SINK OR SWIM My dad [Eddie Lee] was an amateur racer and car enthusiast. In his day, he competed in the Super Car Club races and Porsche Club races. I can't remember not being interested in cars; it was a natural progression [for me to go] into racing them. I started competing at 11 on go-kart circuits internationally. In 1997, when I was 19, I switched to formula cars - that was when I turned [professional].
I still remember an exchange between my dad and me when I was 11 and had just started kart racing. He asked me if I hated school. I said, 'Yes.' He asked me if I loved racing. I said, 'Yes.' He asked me if I would give it my absolute best. I said, 'Yes.' Then he asked if I was ready to quit school and race full time. I said, 'Definitely.'
My dad knew that doing something you didn't like was a waste of time but not doing something you love is an even bigger waste.
My dad's way of raising me and my siblings was probably less conventional than [that of] most Hong Kong parents. From the very beginning, he'd throw us into the deep end to learn. He encouraged us not to shy away from things we didn't know. Growing up, I tried a lot of sports - I still do - and my attitude has been to do first, think later. I've definitely had scrapes and bruises because of that but how else do you learn?
My daughter is 16 months old now. If she eventually wants to go into sports - turning pro at golf would be nice - I would back her up in whatever way I could.
THE NEED FOR SPEED A love of something makes you singly focused on it. When I'm driving on the track, whether in competition or practice, I don't think about anything else. I think the need for speed is inborn. Racing isn't like any other sport, where you can push people to perform better. At the base, you cannot fear speed. There are skills and techniques you can learn about handling a car but the natural reflexes have to be there in the first place. Everyone's perception of speed is different; I don't think it's teachable. There's no prescribed optimal formula for when to step on the brake or turn the wheel. When I go to a new track, I don't have to ask for directions or maps; I just do a couple of laps and I already know it. I think it's a gift.
A DATE WITH HISTORY The Macau Grand Prix is a historic event. Its turns and narrow crash barriers are famous. My involvement with this year's grand prix [which takes place from Thursday until next Sunday] is as a television commentator. It will be my first event for Now TV; coverage is live and faster paced than what I've been used to [Lee has covered motor-sport events for TVB]. I think the pressure is on for me to give audiences an inside look at this 55-year-old event.