SeaBee

Part of why Sainz's performance provided me with such a giggle. In a sister car with a... wait for it... Renault engine! Potjie was entertaining - and delicious, thanks Iwan! And tonight's warm-up will be even better. Glad to have been of assistance to all rumbly tummies this time of a Monday.

I think it's more a stab at Verstappen... One of the highlights for me was Sainz quite easily ahead of Ricciardo in the "senior team" car! Until his make-and-eat-your-own toebie pitstop. Speaking of pitstops, I suspect Kimi is no longer on speaking/grunting terms with his left rear wheel gunner... Unless that was some damage caused by the T1 incident. Because same wheel on both stops...?! Bit funny... Well, or that wheel itself was a bit of a screwball that they could not remove it properly. I did not re-look the episode, but it seemed to me as if he was dropped without them being able to remove the wheel? In all honesty, though... I recorded it and put it on in the background the afternoon whilst making potjie.

Went to test my pack yesterday - still have to get used to running with it! Immediately put me in a "this is a trek, run slow" frame of mind! Worked like a charm, don't like the mouth-piece all that much and will most likely replace it with a Camelbak bite valve. But the pack itself... rockin'! Only thing I did not get sorted was the space for the 500ml bottles on the sides. I stood still in the house and tried to insert that bottle (with the pack on my back), no freakin way did that work. Maybe I must still fiddle to get that adjusted. However, I hurt myself a couple of weeks ago and only went to see somebody this morning. Got severely reprimanded and is off running for some time now. (Perfect timing, just before Oceans... ) Anyways some post-tibial something-or-the-other muscle is totally buggered. Fortunately not a repetitive motion thing, I injured it on one run - I know exactly when and how.

Now he must go and co-author the book "How to make friends and influence people"... I suspect his car may break halfway around lap 3 (max) of every session - having a seat does not mean it must be the same equipment. Sue for a race seat, my azz... what support does he think he'll get from the team with that approach? Messy - I hope it can be sorted out.

Oh, I forgot to add Lotus to the "in-the-mix" group, now also with Merc engines...

The old Barcelona used to really test the suspension and cornering as well, both high- and low speed, plus aero. That is why it used to be such a popular testing track and in days gone by you'd often see cars (teams) qualify together on the grid. That mickey-mouse section at the end of the current lay-out may have stuffed that up a bit, but it used to be that a car that can go well on Barcelona, it's a good car. The Maldonado Williams win of a couple of years ago totally disproves this entire post, though... Would love to see relative performance once the gloves are off, because I'm pretty sure various teams were sand-bagging at different times over the two tests. But if I were to put money, it'd be safe to go for a Merc 1-2, unless they take each other out! Williams, Ferrari and RBR to do battle behind them. Macca's... I'm pretty darned sure they WEREN'T sand-bagging! If they get a top 10 this w/e, I think they'll do celebratory doughnuts! Then again, I think they still completed more laps than RBR did last year at pre-season testing! Hard to read exactly where STR, Sauber and FI lines up, esp with FI's late delivery. Maybe Sauber can sneak a couple of early points?

No wonder his GF left him...

Haha, some dups and some same driver-different-helmet inbetween all of that... Personally - I don't like crazy changed as Vettel did over the last couple of years. But the odd once-off change is cool. To try and regulate it?! FFS... what a joke. Much bigger issues at hand which they should attend to.

Whoo-hoo! My pack has just arrived! Will check it out properly tonight at home... Won't be able to run before the weekend - and then it'll most likely be road. Oh bugger, and next weekend is Argus MTB, then Argus. *sigh* Will sneak in a trail run somewhere just to try it out. Maybe even my longer road run this w/e. At least I have it now...

Saw that on Tweetster and thought that is a huge improvement over the current look. And this includes a closed wheel solution.

I suspect it's is to distract eyes from maybe some detailed aero goodies...?

Pieter1 does not know there's tannies that's going to klap him for that! I decided to go for the NativeSport specials and just ordered the Omega this morning. Might be overkill for my current abilities, but for the money and the reviews I've read, it seems I can't be too far wrong in going for that.

Exactly what I'm looking at... Do you experience the water heating up?

Also on the look for a pack... but I've heard something regarding those UltraSpire packs. I think it was the Solace... Apparently to keep bobbing minimal, the bladder is right next to your back. Which helps the bobbing... but it makes that the water heats up quickly... Comments and experiences? Also, what's the diffs between Titan, Solace and Omega (all 2l packs).

Same here ito size - and it was not even my decision. I said to the guy I usually wear a 43, he came out with 44's in two shoes - and it just worked. But I'm the noob here, my trail shoes only have about 30 or so k's on them! Afterwards heard lots about buying trail shoes one size up if you like your toenails.

Easy one... Ricciardo, Massa and Maldonado! Well, maybe Rosberg as well...

She's a stunner, Ianj!

Haha, yeah it does, but that was (to my knowledge) their ONLY blue car in sportcars! But that is a great livery, though.

Sponsor colours are blue and yellow... What does blue have to do with Sauber's roots? Only time I can recall them being blue (in F1), was the RB sponsored time. But either way, I'm glad to see some colour!

Also like the fresh scheme on the Sauber! Different colour will stand out nicely - hopefully closer to the front than last year. The noses of last year was basically banned for this year with all kinds of minimum widths, etc. So imagine my surprise when I actually saw the mini-protrusions on the Williams and... was it Force India? Saw some shots of the Merc last night as well. New Ferrari also looks nice. Still don't like the black section at the rear end of the car which they've retained. And interesting to me - for the first time I can remember, they're not running under the FIAT brand, but have a Alfa stamp on the car... Looking at it, a lot of the cars thusfar actually look quite similar (if you take the paint off...) Last rant - when will Pirelli blend their logo into the curve of the wheel?! Some Ferrari pics, one with some interesting stats:

...and on the topic of boring!

So what happened to Honda's supposed objection to the silverish scheme (and the tie to Merc)?! Not much has changed...

This maybe does not reaaally belong here, but... Planned a longish road run after work and that fell through. And after dinner, I though what the heck... and did a quick bit up Paarl mountain - just dirt road, since it was getting dark already. By the time I cam down, it was properly dark and a bit more interesting than I wanted. But what a great evening out, superb to see the night lights from over town... man, it was FUN!

Jô, hats off waveduke. Couple of friends have already entered for the short one. (Entries opened at 11.) Still contemplating, suspect I'll end up being sorry for not doing it!

At least the Lotus looks better! From the ugliest to the best-looking nose job shown thusfar. Nice and sleek lines as well. But let's wait to see the real thing, not just a render.