Emotion Before Perfection

The Slow Blog

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November 2016

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15 BILSTER BERG DRIVE RESORT PART I 25.11.2016 10:43

It is interesting, it is challenging. But perhaps too much, when your car is not so light?

These were The Castiron’s thoughts, after he participated in a trackday at this beautiful place some weeks ago.

The Castiron and Eleanor V enjoyed this day. This track and a curb weight of about 3500 lb? You experience a lot of thrilling moments on less than 3 miles.

The Castiron loves this varied track. But you would have really enjoyed it, if your car was lighter than 3000 lb. Not only horsepower and torque are important. Lightness is very helpful, on every track. But most street legal cars represent a compromise, especially for those critical issues. Therefore: in this case, it was too much.

To give a broad and fair view, you find with this blogpost the video „Racers’ Reaction“.

Part II will bring you closer to the Bilster Berg and will present you one on-board lap from a considerably lighter Ford than Eleanor V.

See you next Friday.

God bless you, all the best!

The Castiron

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14 P P P P P 18.11.2016 10:23

Proper preparation prevents poor performance. The five P from the Audi-Joest-Team, once emphasized as major key by Tom Kristensen, who won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans 9 times – more, than anybody else. With this, everything is said.

Nevertheless some personal experiences from The Castiron and hill climbs.

First race, after one of The Castiron’s former cars has been revised and tuned for this type of races. Everything seemed correctly prepared. But the car was not new. And one hose of the power steering was leaking after the practice. The fluid went off, no spare part, and The Castiron did not start - DNS. Even if the preparation seemed proper, the performance was poor.

Another example. It is important, to have just the necessary gasoline in the tank of the race car, not as much as possible. The weight of the car is essential.
You know what happened?
During the race whilst cornering the g-forces pressed the gasoline away from the fuel pump. No „food“, no running engine. Engine off, DNF - did not finish. This was not only poor preparation, it was lacking experience and just silly. The Castiron himself was responsible for how much gasoline had to be in the tank.
And: it was the same car having the hose been replaced ...

The Castiron hopes, that the five P will also help you.

See you next Friday.

God bless you, all the best!

The Castiron

Photos: Tom van Egmond, Ersigen. Thank you Tom!

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13 IMPRESSIONS FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT 201611 11.11.2016 10:01

Germany, 53520 Nürburg, Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Nürburgring, the ring with this special touch. The ring of the winners and losers, the ring of joy and grief.

I put the helmet on and take the passenger’s seat. Behind the steering wheel: The Castiron!

On one hand I am relaxed, on the other hand I feel a certain tension. The driver seems the picture of calm. Let’s go. First gear, second, third, forth. The first curve. From the driver seat comes the serene voice of The Castiron; this challenging track, this speed – and he talks! „You have to be on the left side before this corner ..., , here was the serious accident of ..., this is Karussell ...“ - Safe, calm, sovereign and fast.

Yes, Karussell: a steep curve, clattering, I guess concrete slabs. How fast are we? „Everything ok?“ – Yes, everything is ok. But I am getting warm and warmer and getting the butterflies; for such an adventure, is it better to eat before the start or not? One lap seems long.

„Tell me, when it is enough.“ No, I cannot give up after the first lap; one more! How does the man behind the steering wheel handle all this? Accelerating, shifting the gears, breaking, steering, searching gaps for overtaking, looking in the mirrors – everything on the spot. The car seems to neigh; and jumps out of its springs, sinks down onto its knees. Car and driver are stress-free and calm.

Enough? Yes, I think. I am not afraid, absolutely not. But it is strenuous, the g-forces, and it is quite warm in the car. Is this just my impression? I have a look to the driver seat; there he is, he drives, he talks, he explains. My question is answered.

After the second lap I get the chance to leave the car. The right moment; my stomach, and also the temperature turned from warm to hot. Taking the helmet off, fresh air! I walk to the spectators’ place, turn around: The Castiron is already on his next lap.

Many thanks from The Castiron to Lady Dodo!

See you next Friday.

God bless you, all the best!

The Castiron

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12 NORDSCHLEIFE BERGWERK 1976 04.11.2016 11:30

The motor-racing and Niki Lauda, 40 years ago; and this horrible accident.

The left turn before „Bergwerk“ is one of the points where the cars are quite fast, and it is a so called „blind passage“; the driver can see just the beginning of this specific part of the track.

Niki Lauda crashed in his Ferrari 312T Formula 1 and the car was immediately on fire; approximately 50 gallons of gasoline burnt, also on the tarmac. It seemed hopeless.

Other drivers stopped: Brett Lunger, Guy Edwards, Harald Ertl, Arturo Merzario and John Watson. They fought against the fire, took Niki Lauda out of his car and placed him on the safe side of the track. Needless to say, that they saved Niki Lauda’s life by risking their own.

This was one of those accidents where almost everybody thought „no chance“, but the driver survived. You never know ...

Today, safety in motor-racing is much higher. But still the risk is always driving with you.

Intentionally you’ll find just two pictures. They show some characteristic items, which are on the wall of the tunnel from the old to the new paddock at the Nürburgring.

See you next Friday.

God bless you, all the best!

The Castiron

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