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Hi Everyone,

I haven't been on SAU for a while but had some time to kill so thought I'd pay a quick visit. Below are copies of emails I've sent to people describing my German adventure and thought some of you might enjoy reading about them.

I'm one week into my trip and really enjoying myself. After a loooong flight I met up with David in Frankfurt and we then caught a train down to Stuttgart. After waiting in the airport for 4 hours we were finally picked up by a hot chick in a Hummer who drove us back to the car rental place (at 160+ kmph in high heels). There was a problem with the Porsche 911 as someone had crashed it the day before. After another hour or so we were informed that we could take the latest car by Porsche - the Cayman S 2 seater coupe. So after completing the paperwork we were given the keys and began our 400km journey to the Nurburgring. German autobarns are brilliant. We averaged 140kmph and hit 207 at one point. We arrived at the B&B late at night and 49 hours after getting up I was finally able to sleep in a bed again.

The next day we went to the Nurburgring. We visited the Museum, the F1 track, went on a tour and watched the start of a Porsche GT Cup race from the Ring Media Centre. At 5:15 the large track finally opened to the public and we watched the cars and bikes head out. I have never seen so many Porsches- there must have been 50+ 911 alone. The car park probably had about 5 million dollars worth of machinery in it including 2x Dodge Vipers, a Ford GT, a BMW M3CSL which flew around the track, a Ferrari F430, F550, and a 308 (I think) plus heaps of worked Mercs, BMWs etc. No Skylines though. After watching everyone go out in racespec vehicles with roll cages and helmets I was getting intimidated so I turned around, bought a ticket, jumped in the car and headed onto the track. I took the first lap very slowly and was passed by heaps of cars and bikes. I finished the lap and was relieved - I had made it around without crashing or causing an accident. I actaully enjoyed the drive back to the B&B more than the lap of the Ring.

The next day we sat in the bar and watched the car races at the F1 track, visited the Nurburgring castle, and waited for the track to open to the public. At 5:45 they opened the boomgates and the cars and bikes headed on. David did his first lap and had very little traffic to contend with. We knew the track a bit better and pushed a bit harder. After his lap we swapped seats and I headed out. Four motorcyclists crashed in front of me and 2 cars smashed into the concrete and had to be towed away. Needless to say I drove a poor lap as so much happened in front of me I never found my rythmn.

On our final day at the Ring the gates opened at 8am and we were ready and waiting. I drove 2 laps, David drove 2 laps, we went to get petrol and returned for me to do one last lap. David managed a 9:39 on his third lap (anything under 10 minutes is good) but on my last lap more people crashed and the Ring was closed a little later to remove cars and clear the track. By 10:30am the track was closed for a second time as at least two bike riders had died and 2 more were critcally injured. We didn't get to do anymore laps but had fun, didn't crash, and lived to tell the tale. We experienced the thrills of the greatest race track in the world with the realisation that at least two people died that day doing the same thing as us. The trip back to Stuttgart was very fast averaging 180-190kmph and peaking at 250kmph. At one stage a Merc E classs estate with 5 people and luggage flew by us- and we were travelling over 200kmph. I love German autobarns!!!

We missed our tour and had a Germany couple drive us to a town and then a hostel about 20km from their home. The German people are extremely friendly and helpful. There is a great atmosphere here. The next day we finally found the right town and hostel, dropped our bags off and headed to the football stadium. I'm sure many of you watched the game or know the result but it was unbelieveable. A sea of green and gold with everyone jumping and cheering. At the 75 minute mark my heart was sinking as I thought our World Cup dream was over already. The next 10 minutes were indescribable. 0-1 to 3-1 with an Adelaide boy scoring the final goal. Kaiserslauten went off as thousands of cheering aussies packed the streets and drunk the bars dry. Three days later and I still haven't got my voice back.

Today we travelled to Munich and await the Brasil game. Go Australia!

The second email.

Our German adventure continues. David and I have been in Munich now for just over a week. In that time we went to the biggest beer garden in the world which had approx 8,000 people in it, mostly drunk aussies. We visited the WWII Dachau concentration camp which was a grounding experience after riding a wave of joy over here. We met up with Paul and Kasia before the Brasil game and had a Thai lunch and beers before heading over to the stadium. I think that is the only time I've had vegies since landing in

Germany. I don't know how the Germans survive on a diet of pork, bread, potatoes and beer. At least the beer doesn't have preservatives and is rather tasty. This also helps the next day- not that I get hangovers but I wouldn't be able to maintain this volume of drinking on Coopers. I have developed a real fondness for their wheatbeer.

