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      08-22-2011, 09:51 PM   #1
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Lightbulb 1MGator's 1M European Delivery adventure Part 2 - green hell!

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Continued from PART 1...

We left Switzerland and spent about 5 hours zipping up the autobahn to Koln to see a friend that wanted to go to the ring with us.

We did a little "window shopping" as we arrived downtown.

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The weather had been absolutely perfect up until then .... first rain and a harbinger of things to come the next day.

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The next morning we headed to the "Green Hell" with much anticipation not knowing what to expect since it was also the weekend of the "oldtimers GP"

Are we in the right place .... anyone take a guess on what this is?

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Yup /// found the hotel and a great stablemate ... and an interesting facility down the street

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Now on to the track with the sounds of engines screaming in the air .... intoxicating! Right on time for our Taxi .....

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Seriously, it was a royal pain getting up at 4AM out time to try and get tickets (took me three weeks) but the trip around the ring at speed and to do it on a rainy day before we took our car out was Priceless. I envy the members on this forum that live so close .... I would be so broke!

OK, retracing a little, these we a couple of photos I forgot from previous days. Imagine yourself coming around a bend at speed and running into this ...

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There were several of them in a pack ... and I thought the guys on bikes were in danger ....

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This area was too beautiful not to share ....

OK .... so after the taxi lap we decided to wait out the rain and let a dry line develop for us rookies. To our delight we ran into some more forum members .....

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we were not alone .... one with the steering wheel on the other side

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There was also some other good company.....

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We watched for a while as people pulled up and through the gate to go out ... one of these is a forum member that was at the track day the next day ...

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Finally, it was time to buckle up and get out with a little break in the weather, boy was I excited. The experience was incredible and I managed the line between crazy and safe pretty well. Mid lap, after realizing that i did not like leading a group into blind corners over hills that I did not know I found an e46 M3 that seemed to know the track and stuck to his bumper .... now that was fun. 1M was super fun/fast and gave me more confidence that i should have had in those conditions. Probably exceeded some of the break in recommendations but had 1250 miles on the car at that point We pulled into staging area with the sweet smell of hot brakes and tires and switched drivers (my son). Thanks to "frozenspeed.com" (thanks Jochen) for these great shots out on the track.

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All I can say to all of you is this needs to be on your "bucket list"!

OK .... so in the beginning I told everyone that my first BMW was a 1988 e30ic .... so here is a little love to the E30M3 that I always wanted ...

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We left the track to get to a viewing area and watch some cars pass .... here are a few track shots.

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Another couple VO's on track .....

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What a day ..... we went to the hotel and everyone had a great time, food, beer, storytelling and getting to see everyone's pictures because Jochen was stationed in the pub. Car performed flawlessly ....... took one last picture .... bedtime (yes, camera shake was beer influenced)

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OK everyone .... I hope this isn't to anti-climatic but the only device we had to shoot video was the I-Phone and the back seat passenger got whipped around a little. I think you can get a sense of the speed and blind turns - exciting ..... it was still wet as you will see there were two mis-haps.




So if you have made it this far thanks for looking. The next two shots are at the drop off in Frankfurt ..... This was truly a fantastic adventure for us - I sincerely hope you can all experience the "JOY" of driving our BMW machines the way they were designed, now the wait, hope she has smooth sailing ......... Auf Wiedersehen!

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Last edited by 1mGator; 08-23-2011 at 07:37 PM.. Reason: added video
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      08-22-2011, 10:33 PM   #2
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1Mgator,That first picture of your VO at speed on the track has screen saver written all over it. Great pix, Looking foreward to the next installment. Thanks for taking us along.
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      08-23-2011, 03:42 AM   #3
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Never mind the 1M.... who is that gorgeous girl?? What a truly beautiful smile!!

Mike (-;
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      08-23-2011, 05:05 AM   #4
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Wow, nice! Next time, i will also hit the ring with my 1M for the first time!!
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      08-23-2011, 05:23 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spoon View Post
1Mgator,That first picture of your VO at speed on the track has screen saver written all over it. Great pix, Looking foreward to the next installment. Thanks for taking us along.
Thanks, really also like the long views in that area as well as the close up. I am going to do a search of other photographers that were there that day to see if we were "captured" in the carousel as well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Z4Mr View Post
Never mind the 1M.... who is that gorgeous girl?? What a truly beautiful smile!!

