Fast Lane of F1 Paddock Moves into Slow Motion, According to Moko

One of the fun things about having access to the Formula 1 paddock is crossing paths with the very interesting people who have nothing to do with the sport, but who are attracted as fans and they happen to be celebrities or other high-powered people who find their curiosity quenched by an invitation to the inner sanctum of the paddock.

Today on my way from the airport hotel to the track I found myself on the media shuttle bus with only one other person, a fantastically dressed African whose wrists were covered with bracelets and his fingers with rings. He wore a black leather vest, and, well, the first thing I said was, "You don't look like a journalist." He told me I was right, that he was just a fan. In fact, he not only did not look like a journalist, he did not look like any ordinary fan. And indeed he wasn't. It turned out to be the fashion man from Chrome Hearts jewelry, known simply as Moko, or Mr. Moko, if you will.

We spoke about Formula 1, and he told me how much of a fan he was, and how he had been a fan since 1979. For a man from Senegal, well, this was a bit of a surprise. But it just shows what a broad reach the sport can have. Moko said he just loved the whole world of Formula 1, the fast cars, the competition, the technology... I then threw in my bit, saying, "Yes, it has everything, all that glamour..." And there I found that I had hit a land mine. Moko, who I did not realize at that point is used to moving in the world of Cher, Lenny Kravitz, Madonna and who knows who all else, said, "No! There is no longer the glamour that there used to be in this F1 world." He said it was nothing today compared to the days of James Hunt in the 1970s. "All those drivers from that period should be invited back just to sit around the paddock and sign autographs." He said then you'd have real glamour back in the paddock. "This place should be like Hollywood," he said, seeming to say that it really almost was like Hollywood, but just hadn't been entirely found out as that yet.

But the real fun observation that Moko made came later in the day. After qualifying - pole position for Felipe Massa, by the way, which should have made Moko happy, since he is a guest of Ferrari's - I was strolling slowly through the heavy, humid excruciating heat of the paddock and I saw Moko walking along too. I approached him and asked how his day was going. He said great, but then he said the heat and humidity were so bad that, "Everyone's walking in slow motion man! Everyone in the paddock is moving so slowly because it's so hot." It was very, very true. Here we are in the fastest spot of the world, both with the cars on the track and the people in the fast lane in the paddock, and everyone this weekend is walking around like they're in a film knocked down to slow motion. Thanks Moko! It took a fashion guy to see that one, and how true.