Going to the Nurburgring

[dean0]

Well have booked the hotel, ferry and arranged breakdown cover for our belated honeymoon - We had a few days in the lakes after we got married but always planned a road trip to the sacred north loop once we could organise a few people to come with us and coordinate holidays etc.

We are going with a couple of seasoned ringers - my Brother and another friend who have been 6 or 7 times, I've been as a passenger a few years ago and drove 1 lap in the wet in my Bro's MG ZR 160, this year he is taking his Caterham Supersport

We are not planning on setting any kind of records, it is planned more as a road trip but of course we both plan to drive at least 1 lap each in the ZS - I'm so lucky to have a wife who is almost as much a petrol head as me!

We travel out on Sat 27th April and come home on Tuesday 30th, bit of a long shot but if anyone else is going then come and say Hi!

[stamford]

Good for you mate! :thumbsup: My missus said your missus is sad! What does she know! :laugh:

One day I will make the trip. Without 'er indoors! :sneaky:

[OllieZS]

I hope you have a great time, it is somewhere I would love to drive, that and Spa! Especially as part of a road trip!

[vanishing days]

Its brilliant fun mate really addictive

[peterzs]

Good to have a understanding other half, have a good, safe trip.

Plenty of pics and vids.

Dont race the Bro.

[Craig-ZS180]

Only very envious.. Had thought about suggesting this to my other half for next year when we get married as part of our honeymoon. As much as she loves the cars and so on im not sure shed go for it lol.

Hope you enjoy it mate and definately get some vids of the laps.

[Smokey]

Hope you have a great trip! I'm one of the lucky ones too with a wife who loves motorsport and especially the ZS (Kat2512). I hope to do the 'ring some time in the future!

[dean0]

Well we have been and are back with the ZS still working!

Had the most fantastic time, 6 of us in total driving an eclectic mix of cars,

Mrs Dean0 (Ali) and Myself - MG ZS of course
Bryn - Caterham Supersport
Roger - Travelled in almost brand new BMW 125, rented a Renault sport Megane R26
Steve and Paul - BMW 6 series coupe and rented a Renault sport Megane 265

Sunday was overcast but dry, however was very cold, this did seem to keep the bikes away. There were some pretty fantastic cars in attendance including several GT-Rs, the usual array of Porsches, BMs, and Audis, a handful of Corvetts, Astons and Ferraris and a Zonda!

We did 4 laps in the ZS, amazingly while grabbing a coffee at the petrol station just outside the track I spotted another ZS in X-Power grey pull in, Had a chat with the (German) driver Michael and his wife, they were very experienced ringers having completed over 300 laps, and a very nice couple too, we headed up to the track in formation and did a lap together, I think that must have surprised a few onlookers seeing 2 ZSs one on UK plates and one on German plates :mml::mml:

Michael then offered to take me out for a fast lap in his ZS, it was fantastic, I could not believe how much speed he could carry through the corners, we had 3 yellow flag sections during the lap but still managed a 9.34, apart from a Piper exhaust, uprated front brakes and full harnesses his car was standard so it does go to show in capable hands the ZS is a formidable track car (but then we all knew that already)

Sunday evening was spent in Pinocchio's in Adenau - we held a bit of a man V food session while re-living the day.

Monday the track is only open for a couple of hours in the evening so we spent the day doing a bit of sightseeing around the area.
Ali had plucked up enough courage to drive a lap, the first time she has driven the ZS too!
not very quick, and some pretty awful lines through some of the corners but she did it!

after letting the ZS cool down for a bit I went out for my last lap with Bryn as my track guide and managed a Clarkson-esk 9.59, was very please with that.

To finish off an amazing weekend I did a passenger lap in both the Caterham and the R26, both very impressive in their own way.

The ZS did pretty well over the weekend, the brakes get a little spongy when hot and it used a little bit of oil but returned 34 mpg not including the time on track.

Sorry for the rambling post - now for some photos...

Dean & Ali

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w382/dean0w/Nurburgring%202013/20130428_114044.jpg (http://s1073.photobucket.com/user/dean0w/media/Nurburgring%202013/20130428_114044.jpg.html)

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w382/dean0w/Nurburgring%202013/20130428_120654.jpg (http://s1073.photobucket.com/user/dean0w/media/Nurburgring%202013/20130428_120654.jpg.html)

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w382/dean0w/Nurburgring%202013/20130428_121404.jpg (http://s1073.photobucket.com/user/dean0w/media/Nurburgring%202013/20130428_121404.jpg.html)

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w382/dean0w/Nurburgring%202013/130429-2537_smallfile.jpg (http://s1073.photobucket.com/user/dean0w/media/Nurburgring%202013/130429-2537_smallfile.jpg.html)

[BUCKYDEVIL]

Looks like a great trip, something I would love to do.

[Smokey]

Defo on the bucket list. Looks ace.

[WalkerDnB]

Looks like great fun! I would love to do this someday
hope you told em to join the forum

[POMPSKI]

Thats awesome

[ian zs180]

Looks great fun id love to do that myself one day

[stamford]

Excellent post, interesting read and good to hear the ZS's performed admirably. Pleased to know the car came home in one piece! That Megane, one ugly motor! :sick:

[tcb 180]

Well this is what we been on about for a while now just got to get the son-in-law on board. We want to go across with me driving the zed, my lad driving his Astra Gte 16v and the son-in-law driving his nicely restored Porsche 924.

By the way love the two xpg zeds together. Nice colour that!

[peterzs]

Glad it all went to plan, with another Zed added. Just shows what the ZS can do.

One of the trips you will remember forever.

Like the pics.

:smile2::smile2::smile2:

[talkingcars]

Sounds like a perfect weekend.

I caught Mrs TC planning the ring into our annual european road trip, unfortunately the track opening times don't fit with everything else we plan to do.

[p_b82]

once i can stop the ZS from popping the HG when used properly i am going to head over there - will need to get a few hours of practice in on the PS3 before i go though -so i have a chance to be vaguely aware of the circuit rather than 'flying blind' the whole time....

Glad you had a good time there though :)