A Morning at the Bira Road Race Circuit in Pattaya, Thailand
Sunday, May 9, 2010 at 12:02PM 
I spent the morning of Saturday, May 8, 2010 at the Bira Circuit in Pattaya, Thailand with my good friend and racing buddy, Khun Mac. He has his own company, MacTec, which is the major importer of race car parts to Thailand, in addition to being the Torco Oil franchisee in Thailand. I could not be racing at all if it weren't for Mac. Mac races in a "one make" class where limited modifications and weight is enforced. On this day he qualified first in his class.
This is Mac's race car leaving his pit. It was over 38C (100f) with high humidity at 9:00am when he took to the track.
Mac was off to a very good start until another racer banged his front fender causing both a flat tire and a bent front suspension (tie rod). After a quick pit stop to change the tire, he rejoined the race in last position, but due to the bent suspension, Mac "couldn't steer", an important aspect of race car control.
It doesns't look like much, but it was enough to shred a tire and bend the suspension.
At the start of the race the yellow band on the steering wheel marked the "straight ahead" position. You can see how much things were bent with the new off-center position. No problem, he will repair and race the next day.
The Bira Curcuit is a very well run race track that offers racers many classes in which to participate. Like this Street Truck Class race truck . . .
To Retro Class . . .
To more Vintage Race Class . . . .
To very serious purpose built radical race sedans.
The many races are usually very close.
Race tracks attract guys and their cool cars. Like this beautiful old choppedd-top Toyota pick-up which was actually entered in the Retro Class.
Dr. Jeff Harper
I went back to Bira Circuit (near Pattaya, Thailand) today to see Khun Mac race again. This time I didn't bring him bad luck: he won his class. Here are the photo from today.
First of all, I have to say that Bira Circuit, and Bangkok Drag Avenue, have the BEST race track food in the world. There is nothing like hot and spicy Thai soup with fish balls and wide noodles . . . Need I say more!
The are more very well prepared race cars now, like this very nice BMW.
There are several "Retro" classes for cars and trucks. This one was very clean.
The racers have a lot of fun in these "run-what-ya-brung" classes. Most races get to race in two classes - qualifying and a race in each.
Some of these Retro Class racers have a lot of modern technology (and 400hp!).
And some of the Retro Class racers go for perfect period accuracy.
Some Retro Class racers go for the period . . . but not perfect.
The pits are open, like at the drag races, and there is a lot to see.
Some teams were in a big thrash to get their cars back on track.
My friend Mac won his class today by a country mile.
Here is Mac leading his race in his Torco-sponsored racer.
He passed about five cars by the time he got through Turn One.
And a few more on the Back Straight.
Here is Mac on his victory lap.
The racing was tight in the truck classes.
The faster, modified classes ran later in the day.
I had a fun day watching the races and enjoying the sound of the little four cylinder race motors at full song.
Dr. Jeff Harper
Another fine Saturday spent cheering Khun Mac and team TORCO OIL at the Bira Circuit in Pattaya, Thailand.
My new friend, The Good Doctor . . . . who has been racing for over 40 years - most of it in England. His racing goals are modest: to finish in the same position he qualified (15th in this case . . . he finished 13th and was extremely happy).
Not everyone was happy with their track day: a blown motor at speed. Ouch.
A smiling Mac . . either because of assembling the winning race engine in his race car, or for assembling a pair of Race Queens in his garage.
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