2020

Man in Black. The Castiron likes to share some focal points of this song’s content with you. According to Wikipedia, this song refers both to Johnny Cash’s tendency to wear black at live shows and to the tumultuous times in which the song was created. The Man in Black became Cash’s nick name. It has been one of The Castiron’s favourite songs for quite a few decades; although about half a century old, it has not lost its actualitiy.

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black – Why you never see bright colors on my back

And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone – Well, there’s a reason for the things that I have on

I wear the black for those who never read or listened to the words that Jesus said – About the road to happiness through love and charity – Why you’d think He’s talking straight to you and me

Well, there’s things that never will be right I know – And things need changin’ everywhere you go

But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back – ’Till things are brighter, I’m the man in black.

The Castiron had the opportunity to experience Johnny Cash (26th February 1932 – 12th September 2003) live on stage – a long time ago. It was very impressive and unforgettable; only a few years later did he grasp the central, everlasting truth described in this song.

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

Recommendation:       www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

Today’s blogpost video: the art of tarmac painting, black stripes on the tarmac – the smoking tyres as brush, superbly performed by the artist behind the steering wheel.

Tarmac painting and the Nordschleife – two passions of The Castiron, too! This time just a few words, spectator’s awestruck amazement.

The Castiron takes a bow and takes his hat off to this absolute top performance. The video is worth to be seen more than once. Enjoy yourself – no further words.

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

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

Mainly, this is the season opening story of last year’s Rallye World Champion, Ott Tänak (please see blogpost 179). He changed this year from Toyota to Hyundai – new team, new car, new season.

It is just one example of many on today’s subject. The video speaks for itself – very impressive, scary and breathtaking. Driver and co-driver remained almost uninjured in this severe accident.

He overdid it. Ott Tänak drove extremely fast at this point of the route, significantly faster than all other – too fast, in brief. Was it lacking harmony with the new vehicle (not yet complete familiarity), the pressure to be better than his new team mate and rival Thierry Neuville (who finally won this first event of the season), or something else – we do not know, probably the driver himself does not really know.  

This year, 2020, Ott Tänak got a second chance in this context – a kind of season opening in current season, after the break due to the coronavirus pandemic. Beginning of September, he triumphed in his homeland (Rally Estonia). Suddenly good prospects to end this FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) on the podium, too.    

For the actual standings please have a look at today’s recommendation; where is Ott Tänak, the man with the unlucky season opening, classified?

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

Recommendation:       https://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2020/standings

PS   According to MOTORSPORT aktuell Nr. 07 / 2020 (page 22) speed at the accident site, approximately:  Tänak 180 km/h (110 miles per hour),  Neuville 140 km/h (90 miles per hour)  and the multiple world champion Sébastien Ogier 140 km/h (90 miles per hour)  ... 

According to the English Wikipedia, the Salzburgring is as follows: the length is approximately 2,62 miles, the racetrack was first openend in 1969. Lying in a narrow valley it has a rather simple layout – which is not to say, it is easy to drive.

Some key passages are particularly demanding. Bends followed by long acceleration paths are always very important. One really crucial passage on this track is directly after the right-hand bend „Nockstein-Kehre“: upwards, upwards, upwards, full throttle even though not a straight – that means, if not correctly lined up, every driver loses speed and time.

One other right-hand bend, the fast „Fahrerlagerkurve“: sensitivity, patience and in particular courage are highly required, dithering and hesitation are out of place. One of the passages that separates the men from the boys.

Please have a look at the video, too. Beautiful weather, good conditions overall – the Danish professional racing driver Kris Nissen will present you an on-board lap, with a classical competition touring car.

Last but not least: it is a beautiful region, which invites you to stay some days. Furthermore, Salzburg is the place of birth of the famous composer of the classical period, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Thus the town is also well-known as Mozartstadt Salzburg. Furthermore noteworthy: the fortress and the palaces. Or, in brief: almost indescribable!

