Sixteen-year-old sensation slays ’em at Bira

by Dr Iain Corness

A sixteen-year-old Thai boy, H. Nattaphong, leads the Championship after the first two rounds of the International AF2000 motor racing series held at the Bira Circuit last weekend.

Having graduated as a karting champion last year, Nattaphong was having his first outing in the full size international open wheeled racing cars and was competing against a full field of experienced overseas drivers.

Nattaphong quickly showed his talent in Official Qualifying, gaining a front row position with some exceptionally fast lap times, less than two hundredths of a second off the time set by defending champion Wai Leong of Hong Kong.

In the first heat Nattaphong outbraked Wai Leong into the hairpin on the opening lap and was never headed from there, greeting the chequered flag 20 laps later comfortably in front of his team mate Australian Champion Ben Walsh. Wai Leong encountered problems and did not finish.

Photo: Charles Kwan, EKS BMW - Championship leader.

With a coolness and maturity seldom seen in a youngster, Nattaphong hounded Wai Leong all the way to the flag in the second heat, thus winning the Thailand round on aggregate points.

The next round will be held at Subic Bay in the Philippines next month and Thailand’s hopes are pinned on the young sensation.

The South East Asian Touring Car Zone Challenge was won by Hong Kong driver Charles Kwan in the BMW factory backed EKS team car, beating Toyota Team Thailand driver Kajohnsak and Thai hero Suphot in the works Nissan Primera.

Kwan’s EKS team (Malaysia) were delighted by the result as they had been forced to run an engine that was down on power compared to the latest factory units and they had almost been prepared to concede defeat to the Nissan Asia works car.

A brilliant start by Kwan saw him overtake the Nissan into the first corner and he was able to pull away, lapping even faster than he had done in Qualifying.

In the second heat, Kwan again led all the way, with Suphot spinning off attempting to stay with the flying BMW. Kajohnsak’s Exsior followed him home a long way behind.

It was a most professional showing from the BMW Team and has left the Nissan Asia AIM Team with quite some homework to do before the next rounds. Toyota were lucky to be able to start their back-up car in the championship after Kajohnsak destroyed his Exsior in Qualifying.

Attention all Scuba Divers: Beware of Pirate Ships

Thai authorities this week warned local divers to beware of a sinister Chinese junk crewed by heavily armed pirates that has been spotted around the offshore islands near Pattaya.

They believe the ship is under the command of the notorious pirate Black Pete, who used his intimate underwater knowledge of the beautiful reefs just a few miles off Pattaya to stash away his treasure for his impending old age, and has now returned to collect the booty.

To combat this scourge of the Gulf of Siam, local dive shops are appealing for volunteers to search for the booty and are planning a massive treasure hunt during the Labour Day long weekend on Saturday May 2.

If you are a scuba diver and are interested in helping yourself to a handful of treasure then sign up at one of the Gulf of Siam Safe Divers shops listed below. They are the only dive shops authorised to sell tickets.

The search for Black Pete’s treasure is one of several events that the GSSD are arranging in conjunction with the Amazing Thailand campaign to help draw more divers to the Pattaya area.

If you are a qualified scuba diver and would like to take part, here’s the deal. For only 1000 baht you will get tanks and weights for two dives, a free T-shirt and all the treasure you can find.

At the end of the day’s diving there will be a free barbeque for those who took part. The festivities will kick-off at 6:30 p.m. at the world famous Henry J. Bean’s, located on Beach Road in front of the Amari Hotel. Enjoy Hank’s jazz band and watch TV of the day’s event being shown on the multiple TV screens throughout the lounge.

Prizes for the lucky divers will be distributed by Pattaya’s lovely Cindy Burbridge - former Miss Thailand World.

Cindy, who is a qualified PADI Rescue diver, promises that some of her friends who star in Thai films and TV will join her in a day of fun diving.

All the prizes have been donated by local and Bangkok businesses and include free meals - from breakfast to dinner; nights in local hotels; getting fit at a local gym, flying in a microlite over Pattaya, games of golf and crazy golf, sliding down a wire from the top of Pattaya Park’s tower, water skiing, CDs, dive equipment, and lots of sporting paraphernalia from internationally famous Adidas.

The Royal Cliff will lend their twin-hulled "Island Dream" for the day as a VIP boat for press, TV teams and other dignitaries.

Other dive boats will be provided by the member shops taking part. These are the only shops authorised to sign you up for the big day on May 2. Book your place now from: Aquanauts, Ihtiander, Paradise, Mermaids, Seafari, Scubamoose, Dave’s Diver’s Den, Sunshine and Scuba Tek. Get your "Treasure Pack" which will include: vouchers for your boat trip, hotel discounts, evening barbeque/awards ceremony, treasure map, and your treasure hunt souvenir T-shirt.

Your "Treasure Hunt" ticket may be worth up to 20% or more discount at sponsoring hotels in Pattaya. Check with your dive center. Depending on which hotel you stay at, the generous discounts may be enough to pay for your "Treasure Hunt" ticket. So, you could get to dive for free. Now, you can’t ask for a better deal than that.

Sponsor hotels are Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Thai Garden Resort, Amari Orchid Hotel, Dusit Resort, Mercure Hotel, Asia Pattaya, Merlin Hotel, Central Wongamat, and Woodwind Resort.

