Kurzweilige Partie auf dem VfB-Clubgelände 🚗🌭🍺

Platz 1, 18.09.21

Regionalliga Südwest [4]

VfB Stuttgart U21 - Bahlinger SC 0:1 (0:1)

LBBW kauft Fläche – Baubeginn in Sicht

Cannstatt: „…Das Kaufhof-Areal am Wilhelmsplatz in Bad Cannstatt soll offensichtlich nicht allzu lange brach liegen: LBBW Immobilien plant für das Areal Büros, Wohnungen und Einzelhandel. Es gibt auch schon eine Perspektive für den Baubeginn. Die Verhandlungen waren zäh und dauerten am Ende mehr als vier Jahre lang. Nun wurden im Streit um das rund 4000 Quadratmeter große Kaufhof-Areal am…

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Die bemerkenswerten Fotografien von Schiffskoch Carl Schiesser aus Ochsenfurt

Die bemerkenswerten Fotografien von Schiffskoch Carl Schiesser aus Ochsenfurt

Titelbild: Carl Schiesser (Karl Schießer) mit seiner Kamera, Aufnahme vermutlich zwischen 1912-1914 in Parramatta (Großraum Sydney), Fotograf unbekannt; Album Carl Schiesser, National Library of Australia, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-153362071/view Eine kurze Karriere auf See Carl Schiesser aus Ochsenfurt hatte eine kurze Karriere als Schiffskoch. Sie kann nicht länger als zwei bis drei Jahre…

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Jonas, ein Sieg voller Selbstvertrauen

In der Punktrunde Herbst 2022 begann für die C-Jugend ein aufregendes Auswärtsspiel gegen den TSV Eintracht Bad Cannstatt. Jonas, einer der talentierten Stürmer des Teams, war voller Vorfreude und bereit, sein Bestes zu geben.

Von Anfang an drängte das Team von Jonas aggressiv nach vorne, wurde jedoch durch häufige Abseitsstellungen im Offensivspiel ausgebremst. Trotzdem ließen sie den Mut nicht sinken. Nach einer schönen Kombination aus drei Pässen hatte Felix die erste Chance auf ein Tor, aber der aufmerksame Torhüter des Gegners parierte geschickt.

Das Team behielt die Kontrolle über das Spiel und nutzte die hohe Direktpassdichte, um das Spielgeschehen zu dominieren. Lukas konnte mit einem schnellen Vorstoß den Ball knapp am Tor vorbeischicken und Leon verfehlte mit einem Distanzschuss nur knapp das Tor. Die Führung lag förmlich in der Luft.

Kurz vor Ende der ersten Halbzeit bekam das Team einen Standard zugesprochen. David schlenzte den Ball aus halbrechter Position in den Strafraum, der Torhüter konnte ihn nur mittig abprallen lassen und Noah war zur Stelle, um die überfällige Halbzeitführung zu erzielen.

Nach dem Seitenwechsel ging das Spiel intensiv weiter. Noah versuchte sich mit einem Solo und schoss knapp am Tor vorbei. Die Spannung in der Partie stieg merklich an. Nach einer Balleroberung in der Mitte des Spielfelds startete Ben erneut durch. Er trickste die gesamte Abwehr aus und schoss den Ball halb rechts oben ins Tor. Ein starkes Tor, wirklich stark gemacht!

Das Heimteam reagierte sofort und erzielte den Anschlusstreffer. Es folgte eine ähnliche Aktion, die beinahe zum Ausgleich geführt hätte, aber Tim konnte den Ball gerade noch um den Pfosten lenken.

In der Schlussviertelstunde wurde Bad Cannstatt immer gefährlicher und Unkonzentriertheiten auf Seiten der C-Jugend begünstigten ihre Chancen auf den Ausgleich. Doch dann besann sich das Team, hielt körperlich dagegen und verlagerte das Spielgeschehen in die Abwehr des Gegners.

Schließlich ertönte der Schlusspfiff des Schiedsrichters und das Team konnte jubeln. Mit einem Endstand von 2-1 hatten sie einen erfolgreiches Spiel hingelegt. Glückwünsche wurden an den gesamten Kader ausgesprochen. An diesem Tag gab es nichts auszusetzen an der Einstellung des Teams und auch die körperliche Verfassung stimmte. Nun galt es, den Torhunger und die Abschlusshärte weiter zu verbessern, um selbstbewusst das nächste Heimspiel gegen den TSV Stuttgart Gerberau anzugehen.

