours.

I thought you mean the online/live versions of those games. It doesn't compare to play solo vs an MMO- totally different experience.

That's a good point about checking the model year. It could well be a 2009 model - it's still a "new" car technically. Will look into that.

Maybe I wasn't too clear but the model he's offering me is a TT, not a TTS, so there's no trickery going on there. (He does offer the TTS as well but that is 3.5 million - elsewhere in the show I saw a TTS for 3.9m. Officially I think it's over 5 million.) So, to reiterate, it's a TT but with the S-Line trim (which is maybe where I wasn't clear), quattro 4WD rather than the base level FWD, and it has an ABT power upgrade to 260hp.

Again that's a good point about the title. I'm all too aware of the Evo comparison because I looked at getting one of those a few years ago (from Wattana cars on Petchaburi Road) but ran a mile when I found out it would be registered as a normal Lancer, plus he only offered a one-month warranty. Instead I bought an official Subaru WRX.

He did mention finance options from a 3rd party finance company at 2.25% APR (can't remember the name of the finance company but I remember he said it was attached to Siam Commercial Bank), so like you say surely they wouldn't get involved it there was anything fishy??

Hmmmmm.

Again - as you also saw yourself - he was displaying all this out in the open at a major show. If there was anything obviously illegal then surely all Audi, or Mercedes or whoever would do would be to simply send someone to the show, note the serial number while looking under the bonnet and then report him to the authorities for illegally making a false customs declaration.

Ahhh ok it's a TT with S-trim. In such case the price is actually in line (or a bit lower) than what other folks are offering. There's a 2010 black one at Khunying advertised for 2.99m, a bronze one from Set Point at 3.18m, and a black one from Pahonyotin Smart Car for 3.29m. I didn't take a look at the trim levels to see what the differences are. It's possible they could be imported 2009 cars that haven't yet been registered, so they are advertised as 'new car' (2010).

F1 is advertising their cars together with the TTS models online so it's a bit misleading.

The finance company will do an assessment on the car to check its value and determine how much they are willing to finance. They check the title and everything carefully as they don't want to be scammed (give a loan at too high a value and the borrower defaults immediately, taking off with the difference).

If you like the car and are thinking about buying in cash, why not have a lawyer check everything out? I know it doesn't feel great to spend a fair chunk of money to have someone look over docs for an hour, but the cost of doing so compared with the cost of purchase becomes insignificant.

Who the heck would play World of Warcraft in Thailand. The kind of

people who play that are geeks who have nothing else going for them apart

from a fictional video game character

...

Give me Final Fantasy (check my avatar) or Metal Gear Solid any day.

Translated: don't be a loser by playing that game, come and be a winner by playing my even more obscure game! =)

Hi folks,

Over the next few months I have some time on my hands and would like to improve my photography skills. Enrolling in a course, whether with a school or private/semi-private lessons would be interesting if there's something good out there. Do you guys have any recommendations? Ideally should be a curriculum that would cover the basics (which for the most part I am ok with) and get into technique, style, etc.

Thanks!

I usually got like 350ms in the afternoon and 500~700 at night on US servers. It's playable but suffers a great deal in PVP.

There is nothing much you can do about it unless you transfer to Oceanic servers.

I'm on an Oceanic server (Saurfang). They're no better as they're also hosted in the US, though there have been rumors of the servers migrating to Singapore.

I get 300-500ms pings during the day and 500-700ms in the evenings. The issue is during raids- with a 10man I get up to 1000ms and I was disconnected from the last ICC25man I did 6 times before Lady Deathwhisper so finally gave up. I've since increased my connection speed but haven't yet gone back to try a full-on ICC raid as I hate to be 'that guy' who is always DC'd during fights.

Golf GTIs, VW Beetles (1.89 million baht - cheap!), Audis, Mercs, Porsches of various kinds, Ferrari F430, all out in the open with the prices stuck on them, and all of them significantly cheaper than the official cars. He said something about importing them directly himself and there being no middleman therefore he can sell cheaper, but a million baht (or more) cheaper? Hmmmm.

I was at the show as well, checking out the Lotuses (Lotii?) which are tempting. Was also looking at TTs and SLKs.

Anyhoo, a few things to bear in mind. F1 is a big dealer and they advertise on one2car a lot- in fact I can see those two Audis you mention on there and they are about 500-600k under what others are advertising, which of course is a bit inflated from the real sale price. I'm shopping for cars now and have been doing some price comparisons- their other cars, for example the Mini, is in line with market prices so not sure what's going on with those TTSs. A few things to check are:

- whether or not the car really is a 2010 model. It may be a 2009 that has been registered in 2010

- whether or not the car is actually a TTS or is a rebadged TT

- whether the title is for a 2010 Audi TTS or another car (this is a problem with many Mitsu Evos)

Not sure if you're in a position to finance the deal, but if you are then the financing company will check out everything for you as they themselves don't want to take a car onto their books where the car's value has been exaggerated.

Sounds likely, but the point still stands... Thaksin isnt the only big fish in this small pond... especially if a few ganged together, which i'm sure they do...

Point taken. However, what separated Thaksin from the others was his political ambitions and his desire to consolidate power and control- towards the end he seemed almost above the law. Don't like the drug situation? Just shoot everyone involved with drugs and the problem will be solved. Foreign competition encroaching on his business? Rewrite the laws regarding foreign ownership of businesses. The list goes on and on. He made too many enemies in business, politics, and the media and paid the price.

Why is that major aspect so difficult for many TV forum posters to understand.

Because it sounds closer to an Oliver Stone movie than anything resembling reality.

I'm sure the upcoming yearly capital expenditure allocations have absolutely nothing to do with the timing of elections.

here is thailands rich list Thaksin number 16th position.. the yellow one at the top is a clan that owns central, robinsons etc.. at least 8 times as rich as Thaksin.

I'm sure you'll recall the time when Thaksin passed the majority of his fortune to his family members, thereby supposedly removing himself from any potential conflicts of interest when it came to government dealings. Suddenly he was no longer a billionaire.

And this is only what's on record- there were lots of overseas telecom deals, for example in Myanmar and the Middle East that have enabled Thaksin to live comfortably overseas desipite his assets in Thailand having been frozen.