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

Recommendation:       https://salzburgring.com/en/

It sounds quite simple, but is often not so easy. Not as generalization – but sometimes helpful, sometimes necessary, even mandatory. Today’s topic, once more, rests on The Castiron’s different perspectives – the grandfather’s, the racing driver’s, the instructor’s and the pastor’s aspects.

Grandfather. Loving accompaniment and support of the grandchild in the various phases of life, step by step. There are more and many ends to keep in mind, it is an ongoing process – besides the main tasks of the parents.  

Racing driver. Just one particular field; easier to describe? The end is clear, the tribulations are many: no proper preparation, defects, driving mistakes, accidents, to name a few. The aim, in brief: to see the checkered flag, preferably as winner. Without this end in mind you better stay at home. 

Instructor. Day after day, valid for every single task – it is a must to have the driver training’s participants well-being in view. The outcome, the end in mind: accident-free, learnt a lot – hopefully with pleasure. 

Consciously or unconsciously, in minor or major cases: it will concern us throughout our lives, up to the bigger questions, up to the final questions of the very end – not so easy to answer, but inevitable to deal with.

All this leads to the pastor’s view, today an old man’s quotation: „... years ago I earned my master’s degree in business administration ... Today I recall only one thing of value from that huge investment of time and experience. That thing is BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND ... Will you be one of those who finish well? Will I? We decide each day - by how we allocate the time, talent, and treasure God has entrusted ...“ (Monday Manna August 19, 2019 by Ken Korkow, https://www.cbmcint.com/).

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

Recommendation:       www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

Today’s blogpost is a tribute to Germany, especially one to Bavaria. The Castiron lived several years in that country; worth mentioning, among others, some unforgettable life phases and experiences: the unique chance to participate with a collector’s piece car belonging to a prestigious Bavarian vehicle manufacturer in the Mille Miglia 1995 – as co-driver of an aristocrat (please see blogposts 196 and 197), as well as the activity as an instructor for the mentioned manufacturer for many years.

On behalf of all this, as a very personal statement of connectedness: a closer look at the Hymn of Bavaria. The Castiron was especially impressed from some main statements, here an excerpt.

God be with you, land of Bavarians, native soil, fatherland!
Over your wide area rule His merciful hand!
He shall protect your meadows, shield the buildings of your towns,
And preserve for you the colours of His Heaven, white and blue!
God be with us and God with all!
Happy in work, happy in celebration, rich harvesting in every field!

It is much more than just a white blue view. Overall and finally: please watch and listen to today’s video and read all its lyrics.

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

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

PS   Source reference: Wikipedia

PPS   Alternative, in short, rather casual and with a twinkle in the eye: „White, when you see the froth in the beer glass. Blue, when you drink that beer and look up at the sky.“

Is an explanation necessary? Maybe, maybe not. Today, this topic in connection with human beings and cars – not a general broad approach.

Tyres, brakes, shock absorbers, to name just a few: a broad realm in relation to costs – and quality. Tyres, good looking, cheap vs. a rather expensive high reputation brand product: often huge differences, primarily in safety and durability. Brakes: on the whole more or less the same. Shock absorbers: also in this case, usually you get what you are paying for; the same key word, reputable manufacturer – cost, quality, safety. In a nutshell: worth the money!

For those who want to know more, The Castiron invites you to have a look at former subjects: tyres (blogposts 21, 22, 82), brakes (88), shock absorbers (166). Either way, miserliness is not helpful – in particular and in general, to yourself and to others. And, please have a look at today’s picture: nobody wants to end the ride in uncertainty.

Or, in other words, as someone once said: „Buy expensively, cry once – buy cheap, cry several times.“ Buying cheap may have consequences: from buying more than once to life-threatening in extreme case. Have a safe and effective drive, on the track or on the road!

