January 2020

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181 HOCKENHEIMRING PART II 31.01.2020 10:08

Hockenheimring: one of the motorsport tracks with a long illustrious history. From The Castiron’s perspective, one highlight among many is the possibility for Swiss petrolheads to attend licence courses to obtain a racing driver’s licence and to have a circuit with many, many options in proximity to Switzerland.

According to Wikipedia, the track was built in 1932; already 1938 the circuit was shortened from 7,5 miles to a little more than 4,5 miles. In 1965 a new version was built, with the „Motodrom“ stadium section. After Jim Clark suffered a fatal accident in 1968, two fast chicanes were added, followed by the chicane at the „Ostkurve“ in 1982, after Patrick Depailler lost his life there. Ten years later, this chicane changed yet again.

After the turn of the millenium a new era called for a redesign. Today, Hockenheim offers a multifunctional motor facility: the maximum length is 2,85 miles and also as basis for many variants for quite a lot of different events. The circuit’s basic version is one of the most demanding tasks for your car’s brakes. There are 11 right-hand and 6 left-hand turns (please see recommendation), it goes around clockwise.

Important to mention, too: one of Hockenheimring’s special annual highlights is the NitrOlympic Drag Racing (28 to 30 August 2020), among many others, such as the American Fan Fest - NASCAR WES (16 to 18 October 2020); enjoy yourself!

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

Recommendation: https://www.hockenheimring.de/en/

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180 HOCKENHEIMRING PART I 24.01.2020 10:00

It is the cradle of a an entire generation of Swiss racing drivers; one of them: The Castiron, who attended in Hockenheim the licence courses to obtain his racing driver’s licences, first that one for debutants and then the International FIA-Racing Driver Licence. Notable aspect: it was the old long race track, with the two chicanes in the very fast sections leading through the forest.

Hockenheimring, the place where it all began, the place of highs and lows, the place of many competitions and experiences. Due to the ban of circuit races in Switzerland, Hockenheim is the second home for many Swiss race-car drivers.

Several track variations, different vehicles and quite a broad variety of competitions and The Castiron: the old long circuit, the new circuit, the old and the new short circuit and the „Sachskurve“ – licence courses, circuit races, trackdays and drift contests, in general on the sunny side, in particular with shadow.

Collisions with the crash barriers and an opponent, a rollover, a blown tyre rear left in a right bend are noteworthy as some lowlights and more or less necessary experiences – that’s a racing driver’s life, too. Go on, keep on track!

Part II will bring you closer to the Hockenheimring.

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

Recommendation: http://thecastiron.ch/en/racingdriver.html

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179 DRIVER OF THE YEAR 2019 17.01.2020 09:25

First of all, please have a look at the video. Ott Tänak – 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.

It is the really special story: the last 15 years always a Frenchman (9 times Sébastien Loeb and 6 times Sébastien Ogier) became the Rallye World Champion. And now, for the very first time, it is a man from Estonia – the first driver from the Baltic area, from the whole of Eastern Europe.

He secured this historical title, together with his co-driver Martin Järveoja, on the second last competition of the season in Spain. It was very impressive: by winning the last special stage and classified 2nd overall (less than a second before the third one), the two got the necessary points for the uncatchable lead before the final event in Australia.

To sum it up: driving ability and ride feeling, car control, speed and constancy, courage and cleverness, alertness and much more – very, very brilliant and impressive! Deserved world champions!

The Castiron has always held the rallye drivers in high esteem; he takes a bow and takes his hat off to Ott Tänak and his co-driver Martin Järveoja – the latter rarely in the focus as the man on the hot seat, but eminently important!

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

Recommendation: http://thecastiron.ch/en/links-en.html

PS Source reference: MOTORSPORT aktuell Nr. 46 / 2019; www.motorsport-aktuell.de

PPS As an encore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPnjMhXNQ3Y

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178 MORE THAN 100 PERCENT IS LESS THAN 100 PERCENT 10.01.2020 10:00

Also a racing driver wishes to reach 100 percent whenever possible. Life itself teaches us: sometimes it is less, sometimes you think over 100 percent is more – is it, really? Is more than 100 percent really of use or does it eventually lead to faults?

Today’s topic and motorsport correlate closely. Always 100 percent is the racing driver’s aim – is it possible? Some examples speak for themselves. Hill climb: already the start is crucial; too much wheel spin, too little engine speed and 1 second or more is gone – you will never get it back, it cannot be compensated. Circuit races: the start is crucial, too; practice session, fastest lap and reaching 100 percent in every sector – hardly ever one single driver attains all fastest sector times.

Missed fastest sector times are often the outcome of more than 100 percent. The driver pushes too much (not too little) and drops below 100 percent. The loss of time is the least of the evils; sometimes, the car control becomes far less than 100 percent, in the worse case combined with the loss of the car. Generally possible basic influences: accelerating, braking, cornering.

Today’s video presents some more examples; please, no malicious joy – a haughty spirit goes before a fall (The Holy Bible, Proverbs 16, verse 18). Or a bit different, according to Lewis Hamilton: racing drivers are also human beings who make mistakes and want to give 100 percent, neither 101 nor 99; with that, the point has been made.

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

Recommendation: https://www.bibleserver.com/text/NIV/Proverbs16

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177 LIKE A BOOK 03.01.2020 09:46

The beginning of a new year provides a useful opportunity to look back and ahead – back on 176 blogposts, ahead to some or many more. The Castiron does not know what future brings along – do you? We will see, let us focus on today’s topic.

Like a book, written word, on one hand – on the other hand, something specific, something unique. According to Wikipedia, a blog is a discussion or information website consisting of informal text entries (posts). Posts are typically displayed in reverse chronological order, so that recent posts appear first, at the top of the webpage. The Castiron offers the possibiliy to search and reach out to the archives.

It is like a book, or even more. Any time you want, you can read whatever you like - always easy to find. Those who really want to know can read everything from the beginning to present: for instance, by starting to read daily one of the former posts – in less than one year you will get to the present and you go on weekly.

The Castiron appreciates all the current followers and is happy to welcome new ones. Once again it is time to say: thank you and enjoy yourself!

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

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