The Nurburgring

[nathan]

i have found automotive elysium. spent about 24 hours there a few days ago and absolutely dumfounded by the variety of top level cars. SLS, DTM, Lexus LFA, Ferraris, Maseratis. even the carparks had better cars than anything i typically see around once every blue moon! anyhow, attached are some merc pics, and if this hotel lobby pics up, a youtube video will be uploaded soon.

**my video finally uploaded**
http://youtu.be/U7RmiVgXIfI
hope you enjoy

nathan





shite, lobby wifi says 3 hours for video to upload so another day it seems!
nathan

[oversize]

Definitely on my bucket list....  drool!!   

[ZCarFan]

When I visited Stuttgart, my hosts asked what I would do on my last (and free) day in the city.  I told them that I was going to visit the Mercedes Museum, having been to the Porsche museum the first day I arrived (jet-lagged with no sleep even!).  They were polite regarding my decision, though none had any interest themselves.  Thinking that odd, I added a joke about maybe renting a car to run the Nurburgring.  None had heard of it.

Excellent video Nathan.  How was the ride in the "Ring Taxi"? Where did it fall in the fun/fright category?

[nathan]

heh ZC,
when were you in stuttgart? the new porsche museum is cool. the new merc museum is way better (i had been to the old merc museum which was actually part of the sindelfingen plant).  if u r in stuttgart, also do a factory tour (its ok) and visit the classic centre (you can get to this by train, or just rent a car). AMG is 1/2 hr out of town (affalterbach) and not really set up for individual tours.

i tell you Z, i was actually packing it a bit sitting in the back. that track is wild. i saw the paramedics doing chest compressions on a bloke who came off his bike at one point so its not a cakewalk! the M5 is a beast, and straight off the mark it went like hell.  however, the traction is awesome and one u realise the guy driving is a racing demon and and the car is like a train on tracks, u have much more fun.  i drove from cologne which was easy (90 minutes). i think stuttgart would take u about 4 hrs as frankfurt was about 2 hrs away? once on autobahns, its easy driving. as an american, u would also be used to driving on the wrong side of the road.

having done some awesome merc stuff over the years (inc being driven on sindelfingen test track), i will rate a visit to the Nordschlief of the N'Ring as right up there. u just don't see awesome machinery like that every day, let alone being thrashed around a racetrack.  a must for any of us if in germany!

best regards
nathan

[ZCarFan]

nathan,

It was April 2010 when I was there.  Stayed at a place in Degerloch.  Despite being a unrepentant suburbanite and totally unfamiliar with public transportation, I managed to find my way around on the trains.  Fortunately, my daily "commute" was by foot.  Hard to get lost that way.

here at home I have the advantage of being less than 2 hours from Road Atlanta which hosts both the Walter Mitty event (www.themitty.com) and some HSR (www.hsrrace)  races.  Both venues bring out some really neat race cars including oddballs like the old BMW CSL "Batmobiles".  Got lots of photos and video, though not as neatly done as yours.