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

Recommendation:       http://thecastiron.ch/en/all_blogs.html?year=2016

Is that so or not? It is not – more than 4 years after the very first blogpost it is opportune to have a closer look at this topic, not a very simple one. Quite a few of the past blogposts dealt with this subject, in a quite broad range: from minor accidents to the 1955 Le Mans disaster (please see at the end „Retrospective“). Accidents are not accidental.

Also The Castiron was not spared from car accidents, on road and track; till now, he always remained uninjured, thank the Lord! Every review, every analysis showed: the accident did not happen accidentally.

Some accident causes, to name just a few key points: inattentiveness, distraction, overrate oneself, lack of ability to drive and of car control – finally, almost always, it is human failure, even with rather seldom material defects (material made by people), even under difficult external factors (such as the weather, bad road surfaces, unpredictable racetrack conditions).

Not for the first time this conclusion: participating in driver trainings are very helpful and of great benefit -  sometimes lifesaving! Latter is not guaranteed, but you never have full guarantee of life and death in this world here. Be alert and humble – have a safe and effective drive, on the track or on the road.

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

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

Retrospective (Exzerpt)

12 NORDSCHLEIFE BERGWERK 1976   Niki Lauda    

45 TREMBLING HANDS   The Castiron     

60 NORDSCHLEIFE 201710   The Castiron    

61 MERDE   Sébastien Buemi     

86 JIM CLARK 1968     

112 NOT HUNDRED JUST NINETY-NINE   François Cevert     

120 PAUL WALKER 2013     

121 HUMBLE   The Castiron     

127 DRIVER OF THE YEAR 2018   Sebastian Vettel    

139 STEFAN BELLOF 1984     

141 JO SIFFERT – THE CHEQUE BOOK     

155 GERHARD MITTER 1969     

156 THE INDESTRUCTIBLE   Clay Regazzoni     

171 DRAMATICALLY OVERSHADOWED     

195 CIGAR HERBIE   Herbert Müller     

202 LE MANS 1955     

208 ON THE ROOF   The Castiron    

It has now been 4 years since The Castiron published his very first blogpost. Today just some basic thoughts in brief. And again, it is a good time to say thanks to everybody!

Grandfather, racing driver, instructor, pastor – all in one, one in all. The focus: sharing many things from many years and actual ones, with you! As life is, with daily business in different realms and topics. Often the question is being pilot or passenger. On the track, on the road, in daily life overall – who or what determines?

Or, in other words: to drive or be driven, challenges, challenges, challenges – you are faced with, again and again. Normally, being pilot pleases us, being passenger sometimes, too – when self-chosen; if not, often an accident or an illness (for instance) makes you a passenger. Then sometimes it gets tough. 

As mentioned: just some thoughts in brief! When you think, you have it in your hand, you can decide whether you are pilot or passenger – it is not so hard, sometimes even quite easy. When you are forced to be passenger – sometimes it can be very hard; probably it is a good occasion to give some thoughts about all this based on the pastor’s view – please see recommendation.

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

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

It has been 20 years since The Castiron participated for the first time in the sport auto DriftChallenge 2000 in Hockenheim, with the vehicle mentioned in blogpost 205, the fairly light Ford Sierra – at that time a quite well prepared (especially also concerning safety devices, such as a rollover bar and something more) two-seater for mainly competition use.  

Drift contests and the DriftChallenge in German-speaking Europe were still in the early stages. Most of the time, an enthusiastic crowd and stunning incidents were part of these contests. Today’s video shows an excerpt of many spectacular faulty performances – The Castiron added one more: a rollover, annoying and needless.

Toughened by many experiences at the limit with rear-wheel driven cars (especially as racing driver and instructor), The Castiron can be named as one of the pioneers in this field – hence probably a little bit too self-confident on this occasion? Location: the „Sachskurve“ at the Hockenheim racetrack.  

