I recently returned from a trip to Germany where I stayed in a hotel that’s set right next to the famed Nürburgring. Sadly, my trip didn’t include a lap of the Green Hell but I was able to see a few machines turning laps in anger over the course of the many miles of twisting and turning tarmac.
A handful of outfits have a rental fleet in place should you arrive with an itch to drive. These range from lightly prepped Suzuki Swifts up to Porsche 911 GT3 super coupes and beyond. What sort of vehicle would you want if you arrived at the ‘Ring?
It can be whatever you want, you just have to tell us why you’ve chosen that specific machine. Sound off below.
Hooniverse Asks: If you were to visit the 'Ring, what sort of vehicle would you use to drive 'round it?
By Jeff Glucker
May 21, 2018
By Jeff Glucker
Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff
Kamil Kaluski
For the Touristenfahrten days they charge by the lap, but I’m more of an endurance racing kind of guy, so I’d want to make the session last long enough to get my money’s worth.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8650/15974049153_8a66ff5ca5.jpg
That’s very trusting of your fellow Touristenfahrters to not get things wrong with big closing speeds and blind crests!
I’d go MX5, top down to really experience the place. There is always the autobahn for getting a flat out speed fix; even the shuttle bus taking us from the airport to our hotel (a high–roof VW Transporter) hit 100 mph.
The shuttle drivers absolutely FLY
It’s not all about trust. That’s why I picked something with a cage.
Yes but a cage made from electrical conduit isn’t going to do much!
There is indeed a residual risk that @mdharrell:disqus will brake out of the cage and escape into the wilderness of the Eifel (part of the Rhenish Massif, which is mostly Devonian and carboniferous sediments – not sure if he’d like that..)
It’s fairly thin tubing; I don’t know that I’d trust it for use as conduit.
Also pedals, so if the engine fails, you can keep going, and closing speeds will only be, say, 147 mph instead of 150.
I’ve heard they use metric over there, which makes it only 147 km/h, which is a lot slower.
Actually that reminds me of a billy cart I drove once, made from two Honda 110 frames with a seat in between. Because of the weight and much better wheel bearings than the typical billy cart it absolutely flew. Luckily the brakes still worked! There was never a shortage of people to help push it back up the hill because the sooner that happened the more runs could be had.
Maybe I misread the lede: Is this which car you’d drive around the ‘Nurburgring’; or around the ‘circus ring’? I’m confused…
Done it! I rented a mid-80’s V6 Alfa Romeo 75 from RSR Nurburg (they’ve significantly upgraded their fleet in the years since I’ve been there). When I was getting belted in my instructor plopped into the passenger seat and had me warm it up. Once the car was running EVERY light on the dashboard was on. Including the big scary red one that said BRAKE and didn’t go away when I put the parking brake down. I looked over and in my broken German and his broken English there was a somewhat panicked discussion:
“Do we need to worry about any of these?”
“Nein! It’s Italian auto! Ven zey go out, ZEN ve vorry!”
I was passed by a crew or RSR cars on the roads around the ‘Ring. Lots of Porsche and BMW stuff now.
LOL@the final sentence.
Locals here would say “be aight man”.
I kinda wish they still had the 75s, closest thing to piloting a historic racer without a historic bills if you prang it.
They were well prepped (minus the usual Italian idiosyncrasies). Sticky tires, race seats with 5 point belts, cage, and nothing else. But yeah… it was nice to know that if I screwed it up I’d only be paying them back for years, not decades.
Don’t need much, they’re really well balanced to start with, but the mechanical quirkyness of them like that “changing points on a railway junction” transaxle gearbox is quite a good grounding for vintage racers apparently.
Air-cooled VW seems like an exciting choice.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwc54G2Ur8
Notes:
1) Remove take-away trash and beer bottles from car prior to run.
2) Don’t fall out.
3) Do not drive air-cooled VW product.
(4) Do not drive anything with swing-axle or trailing arm suspension.
(5) Do not drive anything rear enginned.
Correction: Note (1) is unnecessary, as these cars clearly are self-cleaning.
