Trip to the Mekka of motorsport (picture heavy)

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TheStig
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Trip to the Mekka of motorsport (picture heavy)

Post by TheStig »

Well Guess what...

I've been to the biggest legend in track racing...

The Nürburg Ring!

Together with several guys from Celicas.eu I've been to the ring for a weekend.
We left on friday and it lasted till Monday, but sadly I had to work Monday, so I had to leave Sunday later in the day.

Friday was the day of the trip to the Ring and to the house we rented.
Saturday it was our own trackday, so a trip to the Nordschleife, I just had to do at least 1 lap, but I knew it could be addictive so I bought a 4 lap ticket.
Going round isn't cheap at 22 euro a lap, the 4 lap ticket was 75 euro but it was worth it!
I only done 3 laps because we had other plans for sunday so I gave my last lap to someone else who stayed till Monday.
Sunday was DTM day. we went to the GP track all day and watched the DTM races and also 2 other race events.
Those DTM cars sure are fast and Loud! I know racing is loud bud didn't expect the DTM cars to be so loud.
A very nice day overall.

Some pics of it:

Where we met near the German border with 7 Celicas in total:
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At the Nordschleife (parkinglot):
1 row of Japanese cars:
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Some of the other nice cars that went to the track: (with nice cars on the background as well)
Nissan GTR:
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Ford Focus RS:
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Mosler MT900:
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Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24:
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Vettes (take a good look at the red vette you will see it again a bit down this post!)
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And the best of em all :):
At the Startgate:
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On Track together with a T18:
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And back:
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We went with several cars and the one in front of me on the track had a cam with him in his T18 Celica, this is part 2 and just after 1 minute in the movie I pass him :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFJxAAUrLJ0


And a few of the other Celicas that went with me on the track:
T23 Celica with TRD kit and a stroked 1ZZ-FE engine (2.0 instead of 1.8 )
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ST182 Celica that I ran with:
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ST202 Celica with a 2.0 3S-GTE engine conversion:
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Overall it was just overkill in terms of cars, there where so many M3's 911's Impreza's etc that you just lost count.
Other great cars we saw but not all on pics:
- Ferrari 430 Scuderia
- Porsche 911 GT2 (997) (and loads of GT3(RS)
- Audi R8 (V8 and V10)
- Aston Martin DB9
- Corvette ZR1

And the Sunday entertainment:
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Not everything went so well for everyone... remember the Red Vette?
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Pics are taken by several people so they vary in size and quality.
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Re: Trip to the Mekka of motorsport (picture heavy)

Post by Andre_online »

Wow! Cool!! Wish I'll get that experience too one fine day.. So I assume since you're "TheStig", you're the fastest there? Haha!

I really hope that Vette is insured..
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Re: Trip to the Mekka of motorsport (picture heavy)

Post by steelsnake00 »

Most insurance is invalid on the 'Ring, even specialist track insurance. There's so little run-off on the circuit that any off at anything close to a decent speed results in a barrier impact.
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Re: Trip to the Mekka of motorsport (picture heavy)

Post by TheStig »

Yep, seen several people who gone off.

A alarming amount of bikers who where caught by some tricky corners and lost control, 2 out of 3 runs had a biker who crashed in the exact same corner.

Also several cars where damaged or even written off, including the Z06 in the picture.
- BMW 1 series coupe (write off, it was almost unrecognisable and the track had to be closed for more then a hour, it most likely flipped cause of the all round damage.)
- Nissan GTR was on a truck, no visual damage so maybe engine problems, or the owner forgot it needed fuel??
- Vauxhall VX220, could not see if it was damaged but it was next to a guard rail and there was a yellow flag at that time, so just drove by.

We had diner in Breidscheid and on the other side of the street where our restaurant was there was a exit/entrance for emergency vehicles so we saw the tow truck go by.

It does remind you of the dangers of the Ring, but still it lures you in...
Even though I did only 3 laps, I do know I want to go again and go over it some more.

Did I mention I did the run in 11.46 (that is the timer started as soon as I was passed the pylons and stopped a 200m before you had to get off so when we slowed down to get in line to get off.
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Re: Trip to the Mekka of motorsport (picture heavy)

Post by steelsnake00 »

I miss the 'Ring. It's no fun on a bike, even a fast one like the K1200. I'd imagine that the Triumph would take it better but it's only been in my drive for about 3 days so I don't really want to over-egg it until I know what I'm dealing with.

My ~400bhp S2 used to do a pretty safe 9 mins, and that's because pushing that to the limit resulted in catastrophic understeer. The ~380bhp M3 CSL was much faster, maybe mid-8's with someone as ham-fisted as me (though I have previously owned a National Gp B racing licence) driving.

Soon I'll be back out there though, be it on a bike or in a car.
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Re: Trip to the Mekka of motorsport (picture heavy)

Post by Striker94 »

eh! (i'm back)

here's a stupid question: did you get your time recorded?
oh snap
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Re: Trip to the Mekka of motorsport (picture heavy)

Post by Carcrazy »

You mean this? :P
TheStig wrote:Did I mention I did the run in 11.46 (that is the timer started as soon as I was passed the pylons and stopped a 200m before you had to get off so when we slowed down to get in line to get off.
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Re: Trip to the Mekka of motorsport (picture heavy)

Post by steelsnake00 »

Striker94 wrote:eh! (i'm back)

here's a stupid question: did you get your time recorded?
You aren't meant to time yourself on the 'ring, last time I went in a car the marshalls got a bit finnikity about it and actually confiscated a guys driftbox that he was using for timing.

Doesn't stop everyone doing it, though.
'01 Triumph TT600- Race spec everything
'94 Audi S2 Quattro- Road legal track project
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Re: Trip to the Mekka of motorsport (picture heavy)

Post by TheStig »

Same goes for filming and taking pictures once you are on the track.... in case of camouflage cars.... as if you can't film/photograph them when you are watching the cars on the track from the many view points.... and you can make A lot better pics when watching then when on the passenger seat.

My passenger used the stopwatch on my mobile phone...
On the first run my passenger (other person) had his camera in his hand when we went to the gate, but the marshalls told us to remove it and put it in the trunk.....(I knew we where not allowed but was to busy getting in lane to tell the passenger to put the camera in the glovebox.
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Re: Trip to the Mekka of motorsport (Hijacked...)

Post by steelsnake00 »

Right, I got back from the 'Ring last night so I'm going to hijack this thread.

No pictures of the 'Ring yet, unfortunately I hit it alone (as my mate had just reached the house he was staying at in Passau) and the only person who photographed it was some randomer I met their, but, hey ho. On the upside, I got a tour of the Aston Martin facility there. Apparently, if you just tell them your dad's bought one, then they'll let you in.

Currently compiling a video of our travels, and heres a few teasers...

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Riding side-saddle ftw!
'01 Triumph TT600- Race spec everything
'94 Audi S2 Quattro- Road legal track project
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