Korean F1 Grand Prix

Soon after getting here, we discovered there was going to be a Grand Prix race in Korea.  Unfortunately, we then discovered that it was on the south-east tip of Korea, the high speed train doesn't go there, and it was really expensive.  We gave up on going after it seemed the planets were not aligning.....   that is until I ran across a FB post from Yongsan.  The USO was coordinating a military tour at the right price and they were going to have a bus running from Osan.  We quickly got our sitter lined up and bought tickets. 

We took off early Sunday morning for the long bus ride down.  A few hours (and a good nap later) we arrived in a drizzly, overcast Mokpo.  The USO really did a great job - our tickets were in the Main Grandstand at around the 10th/11th start positions, 5 rows up.  After finding our seats, we went exploring. 

The raceway and grounds are still under construction.  There were a lot of unfinished areas, mostly parking; for us this meant the drizzly rain was making a muddy mess.   But that didn't stop us from trying to find some food.   Slim pickings there too, but lucky for us, we liked what they had.  There were two vendors set up for food and a few others serving coffees and snacks.  We got some bulgogi and rice, Ronnie found a hamburger, and then we got some coffee and a churro for the stands.  Because it was race time!

The officials went ahead and started the race, but after a few laps behind the safety car, they decided to wait out the rain for another hour.  Yeah, the safety car ROCKED - the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.  That hour came and went and it was race time again.  The rest of the race was good, there were a few crashes that took out some of the leaders so it was exciting to watch the last few laps.  Ferrari's Alonso led the last few laps and the fans finally started cheering, chanting and getting excited, and they erupted when Alonso crossed the finish line. 

All in all, the F1 was a great race to experience.  I hear there's a F1 track opening in Austin, Texas....  sounds like we're gonna have to hit that one, cause at least I know there will be smoked turkey legs.