April 2019

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141 JO SIFFERT – THE CHEQUE BOOK 26.04.2019 15:33

Today’s focus is on another hero of the past, Joseph Siffert, known as Jo Siffert (7th July 1936 – 24th October 1971). This blogpost is dedicated to this Swiss and the cheque book; it is said, that it was Jo Siffert, who interpreted the cheque book and accidents in motorsports concisely in a certain way.

A cheque book is a book with a determined number of pages – each standing for an equivalent value; any cheque can be pulled out separately. Usually, the value is an amount in a common currency; Jo Siffert’s version: the value is one accident in motorsports, one page removed for one accident. Every racing driver has such a personal cheque book – but he never knows, how many cheques are in there.

One day, just one last cheque is left – without the knowledge of the driver; for Jo Siffert was this the case, when he started in fall 1971 in Brands Hatch from the pole position. It was the day, when the last cheque became due – this unspeakable sad 24th October 1971 with that final accident.

Some days later: it was like a state funeral – tens of thousands of people paid their last respect to Jo Siffert. It was one of the grandest and most impressive funerals in the history of the whole country.

In the funeral service, the minister said: „Où il y a le risque, il y a la mort – où il n’y a pas de risque, il n’y a pas de vie“ (French; in English: Where there is a risk, there is the death – where there is no risk, there is no life).

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

Recommendation: http://www.josiffert.com/en/about-jo-siffert/

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140 EASTER 201904 19.04.2019 15:25

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? The Castiron likes to share the main content of this impressive hymn with you. According to the English Wikipedia, this American spiritual was composed by African-American slaves and firstly published in William Eleazor Barton’s 1899 Old Plantation Hymns. It is the story of Good Friday and Easter, of the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed Him to the cross? Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble!

Were you there when the stone was rolled away? Were you there when He rose up from the dead? Oh! Sometimes I feel like shouting Glory! Glory! Glory!

Essential questions. What are the answers, your answers?

For those, who want to know more: The Castiron invites you to read in the Holy Bible, Luke 24, verses 45-48 (see recommendation).

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

Recommendation: https://www.bibleserver.com/text/NIV/Luke24

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139 STEFAN BELLOF 1984 12.04.2019 05:25

Former blogposts dealt with the heroes of the past, such as Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart. Today, we have a look at another hero of the past, Stefan Bellof (20th November 1957 – 1st September 1985). This blogpost is dedicated to this German, 35 years after the season of his greatest sporting success.

In spring 1984, at the beginning of the racing season, Stefan Bellof did not know, what this World Sportscar Championship (today „WEC“) would hold. He participated with a Porsche 956 Group C and became world champion. A really historic moment for him and also in particular for the German motor-racing world.

One year after that, he was dead. It was again a Porsche (from the Swiss Brun Motorsport team), again the World Endurance Championship and the Circuit Spa-Francorchamps, the curve combination Eau Rouge; Stefan Bellof was not yet thirty years old. The championship in which he reached the peak, was also the site of the end of his life.

Especially noteworthy, too, is his Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record from 1983. It endured for 35 years. Essentially, this outstanding performance is a record for „eternity“ (considering the development of the racing cars).

You do not know, what the present racing season brings along. Now we have seen two sides of the coins, in extreme. The Castiron recommends next week’s blogpost EASTER – food for thought and reflection, hopefully and an ongoing support.

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

Recommendation: https://www.stefan-bellof.de/en/

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138 DAILY ROUTINE HILL CLIMB 05.04.2019 05:18

Well prepared and ready? If „no“, you would rather stay at home. If „yes“, let us go! First of all, former blogposts give a little help, especially 29 THE CASTIRON’S P P P P P (proper preparation prevents poor performance).

This weekend’s racetrack scouted, arrived in time, usually on Friday, at the latest. A last opportunity to check the track, at that time still a public road. Everything deeply internalized? It is a basic precondition!

Then meeting with the scrutineer, Friday evening or Saturday morning: the driver and the racing driver licence, the car pass and the vehicle itself. When things are as they should be, you are ready to go. Then practice sessions and the race, usually in two runs. To that: again and again a glance at the time lists – your driving time and your opponents’, any need for improvement?

The ideal race weekend looks as follows, as one example. The Castiron attended an International Hill Climb in Germany. Good external conditions, little incidents overall and thus also little interruptions, ultimately the fastest time in both decisive racing heats – group winner series touring cars. Everything as it should be, but it is not always the case.

Today’s video: The Castiron’s home race, the International Gurnigel Hill Climb on the occasion of the Swiss Championship – additionally an insight into the show programme.

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

Recommendation: www.cbmcint.com/signup-now