However, Ilja, a native of Prague, did not last long in Prague. Perhaps because his vision in life was not to peacefully find a permanent "place and salary... salary and place", he moved to Šléglov. Here, in the lap of the Jeseníky Mountains, he found a wonderful wife, Maria, and together they planted four roots in the form of four children.
I don't dare to guess what his goal was, but I know for sure that he was a great artistic blacksmith, academic painter, racer, constructor, impeccable friend and much more. If anyone needed to find inspiration or an interesting idea while traveling through life, they were sure to find it at Šléglov 21.
Motorcycle racing was an everyday part of life for the Zachovals. In the 1980s, Ilja took part in regional championships. On his Esu 350, tuned at the forge, he raced the "stinky two-strokes" that (despite God) already ruled the race tracks at that time. At the same time, he raised and held the banner of the Classic class. His racing calendar was full and he spent almost every weekend in the depot, and Sundays on the race track at full speed.
Ilja was the author of many interesting ideas and he implemented many of them. From avoiding the war by simulated deafness, to operating a hydroelectric power plant, to the construction of a four-cylinder ČZ. These bold ideas were always born in the same way, usually late in the evening, with a cup of black tea and the smell of tobacco around. In the case of the Kolštejn circuit, it was no different.
The 10th Kolšrejn Circuit in 2007 was the last one he actively participated in and organized. Since 2008, it has been organized as a legacy of Ilja Zachoval and our wish is to direct the races in the context of Ilja's ideas. At the very least, "it has to be tried.".