Jonas, als Stürmer, hatte sich in diesem Spiel erneut bewiesen und zeigte seine Stärke und Entschlossenheit. Seine Tore waren entscheidend für den Sieg des Teams. Mit jedem Spiel wuchs sein Selbstvertrauen und er war voller Vorfreude auf die kommenden Herausforderungen, bei denen er sein Können erneut unter Beweis stellen konnte.

Nach dem Spiel versammelte sich das Team in der Umkleidekabine und die Spieler beglückwünschten sich gegenseitig.

Jonas: "Was für ein Spiel, Jungs! Wir haben wirklich alles gegeben und den Sieg verdient."

Felix: "Genau! Du hast uns mit deinen Toren den Weg geebnet. Einfach klasse gespielt!"

Jonas: "Danke! Aber ohne eure Vorlagen und eure Unterstützung wären meine Tore nicht möglich gewesen."

Lukas: "Wir haben wirklich als Team funktioniert. Jeder hat seinen Beitrag geleistet."

Leon: "Stimmt! Die kämpferische Einstellung war heute wirklich beeindruckend."

Jonas: "Und Tim, du hast in der Schlussviertelstunde einige wichtige Paraden gezeigt. Das war der Schlüssel zum Sieg."

Tim: "Danke! Ich wollte unbedingt verhindern, dass sie noch den Ausgleich erzielen."

Trainer: "Jungs, ich bin stolz auf euch! Wir haben heute gezeigt, was wir drauf haben. Aber jetzt heißt es, weiter hart zu arbeiten und uns auf das nächste Spiel vorzubereiten."

Das Team nickte zustimmend und stimmte gemeinsam ein: "Gemeinsam sind wir stark!" Sie verließen die Umkleidekabine, voller Selbstvertrauen und Vorfreude auf die kommenden Herausforderungen.

Wednesday 30 July 2003 + Thursday 31 July 2003 - flight to Munich - Odeonsplatz - short visit to the Benz museum - random ride to Zinzholz

