Near Life Experience Tour

[Roy]

Well, i had been trying to make it to Spa since 2004, it is the single track that i wanted to drive more then any other after watching F1 races there as a little kid, it was the track i remembered from year to year.

So the timing was finally right, and Snowcone was going to be around the traps so i could hassle a friendly, rather then a stranger, though the consumption of booz was lower then expected...i think a function of the distances we were driving and the speeds we were driving.

So first it was off to Salzburg for dinner and a stop over...

Early in the morning we set off for an epic drive through the Alps, though with time getting away from us we only drive Grossglockner Pass, meaning we had to miss out on the Dolomites.

After a lot of driving (I nananapped in the passenger seat as Snowcone kept himself amused dy driving between barricades and BIG trucks at speed on way too narrow roads) we ended up at a cool little German town named Rothenburg.

From here the real driving was to start as we headed for Nurburgring, where as expected we were confronted with plenty of people. But before that a hardy meal...

...and something to wash it down with

So all set for the traffic and buzz that was Nurburgring...

The little terror for laps of the Ring

Any colour 997 GT3 RS you could want

There was also a wicked little E30 M3

From here it....

[Roy]

We did a runner to Belgium to catch the second half of the GT1 Spa 24Hr Race...but were busted by the time we got there and it was wet so as dusk set in we just grabbed a feed and crashed (after a few beers on the balcony listening to the GT1 and GT2 cars off in the distance..

So finally made it...

After the SPA 24Hr race we hang around in a local pub, watched Webber throw away his second GP win of the year ...then prepared for the two days of fun driving Spa in this...

There were some pretty serious/expensive cars floating around the pits...

[R31Nismoid]

Like i said to Snowy... bastards

[ashneel]

oh man that is so freaking awesome.

[Snowman]

That looks awesome! I wish I was there!

Oh wait.....

The funny thing is that whole trip was a spur of the moment trip (I had to go to Europe for work) and the whole thing was organised in less than 2 weeks (infact a whole bunch of it we just made up when we got there truth to be known).

But it was definitely one of those "Hey this is a once in a lifetime opportunity things - should we do it?" And I'm so glad we did. It was awesome fun and I think it's even changed both of our ways we think about cars / motorsport as well.

[ashneel]

hahahahahaha

so since your having soooo much fun up there

i think one of us should take your GTR for a for a drive to stretch its legs. its just sitting there while you up there having fun...

lol

[FLN75S]

Dam that looks awesome

It is on the top of my list of places i want to go, can't wait till i get the chance to get over there.

[Mohsen]

wow

is there an age limit for the nordschleife ?

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

bastards

[bombtrack]

I am over in Europe same time next year. Hamish maybe too.

I was asking myself why the hell I would go to Europe in summer and here's the answer.

[Phatboy]

Absolutely awesome.

Didn't realise there was that huge slope on the Spa track. Very interesting.

[eMsta]

fark!!!!!!!

[CrispyFries]

Which day were you guys at the 'ring? A mate from work was running around in a rent racecar golf on the 26th.

[Roy]

Spa is a roller coaster ride, the straight up to Eau Rouge is down hill then all of a sudden you are going up. Its not as dramatic as one section at the Ring where the G's hit you in the guts as you go down then bck up at 160km/h....but its way more fun as after a few laps you can build up the confidence to drive Eau Rouge and some of the other downhill off camber corners.

We were at the Ring on the 25th, Saturday

[AGE]

[Jealous]!!!!

Was there any Autobahn adventures?

And Is there a rough estimate of booze consumed?

[funkymonkey]

I'd say Brisbie would account for most of the alcamahol consumption. Do they have nice park benches in Germany Troy?

[Roy]

Was there any Autobahn adventures?

The old Volvo didnt have much to give, but Snowcone was able to hold it flat on the straights...

There was fair wack of booz consumed, but the real drinking didnt start until arriving in the UK. And thankfully i only control the photos of Saturday night

[saff_cossie]

The sad part and I mean really sad is I flew back out of London on the same morning you 3 met up as Snows knows! Of all the days in the year, I fly out at 12pm and you all go drinking that evening.

My trip (with Nicole) while not quite so heavilly car orientated went like this:

Friday night (midnght) - flight to Singapore

6 hours at Singapore

Arrival at Heathrow Saturday evening UK time (3am Melb)

Tube to Kingscross (read 2 hours with delays)

Arrival at hotel after 3 hurdles - 10.45pm

6am wake up for Eurostar to Paris

Sunday and Sunday night in Paris watching final day of Tour De France

Monday morning 9am back to London

11am London

Cross London on the tube

1.30pm after 3 trains back in my home town

Monday afternoon, Tuesday, Wednesday with my parents

Thursday lunch fly out back to Singapore

Friday morning arrive in Singapore

24 hours in Singapore for some drinking and shopping (first me, latter Nicole)

Saturday evening land in Melbourne

No jetlag, back to work on Monda

Pics on facebook or will post a few up once the quote ticks over on Sunday.

Gutted I missed you all after being so close but always later in the year, next year.

[AGE]

The old Volvo didnt have much to give, but Snowcone was able to hold it flat on the straights...

That would almost be a Ovlov land speed record!!! And i'm noticng the clenched fists on the wheel.

There was fair wack of booz consumed, but the real drinking didnt start until arriving in the UK. And thankfully i only control the photos of Saturday night

checks facebook

[bluejeans]

that looks amazing!

sounds like such a good time

im off to germany soon (for oktoberfest) how many different cars are there to rent for nurburgring!?