I fell in love with an American (Texan) in Paris (was working for American company in the city) first date at the top of the Eiffel Tower (BEFORE it was cool, worst food in Paris at that time, only the tourists, who didn’t know any better ever ate there!!), however, he soon overcame that false start and after 9 months we were engaged – as my mother said when I called her and told her I met someone … “ …. Please tell me he is NOT French!!, no, I said, he’s a Texan!” We married in native England, honeymoon in the Bahamas and then arrived in Houston!!! was soooo homesick – brother in law bought me a puppy to help ease my pain – I fell in love all over again… Shortly, after puppy arrived, just 8 weeks, Dick was out fishing with his father, I didn’t have a driver’s license at that time, puppy fell off the bed, thought he had broken his leg, cried like a baby (which he was) called mother in law who raced over, it was a Sunday (before Gulf Coast Vet. Emergency clinic) we eventually found a vet that was open – waited and waited for him to finish with another emergency, all the time trying to calculate whether I had enough money to pay him (VERY poor from funding aforementioned wedding and glam honeymoon!!) when we finally got to see him, he was sooo wonderful, told me good news, nothing wrong with puppy, he was crying like a baby because he was a baby…. I thought oh great, now I have to tell Dick I took puppy to vet and paid many $$$$ for no reason… Vet then asked me ‘ … how did you get to Texas?” told him story, met a Texan in Paris, fell in love, ya da, ya, da, ya da … also told him my boss in Paris was an Aggie – noticed he too was a graduate of the Texas A&M school of vet. Medicine – so mentioned how kind my Aggie had been, had given me a wonderful surprise bon voyage party when I left Paris for England … he listened, was kind and gentle the way all vets seem to be (perhaps this is the answer to the healthcare situation in America, let’s swop out doctors for vets) … when I went to check out, holding my breath that I had enough money to pay the bill, his receptionist told me “ …. This one is on us, welcome to Texas!!!” It was such unexpected kindness, that it still makes me pause … that’s when I fell in love with Houston… to paraphrase Gertrude Stein, a wonderfull American who made her home in Paris, “ … England is my country, but Houston is my hometown!”
Houston hosted the Red Bull Showrun on Saturday, September 7, and a crowd of 35,000 watched in awe as drivers engaged in high octane action.
“Thank you to the city of Houston for getting us all together. And the thousands of people who turned out for today’s Red Bull Showrun,” 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard said in a statement. “To come to Houston, it’s such a vibrant city, not far from the baseball stadium and we’re right in the heart of where all the action’s happening from a sporting sense. The fan base in America is so passionate, and I think the energy has been amazing today.”
Against the backdrop of Discovery Green on the first fall(ish) day of 2024, drivers showed off their incredible skills in a free event sponsored by Ford. Coulthard and Junior Driver Arvid Lindblad took center stage in the RB7 and RB8 F1 care respectively. Both drivers ran the custom-built track at the same time, a first for F1s in the Red Bull Showrun in the United States. The F1 cars are known as some of the fastest cares on Earth, reaching speeds of well over 200 mph (370 kmh). Notably, this was the first F1 run for Lindblad, who previously competed in F3 in Italy and F4 in Macau.
“The Red Bull Showrun today was absolutely awesome, I loved every moment of it,” Lindblad added. “It was my first time in a F1 car, and I didn’t know what to expect. I knew it was going to be super cool, but this topped anything I’d ever imagined and I loved every moment! It was amazing to drive the RB8 and to get the opportunity to drive it here in Houston for the fans is one I never thought would come. This was an amazing crowd and is a day I’ll never forget. And to have had that moment with David Coulthard at the end with both of us on the track at the same time, I’ll never forget that.”
Coulthard’s RB7 was given an appropriate Houston touch while running in the city. The pit crew added spiked rims. The rims have become something of an H-town trademark, to the glee or dismay of the residents depending on who you talk to.
The RB7 car got adorned with some Houston touches.Photo by Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool
In addition to the F1 cars, drifting expert “Mad” Mike Whiddett showed off a dizzying display of donuts to the delight of the crowd in his custom MadMac McLaren P1 Hypercar. Rapper Paul Wall of Swishahouse fame made a surprise ride along with the Mad One.
Motorbike acrobatics by Aaron Colton, a car parade, and trophy trucks also gave the gearhead crowd something to cheer for. Musicwise, the event was enhanced greatly by dueling DJs, Houston’s own DJ Mr. Rogers tag-teaming with DJ Hed from Los Angeles. They would later compete in the sold out Red Bull Turn It Up event that took place Saturday night.
Photo by Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool
The Red Bull Showrun saw F1 cars racing around Discovery Green.
