I attended a talk by Eli Solomon on Sunday at the National Library. He talked about his book, Snakes & Devils – A History of the Singapore Grand Prix.

History of the Singapore Grand Prix? But it hasn’t even happened yet, right?

Well, the F1 race hasn’t taken place yet, but there was racing in Singapore in the 60s and 70s.

Eli gave a very vivid account of the characters involved in the Singapore Grand Prix over the years. It was a very different age, very far removed from the modern day pinnacle of motorsport (and its accompanying circus) which is about to descend here.

SGP was Formula Libre, libre being ‘open’ or ‘free’. So, you brought whatever you had and you raced.

Open-top single-seater cars vs regular road cars were the norm. You’d think that the person with the most expensive car would win, but this was not the case.

The race distance for SGP was 60 laps for most of the years – it was reduced in the latter years – and that was a punishing distance, requiring total concentration over the 4+ kilometre circuit. Race drivers needed endurance and stamina, just as they do now.

Safety was nearly non-existent for both drivers and spectators. The race averaged a death a year, part of the reason the race ended.

Eli also screened some never-seen-before footage from participants from an Australian team. Fascinating stuff as they recorded their trip, not just the race. Wish I could show it here. It really should have been bundled with the book.

Speaking of books, I believe Today reporter Ian De Cotta is about to launch another book on the Singapore Grand Prix.

Photo (top): Rodney Seow’s race suit. He was the last Singaporean winner of the Singapore Grand Prix.

Photo (below): Author of Snakes & Devils, Eli Solomon.

How could I forget? Why Snakes & Devils?

If you can make it out on the photo, there is a series of corners known as The Snakes, leading up to Devil’s Bend hairpin, where the current entrance to Lower Peirce Reservoir is located.