Note (1) may be related to the crash, assuming the beer bottles were empty
Something small with about 150hp that handles well on sticky tires. Gobs of power would be fun on the straights, but would just have me in the trees since I have no actual driving skill.
My train of thought exactly. I did a 100 miles run of what I think is spirited driving yesterday, in a 163hp 2+2 coupe. The car stepped out only once a tiny little bit, despite rolling on winter tires in 20degC – that’s how much of a quick driver I am, or more positive: there is a lot of potential still in the car.
I was thinking of something like this. Not a specific car, but something with a manual, 200hp and good handling to go with those sticky tires.The VW GTis (Golf, Polo, etc.) would be the blueprint, but a Ford Focus, Opel Astra, etc would also do.
Back to basics:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7dc78fa86ad18b117fe3dec8427e2fac41050f73c32712a1b692cfd112561cb6.jpg
I don’t think you could experience the ‘ring in a much more direct way than that, on four wheels anyway.
There is always something…
https://data.motor-talk.de/data/galleries/0/188/5281/59981942/hot-rod-citytour-berlin-10-9042290042289720981.jpg
that was my first thought too
I was posting the same car.
There’s an onboard video Caterham vs. Porsche GT2 on Nurburgring that’s simply AMAZING. Just take a look how the guy battles with the GT2. That’s serious fun.
When I was in preschool, we played Ring Around the Rosie. Now I want to take a ‘Rossa around the ‘Ring.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/1961_Ferrari_250_TR_61_Spyder_Fantuzzi_34_left_2.jpg
Something yellow and race proven?
http://www.earthlymission.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/strangest-cars-N%C3%BCrburgring.jpg
Also, my true first choice: https://www.flatout.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/240-tb-3.jpg
Well, of course.
Opel Astra OPC. When in Germany, I’d want to do it with a German car, but something like an M2 would be wasted on me. I think the Astra OPC at about 8/10ths would be about 10/10ths of my ability, while keeping it out of the Armcos. That should be good for about a 10 minute lap. I’d be happy with that.
http://www.carmag.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Astra-OPC-1.jpg
You just missed these in the US as Saturns.
Full disclosure: That’s the other reason I chose the Astra. As an owner of an ’08 Saturn Astra, I’d like to know just how much better it could have been.
A bit better in every way, GM is going to regret selling their European engineering division with all it’s chassis tuning knowledge to lucky PSA, (who probably still don’t know the depth of goodness they just bought)
Bentley S3 Continental Drophead Coupe.
Because everything I might do if money & time & access were not a factor seems to involve a Bentley S3 Continental Drophead Coupe.
Thought I’d go with what works. Always wanted to drive one of these Birdcages.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/72218d9afa62f19ca4f4c668acf0abbbc65287218fdeb2145cc4efad27e9f0a3.jpg
Would I dare?…maybe only with a death wish. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/537bae315ed2a1d2284e71236586b7f69df4e98b387be9c39c82f0acf005670c.jpg
It’s a good thing they weren’t letting civilians on the track the day I was there. We had a borrowed OG Fiesta, jam packed with travel gear and presents. I would have done a lap and might have averaged more than 30mph. Probably would have worn out the rear bumper.
2001 Acura Integra Type R / 2001 Honda Integra Type R.
Why?
I absolutely love Integras. Ive owned two and out of all th variety of cars I’ve owned and driven (including an NA Miata, ‘71 Chevelle, 240sx, 2 CRXs,…etc) it absolutely captured my heart. I wasn’t fortunate enough to have or own an ITR. But- it is the pinnacle of Intergras. It is also considered by many to still be the best car to ever wear the Type R Badge.
(Awaiting incoming front wheel driver haters).
I was actually thinking my RSX Type S would be a lot of fun, an ITR would be even better.
I’d go with an E30 325i. That was my favorite handling car.
