Anyone going or been to Sepang, Malaysia GP race?

Hi - first post... I'm new to the forum and somewhat new to GP racing etc. but booked a trip to see the October race @ the Sepang International Circuit.

Was wondering if any of you guys could give me any tips for travel destinations while there, transportation to/from race, etc.

We'll be in KL for the 3 day weekend, in Bali for 4 days, and Singapore for one day...

Hope to see someone I "know" there

Chad

welcome chad! ben went to the sepang race last year so he'll have some info for ya. just pm him.

I have indeed Kevster!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Seabass @ May 15 2007, 07:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hi - first post... I'm new to the forum and somewhat new to GP racing etc. but booked a trip to see the October race @ the Sepang International Circuit.

Was wondering if any of you guys could give me any tips for travel destinations while there, transportation to/from race, etc.

We'll be in KL for the 3 day weekend, in Bali for 4 days, and Singapore for one day...

Hope to see someone I "know" there

Chad

Welcome mate

You'll have a great time at Sepang, its an aweseome faciilty and a total electric atmosphere

Anyway - your points:

Travel destinations: Do you mean while in KL - like general tourist stuff?

Transport to track: The track is around 40 mins drive from KL centre. We priced up getting the train to the track, but in the end it was just as cheap to book a taxi. We got to know a good taxi driver, and he took us to the track each day - waited for us and picked us up at end of the day. It was pretty cheap, will see if the wife can remmber how much - coz I cant.

I'd say if your staying in the centre of KL - that your hotel will have a load of GP fans staying - we didnt realise till the morning when everyone had their motoGP caps & t-shirts on, so it might be worth trying to get a mini-bus sorted??

The track is huge, we had grandstand tickets on the main straight - bare in mind you cant go walkabout around the track, which was a bit wierd (used to being able to walk tracks) - so your confined to one space.

Get pit lane walk tickets too - its dead cheap and you can have a right good look at the bikes (behind a rope) - the mechanics fired up some - aweseome stuff!

Oh - the searched our bags for food & drink - not keen on taking food in, but the security let me anyway.

I met a load of really nice people from the UK - and some I'm meeting up with at Donny hopefully - so its all cool!

Weatherwise, it pissed down Saturday (qual was cancelled) - Sunday was baking hot.........really humid, good job they sold cold beer!

The atmosphere was the best, the racing was superb (Rossi /Capirossi battle royale!) and the local people were really nice, the Malaysians we sat next too were sharing all their food with us - which was nice

Those bikes thundering down the pit straight is something else..............and theres plenty of big screens around so you dont miss the action!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BEN @ May 15 2007, 02:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I have indeed Kevster!
Welcome mate

You'll have a great time at Sepang, its an aweseome faciilty and a total electric atmosphere

Anyway - your points:

Travel destinations: Do you mean while in KL - like general tourist stuff?

Transport to track: The track is around 40 mins drive from KL centre. We priced up getting the train to the track, but in the end it was just as cheap to book a taxi. We got to know a good taxi driver, and he took us to the track each day - waited for us and picked us up at end of the day. It was pretty cheap, will see if the wife can remmber how much - coz I cant.

I'd say if your staying in the centre of KL - that your hotel will have a load of GP fans staying - we didnt realise till the morning when everyone had their motoGP caps & t-shirts on, so it might be worth trying to get a mini-bus sorted??

The track is huge, we had grandstand tickets on the main straight - bare in mind you cant go walkabout around the track, which was a bit wierd (used to being able to walk tracks) - so your confined to one space.

Get pit lane walk tickets too - its dead cheap and you can have a right good look at the bikes (behind a rope) - the mechanics fired up some - aweseome stuff!

Oh - the searched our bags for food & drink - not keen on taking food in, but the security let me anyway.

I met a load of really nice people from the UK - and some I'm meeting up with at Donny hopefully - so its all cool!

Weatherwise, it pissed down Saturday (qual was cancelled) - Sunday was baking hot.........really humid, good job they sold cold beer!