First heat, quite a good drift and then at the end of the bend the silly idea to prolong the show in the grass (as some other drivers did before, too). Regrettably, a place with new turf, watered a short time before (awareness of these facts after getting out of the car) work against a happy end! The car digs with the right wheels, the left side comes up, The Castiron realizes: the vehicle does not get back on the wheels, confidence in the rollover bar is imperative.

The outcome: car on the roof, engine switched off immediately, safety belt released, The Castiron uninjured, gained another experience – and frenetic standing ovations from the crowd (thousands of fans). Overall an event with a number of incidents, in particular trips into the gravel – most of them without noteworthy consequences.  

Conclusion: a brainless rookie mistake, embarrassing! The Castiron had to recognize once again: you live and learn. And: today’s video offers a good opportunity for a broad failure analysis – one can learn from own mistakes and from those of others. Keep on track!

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

Recommendation:       www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

PS   Caution: a car lying on its roof demands an immediate engine switch-off (because the oil is not any more where it should be). Then a waiting period up to several days is absolutely mandatory, before starting the engine again (because some engine oil got in the combustion chambers and has to drain completely back into the oil pan – it takes time); ignoring these facts may cause serious engine damages!  

This is not about a motor racer, but about a man of deliberation on just two wheels, a very courageous and sporty one. Now it is the moment to have a look at today’s video – it says a lot, but to that, there are also some essential aspects to point out.

Two wheels, no engine – one man, the Austrian Fabio Wibmer. But it did not work completely without engine either: the foundations were laid in motocross; he started riding motocross at the age of six and even took part in 2011 in the Motocross World Championship in Italy. 

But after watching a video of stunt rider Danny MacAskill, Fabio Wibmer became hooked on biking, fell in love with this sport. He was subsequently one of 15 young bikers selected by MacAskill to attend his „License to Trial“ workshop. Some time soon, the Austrian had become one of the best-known faces in the biking scene.

Behind his brilliant performances is a lot of hard work. Preparation begins in the head (often around a thousand times for just one new trick), takes years and requires training over and over again. Nevertheless the risk is always present, falls are unavoidable.

With or without engine, two or four wheels – there are some things in common: the driver’s talent and dedication, skills and abilities – indispensable and fundamental, crucial for the show and the success. As a driver, enjoy your ride – as a spectator, enjoy the drivers’ spectacular performances!

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

Recommendation:       www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

PS   Source reference: touring April 2020 and https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/07/sport/fabio-wibmer-bike-spt-intl/index.html

PPS   As an encore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0OoUqKkwwM

Heat kills performance and damages equipment – it afflicts human beings, too! Vehicle and individuals must operate together. Blogpost 108 focused on the vehicle, today’s subject is about the human being.

You have to be aware of what is at stake. High temperature has an impact on individuals; for some a greater one, for some a little less. With warm weather temperature can increase to more than 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in a car. Additionally: in a dark car temperature can be up to 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) more than in a light coloured one.   

So what? High temperatures cause an increased stress level: the heart beats faster, sweating attacks, lack of concentration, more nervousness and aggressivity, growing tendency of driving errors. Sufficient? According to surveys, the number of accidents in urban areas went up by 6 percent at 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit).

More details, more figures? At 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) 13 percent more accidents, at 37 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) 33 percent more accidents – still valid for urban areas. It may be assumed that these data apply generally and base on a temperature of about 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit).  

Experts assume that the quality of driving under such circumstances is very close to that of a drunken driver. Air-condition or open windows help, but the fan’s or wind noises boost stress, too; it does not alter the fact that the body nevertheless is heated up.

Today’s picture: around 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) correspond to the cooking temperature of some piece of a meat. That is all there is to say – stay cool, have a safe and effective drive, on the road, on the track!  

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

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

PS   Source reference: AUTOMOBIL REVUE, Nr. 27, 4. Juli 2019, www.automobilrevue.ch

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.

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

Things go in cycles: spring, summer, autumn, winter – a fact on one hand, on the other hand the Nordschleife, always good for a surprise. Today, spring’s perspective, based on an overview on the last decades and related gained experiences.

