Nurburgring this weekend!

[DennisCooper!]

Hi all,

Just off to the Nurburgring this weekend along with new MFest member Simonal !

Looking forward to it as it's my first visit and I'll be with the very experienced and capable Simon to show me around!

Should be a real blast and hopefully get to run around the track in his Alpina and see what it's like at full chat !

Should be back for late Sunday evening, so literally just a quick dash to the Eurostar terminal, on the choo choo across into France and then a few hours cross continental Alpina style !

I'll take plenty of pictures!

Cheers, Dennis!

[Laidback]

Take lots of pictures!

[DennisCooper!]

Hi,
All I can say is 'wow' !

I'm STILL flabbergasted at everything I saw and about the Nurburgring !

I'd like to thank Simon and the two friends of his who also came along, for great company and discussion about everything to do with cars and the ring! much appreciated and a great time had all round !

I took about 300 pictures! saw many fantastic cars, went round the circuit 3 times, was amazed at how quickly I saw some cars go on, and then appear back after their lap!

If there's something that immediately struck me about actually going around the circuit is that anyone out there who thinks by seeing youtube video of cars going around quickly etc and like me, haven't been before, you can FORGET about trying to even come close to doing a fast lap. The road will spit you right off it if you attempt it! it's been said plenty of times in various forums, but you've really got your work cut out just going around just moderately, keeping a HAWK eye on your rear view mirror and indicating to the right as soon as a fast car behind is spotted approaching and staying as far to the right as possible.

The speed at which more experienced cars will literally ZIP past you is jaw dropping! Whilst passenger in with Simon, he was going around quickly and yet mindful not to overdo it as it's his every day driving car. Cornering and getting up to perhaps 90MPH on some straighter sections of the circuit and then seeing hot hatch cars go past even quicker is almost surreal, the ones that go past and are a blink away to then being a dot in the distance are things like the Porsche 911's ! I simply couldn't comprehend just how fast those cars were!

I'll post up some pictures now, and I'll most likely re-write this section, add some more and add extra pictures later as I've been real busy from Monday morning - combination of a new part time job to help with the cashflow and a couple of consulting contracts come up! On top of that, its taken me ages to partially edit some of the pics and then to upload them to photobucket! (I think they're having issues as upload to their servers was slow)

A few miles outside the area - good to see other cars also making their way there!

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept201123.jpg

at the main entry/exit area and the car park and waiting area
The Alpina B10 V8S Touring & our friends John and Andy in the stripped out E34 M5 3.8
http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept201132.jpg
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Some of those quick track/race prepped cars going past

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Our chalet just perhaps a quarter mile from the entry/exit/car park area

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept201150.jpg
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The view outside that patio
http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept201146.jpg
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At a nearby fuel station and hotel with a car park constantly moving and changing of cars !

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A short drive away and round the corner from the BMW Nurburg showroom (didn't get pics of that, sorry!)
http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept201170.jpg
http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept201171.jpg (the Nurburg castle)

Making our way back to the car park and entry/exit area as more people wait for the track to be opened, awesome machinery just milling about everywhere you look!

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept201176.jpg
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The long line of cars waiting to get onto the ring on one of the two approach roads

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More pics to come!

[DennisCooper!]

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In the car park area

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1M on Type 3 Racing AC Schnitzers (I think I got that right!)
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cars already coming 'out' off the circuit! I'd perhaps only managed to get pics of the 1M and these guys were already coming off and making their way to the back of the queues of cars!

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011124.jpg
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Nice M3 parked outside our chalet

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011138.jpg

Following morning daybreak ! looking like another clear day so getting ready nice and early to try and get early track entry spots!

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Got there and it was already busy!
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More pics....

[DennisCooper!]

one of two M3 GTS'

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011164.jpg
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http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011167.jpg

other's

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011168.jpg
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A rare sight here.. an Audi !! (maybe he realised it wouldnt go round corners now and decided to buy a Porsche or BMW!! ;) )

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011194.jpg

more...

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Prices;

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011207.jpg

more cars...

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011210.jpg
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Hung around the Ring Tax area for a while talking to other enthusiasts !

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BMW Ring Taxi girl organising those who were awaiting their turn - I like how these pictures turned out

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011265.jpg
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Like a London bus! two came along at the same time!