 Wednesday 30 July 2003 + Thursday 31 July 2003 Good morning!  Here are my first two days of flying to Germany, visiting Munich and Stuttgart.  I visited the Mercedes Benz museum, one last time, before it would be relocated outside the Benz factory.  Eventually I would take the U-Bahn to somewhere a bit far from downtown but still make it back to the hostel. Guten Morgen!  Hier sind meine ersten beiden Flugtage nach Deutschland mit Besuchen in München und Stuttgart. Ich besuchte das Mercedes-Benz-Museum ein letztes Mal, bevor es außerhalb des Benz-Werks verlegt wurde. Irgendwann würde ich mit der U-Bahn an einen etwas weiter entfernten Ort fahren und es trotzdem zurück zum Hostel schaffen. Bonjour! Voici mes deux premiers jours de vol vers l'Allemagne, visitant Munich et Stuttgart. J'ai visité le musée Mercedes Benz, une dernière fois, avant qu'il ne soit déplacé à l'extérieur de l'usine Benz. Finalement, je prendrais le U-Bahn quelque part un peu loin du centre-ville, mais je le ferais quand même revenir à l'auberge. Dobro jutro! Tukaj sta moja prva dva dneva letenja v Nemčijo, obisk Münchna in Stuttgarta. Še zadnjič sem obiskal muzej Mercedes Benz, preden so ga preselili izven tovarne Benz. Sčasoma bi se z U-Bahnom odpeljal nekam nekoliko daleč od središča mesta, a bi se vseeno vrnil v hostel. Dobro jutro! Evo moja prva dva dana leta za Njemačku, posjet Münchenu i Stuttgartu. Posjetio sam Mercedes Benz muzej, posljednji put, prije nego što će biti premješten izvan Benz tvornice. Na kraju bih uzeo U-Bahn negdje malo dalje od centra grada, ali bih se ipak uspio vratiti do hostela. Buongiorno! Ecco i miei primi due giorni di volo in Germania, visitando Monaco e Stoccarda. Ho visitato il museo Mercedes Benz, un'ultima volta, prima che venisse trasferito fuori dalla fabbrica Benz. Alla fine avrei preso la U-Bahn in un posto un po' lontano dal centro, ma sarei comunque tornato all'ostello. Today 20 years ago, I would fly to Munich through Washington Dulles, on United Airlines.  I flew out of the United Airlines domestic Terminal 3.  I had my Aiwa HS-JS 479 that I bought in Summer 1999, and many blank cassettes.   The flight from San Francisco to Washington Dulles seemed like many I had already been on, namely about 2,400 miles.  I decided not to use my miles to upgrade.  I had already earned some in July when I had gone on a business journey to Las Vegas.  I don't think I did much at Dulles, other than walk up and down terminals C and D.  I did not go to terminals A or B until years later.   I flew from Dulles airport to Munich Franz Josef Strauß.  The difference was, by about 5 AM, the sky started to get bright and the sun was up by 5:30 AM.  The flight arrived about 6:55 AM.  I had to go through customs and I had my passport stamped similar to the one that I received on 28th December 2001 when I also landed at Franz Josef Strauß.  I picked up my checked bag, the rolling green one I used in November 2002.  I had a backpack, far smaller than the one I now carry. I walked from the airport terminal to the S-Bahn station.  I had my Eurail pass validated, so I did not need to buy a separate ticket for the S-Bahn into town.  I noticed that the S Bahn I was riding sounded just like the ones that I rode in Frankfurt am Main, as opposed to the previous times I was in Munich and Stuttgart.  They accelerated and braked the same, just the sound was more like that of the Frankfurt am Main S Bahn trains.  Yet it was still a DB ET423 train.  The train went underground at Ismaning and again at Unterföhring, but came back up for Johanniskirchen to Leuchtenbergring and München Ost, before going to München Hbf.  I alighted at München Hbf, remembering to exit on the right as opposed to the left for those boarding.   At Hauptbahnhof, I put my rolling suitcase in a locker.  Then I bought a day pass for the U Bahn, being careful not to stay too long, as I had to catch the train to Stuttgart.  I took the U4/U5 to Odeonsplatz, where I changed to the U3/U6, and went to Münchner Freiheit, and walked south to my bank, where they had a new cash card waiting for me, as I had plans to make a will call pickup.  I received my new card, then went to Odeonsplatz and the Feldherrnhalle.  It was a 19th-century, Italianate monument to the Bavarian army & the site of Hitler's 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.  The Hofgarten was to the east.  I took the U Bahn back to Hbf, fetched my rolling suitcase and then boarded the ICE train to Stuttgart Hbf. The train was a nice ICE 2nd generation train.  I was in the first class car.  The train stopped at Augsburg, Ulm, pased through Amstetten, Geislingen, Göppingen, Plochingen, Esslingen and Bad Cannstatt.  My youth hostel was along the U-15 route, but at the time, it was operated by GT-4 vehicles used as early as the 1960s, not the DT-8s used since the 1980s.  The U-15 at the time, was just streetcar line 15. You may think, that a special platform for the GT-4s was built for Hbf and just about every U-Bahn station underground, but this is not the case.  It used to be, that the low platforms were the norm in the 1970s when the GT-4s were the only trains in service at the time, and gradually high floors were created for the DT-8s, so that they would not have to use their folding steps.  In 2022 when I last visited, almost all U Bahns had withdrawn the GT-4s, almost all stations had removed their low floor platforms, except a few for the exhibition tram that operates at least every Sunday between the Straßenbahnmuseum in Bad Cannstatt, and Ruhbank, which today still is mostly part of U-15.  Charlottenplatz and Schloßplatz retain their low floor platforms for the GT-4s in both directions.  Also, on 31st July 2003, Bad Cannstatt still had their low floor platforms, they had not yet upgraded to the high floor platforms, which I was able to notice in February 2012 and February 2022 when I returned. I took the line 15 to Eugensplatz.  I would have to step down from the tram as it was not without steps.  I had to also walk a few hundred meters down a ramp to the hostel.  On my visit in 2007 there was an elevator added, but not yet in 2003.  I checked in for one night there, left my bag in a four bed room, then took the line 15 back to Hbf, and took an S Bahn to Untertürkheim.  The walk to the Mercedes Benz museum was a bit long, the same one I also did on Saturday 2nd August 1997.  It was like not having been there for six years.  There was a place just outside the Mercedes Benz factory where there was a bus stop for the free shuttle into the museum.  The museum was not particularly big, but in the 2000s, the factory moved into its own location, and by comparison, had become massive.  The collection in 2003 was similar to that of 1997, but there was a new model added, the Vaneo.  In April 2005 I would drive a Vaneo as a rental car, complete with 5 speed manual, air conditioning, CD radio and diesel engine.  I spent an hour there before the museum closed.  Everyone had to leave by bus.  I had to find an U Bahn to downtown, but I walked to the S Bahn station instead.   At Untertürkheim, I took the S-Bahn to Rotebühlplatz.  I found the Döner Kebab place, where I remember ordering a lahmacun at 6 AM on 8th September 2000, which can only be done in Stuttgart as far as I know.  I walked between there and Schloßplatz, and farther along to Hbf.  I took a U-14 from there to Bad Cannstatt, and ordered a Döner Kebab.  I still the paper it was served in, had a picture of a Döner Kebab salesman complete with a moustache, and the words "Afiyet Olsun!", meaning "bon appetit" or so.   I also rode the U-7 to Zinzholz, past Ruhbank where the U-7 meets the line 15.  and it went underground at least twice.  Many of the stations are in open cuts and the tunnel sections are short enough for one station to be underground and the next one to be in an open cut. Eventually I became tired and went back to the hostel, changing at Ruhbank, and slept.  At some stage, I listened to 102.3 FM, which was the American Forces Network Radio.  I listened to some music in German as well.   The next day I would take the train to Zürich, then cross the Röstigraben at Biel/Bienne for Montreux.  I had a short visit also in Geneva.  I would be ready for the Lake Parade the following day.  Until then, good night! Am nächsten Tag würde ich mit dem Zug nach Zürich fahren und dann bei Biel/Bienne den Röstigraben nach Montreux überqueren. Ich hatte auch einen kurzen Besuch in Genf. Am nächsten Tag würde ich für die Lake Parade bereit sein. Bis dahin, gute Nacht! Le lendemain, je prendrais le train pour Zürich, puis je traverserais le Röstigraben à Biel/Bienne pour Montreux. J'ai eu une courte visite aussi à Genève. Je serais prêt pour la Lake Parade le lendemain. Jusque-là, bonne nuit ! Naslednji dan bi šel z vlakom v Zürich, nato pa prečkal Röstigraben pri Biel/Bienne za Montreux. Imel sem kratek obisk tudi v Ženevi. Naslednji dan bi bil pripravljen na jezersko parado. Do takrat pa lahko noč! Sljedećeg bih dana uzeo vlak za Zürich, zatim prešao Röstigraben u Biel/Bienneu za Montreux. Imao sam i kratku posjetu Ženevi. Bio bih spreman za Lake Parade sljedeći dan. Do tada, laku noć! Il giorno dopo prendevo il treno per Zurigo, poi attraversavo il Röstigraben a Biel/Bienne per Montreux. Ho avuto una breve visita anche a Ginevra. Sarei stato pronto per la Lake Parade il giorno seguente. Fino ad allora, buona notte!

