lemers
Globetrotter
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2015
- Threads
- 30
- Messages
- 3,621
- Reaction score
- 1,111
- Location
- Carlisle, PA
- First Name
- Mike
- Vehicle(s)
- 2016 GT350
- Vehicle Showcase
- 1
- Thread starter
- #1
This Sunday I was finally about to get my GT350 out on the track at the Nurburgring. So before I go into sharing my experience let make provide a disclaimer first:
I am not a racecar driver currently or have I ever been in the past. I have never taking any driving courses beyond Driver's Ed and Defensive Driving (got a ticket once). I have had ZERO track experience, ZERO autocross, ZERO, and ZERO dragstrip experience. I do not claim to know what I am doing or claim to be an expert. My number one goal was bringing my passenger, myself, and my car home in the same condition we left home in.
So now with my experience... Driving to Nurburg was really great and worked up some expectations as you get closer, you start to see some really nice cars. The parking lots at the gas station and the diner had millions of dollars in cars just sitting there with another million just flowing in and out the round-about.
I was lucky and managed to find a spot in the diner lot. I walked over and bought a couple laps "just to start". I wasn't sure how everything worked, and I had just over half a tank of gas and the nearest Esso Station was 30 mins away. So I felt 2 laps was safe for now. Got back into the car and started for the entrance.
As I started into the first series of turns they car ahead of me just starts pulling away. I wasn't too worried considering he must be a highly experience driver at the Ring. The first time feelings of track driving going through me were excitement mixed with a little fear of rearranging a rail or wall. I got through a few more turns and picked up a little speed as my nerves calmed down. Then out of nowhere a BMW followed by a Porsche flew by me. But hey, they are processional drivers right?
So I keep going. Curve after curve, man there are a lot of curves out there. So is didn't hurt my feelings when BMWs, Porsches, or even some crazy modified hatchback driven by Mario Andretti passed my mighty 526 HP V8, Ford Shelby GT350 (grunt, grunt, grunt); no it was the 197x station wagon that honked at me as they when by with a car full of kids and a picnic basket.
I WAS GRANDMA. Unit I came up to a Miata in the last couple of turns and passed him on the straight away like a Honda blows past you at 80 in a 60 like he just beat you in a drag race.
So, don't expect a lot to change for the second lap. I was faster (internal clock), I was passed fewer time with greater periods in-between. An I got my first true pass out on the track. This time there was someone on the side of the track and cones out pushing the cars to the right.
After the second lap I parked the car to get something to drink and buy more laps. But at that time they announced that driving was suspended while they cleaned up the wreck or maybe even another wreck.
Just as we were walking to go back to the car, I had an 1.5 hour drive for dinner with the wife, they announced that the track was opening again. I saw a ton of people rushing back to their cars. So we called it with just 2 laps.
But the Autobahn home and 150 mph made up a little.
I will report that I did not hit limp mode at the Ring or on the long drive there and back. 250 degrees was the highest temp I saw, back my track driving was not really heat inducing either.
I slow as I was compared to other drivers out there I was still pretty fast. I did not represent the GT350 community very well as, I have a lot of room for improvement. I need classes. My daughter was PISSED at me for taking my brother in law and not her. She is coming next time. And there will be a next time.
http://www.tourifotos.de/galerie/al...aum=11:00-12:00/foto=11-12h-IMG_4277.jpg.html
I am not a racecar driver currently or have I ever been in the past. I have never taking any driving courses beyond Driver's Ed and Defensive Driving (got a ticket once). I have had ZERO track experience, ZERO autocross, ZERO, and ZERO dragstrip experience. I do not claim to know what I am doing or claim to be an expert. My number one goal was bringing my passenger, myself, and my car home in the same condition we left home in.
So now with my experience... Driving to Nurburg was really great and worked up some expectations as you get closer, you start to see some really nice cars. The parking lots at the gas station and the diner had millions of dollars in cars just sitting there with another million just flowing in and out the round-about.
I was lucky and managed to find a spot in the diner lot. I walked over and bought a couple laps "just to start". I wasn't sure how everything worked, and I had just over half a tank of gas and the nearest Esso Station was 30 mins away. So I felt 2 laps was safe for now. Got back into the car and started for the entrance.
As I started into the first series of turns they car ahead of me just starts pulling away. I wasn't too worried considering he must be a highly experience driver at the Ring. The first time feelings of track driving going through me were excitement mixed with a little fear of rearranging a rail or wall. I got through a few more turns and picked up a little speed as my nerves calmed down. Then out of nowhere a BMW followed by a Porsche flew by me. But hey, they are processional drivers right?
So I keep going. Curve after curve, man there are a lot of curves out there. So is didn't hurt my feelings when BMWs, Porsches, or even some crazy modified hatchback driven by Mario Andretti passed my mighty 526 HP V8, Ford Shelby GT350 (grunt, grunt, grunt); no it was the 197x station wagon that honked at me as they when by with a car full of kids and a picnic basket.
I WAS GRANDMA. Unit I came up to a Miata in the last couple of turns and passed him on the straight away like a Honda blows past you at 80 in a 60 like he just beat you in a drag race.
So, don't expect a lot to change for the second lap. I was faster (internal clock), I was passed fewer time with greater periods in-between. An I got my first true pass out on the track. This time there was someone on the side of the track and cones out pushing the cars to the right.
After the second lap I parked the car to get something to drink and buy more laps. But at that time they announced that driving was suspended while they cleaned up the wreck or maybe even another wreck.
Just as we were walking to go back to the car, I had an 1.5 hour drive for dinner with the wife, they announced that the track was opening again. I saw a ton of people rushing back to their cars. So we called it with just 2 laps.
But the Autobahn home and 150 mph made up a little.
I will report that I did not hit limp mode at the Ring or on the long drive there and back. 250 degrees was the highest temp I saw, back my track driving was not really heat inducing either.
I slow as I was compared to other drivers out there I was still pretty fast. I did not represent the GT350 community very well as, I have a lot of room for improvement. I need classes. My daughter was PISSED at me for taking my brother in law and not her. She is coming next time. And there will be a next time.
http://www.tourifotos.de/galerie/al...aum=11:00-12:00/foto=11-12h-IMG_4277.jpg.html
Sponsored
Last edited:
