January 2019

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128 THE CURSE OF THE HOME RACE 25.01.2019 10:47

Last week’s blogpost dealt with Sebastian Vettel; one of the ones who could not win his Formula One home race up to this day. Yet another made similar experiences: The Castiron at his home race, the International Gurnigel Hill Climb on the occasion of the Swiss Championship.

As an active racing driver, The Castiron was several times at the start of this competition. Different external circumstances, different opponents, different cars – one from Japan, one from France and finally one from America, all touring-cars.

The achievements were as follows: technical defect during the practice session - did not start in the race, going too fast into a bend - excursion in the meadow, a brake mistake (like Sebastian Vettel) - sliding out to the edge of the forest (instead of a top ten place just 36th and thus last). That speaks for itself. Just one creditable point: a new course record in the vehicle class of these touring-cars.

The story of the home race is often a very special one. Is it really the curse of the home race? You might call it a curse – but probably, it is just the pressure and the great expectations on the occasion of the home race.

See you next Friday. - God bless you, all the best! The Castiron

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127 DRIVER OF THE YEAR 2018 18.01.2019 10:33

First of all, please have a look at the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU5HG14_1Sk

Sebastian Vettel - a well-known driver! An overview on the past year caused The Castiron to award such a title to this driver; it is just a personal and unofficial choice. And: this is really not ironically, no malicious joy!

Vettel started his home race, the F1 German Grand Prix, as the leader of the current Formula One World Championship. He was leading the race most of the time - a difficult one, dry and wet conditions. After the middle of the race, once more he faced the challenge of the „Sachskurve“, one of the slowest curves in Hockenheim.

Up to that date, Vettel could not win this race, his home race. Though, before the curve is the braking phase, sometimes quite tricky and rather erratic in wet weather. And you know, what happened. Due to a braking mistake, Vettel slid out and damaged his Ferrari - did not finish his home race.

The human dimension is today’s focus – therefore, the topic driver of the year from a different point of view; human dimensions, such as the pressure of the leader of the current championship and the great expectations on the occasion of the home race.

As it has been said by Vettel’s major opponent, Lewis Hamilton, also racing drivers are human beings who make mistakes - at least one in every race - and want to give 100 percent, neither 101 nor 99; the media should deal with Sebastian Vettel more respectfully.

Next week: The curse of the home race.

See you next Friday. - God bless you, all the best! The Castiron

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126 STAY CALM 11.01.2019 10:33

These two words sum up almost everything – for racing drivers, trackday participants, the daily traffic, for the whole of one’s life in general. But here too: easier said than done!

The Castiron knows too good, how difficult this can be. In hindsight, when one is always wiser, many things suddenly look very different. Stay calm – and usually, the hindsight is not so bad, not painful.

Do not allow yourself to be provoked! This is an important factor to master this not so simple subject. Stay calm – it is an ongoing process, sometimes more and sometimes less successful to handle. Stay tuned!

Or in other words, as it has been said by Thomas Jefferson (April 1743 – July 1826, principal author of the American Declaration of Independence), nothing gives more superiority than staying calm and unconcerned. There is nothing to add.

See you next Friday. - God bless you, all the best! The Castiron

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125 SEPARATES THE MEN FROM THE BOYS 04.01.2019 10:16

Is it just an empty phrase? No, it is not. There are situations in motorsport which call for the real man - often decisive and close to riding on a cannonball. Let us have a look at two basic approaches: the so-called cautious approach and the spontaneous implementation during a competition, in both cases sometimes a nail-biting affair.

The so-called cautious approach. Step by step you are facing challenges on the track, often with the question in mind „flat out or not?“ - correct answer not guaranteed! When it works, you can experience great moments; if not, be prepared to face some problems.

The spontaneous implementation. If you like, call it the real racer’s natural instinct. This has to be an intrinsic value and usually it is all about nuances during a race - different situations and circumstances and you mastered them superiorly. Keywords: blind passages, varying cornering lines and speed, many cars at the same time at the same place, and so forth. You mastered the riding on the cannonball!

The hesitation and the dithering. Often, this is fatal. At best, it means losing some positions. Today’s video from the Nordschleife points out this other side of the coin: hesitation and dithering - sometimes followed by a wrong reaction - can lead to an immediate unhappy end, this time primarily blessing in disguise.

Last, but not least: do never force the issue under any circumstances, do not overrate yourself! In case of doubt, rather a living boy than a dead man - do you agree?

See you next Friday. - God bless you, all the best! The Castiron

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