Das ist der Cannstatter Wellenflug auf dem Cannstatter Volksfest und Stuttgarter Frühlingsfest.

Europe 2022 - Day 8 - Bad Cannstatter Vasen Volksfest

Today was the day.

We woke at around 7:30, and the apartment was buzzing as Me, Philipp, Julain and his girlfriend Sarah prepared for the big day. After a traditional breakfast of weizen, weisswurst and pretzels with mustard (which I was slightly apprehensive at because it sounded so heavy but was so delicious and a way to line the stomach) we were off, with everyone in traditional bierfest garb.

We got to the site in Bad Cannstatter, outside of Stuttgart, and I was sort of surprised at how much the grounds looked like a regular American county fairgrounds, except that the large barns for the animals were replaced by giant bier halls. It was great.

Though the festival had started the day before, it seemed that the staff was moving at a slow pace. The hall opened 10 minutes late, and my fellow drinkers were getting impatient after waiting around for half an hour with no beer. We had a table reserved - from 10 AM to 4 PM, and EVERY SECOND COUNTED.

Once things got cracking, well, that was that. We drank, we sang along with the live band (well, everyone else did - I sang to the US pop songs they covered, which ranged anywhere from OK to awful - sorry, but I’m not rocking out to Backstreet Boys’ Larger Than Life.)

We did what drinkers do: we drank. And ate. And drank a little more. And that’s the story. It was great. 

I’ve said this before about drinking with people you don’t know - barriers break down a little, you have fun, and maybe you become friends just a bit. I had a blast, and met some great people. The atmosphere was electric, and I love how people from different parts of the country come together for an event.

Now, I won’t pretend everything was perfect - Philipp explained to me about Oktoberfest beer. Here in the US, some craft breweries come August and September will release a seasonal special Oktoberfest beer, something with special this or that or autumnal flavors or whatever. It’s special. Yeah, not true. According to Philipp, Oktoberfest beer has more alcohol, and it tastes like shit. And I get it. You’re not there for a long time, you’re there for a good time. Why make great tasting beer that people knock back and as they continue to get more drunk on, even care about?

Also, while I have been shocked at the lack of mark-up at events or certain places (you know, the guy who sells water for $8 next to the tourist attraction, that sort of thing) this was one place where they don’t eff around - a half liter of beer is going to run you €13.20. But hey, you’re drunk and singing along, so who cares?

We spilled out into the festival grounds at 4 PM: it was time to go home. We made our way to the train to head back to Philipp’s home town of Hornberg, and since I was not the one who was the quickest at reading all those German train schedules, was told we had missed a train. So Philipp was able to get his father to provide us a little door-to-door service from an earlier train station.