Hundreds turn out for Interact Marathon 1997

The Interact Mini marathon was a runaway success, as hundreds of local athletes pounded the pavement in the greater Pattaya area to raise funds for young people at the Dong Sorm School in Tak province.

Organized by the Interact Club, the 12.5 kilometer run had categories for boys and girls not over 15 and an ‘all ages’ category.

The Mini-marathon began at 7:00 a.m. at the Aksorn Technology School in Pattaya. The runners sped down Jomtien Beach, along Thepprasit Road, Soi Chaiyaphruek and ended at the starting point.

The winner in the ‘all ages’ category was Nieuwstik of the Netherlands, followed by Mr. Nick Rumphakwaen and Somjit Hinthong.

In the women’s category, Anisara Boonthan came in first, followed by Rungthiva Niransawat and Suwansiri.

In the boy’s category, Suri Kijsom crossed the finish line first, followed by Chanon Ramrienkij and Manit Thapphon.

In the girl’s category Miss Vasana won.

The Cloggies lay claim to 2nd annual TAGGS AM-AM Tournament

Friday, April 10 - Phoenix Country Club

PSC TAGGS Golf from the Hare House

1st: "The Cloggies" - Steve Mascari, Ray Matti, Rick Sharp, and Peter Daff, 92 points (20 under par).

2nd: "Soft Rock" - Mats Lindberg, Mikael Soderberg, Svein Vistung, and Morten Esseth, 90 points (18 under par).

3rd: "Shakey Pete’s" - Dennis Willett, Charlie Davlin, Paul Kraft, Dene Mundy, 88 points (16 under par).

Nearest Pin 1st Div: Mountain #4 Steve Mascari, Mountain #8 Ron Herbert, Lakes #2 Bill Thompson, Lakes #7 Mats Lindberg.

Nearest Pin 2nd Div: Mountain #4 Jerry Lien, Mountain #8 Peter Daff, Lakes #2 Peter Daff, Lakes #7 Jimmy Little.

Longest Drive (Lakes #9) 1st Div: Mats Lindberg, 2nd Div: Peter Daff.

The Alternative Golf Gentlemen’s Society held their 2nd Annual AM-AM tournament on Friday, April 10th at Phoenix Country Club. Using a fun format of four man teams counting the best two net scores on each hole and then converting to Stableford, the cream of the Pattaya Sports Club battled it out under sunny skies. In the end it might have been better to call the tournament "Peter Daff Day". He won trophies and prize money for the winning team, closest to the pin on two holes, and a longest drive.

His teammates on "The Cloggies" were a pretty formidable group as well. Steve Mascari, playing off a 5 handicap, Rick Sharp off a 10, and Ray Matti off a 14 had to earn their points the old fashioned way. Still, with an unfamiliar format, nobody was sure how well they had done until the end. The clubhouse at Phoenix was buzzing with "how many did you get?" and it wasn’t until they had all adjourned to the Hare House that "The Cloggies" knew their 92 points would hold up.

In second place was the Scandinavian contingent from the Soft Rock made up of Mikael Soderberg, Svien Vistung, Morten Esseth, and Mats Lindberg who had an impressive 90 points. Mats was also another multiple trophy winner with a closest to the pin and a longest drive to go along with his second place "knotted putter" - the distinctive logo of TAGGS.

In third place there were the "Shakey Pete’s", but they didn’t get that name because of "the yips". Dennis Willett, Charlie Davlin, Paul Kraft, and Dene Mundy are always a force to be reckoned with and they proved it again with 88 points.

It was a fun day of golf in one of the best places in the world to play this game. The Hare House after the tournament was a scene of good fellowship, great free food, cheap drinks, and scintillating pink golf shirts. Where else would you rather be?

PSC Golf next week

April seems to have flown past as we play the final week starting on Monday the 27th with the Splinter Golf Group going to Eastern Star for a two man scramble, while PSC Golf from the Cafe Kronborg have a Better Ball competition at Rayong Green Valley.

On Wednesday the 29th the Splinter Golf Group from the Green Bottle play Stroke at Bangpra, whilst TAGGS from Hare House play another two man scramble at Great Lake.

The following day, Thursday the 30th, sees a return to popular Great Lake from the Cafe Kronborg, also playing a two man scramble.

The week ends on Friday May 1st, a Public Holiday, with the Splinter Golf Group playing Stableford at Khao Kheow. Hare House have no fixture on that day.

Entry forms ,for the second Pattaya Sports Club Charity Classic to be held on Friday May 15th at Phoenix, are available on notice boards at Cafe Kronborg, Hare House, Soft Rock Cafe, Shakey Pete’s and from the Splinter Golf Group at Diana Inn.

The charities being supported this year are: Banglamung Schools Self-Help Food Project (10 schools for one year); Redemptorist School for the Blind, Fountain of Life Children’s Centre and Banglamung Home for the Aged. We aim to raise B. 200,000 on the day. For more details see our web site.

The sign-up sheet for Papasan Ray Rogers’ Birthday Tournament on May 7th at Pattaya Country Club, is up in the Cafe Kronborg. Sign up early for this popular event.

For more details of April and May fixtures, and the 1998 PSC Charity Classic, visit the PSC Golf Web Site at www.pattayasports.org.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.