All right, I’m going to tell a story and many will tell me I'm full of shit. It is truly a life altering experience and I can never forget that particular event. I used to tell the story to people, but as time goes by, even my self started to forget.
I graduated from HS in 1990. Between 1988 to 1991 - I used to videotape all the F1 races for my buddy off ESPN. The sport was new to me and I got really into the sport in late 1988 season, when Honda was really kicking ass all over the track. It was a fascinating experience, almost religious.
My friend Sean offered me a trip to Phoenix AZ. to see the 1990 US GP. I didn’t know what to expect, I have never been to a car race, in fact, I have never even been to a live sports event. All I know is, I “might” see my favorite racers such as Senna, Berger, Prost, Piquet, Mansell, etc. Of course I’m a fan of Senna because he is driving for Honda. I own a 1989 Prelude during that period; the NSX was my dream car. I collected many Japanese magazine photos of Senna testing the NSX between 1988 to 1989. The plan was to attend the practice and qualifying session only. We didn’t want to fight the traffic during race day.
I was a artist wanna be right out of high school. I was really good at making animation cels. Many Anime fans who attended Anime Expo 1991 and 92 will probably remember my work at the art show. A week before the Phoenix race, I replicated a picture of Senna’s MP4/4 McLaren Honda car, I used a picture from a Marlboro F1 Calendar I got while visiting Europe, and I turn it into a Animation cel; of course the driver` in the picture was the flying Brazilian. The picture is about 12x18 framed. I took it to the race with me.
We got there really early on Friday morning, and we park really closed to the racing area. It was a street circuit and we had access to many part of the racing tracks. There were no security on Friday, and surprisingly, very few spectators. It was a fascinating event, just to listen to the engines of the car drove by. We actually get to walk around the pit area with out any hassle - I remember my friend was telling me how big of a joke the security was that day. We took some close photo shots of the cars, and we saw many of my favorite drivers.
Once the practice session ended, we started to walk towards my friend’s car. Location of our car was actually very close to the pit garage. The session ended for about 20 minutes, and on our way back, we ran into Ayrton Senna at the exit gate. We said hi to him, and he did the same. I wanted to get his autograph, but I didn’t have any thing worth of autographed. After about ten steps away, I turn around and yelled “Hey Senna,” he turns around and gives me a weird look. I than walked back towards him and told him about a picture I have of him, and I wanted him to see it. Surprisingly, he said, “sure, where is it?” I ask him if he can wait for few minutes, he replied, “I have a meeting to attend, my engineer wants to have a meeting.” I said, “please, just five minutes,” and he reply, “OK, but don’t waste my time.” I ran to the car, came back within few minutes and show him the cel painting. He looked at it and said to me, “this is a nice picture, where did you get it? I have never seen it published” I told him, it was one of my painting, and he was my hero. He didn’t say much after that, and there was a moment of silence. Somehow I handed the picture to him and told him it’s he’s. He didn’t want to accept it, but I told him I insist. He didn’t say thanks, but I didn’t expect one either. We shook hand and walked away from each other. About ten or so feet later, I heard him calling me. “Hey, you there, come over here.” I didn’t know what to expect when I walked towards him…. That was probably the greatest moment ever in my life, as if I won the lottery. He put something in my hand and said, "here, a nice trade for your painting." It was beyond my comprehension. It was his freakin Tag Heuer watch, a Sports Elegance model, chronograph, gold plated, leather strap…. I was excited, but shocked. I told him that’s too much for trade, and there is no reason for him to do that…. He smiled and said, “I like your picture, it’s nice. The watch is free for me, I’ll just get more from Heuer.” He shook my hand and walked towards McLaren motor home without turning his head.
Yesterday, I open my drawer to find my Rolex, and I saw the Tag sitting next to it… I forgot I had it, well, I shouldn’t say that, I didn’t forget, but the watch was sitting in there for the last two years, with a dead battery…
Dude, how luck of a guy can I be… I wish he were still alive, gives me incentive to go to the races, perhaps I could look for him and see if he remember the little encounter…. However, that was the only F1 even I have ever attended…
An unforgivable event... Once a while my buddy still ask me if I want to sell the watch... I told him, it's going no where... except staing on my rist, or sitting in my drawer!
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