Several European makes had DOHC engines in the 20’s, as did the 32-valve straight eight Duesenberg Model A, introduced in 1921.

So do they prevent you from entering or just renege on insurance?

You can just take your plates off at the entrance.
Edit, nevermind, forgot the ring is technically a public toll road. It’s generally a good idea on most tracks though to prevent potential problems.

To Capt Mike: you’re right steak was great, and we’ll return to the Pistenklause for sure.

It’s a historic pub with signed Jackie Stewart posters and such and I recommend it to anybody visiting the Ring.

To Stainless et al: as Mike reports, it is no longer possible to take a rental to the Ring. Rental companies have their spies that report on customers who take cars to the track and subsequently void their contract. So don’t do it, just find somebody who’ll lend you their car. Preferably a beater, cause the Ring is narrow with little room between the track and the Armco and if a crash probably means totalling it.

You can rent a car directly at the ring. There’s a big selection available, up to a F3 car for 1200 Euros per hour or so. None are cheap. Bummer!

Did you hear that, Jack Baruth?

The point is, that nirvana can be achieved, within legal limits, on public roads, with a beater. Motoring nirvana is not always about maximum speed at all costs, on other peoples expense…

It was my ten-year old beater, a 1999 Xantia, a reliable, sweet car that looks ridiculous (with scores of dents installed by my ex).

The thing about good French cars though, is that they flow through the bends in a linear fashion. You just push them to the limit and drive with your ear and the gas pedal and let em dance. Not fast, but entertaining.

I could tell that Sam the Man really wanted to try the Ring so I thought it would be good for weird kicks to let him do the driving. And after a minute or two it was clear it would be great fun too. Upon cooking the brakes he scrubbed volocity off the curves by drifting through, all four tires squealing, at a moderate yet effective speed.

The thing about good drivers, I would say, is that they have a feel for a car and can adapt to its strengths and weaknesses (in the case of the Cit, its many weaknesses and few strengths, but what the hell).

More later…

And I did overcook one corner, luckily I caught it in time and all we hit was kerb. No grass! But I’ll let Martin tell you if I’m a good driver or not, he was riding shotgun.

I could only afford to rent an Opel Astra, and at 175km/hr (about 110 miles per hour) it was about three RPMs away from spraying connecting rods across most of eastern Germany, but the experience is something I’ll never forget. At a buck seventy-five, I was being passed by BMWs and Audis at speeds too great to read license plates, and I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. Even in a slow, boring car, it was the freaking Autobahn.

I only made it as far as Weimar, about 400 kms short of Nurburg, but it’s probably for the best… that Opel wouldn’t have made it back to Berlin in one piece. After reading this article, I think I should save some more rental car money for the next trip.

Since when do people dump a 911 for a TVR cause its too clinical?!

Can someone.. explain that to me.

And who wouldnt have a giant smile on their face.. getting into a 911.. (lunatic rant, as long as its a certain year.. and its being driven as if its being stolen..)

My first lap was as a passenger in Porsche Cayman S unfortunately I left the GPS behind but it felt twice as fast as my laps. “Driving” the Nürburgring while playing Gran Turismo does not prepare one for the elevation changes, but at least I knew which turn was coming up next.

Lap 2 I drove a E36 328i, Bridge to Gantry (BTG) was 10:10, lap 3 BTG was 9:50, Lap 4 BTG was 10:02 (had to slow down, a 997 went nose first into the armco after Hohe Acht) Lap 5 was 10:58. My top speed was 126mph on lap 3 between Flugplatz and Schwedenkreuz.

Clarkson’s drives the Jaguar S-TypeD Part 1

Clarkson’s drives the Jaguar S-TypeD Part 2

Sabine Schmitz In a Ford Transit

Great write-up of a great time. You forgot to mention the raw steak at the Pistenklause!

And you will be back, as this weekend was perfect weather, no wrecks, and me and a few Irishmen finally were able to kill the Carrera’s brakes. They are toast, carbonized, nuked, scorched, and kaput. But it was fun doing it.

It will have new ones for your return!

And long live the Citroen! It makes me smile.