The FFA had organised an Australia-Brasil Samba party the night before the game with Brasil . It was a good night but I think there were 4,000 Aussies and maybe 10 Brasilians. I had 4 beers and was rather merry- these stein glasses (1 litre) take an effort to drain but I was committed.

We watched the Brasil game from the Alliance Arena. What an amazing stadium. It was packed with nearly all fans wearing yellow and green for both teams. The atmosphere was brilliant before the match just walking around the streets of Munich. There were tens of thousands of people filling the streets dancing, singing, cheering, chanting, and of course drinking. I think the Aussies deserved better than the 2-0 result. They played well and had their chances but failed to put them away. The ref was poor and copped plenty from the crowd and some from Kewell at the end of the game. The train ride back into town was less pleasant that when returning from the Japan game but spirits were still high with the knowledge that a

draw against Croatia will see Australia through to the Round of 16 - which David and I have tickets for!

The Aussie Express train was loaded up again the day after the Brasil match and over 2000 fans headed to a small German town to watch the Australian team train. Naturally it was a light session but it was interesting to see the warm up, goalie drills and watch a practise match where players rotated through the teams. Archie Thompson trained really well and Schwarzer is just a great guy waving to the crowd and copping heaps when he did some exercises. The crowd counted his situps etc and would get stuck on a number eg 1,2,3,4,5,6,6,6,6,6,6,6,6. It was pretty funny but you had to be there I guess. Afterwards we wandered around the town and found a small pub to watch the next game from. I had the best food there.

Yesterday I went to Austria for some white water rafting while David went to the Ice Caves. I had a great time but thought the rapids would be stronger. The surroundings were amazing with the snow tipped Alps forming the backdrop. The water was...er refreshing but we were in heavy wet suits and once you started paddling I completely forgot. I nearly fell out of the raft after we crashed into a large rock. I had my head in the water, arms above them clutching the paddle and one foot wedged in the side and somehow managed to lift myself back in. Even the guide asked how the hell I saved that. Rather glad I did though as we were about to hit some more rocks.

Last night was our first BIG night and we ended up at the nightclub strip having collected Germans, Pommies, other Aussies and a Mexican along the way. The night ended around 5ish with many football chants and quite a bit of meandering along the Munich streets. David is suffering today but I feel

okay and have done domestic duties like washing, going to the bank, getting my glasses fixed and finding an internet cafe.

Our tour finishes in 2 days with only the Croatia game in Stuttgart left. David is then off to Zurich and I will probably join him if Australia makes the Round of 16 as we can return together for the game. He has a flight

though and I haven't organised any transport yet. After that game we will separate and I will probably head to Amsterdam for a few days before heading over to London to see Mum and Alan.

I hope you're all well and having fun... although I'm pretty confident that I'm having more fun than all of you =)

Edited by writeoff
wow, sound like you are having a good time, hope you have pics to share with us.

We're having a brilliant time. David has taken heaps of pics but I won't post them until I get back after the World Cup final. You will be impressed though!

Oh yeah, we're both called David. I just realised it sounds like I'm referring to myself in the 3rd person.

Edited by writeoff
  • 6 months later...

Sorry for taking so long to post these pictures but I honestly only saw them for the first time last Friday.

Anyway, here are some pics from The Ring!

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Edited by writeoff

Good read mate, sounds like an awesome trip!

I'm heading over to Le Mans this year, and I'll be passing through Germany so I really hope to be able to make a visit to the Nurburgring. Would love to hire a car and do a lap or two, but I doubt the rental companies would look too kindly on a 22 year old international >_<

I'm heading over to Le Mans this year, and I'll be passing through Germany so I really hope to be able to make a visit to the Nurburgring. Would love to hire a car and do a lap or two, but I doubt the rental companies would look too kindly on a 22 year old international :laugh:

You'd be surprised. The place that David and I rented the POrsche from let him drive and he is only 23. The main rental agencies probably won't though. Just make sure you check the policy fine print as some specifically forbid you going on the NNurburgring. Even if they are in German you can still recognise the words Nurburgring and Nordschleife.

http://nurburgring.org.uk/ is a helpful site and I'll search for the business card of the place we rented the Porsche from and send it to you if you like.

You'd be surprised. The place that David and I rented the POrsche from let him drive and he is only 23. The main rental agencies probably won't though. Just make sure you check the policy fine print as some specifically forbid you going on the NNurburgring. Even if they are in German you can still recognise the words Nurburgring and Nordschleife.

http://nurburgring.org.uk/ is a helpful site and I'll search for the business card of the place we rented the Porsche from and send it to you if you like.

Really? That's great to hear!

I knew that Hertz have a 997, but didn't know Cayman's/Carreras were readily available through other avenues. If you come across that card and could give me the details it would be very much appreciated mate :)

Thanks

Dane

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