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Back in the car park..

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011270.jpghttp://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011271.jpg
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Didn't want to leave, but a couple pics of us having just left to make our way back home :(

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/DennisCooper/Nurburgring/NurburgringSept2011361.jpg
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Cheers, Dennis!

[supkev]

Thanks for sharing the pictures, thats a sick line up of cars. The e30 m3 and the m3 gts look bad ass!

[Mkrazy650]

Wow those are some sick pics dude, totally going to make the trip one day!

[M-Powered Noodle-Boi]

did u guys set any laps?
:D

[007MCoupe]

Was that a G Power M Coupe???? :drool:


I've got some research to do....

Also...I'll be stationed in Italy next fall and plan on attending a few 'ring laps of my own!!

[kautiongsr]

great pics... some day ill drive that track... i promise

[E46transforM3r]

Hi all,

Just off to the Nurburgring this weekend along with new MFest member Simonal !

Looking forward to it as it's my first visit and I'll be with the very experienced and capable Simon to show me around!

Should be a real blast and hopefully get to run around the track in his Alpina and see what it's like at full chat !

Should be back for late Sunday evening, so literally just a quick dash to the Eurostar terminal, on the choo choo across into France and then a few hours cross continental Alpina style !

I'll take plenty of pictures!

Cheers, Dennis!


thanks for sharing your adventure braddah :thumbsup:

[CHEEKSx36]

Wow thanks for sharing! I must go there one day and do a lap!

[constantin]

Speechless.

[DennisCooper!]

Hi

Thanks for the comments and feedback ! I just walked around snapping pictures of cars as everyone just milled around, lots of cars turning up later in the day etc and then seeing some of them on the nearby roads etc. I guess you could 'sort of' liken it to a permanent MFest !

I went on the Tourist open days, and there's not many of them throughout the calendar year, that's why it does and can get very busy out on the circuit. I went around 3 times and each lap had yellow flags out indicating to slow down past an incident. The 'Hot lap' in the E34 M5 had 2 yellow flags and he had to double de-clutch a number of times as his brake/clutch fluid boiled and he STILL put in a 9m 30 seconds lap time - I was astounded! he was like meh, not such a good lap!!

Today however, comes news of just why the Nurburgring is so unforgiving and dangerous. An 8 car pile up and $160,000 of twisted metal. http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=24438 - one of the new Ring Taxi's was also involved...

Lots of comment and feedback from much more experienced people in the discussion about it, including some sensible remarks. It's truly amazing to see the circuit in real life and feel/see just how steep some parts of the circuit are - for instance, the Carousel, my initial reaction at approaching it was 'look how bloody steeply the road goes down into it! then how bumpy it is!

I know the owner of the Nurburging Experience - http://nurburgringuk.com/ and we often meet up and discuss things at various events (tonight being BMW night at the Ace Cafe in NW London, I hope he's there!) and he's often said that when the track is closed off for reasons such as this, some of the surrounding roads in the general area of the Eifel Mountains are an absolute joy to drive around as well !

If any of the MFest guys and your friends etc ever do come over, then do keep in mind that the track could be closed at anytime, but that by making the most of the situation, just cruising around Adenau and the other small villages, and other local roads can be just as much fun as well! I will speak with the owner of the Tour Operator company mentioned above about any potential bookings by MFest members etc as well :)

Stay safe!

Cheers, Dennis!

[Laidback]

NIce:) pics of the carWe had a nice day today at the track. I made it to the semi-finals, Lost in the semis. I took home 165, for loosing in the 5th round. Not as good as last weekend, but still a good time My lights were in the .0teens again. I dont have my time slips with me. Car was running 9.55 to 9.57 ets ........ Last weekend I lost in the Finals Took home 325 for loosing in the 6th round..

[ali@home]

wow thanks for sharing, what an amazing experience.

cant wait to go one day. i would love to see a group of mfest cars out there repping MFEST and just having a good time..... one day!

[BSM 135i]

W-O-W ! Some beautiful cars, thanks for sharing!

[kautiongsr]

Wow congrats.... I really want to drive there some day... Seeing ur pics make me want to start booking it today lmao

[lowbmwe60]

:eatpop:Thank you Great! pictures.

[Owl]

Awesome pics Dennis! Beautiful cars all over it seems. This is definitely on my to-do list!