The Castiron attended the Nordschleife with a number of different cars, with quite different tyres, too. During spring, sometimes you are confronted with additional challenges, often not quite unexpectedly.

Heavy, normal or light rain (in combination with low temperature close to snowfall) with a wet or just humid track surface, as a variation dry, humid and wet in combination; to that, spring offers also the experience of pollen grain and moisture (please see blogpost 137) and the low sun in the morning and late afternoon as an extra. 

Especially in April weather can be very unpredictable. Conditions change dramatically, up from one moment to the next. Surprises for every driver, sometimes leading suddenly to emergency situations.

The Castiron likes to drive in difficult, even harsh conditions; but when Nordschleife is in combination with a quite powerful vehicle, such as his Ford Mustang, Eleanor V, and the track conditions are wet and inconsistent, he does not feel very comfortable. Then, one fact dominates: it is unpredictable and can go almost up to the ride feeling on a snow covered surface.   

Nordschleife is and will remain Nordschleife! Keep in mind: do not underestimate the manifold challenges of this track and be aware, that weather in this region and all its related factors do not make things easier. Be alert – have a safe and effective drive, being it on the track or on the road.

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

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

According to Wikipedia, the Mille Miglia was an open road motorsport endurance race, which took place in Italy from 1927 to 1957 – from 1953 until 1957 as part of the World Sportscar Championship. Mille Miglia means thousand miles – the synonym for the distance, meaning at least a good ten hours in the car, or much longer.

In 1955, Sterling Moss and Denis Jenkinson, were setting the record at an average of 97,96 miles per hour. Jenkinson gave directions to Moss during the race by a coded system of hand signals; although this undoubtedly helped them, the driver’s innate ability was the predominant factor.

The race was banned after crashes; in 1957, a team waited too long to make a tyre change and continued driving instead. Too long was too late, too: a worn tyre caused a very tragic crash, the driver and the navigator in the car and nine spectators died.

Since 1977, the Mille Miglia has been reborn as a regularity race; participation is limited to car models, which had attended the original race. The route is similar to that of the original race, maintaining the point of departure and arrival in the city of Brescia.

Less words, more pictures (from recent times) – please have a look at them; a picture is worth a thousand words.

Part II will be about an adventure of two sportsmen, an aristocrat and The Castiron as co-driver, participating in the Mille Miglia 1995 – a quarter of a century ago.

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

Recommendation:       www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

Now, between Easter and Pentecost, it is a good opportunity for some thoughts from the pastor’s view, once again. Transient: a term valid for anything we possess, for our whole live. The Holy Bible presents in the Book of Ecclesiastes (Ecc) much to that.

Ecclesiastes 1, verse 14: „I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them meaningless, a chasing after the wind.“   From this initial position, some other points are worth mentioning, all well known and inevitable for all of us.

Ecc 1, 17: „... understanding of wisdom and also of madness and folly ...“   /   Ecc 2, 17: „... the work that is done ...“   /   Ecc 2, 26: „the task of gathering and storing up wealth ...“   /   Ecc 4, 4: „... all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another ...“   /   Ecc 6, 9: „Better what the eyes see than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.“   In sum, ultimately: all transient.

This awareness should be a constant companion for The Castiron and actually for you, too – easier said than implemented. It is a fact, sometimes a real drastic one: transient can also mean the facing of definitive and extremely hurtful incidents in our lives.

Next week you will be confronted with the shocking significance of this, taken from the real life of motorsport.

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

Recommendation:       https://www.bibleserver.com/NIV/Luke12%3A16-21

PS   Basic thoughts source reference:   Lebendig! VOM GEHEIMNIS MÜNDIGEN CHRISTSEINS    von Michael Herbst   SCM Hänssler

Jesus our destiny, by Wilhelm Busch; this book is based on a compilation of his radio speeches and has been translated into the most important languages and attained a worldwide distribution. The main focus today is on one hand on the author, on the other hand mainly on some readers’ views.

