Emotion Before Perfection

The Slow Blog

Weekly English and German
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June 2020

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202 LE MANS 1955 26.06.2020 10:42

This is the excerpt of a report on a very sad incident in the history of motorsport, the unconceivable 1955 Le Mans disaster in June, 65 years ago – probably the greatest catastrophe of all, with many, many wounded and over 80 dead; may their soul rest in peace.

According to Wikipedia, a major crash caused large fragments of debris to fly into the crowd. At 125 miles per hour, Mike Hawthorn (Jaguar), Lance Macklin (Austin-Healey) and Pierre Levegh (Mercedes-Benz) were involved; for one of them, Pierre Levegh, that was the price of life, too.

Hawthorn pulled to the right side of the track in front of Macklin and started decelerating for his pit stop. Macklin swerved out from behind the slowing Jaguar into the path of Levegh; his Mercedes-Benz touched Macklin’s Austin-Healey. Levegh’s car made at least two impacts within the spectator area, the last of which caused it to disintegrate, throwing him onto the track where he was instantly killed, sending large pieces of debris (including the engine, parts of the suspension / axles and the hood) into the packed spectator area.

When the rest of the wreck finally landed, the rear-mounted fuel tank exploded. Meanwhile Macklin’s car, heavily damaged, rammed the left-side barrier, then veered to the right into the pit lance, hitting the unprotected pit-wall, ending up once again in the left-side fence; Macklin survived the incident without serious injury.

Even today, 65 years later, all this leaves one consternated. And, one has to accept the fact: it is not all in our hands. Tragedies are not only in motorsports.

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

Recommendation: www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

PS Le Mans 1955 caused a lot, also the end of the Grand Prix Suisse, the prohibition of circuit races in Switzerland, The Castiron’s home country – still valid today, strange and incomprehensible. At this point, no further comment from The Castiron to this.

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201 REVIEW ON 152 TO 200 19.06.2020 10:27

It is a good time for a short review, an overview emphasizing some points: memorable personalities, around the big family, contributions from third parties, practical helps for drivers (be it road or track) and last, but not least some pastor’s perspectives.

Memorable personalities. Gerhard Mitter (blogpost 155), Clay Regazzoni (156), George Whitefield (164), Toulo de Graffenried (170), Jean Behra (174), Ott Tänak (179), Herbert Müller (195). It is just a limited choice, based on The Castiron’s very personal dismay and point of view.

Around the big family and relatives (in the broadest sense of the terms) of Eleanor V, The Castiron’s Ford Mustang. Some facts and figures on a remarkable brand, as well as related persons, are presented in blogposts 167 and 186.

Contributions from third parties. Blogposts 152 and 200 help to give a broader view, this time both about IMPRESSIONS FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT: thanks a lot, your contributions are a great benefit!

Practical help for drivers. Blogposts 161, 162, 163, 166, 169, 176, 178, 188, 189, 198 are mainly basic topics for road and track, such as FEAR IS A POOR ADVISER / CLOCKWISE / MORE THAN 100 PERCENT IS LESS THAN 100 PERCENT - they mostly base on experiences of and insights from The Castiron himself.

Finally, some pastor’s perspectives. Blogposts 173, 194 and 199 dealt with subjects as GUARDIAN ANGEL JOHN / TRANSIENT / PREACH AND DRIFT. Further noteworthy, the blogposts 175 and 191 focus on CHRISTMAS and EASTER - two of the principal Christian festivals!

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

Recommendation: www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

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200 IMPRESSIONS FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT 202006 12.06.2020 17:39

Finally it was time – we have been looking forward joyfully to this day for quite a long time: the opportunity for a ride with The Castiron and Eleanor V, his Ford Mustang. Arriving at Hockenheimring: increasing anticipation, the familiar scent of gasoline and brakes in heavy use, dry and cool conditions – what is in store for us?

First of all following a guide vehicle, then really getting started: tremendous, impressive and truly breath-taking – I got very quiet, or in other words, the female passenger is silent and enjoys! But The Castiron seemed concerned and asked: “everything ok with you?” – “Yes, definitely, it is great” was my answer.

These first few laps followed many more, we were three co-drivers, who took turns. Anyone came into the enjoyment to get many impressions from the passenger seat and to see The Castiron in action! It was an awesome day and a great pleasure, to share and experience the fascination of motorsport and car control.

He let the car fly over the track and appeared all the times sovereign and serene. He was the calm itself, readily explained, patiently answered questions – no matter how busy it was all around. For us it was terrific to see how late one can brake and still made it around the bend correctly. If necessary, The Castiron also handled upcoming drifts skilfully.

We were astonished about the precise and dynamic manner of this car’s handling – also about the fact, that two to three gears suffice to bang with a V8 through the track! This vehicle convinces already by the outward appearance, but the experience inside the car tops everything!

Some quotations from this day: “How late you can brake and still turn the corner in the right way! Respect. Circuit is not that boring, as I always thought.“ “This Ford Mustang’s handling dynamics! The subtle feeling when the car changes from understeering to oversteering will remain with me. A great joy to live to see the harmonious interaction from The Castiron and the vehicle!“ And The Castiron himself: „He who is familiar with his horse (Mustang), to whom it obeys.“

We would like to thank The Castiron again for this memorable adventure; we will not forget this anytime soon!

Many thanks from The Castiron to The Triple S!

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

Recommendation: www.goaia.org

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199 PREACH AND DRIFT 05.06.2020 17:28

Some time ago, The Castiron was asked to preach on a special occasion: a service at a hill climb, halfway along the track – on a truck semitrailer. Yes! The Castiron, the pastor – and what about The Castiron, the racing driver? A question, quite easy to answer: demo rides at race’s breaks, preach and drift.

Demo rides not for the fastest time, but just for the spectators’ fun (same for The Castiron) and entertainment. That sounds good – as good as the church’s intention, to approach the spectators during the Sunday morning race break for the weekly service.

The race day, summer, great weather, time for the service, the truck semitrailer arrived at its place. The Castiron, not yet tired from some demo rides with drifts and burnouts at certain spectator’s areas, arrives just in time and climbs in his race suit on the loading platform – ready for the service, ready to preach.

In front of thousands of spectators, one major subject of The Castiron’s sermon: run in such a way as to get the prize; I do not run like someone running aimlessly – relevant for racers and human beings’ lives.

For those, who want to know more: The Castiron invites you to read in the Holy Bible, 1 Corinthians 9, verses 24-26 (please see recommendation).

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

Recommendation: https://www.bibleserver.com/NIV/1%20Corinthians9%3A24-26

PS Websites on today’s topic: https://kirchereitnau.ch/gottesdienste/bergrennen/ and https://bergrennen-reitnau.ch/