Sportsfreunde der Sperrtechnik Deutschland e.V. - The dedicated followers of the fundamentals of lock-picking (r.s.)

Introduction by Steffen Wernery

"I made my first lock pick out of a coat hanger at the age of twelve. It came in handy time and again; especially when our teacher forgot about the class room key, as usual.

As I visited N.Y. for the HOPE-congress in August 1994, I stumbled into a little spy-equipment store strolling around Downtown and treated myself to the first pick-set.

Later on, in the "Chaos Computer Club's" archives I found the books by "Eddie the Wire".

Amazed by the simplicity of common pin tumbler locks, I began raking and picking myself through life - sometimes more, sometimes less successful.

Since lock picking, as so many things in life, is not much fun on its own I began to share my pastime and my pick-set with my buddy Jurgen whom I finally endowed with a set of his own. Thus, getting a chance to reunite with my set.

From that day on, we have spent many evenings together exchanging know-how and casually opening locks and padlocks. Now my place is plastered with locks which I "incidentally" open on any occasion possible, like watching T.V. , on the toilet or in the bath tub.

Since I carry my sports-equipment around like my wallet, flights and train rides are ideal for practicing.

In the meantime, half of my friends share my pastime.

It is always a great pleasure to quickly open front doors, letter boxes or sometimes a bicycle lock for acquaintances, neighbours and other helpless people when they happen to lose their keys. The finest reward is watching their faces in disbelief over and over again, as their expensive locks are opened in a matter of minutes or even seconds - enough exercise provided.

At the "Chaos Communication Congress 1996" we held a discourse about the topic. After almost 80 people attended the consecutive workshop "Türöffnen ohne Schlüssel" (unlocking doors without a key) we all knew we needed a Club!

Finally, on the 9^th of February 1997 the "Sportsfreunde der Sperrtechnik Deutschland e.V." came into being.

Among others our aims are:

• maintaining locking technology as a sporting challenge,
• the arrangement of annual nationwide championships,
• research about locking systems and knowledge exchange,
• set up of a collective research data base,
• publication of a club magazine,
• set up of sports facilities with associated workshops,
• hosting of skill enhancement activities,
• support on selection and acquisition of specialized sports-equipment.

We welcome everybody who is up to the task and ready to master it together with us - no matter whether you are eager to learn, an active instructor in one of our sports facilities or just want to exchange ideas with like minded people on one of our chummy regulars' table get2gether's - don't be shy!

Hamburg, 23/04/97

Steffen Wernery

translation by englishtranslation@gmx.de