Bigpower

So the plan was to see Dad, who's currently buying a house in Bauler (about 5mins from the ring) and also to use up my lap tickets before the end of the season!

My el cheapo RyanAir flight left at 0715hrs from Stanstead, so an early morning meant I had to leave mine at 0400hrs...

A quick ontime flight and I had made it to Frankfurt Hahn and met Dad and off to Bauler to see Manfred @ AutegMotorsport, who's looking after the Golf for us.

After collecting the Golf, we went to check in at the B&B in Nurburg and en route it started to rain... Snow had been forecast for that day, however it remained a few degrees over zero and was cold.

I hadn't brought a coat so it was off to the museum to purchase an Offical Nurburgring Jacket and here we met up with Duncan, Rachel and Annabelle and had lunch.

I had never driven the ring in the wet and on pulling out to go back to Ring, a brand new Aston Martin DB9 with severe front end damage passed us on the back of a recovery truck. A reminder that this place bites.

The carpark still littered with autoporn despite the bad weather, we pulled out onto the track.

The first section is quite easy and I made sure I was very slow going into the first major corner Tierarten. Complete understeer and I was only travelling about 20/30mph if that!!!! It was like sheet ice. This continued around the whole track and I wasn't going to be a hero, I just wanted to finish the lap safely!

A few cars were still lapping hard and came flying past, however we managed to pass a few Elises that weren't taking any chances and also 1 Ariel Atom where the driver and passenger were soaked!!

Some photos from another site :






After finishing the lap we decided to call it a day, slightly dejected about the weather however met up with Duncan and went to the Paddock Bar to watch the F1 on massive screen

It was then down to the PistenKlause for tea.. Its one of the main bars in town that do the famous PK Steak. Its basically a fillet of steak served on a baking hot piece of stone, that has been baked in an oven. You then cut the steak and cook it yourself on the stone!! To say its delicious is an understatement and always a treat in Nurburg




A few beers and with Dunk talking rubbish :drunk: it was off to bed for some sleep. The highlight was Dad getting the poor old Golf up a hill to the Burgstube with us all in it!! Couldn't have you walking up there guys!!!

Day 2 - 22/10/07

Ring open from 1300hrs-1800hrs today and the weather was promising from the off. Still cold (3/4 oC) but sunny.. Perfect conditions.

We pottered about as Dad had some stuff to do and then met up with Dunk at the indoor Kart Centre. We had a 10min session which left us all with arm ache but is was a good laugh! Then off to the Grunne Holle for dinner.

The car park not that busy due to it being a Monday however conditions we getting even better.

As soon as the barriers were open we were getting ready, so as to miss the rush to get out there.

We lapped pretty much consecutively and the Golf was on fire!

Dad gives it some hard through T13 - Standard suspension makes all the difference!!


Woo Hoo! T13 again, my turn


A few more laps and I gave Dunk a pax lap so he could see how a standard Golf handles drives! I'll let him fill you in how he felt but the knitting jokes etc etc on the uphill sections were funny!! :roll: I did break the cardinal sin and time a lap on a stopwatch, only for curiousity and it was 10:46mins!!

With the lap over, the tables were turned and i hopped in Dunks for my pax lap!

I'd been out with Dunk last year and was impressed with the car and his driving, but this lap was on a different level. The car has totally changed and I couldn't get over the handling and power. A lap of hardly any traffic and roadworks at Aremburg (mini being recovered after kissing the Armco) and the Karussell with a 70km/h speed limit all the way around, he put in an 8:46mins Bridge to Gantry!!! His quickest to date and boy was it good fun!! Thanks again Dunk :thumb:

Some more lapping and then off to take some photos as I hadn't taken many yet!!! I went to Brunnchen as it wasn't much of a walk from the carpark!!

Got some great photos and then off to Pinnochios for dinner (big pizzas)



After that Dad dropped me off at Frankfurt and the flight left at 2330 and took 1hr back to Stanstead!

A great 2 day trip but when I do it next time, I'll be going out the day before!!

Some pics from Brunnchen

Atom


This guy was having fun, not sure the car was though!


New audi


Dad again


These were very quick


Pushing hard


:notworthy:




Dunk and Annabelle



More of the pics can be seen at
http://www.pc185.co.uk/pics/index.php?i ... rburg21oct

A great write up Chris and the usual high standard of clicky stuff :thumb:

How did you find the Golf on track mate? I have an 8v as you know and it may get a run out there next year....maybe I know Maddogs lad, Jay, runs his mk2 very successfully out there but I suspect my car is a lot closer to yours in specification, so any pointers would be great.

stuartstaples wrote:How did you find the Golf on track mate? I have an 8v as you know and it may get a run out there next year....maybe I know Maddogs lad, Jay, runs his mk2 very successfully out there but I suspect my car is a lot closer to yours in specification, so any pointers would be great.

I think anyone would have as much fun in a standard car as they would in a modified car at the Ring!

The car is original and standard. Suspension, brakes etc etc

We've been advised about suspension, brakes etc but Dad doesn't want to modify the car that much, as its such a classic!

We have a lot of fun and also its a great car to learn the track in, as its not blisteringly quick (especially on the uphill sections - Thanks dunc) and you are looking to carry more of the speed through the corners making sure you get your lines right. I have found the standard brakes to be quite good surprisingly. My scoob suffered from brake fade something chronic at Snetterton and that was only after a few laps but the Golfs are fine and we have done a few laps consecutivley in it too!

You know yourself that its not the Ferrari's or other Supercars that are the quickest round there!! There are some mad ring spec'd golfs and old e30 Bm's that wipe the floor of any supercar!

What a great write up and it brings memories back....the corners....that steak...that pizza...the next morning lol.

The weather was excellent for you and that makes a huge difference. Glad you enjoyed the karting though, it is a great track...even if I did hit an object (you know who) stopped dead on a corner !!!

Some great cars there and superb pics. Makes me wanna go back even more !!

Deffo right about the local Golfs and BMs, you see them coming by and think 'they shouldnt be that quick' !!!!!

Seeing the MX5s there makes me want one now !!!

But obviously this first......

Superb write up Chris (and of course pics) 8)

The golf was superb in standard trim through all of the circuit but could have done with a little more power on the uphill section or less weight to give it more of a chance. Loved it though.

Looks awesome mate - let me know when you're going out on a short trip and I'll hop on the flight with you. Can't let you have all the fun! Great pics as well matey 8)