Nurburgring...been there, done that!

[Wyodude]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]posteddocument.write(timestamp(new Date(2005,7,9,12,17,0), dfrm, tfrm, 0, 0, 0, 0)); August 09, 2005 12:17 PMAugust 09, 2005 12:17 PM [/font]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]I can't believe it! Two weeks ago I took a trip from Aviano, Italy up to Nurburg, Germany and took the Silver bullet on the Nurburgring. I can't say that I set any lap records, but I can tell you I had the Vette up to 140 on the longest straight. To drive it fast you have to know the track and I did not. I can tell you this, nothing without roll-bars passed me and I passed plenty of other street cars including a 911 Carerra and a new model M3. There was one stretch of the "Nordschleife" where a crowd gathered to watch one long straigtaway and a small hump that can get you airborn and then a good curve to the right. When I went by on my second lap, the entire crowd was applauding. I couldn't figure out why, but enjoyed it. When I finished and began to leave the area, I happened to find that area where the public watched. One guy noticed my Vette and I asked him why they applauded and they said they liked the sound of my car. Corsa of course!!! Anyone else ever driven the Nurburgring? What do you think of Motor Trend's report on the Z06 at Nurburgring..."fast, very fast"! Cool![/font]

 

[jrose7004]

That sounds like a lot of fun!

 

[warren s]

How do you get access to that track?

 

[Wyodude]

How do you get access to that track?

It's actually pretty easy. The cost is Euro 15 or about $18, $19. If you go to the museum and pay a Euro 9 fee to get in there, you get one free lap on the track if you buy another. I did that and thus my two laps. They have an entry about 2 miles from the Museum gate and when you get there, there is a gate that blocks entry until you insert the card you get when you pay. That opens the bar and you drive the track. You have to reinsert your card and start each new lap at the gate. You can also buy as many laps as you want at the entrance to the track. There were two gates so two cars who wanted to do a grudge race could enter the track at about the same time. There was a Viper on the track the day I drove, but we didn't see each other on my laps...probably a good thing for him we didn't..... ha, ha!

The track is very hard on your car and tires and very difficult to drive fast. There were awesome hidden and negative camber turns as well. The day before my trip, a motorcyclist died on the track and a small Fiat wiped out 4 motorcycles on the day I drove. The small car drifted up the banked curve and four bikes were close together and when the first crashed it spilled the other three. One of the bikes was so badly smashed they said it didn't even look like a motorcycle. Also, a brand new black 5 series BMW went into the guard rail the day I drove and practically destroyed the car. I'm sure his insurance company will have some questions for him. There were at least thirty cars on the track while I drove my laps. I passed quite a few, and only two passed me (roll bars in both). I held off motorcycles pretty well and could out accelerate many on the straights. It was awesome! Do it if you can!

 

[Bounty Hunter 6]

I lived in Aviano for 2 1/2 years when I was a dependent back in the mid-late 70s. We actually lived in Tamaii; what an awesome place! anyway, cool story, sounds like a blast!

 

[MsSchroder]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]When I went by on my second lap, the entire crowd was applauding. I couldn't figure out why, but enjoyed it. [/font]

As I read this I had the sudden premonition that the story would end with "... and then I looked down and realized I had fogotten my pants"

 

[Wyodude]

As I read this I had the sudden premonition that the story would end with "... and then I looked down and realized I had fogotten my pants"

You some of my Corvette colleagues and colleaguets are so perceptive...how did you know???? Listen, I was so excited at the prospect that it would have been entirely possible for that to have happened!!!

 

[Wyodude]

Tamaii

I lived in Aviano for 2 1/2 years when I was a dependent back in the mid-late 70s. We actually lived in Tamaii; what an awesome place! anyway, cool story, sounds like a blast!

Hey...living, working and driving in Italy are great adventures! It looks like I should add flying to the list as well. And...it was a blast! I have driven lots of places, but my greatest experiences (with cars, that is ) have been in Italy!

Thanks for the comment.

 

[Remo]

As I read this I had the sudden premonition that the story would end with "... and then I looked down and realized I had fogotten my pants"

Tammy!! - I'm shocked - Remo:cool

 

[MsSchroder]

Tammy!! - I'm shocked - Remo:cool

I even shocked myself a little bit with that one :L