2016

The Castiron shares some of the content of the song Silent Night with you. Here, two verses of this song, which has been performed the first time in Oberndorf / Salzburg by Franz Xaver Gruber (melody) and Joseph Mohr (text) in 1818.

 

Silent night, holy night. Son of God, love’ pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face. With the dawn of redeeming grace.
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

 

Silent night, holy night. Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar. Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia.
Christ, the Saviour is born. Christ, the Saviour is born.

 

For those, who want to know more: The Castiron invites you to read in the Holy Bible, Luke 2 (see recommendation).

 

Christ, the Saviour is born. Merry Christmas!

 

See you next Friday - topic: TREASURY 

 

God bless you, all the best!

The Castiron

 

Many thanks to all who made the video possible!

 

Recommendation:

http://www.bibleserver.com/text/NIV/Luke2

 

Is it possible to be too fast and too slow at the same time? Let us have a look at that.

A lot of car accidents happen because of too high speed of the vehicle in a certain situation. Is this the whole truth?

 

Often, the speed of the car is (too) high and the reaction of the driver in such critical situations is close to doing nothing. In other words: the car is too fast (or seems to be that way) and the driver is too slow in his or her reaction. You have to decide what to do and you have to do it in the right manner at the right point.

 

It is often the sad reality - you could avoid a lot of accidents when your handling of steering wheel and pedals would be the right one, fast, precise and at the point.

 

In a few words: when you are really too fast in a curve, you crash to the outside of the turn - law of physics. When the car is too fast and you are too slow in your reactions, the car probably crashes to the inside of the turn, because, for instance, your counter-steering to handle the over-steering car was to slow - and often also too late or non-existent.

 

The first picture: too fast or to slow? See the pictures below and you get the answer. The Castiron’s opinion in this case: not too fast, not too slow - just a very good performance! And: have a look at today’s recommendation - thank you.

 

See you next Friday.

 

God bless you, all the best!

The Castiron

 

Recommendation:

http://thecastiron.ch/en/instructor.html

 

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

 

Recommendation:

www.highspeedfotos.de

 

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

 

Recommendation:

www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

 

The Castirons. The unique German insider term „Der Gusseiserne“ gave The Castiron his name. Who or what are „Die Gusseisernen“? 

You remember: Walter Röhrl. One of the very big names also on the Nordschleife. Different cars, different wheather conditions: he mastered all the challenges he was confronted with, sometimes with tremendous differences between him and most of the other drivers (for example: the 24 Hours Nürburgring 1992, which saw fog and heavy rain in the night). Niki Lauda called him „Genius on Wheels“. 

It is quite difficult to describe it in words. Just have a look to the movie. 

Next week: Niki Lauda 1976 Nordschleife. 

See you next Friday.

 

God bless you, all the best!

The Castiron

 

Recommendation:

www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

The Castirons. The unique German insider term „Der Gusseiserne“ gave The Castiron his name. Who or what are „Die Gusseisernen“? 

Basically the ones who know how to handle different cars in almost every situation; not modern cars, no. Mainly cars of the sixties and early seventies, such as Porsches or US cars with V8 (if possible with a cast-iron big block engine) and preferably manual gear-boxes. In one word: beasts.

Men who have a close relationship to that kind of cars. Men who are more tamers than drivers, if necessary. 

In Part II you will meet one of those great drivers from this species and generation. I am sure, you know him. 

See you next Friday.

 

God bless you, all the best!

The Castiron

 

Recommendation:

www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

Autumn 2010: The Castiron reads in a car magazine a Ford Mustang test. Melancholic thoughts appear; he remembers the good old times, when he owned US cars, when he was on racetracks with one of those, especially with the big challenge on hill climbs. Why not a Ford Mustang, a quite modern one? He begins the search for an affordable used car and finds one: red / grey with a body kit „Eleanor“ and a cross at the back. The Mustang for the pastor (see blogpost 5)? But he knows: in December he has to go to his doctor, and probably it could be very serious. Waiting.

Beginning of December: The Castiron sees his doctor and gets the best possible result. Thank the Lord! Now, it seems adequate to see whether this specific Ford Mustang is still for sale, or sold already.

A few days later in December 2010: this car is still for sale! The owner and The Castiron arrange an appointment.

The story will continue next week with Part II.

See you next Friday.

God bless you, all the best!
The Castiron

Recommendation:
www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

The Castiron. He was born in Switzerland, lived also in South Africa and Germany.

An overview, to bring him closer to you, as we all hopefully go many further miles together:
Grandfather; married, two children, one grandson.
Racing driver; International F.I.A.-Racing Driver Licence No. 596 for touring-cars, competitions on racetracks, also hill climbs and drift contests.
Instructor; Instructor driver training.
Pastor; Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies with Major in Pastoral Studies.
All of this, all in one, one in all.

You will learn more about The Castiron in the future.

Next week you will be introduced to Eleanor V; see you with WHO IS WHO PART II

God bless you, all the best!
The Castiron

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

Recommendation:
www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

Perfection, is it always necessary? No, not always. But sometimes: as a racing driver on hill climbs perfection is a must. The Castiron once lost a race by a split second (to be specific by 21/100) after 5 minutes of race-time; two other drivers were closer to perfection, the first of them did it perfectly – or almost perfectly. This is just one example. You may also have experienced something similar.

 

Emotions, are they always necessary? A friend of The Castiron said it this way: human beings and emotions belong toghether, are one. In other words: without emotions, you do not really live. Emotions are you and you are emotions.

 

Therfore EMOTION BEFORE PERFECTION will accompany us, especially in the weekly blogposts; it means for instance, that we are sometimes winners, sometimes underdogs. We will see.

 

Next week, on Friday: THE SLOW BLOG

 

God bless you, all the best!

The Castiron

 

Recommendation:

www.cbmcint.com/signup-now