Adam_B
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 00
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
|
So, like ages ago the face man comes to me, he says Adam, lets go to the Nurburgring in July. I think hmmm, VX220 + Nurburgring is only ever going to get one answer, hell yeah!
So fast forward to last thurs, how the fuck do you get all the stuff for 2 people and 1 car you will need for a monster road trip to Germany for 5 days? well you use some creativity, a little hope and lots of swearing and shoving things 
So I go and pick up Lisa from work and we set off. We meet Ian at services on the M6 and get on with the drive to Dover. Fairly un-eventful and Lisa soon adopts her fav past time for car journeys
Ians 106 Rally
TVR Sagaris, squirt 
We arrive in Dover and stay at the castle something or other hotel, which is nice. 400 billion seagulls all making noise all night is not. Get up next morning at some ridiculous hour to catch the 8am ferry from Dover to Dunquerke, which is when we spotted our first celebrity! Hello to Paul (essay) J! Ferry was fine, no dramas. Although we did pick up an extra passenger, Blue Luke.
Then off the Ferry and blast across France, Belgium and into Germany, arriving at the Guest house at about 2.30 pm. The room was awesome, it had porno lighting and everything! Lisa was tired after all the sleeping in the car so had a quick nap while me and Ian unpacked. The golf belongs to Gary, hes a bit of a hero with the 'ring, hes a member of Northloop website and spends a lot of time out there. He also looks like Blofeld for James Bond. For real.
After that we blasted back up the hill to the track and parted with 235 Euros in exchange for 15 Laps. I went out first to re-familiarise myself with the track then came in and let Lisa have a sighting Lap. She only did 1 lap as on the only 1 she did we overtook about 100 cars and i swear we set a new land speed and amount of time on 2 wheels records  I actually heard my brakes crying 'make it stop!' as we pulled into the carpark
So it was time for the official sticker ceremony, loverly jubly 
2nd celebrity spot, Jack Osbourne turned up filming his TV show adrenaline Junkie, didnt manage to get any pics but he went out in suzuki swift 
Anyway, after all that excitement we made our way back down the hill and went out for T. We went up to the Pistonklause with a load of other people from Northloop, had a jolly nice time as they are a top bunch of people  Steak on a stone and steak and spinach pizza please!
Saturday was a bit shit, the weather couldnt decide what to do but managed to get a few quick laps in, had a bit of a moment about 6 corners in where i went over a crest that was a bit greasy and the back end got a little loose. But the VX is very easy to drive and doesnt punish unless your being a cock so we were soon pointing in the right direction again
Saw lots of excellent cars.
Alfa showing off! we loved it
for T that night we went across the road from where we were staying and had this mad looking soup in bread thing, was really nice!
Sunday was a cracker! Gorgeous weather all day and Me and Lisa had a wander into Adenau town for breakfast and had a little wander around. Lisa bought shoes
This is where we stayed
Then we headed back up to the track for more laps, cool cars and unfortunatly a dead biker 
This Nova wore Lotus badges and was monstrously fast!
me going out for a lap, i like this pic as i have the same one from 2 years ago in the Corsa
This E30 M3 was gorgeous!
Dropped Lisa off at the bridge in Adenau and got her to take some pics as i came round, think she did fantastic
Then unfortunatly a biker went down and didnt get up. Similar thing happened last time i went but luckily this time no one hit him, a 911 and a golf both drove into the wall to avoid him. Sadly he didnt make it Really is scary, imagine sitting there while your friend or whatever is out on track, the track closing and everyone coming back in except for your mate. You really need to show this track respect.
After they closed for 2 hours to tidy up i went out again, all weekend i had been having problems with my brakes, because the track is quite bumpy and the ABS on the VX is easily confused i was gettting hard pedal and random ABS coming on under braking. I got chatting to Jay from VX220.org who was out there with a Exige S, an Elise and his Tuned VX Turbo. After a bit of faffing he pulled out my front ABS sensor and i went for a quick blast down the road, pedal was consistant and perfect everytime
Then went out on track following Jay and his crew, Jays car is a bit crazy, its running a full miltek exhaust, charge cooler and a few other bits on the standard map, so it was popping 3ft flames on most gear changes, awesome! The pace was very quick but managable, jay had a bit of a tank slapper over a little damp patch but kept hold of it like a hero
After that i did a couple of laps back to back, overtook an Exige on one who i dont think wanted to be overtaken and an E46 M3. My brakes were working perfectly and giving me lots of confidence. In fact the whole car felt superb, on the R888s and gaz coilovers i could really throw it around without any drama and it was so resposive. Only things to improve it, but there not essential, I need a proper harness setup and some sort of rear diffuser. Got a CG lock but i broke it on Saturday and going over some of the faster sections it feels like the back of the car is a bit light especially over 90mph. I did have a moment of bravery/madness and kept my foot in going through Flugplatz i think its called and managed to just touch 140mph but it was proper scarey
Anyway im just rambling on now so im going to hit post before i crash the website If your thinking of going or fancy it then just do it, it really is amazing, if you like driving its deffinitly one of those do before you die things, be warned though, you will want to go back
Lisa and Adam xxx
P.S all my photos are here, but they are still uploading, should be all done by tomorrow -
http://public.fotki.com/Adamski/car_stuff/track_stuff/2008/nurburgring/
[Edited on 15-07-2008 by Adam_B]
|
RS6
Member
Registered: 5th Nov 03
Location: with MJ
User status: Offline
|
great story
looks like you had a lot of fun!!
|
Tom
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
|
Another good nurburgring post sad about the biker
|
AndyKent
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
|
Magic, great write up
Just need a VX in my life 
|
stubbsy05
Member
Registered: 23rd Oct 02
User status: Offline
|
Can't wait to go next year!! Looks like you had a great time!
|
jr
Member
Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
|
Nice one mate, thanks to yours and lisa's calls on the way down
|
Kurt
Member
Registered: 23rd Oct 05
Location: Hi
User status: Offline
|
did you beat your satnav record?
|
Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
|
wicked mate!