Yes, she is a sweetheart and makes the rest of us look shabby She is the one who was able to shoot some video (post tonight) while getting tossed around in the back seat.

Mike (-;
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve79 View Post
Wow, nice! Next time, i will also hit the ring with my 1M for the first time!!
Hi Steve ..... great seeing you there (two VO's), sorry I did not get pics of you out on track. So jealous that you are so close and can do the ring whenever you want ..... you need to post some video next time you go .. Regards!
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      08-23-2011, 08:43 AM   #6
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Amazing track right? You really don't understand the elevation changes until you drive it. Also how narrow the track is. We ate at that same hotel as well. The lunch buffet and dinner there was great. That is actually Sabine Schmitz's parents hotel. Pics look great btw.
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      08-23-2011, 09:16 AM   #7
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Messerschmidt.

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      08-23-2011, 03:21 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KillrM3 View Post
Amazing track right? You really don't understand the elevation changes until you drive it. Also how narrow the track is. We ate at that same hotel as well. The lunch buffet and dinner there was great. That is actually Sabine Schmitz's parents hotel. Pics look great btw.
Absolutely a rush, especially while wet with blind off camber turns at the crests ...... yea baby! Fun, Fun and oh Cra*(^ fun! Yea, hotel was great .. all the oldtimer GP folks were eating there as well .. neat place!

Quote:
Originally Posted by MDORPHN View Post
Messerschmidt.

Neil
Neil, you make out OK with the Quake .... felt it here in PA today. At some point need to do a NOVA meet with all 1M's
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      08-23-2011, 03:45 PM   #9
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Great pics! Looks like you had as much fun as I did! The 'Ring really is a "bucket list" event, and I was buzzing for days afterwards. I watch the video from my car and all I can think of is when I'll have another chance to do it.

When I was there I ran into another VO 1M from the UK, who owned the car for about a month. The 1M attracted far more attention in the staging area than I would have expected, given some of the other cars on the track that day. I ran into two other guys who had orders in for cars, and I suspect once the production is finished they'll be a common sight at the 'Ring.
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      08-23-2011, 05:18 PM   #10
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Awesome! This is my favorite pic!

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      08-23-2011, 05:47 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by josephvman View Post
I watch the video from my car and all I can think of is when I'll have another chance to do it.
I thought you arent allowed to video on the ring... will they let me on with a gopro?
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      08-23-2011, 07:43 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by josephvman View Post
Great pics! Looks like you had as much fun as I did! The 'Ring really is a "bucket list" event, and I was buzzing for days afterwards. I watch the video from my car and all I can think of is when I'll have another chance to do it.

When I was there I ran into another VO 1M from the UK, who owned the car for about a month. The 1M attracted far more attention in the staging area than I would have expected, given some of the other cars on the track that day. I ran into two other guys who had orders in for cars, and I suspect once the production is finished they'll be a common sight at the 'Ring.
Thanks ... definately speechless and weak-kneed ... great rush to be on the edge in the wet (translate i am crazy) Yea.. there were some right hand drive cars there on our day too and it was definately crazy to have people walking by GT3's and Nissan Gtr to oogle the 1M .... good fun!

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Originally Posted by ///Metak View Post
Awesome! This is my favorite pic!

Thanks ..... they did a good job with the shot ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Papethova View Post
I thought you arent allowed to video on the ring... will they let me on with a gopro?
Yea, I thought the same thing and that's why we used the I-phone .... while I was standing at the entrance gate I did see the track marshals ask people to remove go-pros!
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      08-23-2011, 08:16 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1mGator View Post
Neil, you make out OK with the Quake .... felt it here in PA today. At some point need to do a NOVA meet with all 1M's
Felt it strongly, but everything fine.

FWIW, I'll be at Summit Point on Sept 14th and Sept. 24 - 25. Perhaps you can drive down.

Neil

P.S. Are you going to confirm I was correct about the Messerschmidt
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      08-23-2011, 09:29 PM   #14
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very well done
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      08-23-2011, 10:41 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1mGator View Post
Absolutely a rush, especially while wet with blind off camber turns at the crests ...... yea baby! Fun, Fun and oh Cra*(^ fun! Yea, hotel was great .. all the oldtimer GP folks were eating there as well .. neat place!