Great time I will never forget. For sure.

Sex Chat in Bad Cannstatt

Sex Chat in Bad Cannstatt

Sex in Bad Cannstatt

Sex Chat in Bad Cannstatt

No, you're not being stalked. I'm just... foraging, too.

Grünspecht ♀️ (European green woodpecker) im Rosensteinpark (Bad Cannstatt).

50er-Jahre Charme im modernen Mantel

Bad Cannstatt: „…Klimaneutral bis 2030 – dies hat sich die AOK als Ziel für eine nachhaltige Zukunft gesetzt. Ein Baustein in eben diese Richtung bildet die Sanierung des 1957 erbauten Verwaltungsgebäudes in Bad Cannstatt. Zentrale Motivation war, ressourcensparend eine umfäng­liche Modernisierung zu erreichen, ohne den 1950er-Jahre-Charme des freistehenden Bürogebäudes aufzugeben. Um den…

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Chapter 1:

Just to learn that my dreams aren’t rare…

Masterlist - Next

May 2003

It was a sunny day, when my parents decided to pack us all up and go to Stuttgart visiting the fun fair "Cannstatter Wasen". My sister Sissy right in front of us with our cousin, my brother Marcus far ahead with his friend and then there was me, glued to my Mum as she was chatting away with my aunt. Dad and my uncle behind. I was looking around at all the rides and couldn’t decide what to ride first, but Mum wouldn’t let me ride anything at all, all to dangerous as I was to small, she kept saying and my mood went downhill. We reached an outer part of the fair with less to non people around and space to breathe. There was only one ride in front of us: a karting track. I saw it first and tugged at my Mums hand.

"Mama! Look! Can I drive a go-kart?" I nearly screamed.

My brother, alarmed by my scream, saw the karting track and was gone within seconds with his friend, my dad and uncle close behind, my sister and our cousin not really interested sat down at a nearby bench. I asked my Mum again but she just shook her head no.

"Little one you’re too small and too young and go-karting is far too dangerous!" she said and I huffed.

"Whatever." I mumbled.

I was watching my brother and his friend together with Dad and my uncle going fast around in circles and I was jealous. I started crying and kept on asking my Mum why I couldn’t drive, until the owner of the karting track heard me. He walked to us and said that next to the big karting track is a smaller one for kids, if I want to go there but mum refused again.

"Isn’t she a bit to small for that?" she said.

The owner shook his head and laughed.

"I had smaller kids driving a kart, if you change your mind come and find me!" he explained and left. I was determined to change her mind as soon as my Dad came back. He scooped me up and asked me what’s wrong, the bad mood clearly written all over my face, I told him that I wanted to drive a go-kart as well, but Mum refused.

"There is a little track for kids like me, Paps!" I explained and he chuckled then, sat me down on the ground, grabbing my hand and we went to the owner.

I didn’t even listen to the conversation, I was just so excited to drive a go-kart that I nearly jumped up and down. The owner of the track, Hans, explained me how to drive, the go-kart, what pedal is for what and after a short briefing I was good to go. Helmet on my head, cloves on my hands, big smile on my face and off I went. I wasn’t really concentrating on the driving, it all felt so natural and not long after 3 or 4 laps to test it out, I was pushing the throttle through, just to get faster and faster with each lap, my Dad, my brother and my uncle they all were cheering. My Mum and my aunt didn’t like it and walked to the two other girls and set down. I loved it, the speed, the constant hunger to go even faster, it felt amazing. After some more laps I finally stopped the kart and jumped out of it, giggling, smiling and jumping around. I never felt that great before, not even when I scored my first goal in football. Hans went to my Dad, and asked him where we were living.

"In Ludwigsburg." he answered.

"I have a karting track in Waiblingen, with a little driver academy, you really should come with her! She’s really talented!" said Hans and gave me a high five and I was smiling from ear to ear.

"Yeah, well we’ll see…" Dad laughed and we said our goodbyes to Hans.

The rest of the day went by quickly and my dad struggled to put me to bed that evening. I couldn’t stop babbling about the feeling of driving a kart.

"I really hope we go to Hans soon!" I said and my Dad chuckled lightly before kissing my forehead.

"Sleep now, little owl!" he whispered and left.

I didn’t hear the discussion between my parents.

"I never saw her smiling like that when she’s playing football, almost broke my heart that her biggest passion isn’t football anymore!" Dad said and looked at my Mum.

"She’s not going to start with it! You know how expensive that is? It’s not just some shin pads every other month, or a new pair of shoes! Jürgen, she’ll need a helmet, gloves, a race suit, protection gear a freaking go-kart!" Mum finished and left the living room. My Dad knew that she was right, but that didn’t mean that he had to like it.

