World-class drivers! One time F1 protegee David Coulthard (GBR) for RedBull Racing Team; current F1 world champion Kimi Raikonnen (Fin) for Scuderia Ferrari; and Fernando Alonso (Esp) for Renault F1 Team go head-to-head at Sim Australia's Ponderosa Race Track http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ponderosa/238/110/32
Like most of the cars I have in my collection, track-testing all of them is such a joy! Getting to control these cars rather than them controlling you may be a challenge. It may just be putting your mind over the matter and get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each car. And dwelling more on their strengths would be a deciding factor whether you will go far with these brutes.
SL Formula One cars just like in real-life are never easy to drive. Who ever said that they were and that they should be? After all, real-life Formula One drivers are the creme de la creme, so why do we (SL residents) have to be exempted from that fact? (laughter).
It takes a lot of dedication, discipline, patience and skill to get control over the wheels. Going through every chicane with the possibility of getting too much or too little under-steer, may mean the difference between safely driving through each bend or getting into a nasty crash (lucky enough if you won't come crashing on another driver).
Most importantly, honing your skills would mean the difference between getting first place or becoming second in a race. Talking about these supercars is awesome BUT driving them is really something else.
The F1-inspired shrine especially made for die-hard fans can be located in two interesting sims:
Formula One inspired pits. The display area at Minoa has a more F1 feel to it. A garage housing three (3) of the best race cars ever to grace Formula One, as well as a Subaru Impreza rally car are on display. Look further and you'll find something sleek and interesting that you may take home for FREE!
A fantastic show! Come and see the uncanny resemblance of these sculptured F1-inspired cars to their real life counter parts. Red Bull Racing Team, Renault F1 Team and the Scuderia Ferrari supercars are on display at the Minoa shrine.
Celebrating The Cars
Not a lot know of the Red Bull F1 Team using a same specification Ferrari V8 engine as the Scuderia Ferrari team (when Formula One downgraded engine power from the ever popular V10 in 2006). The Red Bull Racing Team consecutively won 7th place in the Constructors Title in the 2005 and 2006 seasons. They went two notches up at 5th place in 2007 in spite of having 14 retirements between drivers David Coulthard (GBR) and Mark Webber (Aus) with whom the latter won a 3rd Place podium finish for the team at the European Grand Prix. The team currently uses a Renault V8 engine which won Fernando Alonso (Esp) of the Renault F1 Team, back to back championships.
The Renault F1 Team is famous for breaking up the Ferrari winning streak. A title which was held by Michael Schumacher (Ger) of Scuderia Ferrari for 5 years since 2000. It was the young Spaniard who took away the crown from the German, not only for the Drivers' Championship but also for the title for being the youngest F1 driver to bring home the cup. Schumacher was 25 when he won in 1999 for Benetton-Ford while Alonso was 24 winning for Renault. However, Renault's championship run halted when their ace driver moved to McLaren-Mercedez to join the newly signed up Lewis Hamilton (GBR), a Formula 2 drivers champion.
In F1's 2008 season, Fernando Alonso joins back Renault and is slowly gaining ground to fight back the championship. Just like when he joined McLaren-Mercedez replacing Kimi Räikkönen who then moved to Ferrari, he is "rumoured" to replace the Finn again if ever the current world champion decides to retire.
The Prancing Horse made history during its comeback in the Formula One scene with its first Drivers' Championship win in 21 years, courtesy of the legendary Michael Schumcher. The German gave Scuderia Ferrari a 5 year winning streak (2000-2004) with Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne, and Jean Todt teaming up to be part of the strategic, technical and engineering team; and Rubens Barrichello (Bra) as his long-time running-mate. They were considered the dream team in F1.
This was the start of Ferrari F1's comeback as a dominant force, setting the standards on Formula One racing, only yielding to Renault for 1st place in the Drivers' Championship in 2005 and 2006.
Kimi Räikkönen (Fin), a former rival of Schumacher, took over the reigns of the 7-time world champ and narrowly won back the championship from Lewis Hamilton (a newcomer and a surprise contender to the crown) in the 2007 season. As of press-time, the ongoing F1 2008 Season sees Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Räikkönen, and Ferrari team mate Felippe Massa (Bra) vying for the prestigious and most coveted Drivers' Championship.
Look Around Minoa And Prepare Be Amazed...
It would be fun for any F1 fan to visit the Minoa shrine and get to meet "Schuey" tending the stalls (who also seems like he needs his job back hehehe). You'll be surprised to see the BEST RACING HELMETS in the WHOLE of SL guarded by the former world champ! I have all of them including the Ferrari bull caps which are on display. I do not see why you should not have them as well hehehe.
Uhmmm, don't bother talking to the champ. He does not seem to be in the mood for chats. Believe me, I tried and even told the funniest and corniest of jokes that I know of. But not the slightest smirk can be seen on his face (sighs). I think it must have been that Macarena dance I did for him as I chant: "Viva Ferrari!". I speculate that he has some issues with anything Spanish... then I thought to myself: "ahhh.. Fernando Alonso.." laughter
These fantastic helmets are none like no other in SL. I have seen so many sports helmets BUT nothing comes close to RamessesIII Pharaoh's collection! They go well with any sports gear, be it superbikes, hydrofoils or any other supercars.
This black prototype is not the Batmobile, so do not be fooled by its sleekness and colour. It is RamessesIII Pharaoh way of saying thank you to all the fans who visits the shrine. It has the option to change to three more other colours apart from black. And being a FREEBIE is something that makes visiting Minoa worth the trip.
It has the F2007 engine pre-H4 and would be a good way to test your skills in driving a proper F2008 car. I am sure after trying this baby, you would definitely move up to the next level! Good luck!
Here you will find Ram's Ferrari Shrine and see the history on how the car evolved. It is also the only museum in Second Life dedicated to Scuderia Ferrari. A dismantled scaled-model on display will show you the level of complexity the sculptured car has, as well as RamessesIII Pharaoh's outstanding craftsmanship.
From having built it on raw and edgey prims for the first prototype to the more rounded and formed second prototype, you will see RamessesIII Pharaoh's ingenuity at work.
His first attempt on textures shows his dedication to produce a car that closely resembles the real life model. And as more and more features are being introduced in building and crafting in SL, the details of the supercar becomes more and more prominent. The F2007 was the start of something big for Ferrari fans in Second Life. And the ultimate unveiling the F2008 version gave racing enthusiasts a taste on how virtual realism really should be.
The introduction of the Sculpty in SL had indeed revolutionised the building of virtual crafts to people like RamessesIII Pharaoh. I wont be surprise at all that if ever the F2009 comes out, it would be nothing less than awesome and inspiring!
Don't just take my word for it, go and experience the F1 phenomenon in Second Life now.
