on this 11th day of september i was perusing the practice time sheets for donington when i came across rider number 188 in the superstock 1000. given that this is 9/11, the bloke is a saudi national and his surname is BINLADIN, i thought it was somebody's idea of a sick joke - so i googled it. turns out he's a half decent racer and race winner in the emirates championship. shame about the surname though.
ade!

The Binladdin name is a very old one, originating in Yemen.
The old time Yeminis were good traders (Spices and Perfumes, including Frankincense and Myrrh) and since there used to be an open border between the old North Yemen and Saudi Arabia, Yemenis were permitted to own busineses in Saudi. The first Gulf War in 1990/1991 finally put pay to that arrangement when Yemen aligned itself with Iraq, with an arrangement to take over some of the Saudi oil reserves.

The actual Bin Ladin family is highly respected here, apart from just one rogue brother who the whole world knows (knew) about.

The Saudi Bin Ladin Group is a major construction engineering entity and recently built a huge American Military housing complex at one of the air bases here.

Don't forget Adolf Hitler was a Christian.

yeah and the spanish that murdered thousands of south americans were catholics. so what? it was supposed to be a bit of tongue in cheek buffoonery - not be taken as a slur on religion, saudi's or anybody else. jeezus chris, you used to have a sense of humour. i forgot to mention that it was next to an airport as well. i thought it was very spooky.
ade!
p.s. thank god i'm an atheist, an ex-altar boy as well :-)

Sorry Ade, I was not complaining, or being Holier than thou , just putting out some little known information to the valued members of this illustrious forum.

A sense of humour is still a major part of my life and I call myself on other forums "Silly Olde Fart". I have to live in an area with some very strong (some say oppressive) religious values and need to take refuge on the IOM twice a year to recover (and get in a beer or two).

The helmets on the wrong way isn't it ?

Malcolm

(19-09-2011, 10:17 AM)Malcolm Wrote: The helmets on the wrong way isn't it ?

Malcolm

or is it her head

In the racing crouch,absolutely perfect for keeping an eye on the opposition.