Soju - what a top hound!
@ Steve - well..drinking wise...me and Grandad are from the North of England...drinking and going to the pub is a large part of the culture. I've also had a drink problem when I was younger and although I have had my counselling and consider myself not to have a problem these days I can drink like a fish and still enjoy it!!
Anyways..nearly done for this write up..what a long essay I've written!
Day 11 – Tuesday –
Heidelberg to Adenau (Nurburgring)
Well..surprise surprise. Hungover quite badly and so thoroughly fucked off with taking the tent down and even more so as it was soaking wet. The campsite was a bit boggy and me and Grandad were pulling faces big time. After a whole load of procrastinating and some large and impressive no2s we finally packed up and got set for an exciting rie to the Nurburgring!
I was excited about getting a few laps in but as it was wet I had the mardies on. Grandad was also worried about money as the ‘ring tickets are not cheap.
SO..no pictures as we felt so rough and could not be arsed. We set off to get to Adenau as fast as we could.
We then got lost in Mannheim for an hour which really put the day in perspective.
Once we got out of Mannheim we were on the autobahn again and we made some good time. Stopped at a service station and had a 15cm subway…metric is good…but why not allow people to get 6 inch kit when that is what is actually is!! It was the nicest sub I have ever had…random.
Anyways, we pressed on and finally pulled off the autobahn with no close shaves and a rapid 100mph cruise all the way. The twisty roads to Adenau were damp, but the rain had stopped and my spirits were raised as I was looking forwards to 1715 and an open racetrack.
We hit Adenau after a good blast through the woods and stopped for a drink (non alco) and a look at the track.
What a place. There was a BMW training session on and 3 Twats of BMWs were hoofing round in convoy follow my leader style. Too cool.
After this we took a ride to try and find a campsite and we saw some signs for camping Nurburgring..sounded good.
This was a mistake..enormous location but they charged you per day – so for 1 night you paid twice the price! I didn’t care as time was getting on and as it was now dry I was commited to getting some laps in.
Grandad, for whatever reason, decided he was too knackered to ride. I don’t blame him but seeing as we had spent 4hrs riding to get to the track in time for some laps it was a random decision. He got the beers out, I got my panniers off, tyre pressures lowered and all my crap out my pockets.
I took a ride to Adenau to buy a 4.5 lap ticket. On the way I was trying to relax and get my head in gear as I know that the ‘ring is not a forgiving place!
I bought my ticket, which is a spanky new credit card affair these days, then rode through the barrier and tried to chill. Getting on at the
half way point is a little bit sketchy as you need to get on and up to speed asap.
Anyways, I got my race face on, gave it some berries and was flying up the steep track just out the gate. Next corner is the Lauda Links where our Austrian friend crashed his F1 Ferrari in 1976 an nearly burned himself to death. After thisis the long and sweeping Bergwerk corner. This leads to a long uphill section with 3 left handers that can all be taken flat out (if you’ve the balls and circuit knowledge) I was going full beans up the hill past a couple of cars and getting into the groove. Checking my mirrors all the time and well aware of how fast the cars can sweep into your rear view zone and so onto one of the best corners. Angst Kurve (Bravery Corner) This is a super high speed left hander where you are going flat knacker in 5th and swoop into the corner, avoiding the kerbs on the outside and then over a small crest into a right hand kink to a really slow, heavily painted right handed corner, Out of here, up another hill and you are at the famous Karrussel.
I am sad enough to know the track and have taken it in and I remember just after the Karrussel that I was caught and passed by a very very fast BMW – it looked like a touring car!
Anyways, while I was razzing around, Grandad was in the holding area kicking back..
No idea what this is…but it got a lot of attention
I went out for a full lap. Was enjoying it and managed 165 indicated on the back straight. Only had a single moment in the Wipperman section as I got a rear end slide and so I just cruised it after that. Was overtaken by a few fast cars – that BMW touring car again and a really fast and old skool Astra GTE (it was so old it was a Kadet)
Got some pics though !
I really like this one.
Made it back, had a coke and a snickers and then out for some tea. What a long day…and not over yet. A tasty meal at a café just in Adenau and then a trip to Lidl to get some beer and munch for brekkie.
Bargain..we bought several bottles of Lidl own brand Hefe Weisse beer – 33 EUR cents per bottle!! We filled our boots and razzed back to the campsite.
Lit a fire, got drunk and all was good with the world. I had 3 laps left on my card and Grandad was going to get his Nurburgring cherry popped tomorrow….
This is one to remember as said by others too! My last roadtrip was in summer '08 on my NC35. After reading yours I am tempted to go again next season, have been to Austria and to Italy (stelvio) and few other passes. I do remember mines as if yesterday 
The roads in Austria are the best I have ridden so far.
