Want your kid to become a race driver?
It may already be too late - if you didn’t name him Sebastian.
No fewer than three of the twenty drivers who participated in the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend were named Sebastian (or the equivalent French spelling 'Sebastien').
There's the rising German superstar and rainmaster Sebastian Vettel, who won last weekend (and you don't have to be Nostradamus to predict he'll be World Champion some day soon).
There's the Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais, a multi-time Indy Car champion who so far hasn't been able to replicate that success at the Grand Prix level.
The Swiss Sebastien Buemi is making a good impression in his first season.
And in many people's opinion (mine anyway) the best race driver in the world at the moment isn't even in Formula One - that would be rally and Le Mans star Sebastien Loeb, again from France.
As Jerry Seinfeld would say, "What's up with that?"
According to one baby name web site I checked, 'Sebastian' ranks eighty-eighth among most popular boys names.
Yet fifteen percent of the Grand Prix field has that name.
A crazy co-incidence?
I wonder…
We chose "Patrick" for our son's name, and I have to admit the farthest thing from my mind at the time was NOT that it was a nice international-sounding name that graced more than a few great racers - Depaillier, Tambay, Carpentier.
He grew up short and slim, the perfect race driver build.
He even has a modicum of athletic ability, although where that came from remains a mystery…
But his chosen sport is Ultimate Frisbee, fer cryin' out loud. At the very highest levels of that sport the athletes PAY to participate in championship tournaments.
So much for my plans for a financially-secure retirement.
Not to worry Jim I'm sure you'll be fine when the Star asks the government for a bailout. Seems like everybody else is so I assume the newspapers will be next.
Posted by: oilers84 | April 23, 2009 at 04:54 PM
One of our cats is named Sebastian but the only driving he does is when he drives the other cat Ralphie off the choice spot on the couch.
Posted by: Mike T. | April 24, 2009 at 07:06 AM
I agree 100% that Seb Loeb is the best race driver in the world. Although he might not be in the WRC much longer.
Posted by: Steve | April 24, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Hi "dd":
Not likely!
Not THIS newspaper, not THIS government.
Besides, it would never extend to the lowly freelancers anyway.
Jim Kenzie
Posted by: Jim | April 27, 2009 at 02:59 AM
Hi Steve:
OK - what do you know (about M. Loeb) that the rest of us ought to learn?
Jim Kenzie
Posted by: Jim | April 27, 2009 at 03:01 AM
A little while ago Loeb expressed displeasure at the new WRC rules that are coming for 2011 and his contract ends at the end of 2009.
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090325/WRC/903259972
Posted by: Steve | April 27, 2009 at 12:07 PM
At the rate that WRC is decreasing in size it's a wonder there are still star drivers like Seb Loeb in it. I mean it's a Citroen/Ford race now. I miss the Subaru vs Mitsubishi vs Ford vs Toyota vs Peugeot vs Citroen vs Skoda vs Seat etc etc etc days.
We need more car companies campaigning. Suzuki with the Swift or SX4, Kia with the Forte or whatever they call their car. Hyundai with a AWD Genesis or Elantra or something.
Only racing series that is decent now is Rolex Cup, LeMans, ALMS, SCCA is ok, and FIA GT. Barely any of these are broadcasted here. =(
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