Chasing the Checkered Flag: The Australian Grand Prix
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and crawl through a small window during my 4 months in Sydney, Australia. Australia was full of surfing waves, late night to early mornings, and stumbling into random neighborhoods. For months, I soaked it all in, as any wide-eyed traveler would. But there’s one weekend that sits a little differently, not because it was some wild adventure, but because it was the weekend I learned a valuable lesson.
You see, I hopped on a plane to Melbourne for a quick getaway, completely unaware that the Australian Grand Prix was happening that very same weekend. And let me tell you, I couldn’t have cared less about F1 back then. Oh, how naïve I was. Little did I know, that decision or, let’s be real, lack of decision would still sit with me 7 years later.
Now, you’d think a city like Melbourne would be hard to miss, right? It should’ve been impossible to ignore the absolute electric vibe that was taking over the streets. The place was alive with energy, and I could feel it in the air. The roar of engines echoed in the distance, the crowds were spilling into every corner, and the atmosphere was practically vibrating with excitement. But me? Oh no, I was too busy being a clueless tourist. I wandered through parks, meandered to the Rod Laver Arena where the Australian Open takes place, and ventured off on The Great Ocean Road.
I had no idea what I was missing. It wasn’t until years later, after I, and practically every American, watched Drive to Survive in 2020 during the pandemic that I realized I may have made a slight mistake.
There are three races in the US, none of which are near me. I had already flown to Melbourne and had a hostel (pretty gross tbh, I ended up getting Scabbies) with inflated prices. All I needed were tickets to the event. I had a golden opportunity to experience the sport and didn’t give it more than a second thought. I didn’t just miss the race — I missed the vibe, the culture, the one-of-a-kind experience that millions would have given anything to be a part of. I skipped it all!
Looking back, I see it wasn’t just about the race itself. It was about what the Grand Prix represented for the city. It was a celebration of the culture, a blast of excitement that brought everyone together. Fans were going wild, the city was buzzing, and I? I was too busy starring at an empty ice rink in complete awe that Australia had hockey.
The lesson here is…
Even if something doesn’t seem important at the time, if it’s part of the fabric of the place you’re in, it’s worth embracing. You can’t just show up and try to do your own thing, thinking you’ll be “above it all.” Sometimes, you need to dive into the local vibe — whether it’s F1, food, or just the energy of a city. Gotta adapt and mold to the city! You never know what’s going to matter to you in the future. What seems like an afterthought today could turn into something you wish you had experienced later on.
I never regret anything. I live a good life now and each decision I’ve made has gotten me right here. But man, it would have been cool!