Well, the first half of this year has been pretty miserable for me, I had a back operation and was unable to drive for two months. Thankfully the op was a success and I am getting back to full strength. Still under doctor's orders to avoid long distance driving, I had no choice but to fly out to Germany this year and take in an event. The event we picked off was the Nürburgring Classic. Kurt and I flew into Cologne Bonn Airport on Thursday and drove the hire car to the Ring. We had booked a lap with Dale Lomas in the Jaguar Ring Taxi. The car was a Jaguar XJR 575, a V8 Supercharged, long wheelbase, 2 Tonne performance luxury barge. As the name hints, it has 575bhp. The Ring Taxi business is now a competitive game, although BMW officially withdrew their taxi service in 2016, there is no shortage of choice. Choose your poison! I took the rear seat, absolute luxury back here! Dale is now a full time Jaguar employee, also doing test work for them at the Ring. Do you know the one by Talking Heads "And you may find yourself, behind the wheel of a large automobile" I cannot recommend a ride in this car highly enough, it was awesome, we were doing over 160mph at Schwedenkreuz, this huge car just brakes and turns in like it's a GT car! Thanks for the ride Dale, was a pleasesure meeting you. If you fancy booking a ride yourself, here is a link, very good value if split between 3 people. https://www.bridgetogantry.com/racetaxi/ .
A quick look round the tourist car park, good to see the old BMWs still out there lapping Ford Taunus GT A GT3RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company?) Time for a drink of the local brew
Friday, we headed off to see what the Nürburgring Classic had to offer. Aston Martin One of my Pre War favourites, an ERA My usual "I like trucks" pics Back to my overall favourites, the classic touring cars I still have no answer as to why the entire grid in the Tourenwagen Classics display a Bradford City Football Club decal - Anybody? Vink Motorsport in the Netherlands will build you a very nice replica Group A M3
Rover - DTM Championship winning car from 1986 A few famous names from the past And one of those famous names was back behind the wheel Gianfranco Brancatelli, up until last year he had not raced since 2000, but the New Zealand based owner of this car asked him if he would like to race it again Now 68 years old, the 1985 European Touring Car Champion seems to have lost none of his flair for racing! (Photo credit to Tourenwagen Classics - Was too good not to post).
More classic touring cars Audi V8 I wonder if this nifty rear wing was on the road cars? Opel Ascona 400 DKW Something not normally native to Germany
Some very nice ex DTM M3s Porsche were celebrating 70 years in the business American muscle Italian style
This has to be world's best filling station A bit of heavy haulage! Out for some more spectating. Whoops. Most Pre War cars are lacking in brakes, but by the end of a lap of the Ring, for sure, they'll have none
And the prize for the world's second best filling station goes to.... Those bloody Vikings were in town again, apart from my friend Stefan, who couldn't make it this time Saw this rather cool Saab transporter Complete with air suspension!
A now rare Fiat 128 Rally Lovely Capri RS Still at least one CSL out there that's not a garage queen Our wheels for the trip (Sadly it was the Ford) The now traditional huge pizza was consumed (almost)
A car that was here on my very first trip to the Ring in 2004. The Jag we did our lap in weighed two of these!! Was good to see you briefly again John.
Supra owners were having a meet 2nd, 3rd & 4th generation models were in attendance (but no 1st generation that I could see). VW Scirocco (1st generation!)
Back to the classic event For any tractor fans, this is a Allgaier From the days before safety belts, this is known as a Le Mans style start
BMW 6er Alfa Romeo 155 DTM. This model won the very last DTM race on the Nordschleife in 1993 All I can say is, it looks highly complicated!
More TF spotting There's always one, this car tried to get through the barriers with no front or rear plates, fail. Wide bodied ABT S2 R33 Skyline GTR Currently the fastest FWD car round the Ring. I'm sure someone will be along soon to beat it.
102 yeas old! Otherwise known as 'no brakes' Early BMWs A small gathering of McLarens were allowed out on track at the end of the day, they were joined by a few 911s and an Audi R8 It didn't go so well for the R8 Finished the day off with a meal at Comfy Corner Nightcap, I tried to look this up when I got home, but I kept finding references to roof sealant, it tasted ok
Sunday morning, we went out for some more classic spectating Isle of Man Wedge (TR7) Lovely Merc Evo II Time to fly home, hopefully I'll be back with my own car again next time. Very enjoyable trip. End of report. Alan
were you in Germany for 2 weeks? I was there also this past saturday (June 30). Next trip may be on Aug 5. John