The next two weeks went by quickly, and I asked my Dad every single day when we can go karting again, most of the time he wasn’t even through the door. His reply was always the same.

"I’ll have to check."

On our way to my football practice I had enough and I just started crying out of anger.

"You always say you have to check, but you never check! I just wanna go karting, Papa! It’s so much cooler than football!" I whined and Dad looked at me through the rear view mirror, he saw how much karting had captivated me and sighed.

"We’re going on Saturday, but you can’t tell your mum! She will kill us!" he said and I smiled at him with big eyes.

Hans smiled when he saw us.

"It’s so good to see you guys! I told my friend about you, Lizzie, and he really wants to see you driving!" Hans said as he crotched down in front of me, that his friend was Frank Jost, a former, Formula One driver and talent scout for a F1 Junior Team wasn’t mentioned. When Hans introduced us to Frank, my Dad looked at him for a moment.

"Do I know you from somewhere? You look familiar?" he asked but Frank just laughed and said that he doesn’t think so, but he hears that quite often.

"I guess I have one of these faces…" he laughed "So, I heard from Hans we’re having a potential talent amongst us?"

"Well, Hans said she was driving well when we were on the go-kart track at the Wasen and she really loved it… so yeah." Dad said with a proud smile on his face.

"Then let’s see, what the young lady has in store." Frank stretched his hand out and I took it and followed him. I didn’t know that he was scouting me, I just wanted to go back into a go-kart and drive fast as hell. There were other kids on the track, but I didn’t care about them, I passed through them like nothing and after 20 minutes of Frank watching my every move, checking my lap times, he walked up to my Dad.

"Your daughter is really talented. Her lap times are an average of 0.3 seconds faster as of any of the other kids today. But they all are driving in our academy, are well trained and more experienced! She should come to the track every week, two times at least, to learn everything about karting. There is so much potential in her! From that we will see how soon she can drive in races and then we’ll see how far we can go!" he finished right as I appeared next to him, beaming at him. I didn’t see the worry in my Dads face, he knew that karting was going to be really expensive and figuring out how to pay for everything would be a huge task. My parents just bought a house that my dad was renovating with his friends and my uncles whenever he had some free time, sometimes until late at night. The house was eating up a lot of money and now karting?

He sent me back on track and together with Frank I left, then he turned to Hans about the finances and he listed all the costs: the membership of the academy, the licenses, the equipment like race suit, helmet, gloves, protecting gear. And the biggest chunk, there will come a time where I should have my own kart, with a fitted seat, a set-up accustomed to my driving, the mechanics in the garage, the spare parts. It was going to be way more money then expected, but when he saw my face as I got out of the kart running towards him, he knew he had to do everything to make his little girl happy.

On our way back he told me again that this has to be a secret, mum can’t find out. And it worked out, instead to football practice Dad and I went to the kart track, instead of football tournaments on the weekend we were going to races. As a mechanic, Dad started working at the track, helping the others there so I didn’t have to pay for the membership. Hans even gifted my Dad an old and rundown kart, saying he had to repair it himself. He checked the damaged beyond repair karts outside the track, took all the parts that were still functioning and put them in my kart. I had no idea about it, using one of the academy’s test karts. When he presented me my own kart in the colours that I liked I was the happiest kid on earth. After three months of us, going twice a week to the karting-track, Mum found out what we were doing, because one of the spare parts of my kart got delivered to our home instead the track. She wasn’t happy. She and Dad had a huge fight but Dad tried to make her see how much I loved karting and how passionate I was about it. But above all how talented I was, so my Mum came with us for the next race. When she saw how much effort I put into my work, how I checked lap times, the tires, talked enthusiastically with Frank about the conditions of the track, she realised this was really my passion and I was really good at it. I wanted to proof my Mum that I was really good and gave my all, I even tried my best to overhear all the mean comments coming from some of the boys I was racing against. I was used to it by now, still it hurt. At the end I did not win the race. I ended up in P2, but Frank hugged me and told us that the boy in P1 was driving for three years already. Where I was not even driving for half a year.

„So in my book, it’s your win kid!“ Frank said and we packed up and left.

In the next weeks Mum went with me to the track instead of Dad, he was to busy with our house and work. Mum helped out where she could at the racetrack, in the restaurant, helped the younger kids with their gear, answered questions of the newer parents, just to stay busy and not to focus on what I’m doing, at the end of the day she still was scared that something would happen. Seeing how happy I was made her swallow her fears down, she could never ever take this away from me. My sister and my brother, sometimes joined my parents on the weekends for races and cheered me on, being proud of their little sister.