I’d like to take this one back. Now that it’s sorted out.
https://p6v8.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/bill_shaw_racing_restored01.jpg
or one of these, just to see if there are any BMW635s around.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bPeGA0hksqg/VTRRtZuSI1I/AAAAAAAAF90/N_hh1BRt_KY/s1600/Rover%2BSD1-Racing.jpg
One of my fantasies was to build an SD1 “tribute” road rally car like the ones raced with the US-spec lights. This little photo from the RoverSD1 site in the Netherlands is my favorite SD1 action photo of all time. Wish I had a large hi-res copy of this:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/806c20a508e0a2b9f70b98ffbf675df943882268d2a11576da9658fbd8b74de4.jpg
I’m pretty sure a local guy has run one of those in historic rallies, there has definitely been a P6.
They’re quite a long car to swing around.
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/203212/1985%20ROVER%20VITESSE%20DUEZ%20YPRES%201.jpg1..jpg
or get airborne.
http://allracingcars.com/gallery/rover-sd1/rover-sd1-rally-car-6.jpg
But it’s a good rear end, and it swings very nicely!
Mg metro turbo. Though nowdays it is a very rare and expensive car.
For a street car, a first gen MR2. Not the most exciting, hair-raising chariot one could choose? After watching the wipeouts and rollovers in the previous u-tube videos, it seems like a fine choice. I had one in the same color and spec as the one in the photo, and wish I still did. Predictable, linear and neutral, not overpowered, making it easy to explore its limits without killing yourself. You’d really have to do something stupid to get it out of sorts. Warming up the 4AGE a bit would make it more fun in the straights, but the real joy would be found in the turns.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0492bb13aa8d05790c348bd0d2ddcacc6fa98a5cfc04a80e3e90c970da8462cf.jpg
I wonder if my 2ZZ Mk1 would be just enough or too much.
Seeing as the Caterhams taken and I’d like just a little more side impact protection on this nutso track https://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/lotus-elise-cup-250-104722_1.jpg
Yes, but can one really too visit the ring?
The Beast of Turin , loud and dangerous and outlandish ! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1c6ba6b86c4bcbb7f3ce2fffcf63a96b6aea87a3915a2208dac3882697a55fef.jpg
Would it make a lap without needing to refuel?
That’s one hell of a photo, too. Looking real fast on what essentially could be a continental driveway.
I’ve driven a clapped-out 200,000km Corolla around Mt. Panorama, a Holden Crewman (with trailer) around Queensland Raceway, and my current ‘track vehicle’ is a 400,000km LWB hi-top Toyota Hiace (It’s the motorcycle recovery vehicle at the track where I volunteer).
What I’m saying is, I’ll track anything. I wouldn’t care care what I was driving on it, as long as I get to drive it one day.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/479c93ce37aadf8f1b731b9e34775056127a1bc541ddf409da6b4bf24e433d6b.jpg
These guys have the right idea: https://jalopnik.com/what-its-like-to-drive-the-worlds-most-dangerous-track-1785523188
To lay down an actual lap at the ‘Ring, I’d be happy with just about anything. Even in a Pontiac Sunfire with an automatic transmission, I’d have one hell of a smile on my face. BUT, ideally, something with low power but engaging handling and quick responses would be my choice vehicle. Something like a MkI or MKII GTI, or an NA or NB Miata. Anything more than that and I’d be far too afraid to really push the car at all ,and consequently not be able to really engage with the experience.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/833085a0e84b42ab3700a4f8115b20cf72784de87dab97128fc315e00ced7c46.png
What else!?
Well, how about something that doesn’t bottom out or gets its front splitter taken off on the ‘Ring?
I’ll be driving my own 1987 Peugeot 205 CTi on the Nürburgring soon. It’s been somewhat restomodded and isn’t on the road yet, but soon will be.
We’re even organizing a trip for a larger group to the ‘ring, following a few days through the Alps. Everyone is invited. https://oppositelock.kinja.com/oppo-ringmeet-swiss-expedition-2018-roll-call-1825995170 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6ad3894cf8fe3ad5a6caac87d573a7ed66319bb3cd1752b412910ec96de58d49.jpg
BTW: Nice Isdera in the photo accompanying the original post. The ‘Ring might be one of the few places where this car makes sense.