Prepare for jealousy: Nurburgring 24hr content

So after lots of waiting around, I finally got word today. It looks like I'll be competing in the RCN race prior to the Nurburgring 24hr next Thursday. The RCN is an open passing, time trial format similar to a NASA time trial, but with a crap of cars in a crap ton of classes on track at once. It's like 18 laps with a pit stop, and they throw out your in and out laps and aggregate the rest. Thanks to Robb Holland and the gang at Rotek Racing I'll be driving this:

Prepare for much fascinating editorial.

Also, as if you weren't jealous enough already, VW is lending me a GTD to drive while I'm in Germany.

I know at least one or two of you guys were going. We should wave the GRM colors somewhere.

Yep, that's the green envy of jealously I'm turning!

When are you getting over there? I'm on my way right now, and I'll doing the ring next weekend (the one before the 24)..

Holy crap that's fantastic. I nearly made it there for the tail end of the 24 hrs but thanks to a lack of planning and navi I found out that the Nurburgring is not in Nurenburg...

I'll be around the track starting Wednesday the 12th. Maybe the 11th, depending on how my flight and picking cars up and whatnot goes. RCN is Thursday. Other support races are Friday. The vintage race on Friday is a sight to behold, and worth the hassle to get there a day early (or stay a day late).

Ah, looks like our paths won't cross :( I'd love to be there to cheer you on, but I'll already have left my wife at home with the kids for two weeks, and I'd like to have a house (and marriage!) to come back to.

Good luck!

IIRC this is the series that has passing rules which basically lets cars in faster classes treat you like you don't exist if you don't roll out the red carpet for them to pass when they get close...so watch out!

GameboyRMH wrote: IIRC this is the series that has passing rules which basically lets cars in faster classes treat you like you don't exist if you don't roll out the red carpet for them to pass when they get close...so watch out!

That's what I've heard, too.

But it looks like it's going to rain, so that will calm everyone down, right?

If it's raining, just put on your hazards.

The weather is beautiful here today! So are the cars :)

Yes, way cool!!! All I can say is wow!

Looks like I'm legit:

195 cars total in the event. Close as I can tell they grid everyone on the front straight and send you off at 3-4 second intervals. That's about ten minutes worth of launching, which means the front of the group will be nearly getting ready to lap the starters at the back of the field.

Wow.. I can't really begin to imagine the intensity of running this thing for two straight hours in something as brutal as a race prepped rs4 in heavy and talented traffic.

It was enough to spend 12 laps in a Clio RS today, and I imagine you'll be going a good 1 minute faster power lap, and not have the cool-down time of a driver change between laps.

so much envy

WonkoTheSane wrote: Wow.. I can't really begin to imagine the intensity of running this thing for two straight hours in something as brutal as a race prepped rs4 in heavy and talented traffic. It was enough to spend 12 laps in a Clio RS today, and I imagine you'll be going a good 1 minute faster power lap, and not have the cool-down time of a driver change between laps.

I'm not sure the EXACT format of the event, but close as I can tell it goes something like this:

13 laps total.

Lap 1 is a pace/recon untimed lap.

Laps 2, 3, 4 are timed laps.

Mandatory pit stop sometime between end of lap 4 and lap 7.

Pit-in and pit-out laps are not timed.

Lap 13 is cool down lap and is untimed.

So basically 9 of 13 laps are timed, and the total time makes up your score. Low score wins.

I've already resigned myself to not being one of the fast guys. The regulars know that track like the back of their hands, and track knowledge is everything there. One nice thing about being in a fast car is I should be able to at least keep pace and not have to constantly be in my mirrors.

Mostly I just need to keep reminding myself to bring the car home in one piece and write good stories. Anything else is gravy.

JG Pasterjak wrote: I've already resigned myself to not being one of the fast guys. The regulars know that track like the back of their hands, and track knowledge is everything there. One nice thing about being in a fast car is I should be able to at least keep pace and not have to constantly be in my mirrors. Mostly I just need to keep reminding myself to bring the car home in one piece and write good stories. Anything else is gravy.

That doesn't sound Sooo bad, but remember to hydrate appropriately before hand and keep the cool suit charged up, I don't think you'll have enough time to flail around for the water tube out there :)

Yeah, you won't be, but that's okay.. I think you're right with the "track knowledge is everything there," but wrong about the "fast car should be able to keep pace" one. I mean, I was passing some seriously impressive hardware out there, and I have NO idea what I'm doing. I got passed by some amazingly underwhelming equipment on my fast laps (~9:07 BtG)... I can only imagine what the full on racing conditions would be like.

I'm sure you'll do fine in bringing the car back in one piece, and I KNOW that you'll do an awesome article or 3 out of it, so I'm getting my entertainment's dollar out of it. Just be safe and hold the line!

JG Pasterjak wrote: Looks like I'm legit: 195 cars total in the event. Close as I can tell they grid everyone on the front straight and send you off at 3-4 second intervals. That's about ten minutes worth of launching, which means the front of the group will be nearly getting ready to lap the starters at the back of the field.

I just have to say...there is something way more \m/ Metal \m/ about it when they spell it "Amerika".

You need to run some in car footage and post it up for us to see. We promise we won't laugh.

If you were talking to me, I'm at a hotel with a crappy 500 Mb limit, so here's some bad footage from last year of what probably WOULD have been my best run if it wasn't for 3 cautions :) It's more entertaining than my best run, so I posted that instead.

RentRaceCar Renault Clio RS

If you were talking to JG, then sorry for wasting your time and I fully agree!

Feedyurhed wrote: You need to run some in car footage and post it up for us to see. We promise we won't laugh.

There will definitely be video. Although right now I'm realizing how difficult it is to pack racing gear for international travel. Way easier when you just throw it in the trailer.

If you forget your helmet, I was pleasantly surprised to see the gas station across the street from the 'ring had some in stock :)

That is awesome, JG! Sure beats a 25 year watchband! We will look forward to hearing all about your adventure!

WonkoTheSane wrote: If you forget your helmet, I was pleasantly surprised to see the gas station across the street from the 'ring had some in stock :)

Dude...

That gas station could easily swallow your entire vacation budget. dangerous, dangerous place.

And if you haven't done so already, you need to get dinner at the Pistonklaus restaurant. Sabine Schmitz family owns the joint, and in addition to being a really cool repository of racing history, the food is off the hook. Look for a few GRM stickers scattered about, too.

Last night I dreamed that I happened to be in Germany this week, so I got to check out the race. JG, I didn't know that Nurburgring had a jump.

David S. Wallens wrote: Last night I dreamed that I happened to be in Germany this week, so I got to check out the race. JG, I didn't know that Nurburgring had a jump.

And a figure 8. Dusty Rhodes is the Grand Marshal.