Some information about the author: according to Wikipedia, Wilhelm Busch (27th March 1897 – 20th June 1966) was a German pastor, youth evangelist and activist in the Confessing Church during the Nazi period in Germany. He had to serve in World War I, where on the battlefield he came to personal faith in Christ when a comrade was hit by a grenade. When this war was over he decided to study protestant theology.

And now, excerpts from reader’s reviews on www.goodreads.com (please see recommendation):   „... the author goes beyond an apologetic for the Christian faith and into practical aspects of it, including love, forgiveness and grace ...“   /   „... it is a great read ... it has helped me change opinions I had before and moved me into the right path to find God.“   /   „A collection of interesting and great speeches about the importance of Christ in our lives.“

Since its first edition, this book is a bestseller and of great worth. The content is timeless and as the title says, it is also a question of destiny – in the end of major relevance for everyone, not only for the grandfather, the racing driver, the instructor and the pastor.

Especially now, several days after Good Friday and Easter, it is an appropriate point for all this. Furthermore, the book is also perfectly suited as a gift, for many occasions. Please have a look at today’s recommendation – thank you!

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

Recommendation:       https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2794676-jesus

Today’s blogpost picture: the art of tarmac painting, the hallmark of Eleanor V, the story of accelaration from zero to 60 mph – call it as you like! Let us go into the subject, do not take it too seriously. 

A slight incline and the Ford Mustang Eleanor V, somewhere in the countryside. You remember: V8 engine, 5 speed manual gear box, rear-wheel driven, limited slip differential – action and satisfaction guaranteed!

First gear, second gear, 60 miles per hour – wonderful tarmac painting! In other words: acceleration time of secondary importance, but perfect fun factor - a really wide smile on the driver’s face! As well some facts are noteworthy herewith, the tarmac painting mainly in numbers.

Appropriate engine revolutions, 1st gear 50 feet, gear shift 20 feet, 2nd gear 115 feet – total 185 feet (shifting less than half a second traction interruption). Zero to 60 mph, achieved result? No idea, this was really not the primary aim in this case. Not the fastest, but probably the funniest version for this task.

This was one kind of tarmac painting. Burnouts and doughnuts, for instance, are some others – also very funny. Possibly more on those at a later time. And, once more: have a nice ride, with a wide smile on your face!

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

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

PS   Ford Mustang GT V8 (2005), C/D TEST RESULTS, ACCELERATION Zero to 60 mph 5.2 seconds

Feel at home: who, where, with what ?  Today’s topic focuses on you and the ambition to be familiar with your vehicle – easier said than done; daily traffic presents the sad reality, in motorsport it looks much better, thankfully.

Be it road or track, it is essential. Feel at home – what does that mean ?  At home, really at home: it is normal to find one’s way – even in the darkness. Is it the same, when you go by car ?

Today’s video focuses on one of The Castiron’s favourites: rallye drivers. Their job behind the steering wheel is depending mainly on two main points: the co-driver and to be familiar with the car in a really perfect manner – in other words, to feel at home.

Greatest confidence is involved here, also automatism. This video is worth a thousand words. Ask yourself: to feel at home in my car, is it also the same with me ?  A strong dose of self-confidence – yes! Pride, arrogance – no!

Thus, to feel at home in the best sense of the word and be familiar with your vehicle. It is of utmost importance for your safety and your success in motorsports. The other side of the medal with the focus on the racetrack: see part II next week.

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

Recommendation:       www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

According to Wikipedia, a gas-guzzler (informal term) is a vehicle that is perceived to burn a lot of fuel. The term originally came into use when the US Congress established Gas Guzzler Tax Provisions in 1978 – to discourage the production and purchase of fuel-inefficient automobiles. The tax was applied only to cars.