Neil, you make out OK with the Quake .... felt it here in PA today. At some point need to do a NOVA meet with all 1M's
Quote:
Originally Posted by KillrM3 View Post
Amazing track right? You really don't understand the elevation changes until you drive it. Also how narrow the track is. We ate at that same hotel as well. The lunch buffet and dinner there was great. That is actually Sabine Schmitz's parents hotel. Pics look great btw.

1mGator, I hope you got the steaks, etc. that come on the hot stones at Pistenklausen. It's something that I haven't seen anywhere else. Great pics, btw.

P.S. I got to ride around with some guy who had a E46 M3 CSL!! That was pretty cool. You really can't appreciate the track until you drive it. No video game/ video serves it well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Papethova View Post
I thought you arent allowed to video on the ring... will they let me on with a gopro?
You aren't supposed to but if you have a passenger just have them install it right after you start. You should be ok I'd imagine.
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      08-23-2011, 11:29 PM   #16
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E30 M3s love
nice photos.
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      08-24-2011, 12:51 AM   #17
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Your car looks great, such amazing pictures! I'm so envious of basically everything you did!
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      08-24-2011, 01:51 AM   #18
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Haha, yes it's really cool, to live not far from the ring and also not far from Spa-Francorchamps!!
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      08-24-2011, 03:50 AM   #19
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Nice read and great pics mate....

There is just something about the ring you can only imagine until you take to the circuit, one hell of an adrenaline rush..........

To me its the Rollercoaster ride from hell or during German public holidays, The Kamikaze Run! lol

Happy motoring........
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      08-24-2011, 05:28 AM   #20
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"So jealous that you are so close and can do the ring whenever you want ....."

"great rush to be on the edge in the wet"

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      08-24-2011, 05:31 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MDORPHN View Post
Felt it strongly, but everything fine.

FWIW, I'll be at Summit Point on Sept 14th and Sept. 24 - 25. Perhaps you can drive down.

Neil

P.S. Are you going to confirm I was correct about the Messerschmidt
Hey Neil, Glad everyone OK ... Thanks for the invite .. not sure when the car will be here (PA) - projected in NJ on 9/11 so perhaps the 24th/25th would work.

On the car .... allI know is it said "FMR" on the front .... is that a Messerschnidt?

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      08-24-2011, 05:43 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sq86 View Post
1mGator, I hope you got the steaks, etc. that come on the hot stones at Pistenklausen. It's something that I haven't seen anywhere else. Great pics, btw.

P.S. I got to ride around with some guy who had a E46 M3 CSL!! That was pretty cool. You really can't appreciate the track until you drive it. No video game/ video serves it well.


Those steaks were all around us and looked great. Lucky you to ride in a CSL .... CSL's and GtS were well represented that day and such a sweet exhaust note! Totally agree on the video game ..... elevation changes and narrowness of the track in certain places can't be properly represented - needs to be on every "addicts" list


You aren't supposed to but if you have a passenger just have them install it right after you start. You should be ok I'd imagine.
Yea, that makes sense ..... guess we were just too excited to be rational ... lol

Quote:
Originally Posted by eatrach73 View Post
E30 M3s love
nice photos.
Thanks ..... my original BMW love ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Schm View Post
Your car looks great, such amazing pictures! I'm so envious of basically everything you did!
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve79 View Post
Haha, yes it's really cool, to live not far from the ring and also not far from Spa-Francorchamps!!
Steve .... quit your bragging and post some pics/video Bro!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aussie_in_London View Post
Nice read and great pics mate....

There is just something about the ring you can only imagine until you take to the circuit, one hell of an adrenaline rush..........

To me its the Rollercoaster ride from hell or during German public holidays, The Kamikaze Run! lol

Agreed on the rush, I would really cherish a "track day" there ..... part of the challenge was the fact that you could run up on slow traffic (van, bus, etc) in a corner/tough area.

Happy motoring........
Quote:
Originally Posted by Z4Mr View Post
"So jealous that you are so close and can do the ring whenever you want ....."

"great rush to be on the edge in the wet"

That is Steve 79 that live near the ring - the second VO in the staging area pic - he's the fortunate one!!!
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