What a day!

[Bleu Omdurman]

Nobody panic!!! Everything is going to be okay. I left the Nurburgring in one piece so that the rest of you can go enjoy it. But more my driving laps later, I have a tale that will curl the hair on the back of your neck!! Go grab a beverage then come back here, sit down and enjoy...


It's just a tad after 4pm and the cool fall air is wafting to and fro pushing the fallen leaves around in the paddock. While the breeze is certainly refreshing, I am absolutely spent. My concentration has started to fade and I definitely have a good case of helmet hair, so no more laps of the Ring for me today. Nothing on earth could possibly top this whimsical day of frolicking about in the Eiffel mountains.

Just then, I see a white blur zoom past out on straight known as "Dottinger-Hohe" I can just make out, a faint red lettering near the bottom of the doors. GT3 RS.

I shake my head as if to tell some unseen watcher, " Can you imagine a lap around this track in that car?" That's what dreams are made of right there. Indeed, and they are made right here. vvv

My instructor for the day asks me, in a thick English accent, "well mate, shall we take the beetle 'round a bit then?" With a nod toward the GT3 RS that has just pulled into the paddock, a glint in his eye. "I'd like that very much, thank you."

Off we go then.

I strap my "lid" on for one last time as the owner tells Darren, my instructor, "So, right, the speed to beat is 179mph at Antonius Buche Bridge. Gulp. I sit down and strap into the car remembering that there is only about 2 feet of space between the track and the ARMCO in most places. Get those belts extra tight! Right, of we go.

The acceleration is absolutely crushing. We scream up the gearbox to Tier Garten at a pace that seems to defy physics. Can cars go this fast? In a second we are heading directly at the tire wall that prevents us from entering the GP circuit. But then, a flick of the wheel, a lot of throttle and we are off in a new direction as the tires scream in pained anger at the pavement. Faster, faster, hard left as we tear down to Hatzenbach. The first test of courage is right here. Ultra fast double bend to the right in 4th gear, down hill off camber with bumps all over the place. We continue down to Hocheichen, swerving left, right, left, down, left. The engine is bellowing like Alocer himself has been reincarnated within the Eiffel mountains. This demon thrusts us forward like I have never moved before. Uphill and fast toward the Flugplatz. Despite the immense downforce we launch skyward, if only briefly as we scream over the crest at Flugplatz. Airborne, in a GT3 RS on the Nordschliefe.

That was the first mile of one 13 mile-lap. I leave the rest of the grand journey to your imagination, but sweet Jesus that car is fast!

Guten Abend

[apk919]

Originally Posted by Bleu Omdurman

Nobody panic!!! ...

Guten Abend

Ausgeseichnet!

[Bavarian Motorist]

Congrats on that experience. You sound in awe.

[speedneed]

bleu..
you should start writing books for gm , ford and chrysler...they will sale more cars...lol

[milehitom]

Bleu,

That really was beautifully written. Even if it's just in installments, I look forward to the reading other miles!

Tom

[glb]

me, too.

[Bleu Omdurman]

Thanks guys.

I am in awe. The awe rests mostly on the side of how much skill there is to be gained in this sport. I've been going hard at it now for about 3 years, and have made enormous improvements, but there is so much more on the table.

The track is astonishingly good. I highly recommend a trip if you have the time.

[ms355]

Guten Morgen, Bleu. I hope a sequel will follow soon.

[kestrel74]

Gee, thanks............( I think )......now I have all over the keyboard.

[Bleu Omdurman]

There is nothing wrong with Helmet head!



Thanks for a wonderful lap Darren!

[Interceptor]

Jealous man, jealous!

[Lotus-Position]

Sounds like a blast Bleu! I got to drive a friends gt3 RS earlier this year... not at a track, but OMG... what a ride!

Congrats on driving the Ring!

[Bleu Omdurman]

The ring rocked. It was so worth it, that I plan on making a yearly prilgramage. Fly over, stay at the Blaue Ecke, and get about 3 days of track time in followed by a small European detour.

I think I'll do it during a US holiday that does not line up with a German holiday and just add a day or two of vacation on either side.

I have a video that I am uploading to youtube. I just checked it and it got stuck at 74%. looks like I need to restart the upload.

I'll post it when its done.

best,

[climb4fun]

How much it cost to rent a sportcar like yours a Renaultsport with instructor at the ring? Thanx.

[Bleu Omdurman]

The car was 525 Euro. At RSR Nürburg - Home these are probably the best guys to rent from. In fact Nissan gave them about 25 GT-Rs to give customer laps in. If that is any indication of their quality. They are also the closest to the track. Walking distance. Other shops are zakspeed and race4rent

The track day was 399 GBP which included hotel, instruction as much as I wanted, as many laps as i could drive and as many passenger laps as I wanted. Helmets were required and available. I had my own so I am not sure if there was a rental fee for that. I used ringweekends. Contact darren@ringweekends.co.uk and tell him Trevor sent you.

Darren is by far the best driver I have ever been in a car with and is a very skilled instructor as well. His skills in the GT3 RS and Subaru STI were simply off the charts. As many track day junkies know, skill as a driver does not equate to skill as an instructor. Darren is very skilled at both.

Ron Simons and Dale at RSR are also very good drivers and run a training program.

Fuel is not included in the above prices. I used about a tank and a half. price was the equivilant of $4 a gallon. The prices also do not cover meals.

I recommend the Clio or similar easy car for anyone your first day on the track. Spins on this track are very costly so a front wheel drive car, prone to understeer can be very helpful while you learn where the track goes. A second day would really be up to a person skill. You can also rent cars for 2 hour blocks which is a smaller hit to the wallet if you don't want to (or wife wont let you) spend all day at the ring.

Personally, I recommend a 2-3 day trip with darren as an instructor for the first 2 days. Day one, learn the track use the clio. Day two, pound out the laps let darren guide you where you can and cannot go faster. use a car closer matched to your skill level if the Clio isn't up to the task. Day three, weather day or extra laps.

I think the Blaue Ecke is a great place to stay. It is only 60 euro a night and a great value, breakfast is included and nearly everyone at breakfast is heading out to the ring. There was a Ferrari 612 there the whole week. On the track every day.

Oh yeah, if you can, bring a mobile phone.