Hornet

Some guys from work have arranged a trip to the Nurburg Ring so I get to experience something few Rx-8 owners do. I am actually going to get to drive my 8 on this world famous track. I posted here in General Automotive because there are some other interesting cars making the trip. The list of cars are as follows

RX-8 (w/Agency Power exhaust and Cobb AP w/MM maps)
BMW M5 E60
Camaro SS
Miata (w/Flyin' Miata turbo kit)
Challenger V-6

There is also a Miata (w/Jackson Racing SC kit) that is tentative

The following cars are some of the guys that couldn't make it for one reason or another

BMW M5 E39
Charger R/T (w/reflashed ECU)
135 Convertible

We aren't really going to be racing or anything just enjoying our cars on a legendary track (some of us probably a lot more than others). The guy with the M5 E60 has been there before and said he rarely goes much higher than 120 MPH. Should be a fun trip and I may see if the guy riding along with me can take a few in car pics so I can post them. Hopefully nothing comes up and all goes as planned!

MICHGoBlue

The amount of envy cannot be expressed on a internet message board.

You'll have the 2nd most fun car to drive there it appears, but also the least fun Mazda out of the group too...

You are a lucky man.

Krazed_Rx8

iTrader: (5)

U turbo'd? U gotta find a way to keep up with the other cars

Have fun dude, I'm sure itll be a great experience.

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

V6 Challenger is going to have a blast.

MICHGoBlue

who doesn't enjoy an overweight car with body roll and underwhelming tire setup on a twisty track?

Mmmm, understeer

Hornet

I just call it being at the right place at the right time. The guy that owns the flyin' miata let me drive it one day. It was quite the interesting ride. I just didn't feel fully comfortable or confident (probably a combination of my height, shoe size, unfamiliarity, and that power to weight ratio with kind of quick steering). I don't know his mindset going there...if it's fastest time or enjoying his cars handling with newly added power.

Hornet

I wish! I plan on some type of forced induction but that's nowhere near in time for this trip. At least I believe the M5 guy is not going to make me feel too bad and neither is the V-6 Challenger.

Domenico

iTrader: (6)

the ss camaro will make u feel bad lol

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

I believe the E60 M5 will definitely have an advantage with that V10 power.

Hornet

My boss makes fun of that guy cause it's an automatic.

There are some people that are potentially changing their minds though. One is a new addition that I didn't know was in on the conversations.

The guy with the Challenger is thinking about backing out.

The potential new addition (he said he is considering it but not willing to guarantee) is a Grand Cherokee SRT-8. I really hope these guys make it and any other cars I don't know about.

MICHGoBlue

It's not a true American car if it's not automatic

Roidz

You lucky dude. That would be such a cool experience.

Hornet

Just got back and all I can say is that place is heaven for a car enthusiast...even if you don't actually take your vehicle on the track it's something to see! People were driving all types of vehicles on the track. We saw a pickup, suv (not a performance version), family vehicles with what looked like a little mermaid sun shade in the back window, as well as some exotics. I even saw another 8. We saw a VW van take a turn like a bat out of hell...as it approached the turn all of us immediately thought this dude is going to bite it....that van stayed flat in the turn with barely a wiggle...absolutely jaw dropping...it was moving like it had an engine swap or some other major modification under the hood or whereever the engine was. I will say that my first time through was kind of scary...I had a little smoke when I finished the first lap. The second lap was a little faster (it's not timed but I got a better feel for the track). I did have a squirrely moment on the second lap when i was passing the Camaro with our group on the a curve (he was babying it but I'll take it anyway). This track has made me think even moreso that I need some kind of forced induction though. I will say that as good of a job as they may do similating the track in games like Gran Turismo and Forza...they can not similate the feel for the altitude changes the breaks in traction and strangely enough the track feels a lot more windy than it ever seemed to be in any racing game that I've raced on it with. We are already talking about taking another trip.

Hornet

I forgot my camera...so these pics were taken with my cell phone. These were all just in the parking lots (overflow included).

Hornet

Some shots of random vehicles approaching/in/leaving a turn! At the first vantage point you can really smell all those cars brakes being put to work.

Hornet

There are a few shots I missed because my phone locked at the right time for me to miss them (or more appropriately the wrong time). At that corner I missed a Lamborghini Gallardo, that other RX-8 in the pic that I posted earlier, that sleeper van that I mentioned, as well as cars like the GT3 RS. When we went back to our cars I saw the other RX-8 going back on the track and his interior is gutted...I knew he seemed to be moving a bit better than I did...lol!

Hornet

I wouldn't call it lucky...all I did was sign the dotted line for Uncle Sam and he found it in his heart to put me in Germany for at least 3 years of my military career. Can't say every place that I might go has this kind of perk!

Delhiteen

This is the interesting that is coming one day ........

dshiznit1489

A mitsubishi pick up truck? Really?

Hornet

I just wanted to put pics like that in here because I don't think people would believe it really happened unless I had proof. I sure wouldn't be the one to drive one on this track but that was definitely one of those strange things. The Aston Martin is a little scewed by the fence being there though!

Hornet

A few more shots. The M5 in the pic is one of 2 "Ring Taxis"...I'm not sure this one was her but one is driven by Sabine Schmitz.