The atmosphere was the best, the racing was superb (Rossi /Capirossi battle royale!) and the local people were really nice, the Malaysians we sat next too were sharing all their food with us - which was nice

Those bikes thundering down the pit straight is something else..............and theres plenty of big screens around so you dont miss the action!


Thanks for the info Ben!!! We're really looking forward to it and my prelim info says to take a cab vs. the train as well... that's weird that you can't walk around the track, I'll have to see if I ordered the pit passes. Thanks for that heads up as well.

We're staying at the The Westin Kuala Lumpur
199, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur which I think is downtown...

Any plans on going this year? This will be my first trip overseas so I'm super excited and somewhat nervouse as well... Being American , I presume that everyone speaks english, will I have any difficulties? Should I take any sort of translation for other languages?

Any recollection of hot spots for dinner/drinks in KL? Shopping or any must see sight seeing?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Seabass @ May 15 2007, 07:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hi - first post... I'm new to the forum and somewhat new to GP racing etc. but booked a trip to see the October race @ the Sepang International Circuit.

Was wondering if any of you guys could give me any tips for travel destinations while there, transportation to/from race, etc.

We'll be in KL for the 3 day weekend, in Bali for 4 days, and Singapore for one day...

Hope to see someone I "know" there

Chad
Welcome aboard Chad.

I've been to the F1 GP, twice. One very good experience, and one extremely bad!

I won't go into details, just stay in the 'safe' tourist type areas and have a superb time. The circuit is superb, dwarfs the bikes a little though.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Seabass @ May 16 2007, 06:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Thanks for the info Ben!!! We're really looking forward to it and my prelim info says to take a cab vs. the train as well... that's weird that you can't walk around the track, I'll have to see if I ordered the pit passes. Thanks for that heads up as well.

We're staying at the The Westin Kuala Lumpur
199, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur which I think is downtown...

Any plans on going this year? This will be my first trip overseas so I'm super excited and somewhat nervouse as well... Being American , I presume that everyone speaks english, will I have any difficulties? Should I take any sort of translation for other languages?

Any recollection of hot spots for dinner/drinks in KL? Shopping or any must see sight seeing?

I went to the 2005 race in Sepang - Ben has told you much of what you need, but here are some extra and different bits that you might find useful:

- we travelled out to the track by train on each of the 3 days. It's really up to you if you wanna take a cab instead, but at least you can be sure the train will get there on time. When you arrive at the end of the trip, just ask one of the station workers and they will tell you where to go to get on the shuttle buses that take you across to the track.

- we stayed in bukit bintang for a week leading up to the race. it's quite touristy - markets, guided tours etc. but not overbearing, and virtually everyone speaks english. bintang is quite a busy little area and you will not have to walk more than 10 minutes to find all manner of restaurants, bars, shops and things to do. there is a monorail station in the centre that will take you around the city or to the train station if you decide you want to travel by rail to the circuit. If you're heading out of bintang on the monorail, keep an eye out on the left side in the first five minutes and you will see a very decrepit looking womens prison in the middle of the city, we saw 20+ women in bright pink jumpsuits being marched around the yard by a shotgun-wielding guard. also, it's common for there to be armed guards outside some of the area's more affluent shops (jewelry stores and the like).

- you're only there for a few days, but if you like impressive buildings go and see the petronas towers and k.l tower. your hotel will have loads of info on other stuff that may take your fancy.

- as for your track tickets, i highly recommend this: buy each person going there a ticket to the main area (sometimes referred to as 'mall area') and also get a ticket to the K1 grandstand at the end of the start finish straight. the tickets are ridiculously cheap, about $15 US each. this way, you can move around and see both straights and the pits with your mall area pass on friday and saturday. come race day, if you want to see more than pretty coloured blurs blasting past you, use your K1 ticket - you'll get to see riders outbreaking each other at the end of the main straight, and then two really good alternate corners, before they light it up and head towards the backside of the track. there is a superscreen visible from K1 so you can follow the action when they're not directly visible. Trust me, even if you think now that you want to sit on the straight during the race, pay the little bit extra and get K1 tickets as well, when you get to the track you can make your mind up where to sit during the race but I bet you choose K1 =) Enjoy it, Sepang is lots of fun and I would go again, but this year I'm heading south for Phillip Island instead.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Seabass @ May 16 2007, 03:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hi - first post... I'm new to the forum and somewhat new to GP racing etc. but booked a trip to see the October race @ the Sepang International Circuit.

Was wondering if any of you guys could give me any tips for travel destinations while there, transportation to/from race, etc.

We'll be in KL for the 3 day weekend, in Bali for 4 days, and Singapore for one day...

Hope to see someone I "know" there

Chad

there are buses at the sentral station in KL that's going to and from the circuit. it's around 8 ringgit 1 way so it's 16 round trip.

when in KL, definitely go see the petronas towers. they let you go up to the bridge but there's a limit (around 200 people a day, i think) so go there early. also keep your ears open coz usually the post-race parties are held at the KLCC (that's the mall near the Petronas towers). check out the singapore zoo/night safari.




i'm going, too. Maybe we'll see each other there. (and not know that we already did)

i havent been there but wish i could!


just posting to say HI and welcome!

Thats good advice about the K1 stand - I just assumed that the tickets would let you go anywhere around the track, my bad. The K1 stand was pretty dead too - no so good for the atmosphere I suppose!?

I also stayed in Burkit Bintang - small world huh...........we was there 5 days (which was just a couple of days too many) then hopped over to Penang for a few days.

We went to the Petronass towers but got some really bad info about the tickets from the hotel - you have to get there really early to get a chance of the ticket allocation........not 6pm as out hotel advised - muppets!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BEN @ May 17 2007, 04:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Thats good advice about the K1 stand - I just assumed that the tickets would let you go anywhere around the track, my bad. The K1 stand was pretty dead too - no so good for the atmosphere I suppose!?

I also stayed in Burkit Bintang - small world huh...........we was there 5 days (which was just a couple of days too many) then hopped over to Penang for a few days.

We went to the Petronass towers but got some really bad info about the tickets from the hotel - you have to get there really early to get a chance of the ticket allocation........not 6pm as out hotel advised - muppets!

The K1 stand was at least 80% full in 2005, not sure if that would create the atmosphere you're looking for... personally I was too interested in looking out from the stand at the track!

You can get tickets to petronas towers from about 10 or 11am in the morning in the sublevel of the petronas building, that's when people are queuing for them and it will be your best chance. we only had to queue for about half an hour to get them though, so it was worth it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Seabass @ May 16 2007, 02:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hi - first post... I'm new to the forum and somewhat new to GP racing etc. but booked a trip to see the October race @ the Sepang International Circuit.

Hope to see someone I "know" there

Chad

Hi Chad, welcome to the forum! Hope to see you in Sepang!


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vtinoimik @ May 16 2007, 09:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>there are buses at the sentral station in KL that's going to and from the circuit. it's around 8 ringgit 1 way so it's 16 round trip.

when in KL, definitely go see the petronas towers. they let you go up to the bridge but there's a limit (around 200 people a day, i think) so go there early. also keep your ears open coz usually the post-race parties are held at the KLCC (that's the mall near the Petronas towers). check out the singapore zoo/night safari.
i'm going, too. Maybe we'll see each other there. (and not know that we already did)

psst dude, haha, i'm going! Finally!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (somedamnwriter @ May 17 2007, 05:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hi Chad, welcome to the forum! Hope to see you in Sepang!
psst dude, haha, i'm going! Finally!

yey!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vtinoimik @ May 17 2007, 10:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>yey!

yeah... but my dad's asking for details like estimated prices of things and all that.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Seabass @ May 16 2007, 04:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Any plans on going this year? This will be my first trip overseas so I'm super excited and somewhat nervouse as well... Being American , I presume that everyone speaks english, will I have any difficulties? Should I take any sort of translation for other languages?

Any recollection of hot spots for dinner/drinks in KL? Shopping or any must see sight seeing?

Check with your hotel about the tourist spots. but there are a lot.

as for the speaking in English? well, since it's KL - it's the country's capital, many (but not all)can speak english but not American English. so you might have some trouble there. they pronounce things differently so if you hear it you might not get it right away. (e. g. teksi = taxi, Bas=bus, stessen=station, etc.) (it's english words with a malaysian accent). About the languages, its kinda hard to say which one you should really learn since malaysia, like singapore, is a multi-ethnic city. try learning some indian (from india), malaysian, hindi, chinese, thai, malay.same goes for singapore and bali.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (somedamnwriter @ May 17 2007, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>yeah... but my dad's asking for details like estimated prices of things and all that.

well, plane tickets if you're going cebu pacific are around 5-6K. depends on how early you book the flights. try going to gpticketshop.com for ticket prices. at least you'll have an idea on the ticket prices. but if you're going with us, you can probably save up on hotel expenses if you're going to singapore first then going to malaysia just for the weekend (friday, satrurday, sunday that is). overall, for the f1 race, including all expenses (pocket money, pasalubong, ticket/race/hotel stuff) i spent around 50K maybe it'll be less on october. but that was coz i spent more days in singapore than i did in malaysia. just try to check.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vtinoimik @ May 17 2007, 11:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>well, plane tickets if you're going cebu pacific are around 5-6K. depends on how early you book the flights. try going to gpticketshop.com for ticket prices. at least you'll have an idea on the ticket prices. but if you're going with us, you can probably save up on hotel expenses if you're going to singapore first then going to malaysia just for the weekend (friday, satrurday, sunday that is). overall, for the f1 race, including all expenses (pocket money, pasalubong, ticket/race/hotel stuff) i spent around 50K maybe it'll be less on october. but that was coz i spent more days in singapore than i did in malaysia. just try to check.

Much lower than what I originally thought. And yeah, didn't I tell you I'm going to singapore because that was really their graduation gift for me? Let's talk it over YM some time.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (somedamnwriter @ May 17 2007, 10:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Much lower than what I originally thought. And yeah, didn't I tell you I'm going to singapore because that was really their graduation gift for me? Let's talk it over YM some time.


We used miles to get to Singapore and found that the asian airlines are rather cheap for island jumping all in all our airfare total is like $600 US for 3 flights each. We also used my Westin points for cheap hotels in most places and on the way there are staying at the Singapore airport hotel b/c our flight leaves @ 6am the next morning and we arrive around 11pm.

Thanks for all of the good suggestions. Maybe once it gets closer we could have a gp forum meet up at some point?

As far as the Petronas Towers goes, I think I should have an inside track for tickets! The PM on the job underneath Cesar Pelli designed the building I work in and is from my home town. I'm going to check with him for ideas as well once it gets closer.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Seabass @ May 17 2007, 11:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Thanks for all of the good suggestions. Maybe once it gets closer we could have a gp forum meet up at some point?

Sure thing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Seabass @ May 18 2007, 12:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Thanks for all of the good suggestions. Maybe once it gets closer we could have a gp forum meet up at some point?

suree.

Hey Chad,

I am going to the Sepang Gp this year and may see you there.

I have booked my GP tickets, accomodation, tranport to circuit and pit walk pass through 'Pole Position Travel', which i found to be quite well priced.

Glad you started this thread though as it has helped me too.

Ian

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Savs @ May 18 2007, 11:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hey Chad,

I am going to the Sepang Gp this year and may see you there.

I have booked my GP tickets, accomodation, tranport to circuit and pit walk pass through 'Pole Position Travel', which i found to be quite well priced.

Glad you started this thread though as it has helped me too.

Ian

Good choice! Pole Position Travel are sponsoring the fantasy league & have an ad on the homepage