Out of the passion for driving, the passion of watching motor races on the television was born and shortly after I knew driving one day in Formula One was what I wanted. I said to my Dad that one day I’ll be driving in Formula One and then I’ll bring home the world championship just like Michael Schumacher did. He smiled at me and said he had no doubt that I will give my very best to achieve my goals. I asked him if he thinks I could be champion as a girl, thinking about all the boys who said as a girl I could never be as good as they were and he just nodded.

"It doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or a girl, what matters is how much effort you put into what you’re doing and I know you, you put everything in, but you always have to work hard, because somewhere might always be someone working harder than you and unfortunately, because you’re a girl they will all look down at you. You have to stand proud and show them that yes, you’re a girl, but you’re better than all of them!" Dad said and I hugged him.

“Thanks, Papa!” I said and left.

April 2006

After almost 3 years of attending races all over Germany, going up in the ranks, moving up the classifications, Frank said I was ready to start in international races throughout Europe. My first race was at a racing track in France near the German border.

Just a small race weekend, with 2 quali races on Saturday and the main race on Sunday, but I was a little nervous, I just turned 8 and a lot of the other drivers would be a bit older than me, the age range for this race was 8 to 12. We arrived early Saturday morning, exhausted and tired, but I was fully motivated and couldn’t wait for the first training sessions to start. Dad and I went to the registration desk, realising that it was a good idea from Frank to learn English the past 3 years because he said when I go international, I have to speak English and that it didn’t matter how young I was. The next languages he wanted me to learn were Italian and French, because these two languages were also pretty important in the racing world, so I started it a couple of months ago. There was a boy in front of us with his Dad and they were speaking very fast French. I tried to understand something but it was all just a blur. A second guy walked up to the registration desk saying we could come to him.

"Hi, I’m Lizzie and I’m here to register for the race." I said happily and handed him my documents. He checked them and told my Dad our box number, gave him a time table, a starting number and explained some general rules, but I wasn’t listening. I was just standing there excited, that’s when the boy approached me. He looked at me with wide eyes.

"I’m sorry, are you racing with us?" he asked with a strong French accent and I nodded "I’ve never raced against a girl, before!"

I just shrugged my shoulders.

"Oh well, that changes today!" I said and he nodded then smiled sheepishly at me.

"I’m Charles, I guess I’ll see you on track!" he answered.

"Yup, I’m in the kart passing you!" I said determined and Dad chuckled.

"I like your daughter, she’s brave!" Charles’ Dad said to mine who only nodded.

And that was the day we met the Leclerc’s.

Over the next six months I attended races in France, Belgium and Italy and at every single race I met Charles and his family accompanied by their family friends, the Gaslys. Their son, Pierre, also competing with us. Another family we met quite often were the Verstappens from the Netherlands, I never met the kid who was driving though. My Dad pointed out that the father, Jos, was a Formula One driver and was once a teammate of Michael Schumacher. So of course one day I went straight up to him and then asked for an autograph. He asked me if I was also driving and told him the next race was my race. He introduced me to his son with whom I would race. That’s when I first met Max. He just nodded and walked off.

“Don’t worry, that’s typical Max, he rarely speaks to us. He’s mostly on his own, but he is one of the best, if not the best.” Charles said, appearing besides me.

I cocked an eyebrow and looked at Charles.

“Then it’s time for Max to race the real best!” I boast.

“You mean yourself? Always humble!” he laughed.

“I meant us, idiot!” I replied and rolled my eyes “Come on, let’s get ready.”

And together we walked away.

The race was messy. It was a tough battle. Max was reckless and ruthless but Charles and I acted the same today. We were pushing us off the track all the time, clashing hard and in the end the racing director disqualified all three of us. We were sitting on a bench, all glaring at each other. Our fathers in front of us, discussing how to punish us for our reckless behaviour. Dad and Hervé tried to reason with us, saying that it’s dangerous to do what we were doing. We could not just injure ourselves but also the other drivers. Max’ Dad just said that were behaving stupid, actions like this cost us a race and like this we won’t win. I just rolled my eyes

“Yeah, yeah, we got it. It was stupid, we won’t do it again!” all 3 of us said.

But we did it again. And again.

Over the years the Leclercs and my family were getting closer and closer. Our parents becoming really good friends. My brother and sister befriending Lorenzo, Arthur and Charles easily. We were spending holidays together, accompanied by the Gaslys sometimes, in the south of France.

Charles and I became closer and closer, our friendship really grew stronger with each race weekend. He always fought the other boys who made jokes about me, because I was girl. I never listened but Charles made it furious, but I always calmed him down, telling him they’re not worth the trouble. In general I could calm him down in a way no one else could and his Dad rather sent me to talk to him after a messed up race, because he knew I would get Charles to open up about his feelings, rather then just bottling it all up. It was at the last race of the season in 2009, I came back from the toilet and walked past the bleachers where Charles and some of the other guys were sitting, I didn’t wanted to go to them, one of the boys, David, was the worst when it came to belittling me or making fun of me.

So I just waved to Charles and nodded with my head in the way where our parents had set up our camp for the weekend and walked away. Not even 30 seconds later there was a big commotion behind me and Dad and Hervé walked fast past me and separated Charles and David. David had a bloody nose, Charles looked furious. David’s father demanded that Charles was going to be disqualified for hitting his son for no reason and Hervé and Dad tried to get out of Charles why he did it. But he kept quiet.

„I must say, I’m disappointed in you, Charles! Hitting him for no reason? That’s not you!” Hervé said and left Charles standing alone at the side of our make shift camp. I wasn’t sure what to do so I grabbed the first thing that came to my mind and walked over to Charles.

“Hey…”I said quietly and Charles looked up, I could see his eyes were glassy.

"Hi." he replied with a broken voice.

"Here." I gave him my Cars snow globe, that I bought when we were in Disneyland together "I know, it’s a bit childish, but for some reason, whenever I’m sad or mad or just not in a good mood, I just turn on the lights, shake it and watch the glitter swim around… kinda relaxes me. And after all, he’s Lighting McQueen, he reminds me a bit of you." I laughed.

"Thanks, Lizzie." Charles whispered and shakes it, watching the glitter land on the car.

"You don’t have to tell me what happened, but I know you didn’t hit him without a reason, I’m sure whatever David did or said, he deserved it!” I said and Charles nodded.

"I wish Dad would think so too, Lizzie.” he said, then hugged me and thanked me again. We never talked about it again.

It was in the spring of 2010 when I experienced my first Monaco Grand Prix, having visited races in France, at the Hockenheimring and Spa before. We watched it from the balcony of Charles friends flat. We were cheering on the Ferrari’s, always freaking out whenever we saw the red car passing us.

It was at that moment when Charles and I looked at each other swearing to ourselves, we both make it into Formula 1 and we both will drive for Ferrari together one day. It was also on that weekend, when I first met Jules, he was Charles godfather, his family was really close friends with Charles‘s family. Jules was driving in the Formula 3 Euroseries on his way to become a Formula One driver. He accompanied us to some of the next races and always helped us with his advice. Charles really looked up to him. He admired Jules and basically whatever advice he would give, Charles immediately tried it out. He was an amazing driver, helping us whenever he can, always cheering from the sidelines but he never hesitated to criticise us if needed. With his input our driving got even better. In that year I also met Sebastian Vettel, a driver from RedBull, he was fast and ruthless and on his way to become the youngest World Champion ever. He was at a Karting event in Germany and talked to us young drivers. He immediately took a liking of me, saying it’s good to see that girls also got into Motorsports. We spoke a lot and I told him that I was going to the Monza GP later that year and he invited me and the people I wanted to go into the RedBull Garage with VIP passes. When I told Charles about it we were almost freaking out.

2012:

As the years passed by, more races, more family trips together, more memories were made. Charles and I always graduating at the end of a season to the next higher classification. Together with us always Max and Pierre. The battles between Max and Charles were always the worst ones, they never backed down, pushed each other harder then anyone else. I got caught up in the middle more than once. One of those times in May, racing on a wet track with puddles everywhere, they kept on pushing each other of the track lap after lap. When I tried to pass them, Max pushed me off as well to avoid me claiming P1. As the checkered flag was waved Charles got close to Max one last time, seemingly telling him off or something, Max looked at him and they touched again, Max went off and drove through a deep puddle, getting soaked. They both were disqualified so that I took the win home, Max was fuming but Charles had to contain his laughter and congratulated me as we watched how Max complained to an interviewer, I got called to the podium and I saw how the guy approached Charles. Not knowing that this moment would become a famous meme one day.

“Nothing, just an inchident on the race!”

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Little note:

That’s it, chapter one of ?? is out! This chapter is not really eventful, I just needed to set up the friendship between Charles and Lizzie and of course the close bond between their families!

Please leave a comment/ like/ reblog/ message and tell me how you liked it!

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Shout out to @elisysd for giving me enough courage to not only start writing again, but also for giving me enough confidence to post this story! THANK YOU ♥️

Last but not least, English is not my first language and although I tried my best: please forgive me any mistakes I made!

All pictures are from Google, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.

Till, Cannstatter Wasen, Stuttgart, Germany, 10/11-06-2022 © Carsten Göke