Over 10 years since we last met

The message popped up: "You still in Nottingham, dude?"

"Certainly am, my friend."

"I'm over in Nottingham Thursday. Let’s catch up."

I hadn’t seen Michael in over 10 years—maybe 15. Time really does fly. He used to run a bar in central Bangkok called The Big Mango, my go-to spot back in the day. A few beers, a game of pool, and a bit of chat were all I needed. When you’re traveling solo in the Far East, you find a place and stick with it. The familiar faces made all the difference.

Thursday lunchtime, and another message comes through: "I'm at Donington Park, dude."

What the hell is he doing there? I wondered, but hey, let’s catch up. It was a steady 35-minute drive from HQ, and I arrived at Donington Park with the sound of cars whizzing around the track. Still clueless about what was happening, I casually wandered into the paddock area, gave a nod to security, and they let me through. Formula 3 cars were lined up, ready to go. I sent Michael a quick message, and out he came from the Garage 39 Cafeteria with arms wide open.

“Dude!” he greeted in that soft American accent, now tinted with 20 years of Asia living. After a classic man hug, we grabbed a coffee. We had a decade to catch up on, but I won’t bore you with all the Bangkok stories—they’d fill a book!

“So what brings you to Donington?” I asked.

Turns out, his friend's son had just secured a racing spot with Fortec Racing, and they were up here while down in London for a meeting. I found myself in a world dripping with money, watching 15-year-olds race around the track.

After watching these kids zip around with a mix of envy and awe, we headed over to Fortec Motorsport to meet Alex and his family, the Kouttoulases. What a lovely, warm, and welcoming bunch they were.

Feeling like a kid in a candy store, we eventually made our way to a good viewing spot to watch Alex prep for his next session.

I know it’s not Formula 1, but the money surrounding this sport is staggering—from rows of RVs and Pirelli tire supply trucks to the supercars parked around. I was wandering through a sea of gold.

It was my first test day, and the first time back at Donington in ages. I have vivid memories of coming here as a kid with my dad or hanging out at the nearby airport, watching planes land and imagining their far-off destinations. Sitting in the Hollywood Stand, with planes soaring overhead, brought those childhood memories rushing back.

As Alex sped past on his test laps, we filled the time with stories of the past, checked the TSL lap times, and took in the green British countryside.

As evening drew in, it was time for me to head home and for Michael and his friend to return to London before flying back to Singapore.

Could I have skipped it? Made some lame excuse about being too busy? Sure, but stepping out of my comfort zone to reconnect with an old friend was worth it. It was like we’d never been apart.

Don’t skip opportunities in life. You never know where they might lead.

Next time I see Michael, it might be back at The Big Mango, or maybe Singapore. Who knows?