Discouraged? Fuel-inefficient? Please have a look at the video. Do you notice any discouragement? And who and what defines the term fuel-inefficiency? Is it really that easy, so simple?

The Ford Mustang in the video and the operation purpose is extreme; in some situations it is similar with The Castiron’s Ford Mustang, Eleanor V: when the two are going out for a drift, then also Eleanor V is mutating to a gas-guzzler; why? 

Why not? No, this is not the proper answer. But it is quite simple: nothing comes from nothing! A hard worker needs the necessary food – it is the same for men and machine! More work – more food; more food – hopefully more work.

Fuel-inefficient: is it miles per gallon? Or is it in relation to the horsepower, engine’s displacement, number of cylinders? Or is it miles related with the fun factor? Drifting a few miles or a longer journey on a country road, smooth and economical? What does really count – for you, in that specific case? Many questions, the answer is yours!

One thing must be said: preferably fuel-efficiency! The principal item is your right foot operating the accelerator pedal. Fuel-efficiency in a few words: low engine revolutions, in the case of manual transmission always choosing the appropriate gear. So far so good – do not forget the operation purpose. Have a nice ride, with a wide smile on your face!

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

Recommendation:       www.cbmcint.com/signup-now

PS   Ford Mustang GT V8 (2005), C/D TEST RESULTS, FUEL ECONOMY EPA higway driving 25 mpg

Not an eyewitness, but at the same time at the same place: this is the basis of today’s story. The Castiron and a friend of him, Herbert, visited the old long Hockenheimring (please have a look at the video), both taking part in a course to obtain a racing driver’s licence.

Different groups of participants driving in different sections of the track, classified according to the types of cars: the initial situation. Due to their nonidentical series touring cars, Herbert and The Castiron are grouped differently; in this context, at that time, Herbert in the „Ostkurve“, The Castiron in another section.

Suddenly a whisper among the participant during a short break in The Castiron’s group: accident in the „Ostkurve“, multiple rollover, the driver lost his helmet. First thoughts: Herbert’s group, is it perhaps him? Probably not. This bend is one of the fastest of all European racetracks, this could be a quite serious accident.

It is Herbert. His car: completely damaged. Herbert’s helmet: lying somewhere in the footwell, chinstrap still fastened. Herbert himself: miraculously uninjured. Not to forget: the speed was more than 100 miles per hour, usually flat out or almost flat out, depending on the outer conditions and the type of vehicle.

Once again: helmet with the right size on and chinstrap correctly and firmly fastened, between strap and chin maximal space to put one finger between them! And: have a safe and effective drive, on the track and on the road.

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

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

It is far away from home – considerably more than half a day to travel by car and it is quite steeped in history. This is what The Castiron knew, before he visited this racetrack, some time ago.

The Castiron was in charge as an instructor, still as part of his basic training, together with another trainee, Frank. The vehicles: in every sense sufficient, for the instructors, trainees and participants – sporty German two-door coupes with 6-cylinder-in-line engines, manual transmissions, rear-wheel driven.

The powerful cars were a good match with the circuit. Two person per car, this time Frank behind the steering wheel, The Castiron on the hot seat beside him. A situation occurring time and time again, on racetracks, too: a bend combination downwards, concretely the demanding passage „Omega“ and in this case probably a little bit too optimistic speed level.

Taking back the accelerator pedal, the car gets a light rear part and begins to oversteer, Frank still outwardly easy and relaxed – a little bit too much? Yes, but too much oversteer! The Castiron says: brake! Frank begins to countersteer, still easy and relaxed. The chances for a happy end are decreasing rapidly; The Castiron shouts: brake! And Frank brakes, does the maximum – and the car grinds to a halt with the front little before the crash barriers. Looking at each other, breathing deeply, driving on.

For both, Frank and The Castiron, the experiences of this day on the Sachsenring were a further step on their way as trainees to achieve their common goal to complete the training as instructors successfully.

Part II will bring you closer to the Sachsenring.

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

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

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

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