It was a long night, writing and trying to stay awake. I finished everything at about eight this morning after a few snatched moments of sleep when they were necessary. Then it was time for a quick shower and we set off at about 10.00, to drive the 250 miles back to Incheon. We had 14 hours to do it, so we were not exactly in a rush. But why sit in a grotty hotel when you can see the world? So we headed up the highway and stopped for breakfast after a while. It would have been a really good morning to have had a full English breakfast, to get the blood sugar back up, but – oddly enough – that was not really an option. At the same time we had missed breakfast so we got what we could get and ended up with Hot Dogs and fries – which hit the spot. We also had a look at the Korean newspapers and found that most had F1 on the front page, but the only English-speaking one was amazingly negative. Odd.
The drive up to Seoul took us through some delightful countryside until we arrived near Seoul where we decided to cut the corner and avoid the Seoul ring road and we had a lovely time getting lost in the port of Incheon. We then found our way to the airport, but being six hours early drove on until we reached the end of the island and checked out the beach. It was freezing with high winds and that lovely deserted feeling that beach resorts have in October. There were an amazing number of seafood shacks on the beach, overlooking the picturesque islands, but we had run out of money by then and so, having enjoyed the ship-shaped toilets (you have to be careful how you type that one) and got lost a little we arrived back at the airport and had a coffee. Ready for the flight home.
Below are some pictures of the weekend, which I have downloaded from the phone.
I take that back. The wireless is not strong enough. I will have to add them later.
joeblogsf1 
We have an English-speaking newspaper here in Copenhagen that suffers the same problem. I’m not sure why as it ends up making the place look bad to foreigners!
It looks like “hot” was added later. Insert own punchline here…
Seems the main problem, from reports coming out today, were the arrangements for spectators. Bus transfers from the Mokpo hotels area, as detailed on the official website, were non existent and anyone who’d booked weekend race tickets online, and had to pick them up at the track, found there were none waiting for them until Sunday and were unable to get in on Friday or Saturday.
Joe,
out of interest what did the english newspaper manage to pick up on that was so negative? I mean, was it the race itself (pretty good in most people’s opinion) or the track itself (also pretty good!), or merely the lack of surrounding infrastructure?
Cheers
So Joe what was the root cause(s) of the negativity about F1? Shame we wont know if it is a wider held view in the Korean Media!
“We also had a look at the Korean newspapers and found that most had F1 on the front page, but the only English-speaking one was amazingly negative. Odd.”
How do you know the Korean ones weren’t amazingly negative? 😉
(I can’t do fancy quotes – sorry)
Cacarella,
No idea what the Korean newspapers said, but they had happy pictures of Alonso so I guess they were race reports
I always enjoy this kind of insight to your weekends Joe. It sits nicely alongside all the racing stuff.
I’m sure you recalled the history of Incheon:
On September 15, 1950, during the Korean War, Incheon was the site of the Battle of Incheon, when United States troops landed to relieve pressure on the Pusan Perimeter and to launch a United Nations offensive northward. The result was a decisive UN victory.
When McDonalds opened in Beijing, The Times’ front page cartoon showed two gentlemen in Chairman Mao suits saying “I don’t think much of this fast food. I ordered a Hot Dog and all I got was a sausage in a bun!” …
It sounds like a fascinating week’s trip, Joe. Are you already looking forward to next year?
I THOUGHT AN ENGLISH BREAKFAST WAS A FAG AND A COKE.
I am hugely impressed by the typography on the advert which clearly helped you make your breakfast decision. (Hot) DOG & CHIPS!
Way to live up to stereotypes, Korea…
Joe:
Thanks for your enthusiasm and taking us along for the ride!!!
It’s like having your friend there to tell you about everything! I met you in Montreal and we all really enjoyed our evening with you.
Jeff
You know, when they say ‘Hot Dog’ they mean it literally. Broo-hoo-hoo-hah-hah! Couldn’t resist it.
Joe who put together this year’s calendar having two weeks between Japan and Korea – basically two neighbouring countries, if you ignore the bit of sea between them – and a week between Brazil and Abu Dhabi? I guess Korea needed the extra week this year but there are 7 time zones between Rio and Abu Dhabu. Nuts.
Meant Abu Dhabi of course, excuse finger trouble.
Great blog Joe & thanks for the pix too.
Seems like it could be a nice place for a GP if it was during the summertime.
So, considering what you were told about the cuisine before arrival… do you think that hot-dog was the traditional western beef/pork/sawdust mystery bag, or perhaps it was more literally named? 🙂
Thanks for the reports and glad to hear you had a good time.
Considering the only thing that went wrong was the Korean weather, was the Korean newspaper blaming Formula 1 for the Korean weather?
Did the race seem to have made much of an impact on the national consciousness?
Superb photos Joe, thank you. Very atmospheric and a completely different side of your life as an F1 itinerant than we usually think about.
Mmm, ‘hot dog’ in Korea, risky. ‘2 labradors and 1 alsation please’.
It’s nice to have some spare time between the GPs and flights. Thanks for sharing Joe, being in a poor country I can hardly afford to ever go see a GP, but thankfully, I found your blog.
A lot happened around Inchon in sept. 1950 (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Inchon)…and not exactly a holiday resort for the U.S.Marines…
You know that might actually have been hot canine…..
SS7
Nice little piece Joe, thanks.
Sorry, Joe, maybe I’m getting old, but I just didn’t get the Korean GP at all.
It had no real justification for taking place this year. It just wasn’t ready.
The track had never staged a single event before, was dangerous with walls leading to blind corners, inadequate run-off areas, inadequate drainage, dodgy pit entrance lane positioning and highly a questionable pit exit. The surface wasn’t cured yet no hotels built, a long way from anywhere, weather at that time of year, mud on racetrack, blah, blah, blah…
Then came the race, which was a mess, no matter how you ‘spin’ it. Muddy cars, not a good look to be racing through a building site, and a ridiculously mis-managed start delay that left the cars running in the dark at the finish. Overall, not a good day for formula one. And don’t tell me I’m being harsh. Supporters pay good money to support F1, the drivers risk their lives, the teams and team members their livelyhood, sponsors their budgets – we all deserve worthy venues.
So, in the future do we lose France, Spa, Montreal, Istanbul – for Abu Dubious, Bore-hrain and this…?
There are too many races in the season these days, and as proved here, rain or not, decent races can’t be run on duff circuits.
Leo,
This is an article in GP+ this week, click here to understand what it is all about.
Beautiful pic of the beach at Incheon.
Looks deserted, does anybody lives near the track?
Did you eat a “dog” hot dog or a regular hot dog? Just a question, as you know the Koreans are fond of eating that four legged delicacy.
Unlike China, that in Beijing you can eat scorpions, silk worms, giant centipedes, and other fine and sophisticated variety of insects. The secret is in the sauce, at least that is what I was told.
Cheers.
Hey Leo, Dirk Benedict is sad that you don’t return his calls…
@Leo Sayer – but the show must go on!
Joe – Great article explaining the plan behind the circuit and the area development, but now I am more baffled than ever by the track design. When watching the race it was explained that the reason for the all the street-circuit style walls and fencing was that a “city” would be built around the track in coming years. But the site plan shown on your Page 37 shows no buildings (other than the pit complex) in the immediate vicinity of the track. The track appears to be a stand alone dedicated race track. So why all the walls and fences when they were starting from a clean sheet of paper with theoretically none of the usual compromises? Sure would look a lot better (and likely be a lot safer) if it had nice green grass runoff areas and verges instead of gray cement and fences. Any insights?