Sorry I didn't come over and talk to you when I saw you at the ring, my car was fucking pissing me off too much
Saw your car go round a few times though
I also got interviewed by the camera crew for that jack osbourne, I was chatting complete bollocks and then swore
'You have to keep it fucking flat out' (Gasps by camera crew)...
So doubtful I'll be on the show
I'll post my report / problems / essay / crap in a bit.
|
Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
|
Oh yeah talking of bikers crashing
Our hotel owner, Bren on the sunday went down really bad late afternoon. This bloke is a local legend and there's video's of him doing 7 min 32 laps! but he hit some coolant and stacked it into the wall at over 100 mph, both him + the bike flew through the air.
Result = Completely shattered pelvis (needs a new hip), broken leg, broken arm, several broken ribs, several broken back vertibrey and cuts + bruises etc.
Basically, when we walked into the hotel from the ring, his Wife was on the phone going "Oh fuck, how bad is it ? what's he broken etc" - as it had just happened and he was apparently in a mess at the side of the track waiting for the air ambulance and his mate was letting her know.
 shocking.
|
RossyB
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 07
Location: Sandbach, Cheshire
User status: Offline
|
The ring is awesome, love to do it again.
|
Dan Lewis
Member
Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Leicestershire
User status: Offline
|
so is 15laps enough for a day or do you wish you had more?
|
Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dan Lewis
so is 15laps enough for a day or do you wish you had more?
i think that's more than enough for the car.
|
col
Member
Registered: 1st May 08
Location: cumbria
User status: Offline
|
good write up enjoyed the read
|
Adam_B
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 00
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
|
15 laps is nearly 200 track miles, so yeah thats enough for me and the car 650 miles from home Paul, i thought you looked a bit peeved, everytime i looked over your bonnet was up!
Jr 
|
deano87
Member
Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
|
Nice story shame about the biker.
I want to take a trip to spectate etc, but need to wait till I have a better car.
I will go one day though
|
Nick-S
Member
Registered: 3rd Mar 04
Location: Leigh. Drives: RS Megane 230 F1 Team R26
User status: Offline
|
fun fun fun adam
|
Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
|
Yeah adam, I'll put more details in my thread when I make it. Hopefully should be easy enough to sort, but just a bummer going all the way to not have 100% car.
How did your mate in the blue 106 do? Is he the guy I heard did like a 8 min 40 lap or something?
I was in the bar on the first night (note I hadn't gone on track yet) - and some scottish bloke came up and said 'Are you the guy with the blue 106?'
I said 'err.. .yes' - then he said 'Ah right, I was speaking to some people about a quick driver in a blue 106 and they pointed me this way' ...
I'm thinking
Then he said 'I think you pulled out on track just after me today'
... "Sorry mate, I wasn't on track today I arrived too late and the track was closed"
Him : "oh"
I instantly knew it was probably your mate in the blue 106!
|
Mobby
Member
Registered: 31st Dec 07
Location: Leicestershire
User status: Offline
|
great pictures
and RIP fellow bikers
|
Robbo
Member
Registered: 6th Aug 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Tom
Another good nurburgring post sad about the biker
|
jr
Member
Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
|
paul were you staying at sliders ?
|
Paul_J
Member
Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by jr
paul were you staying at sliders ?
Yup, why?
|
SportBoy
Member
Registered: 5th Oct 01
Location: Retford, Nottinghamshire
User status: Offline
|
next time any of you badgers go to the ring tell me! ... ive been wanting to go for awhile and i get let down or people i know wont go and i dont wanna go on my own
|
Adam_B
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 00
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
|
Paul i saw you mooching about as i went to get my car to go out, i was gonna offer you a pax lap but when i came back you were no-where to be seen! His rallye was sound all the time, doubt he was doing 8.40s, hes not bothered about times anyway. It was only when we went onto the motorway at Dover, coming off a roundabout he his something in the road and the car cut out. After about 30 mins head scratching and a bit of poking about it fired up again!
Im gutted i didnt get any vids, everytime i went out with the intention of filming the next lap there seemed to be Marshalls all over the track
[Edited on 15-07-2008 by Adam_B]
|
Whittie
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 06
Location: North Wales Drives: BMW, Corsa & Fiat
User status: Offline
|
Awesome! I text Lisa to see how you two were getting on but whilst half way through i ran out of Battery!
Wonder what was in the nova....
Really glad you enjoyed it!
[Edited on 15-07-2008 by Whittie]
|
Adam_B
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 00
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
|
Alex
Might be going again later in the year
|
