RE: PistonHeads at the Nurburgring
Discussion
The other interesting story from the day was one of the instructors, who ended up being the lead out guy for most of our group. His name is Tim Bergmeister and last Friday was his first day back at the ring after this horrifying crash at Fuji earlier in the year.
Tim gave me a flying lap in the XKR-S at the end of the day. As well as being gobsmacked by the bloke's pedalling skills we talked about the ring history (his old man was Willi Bergmeister) and how he was taken around it for the first time at just a few months old. We also talked about his accident - he had 34 upper body fractures, lost a kidney, 4 litres of blood, spent 4 minutes unconscious without oxygen and damaged his liver and heart. With all of that in mind it's amazing that he even survived, let alone made it back behind the wheel 6 months later. Astonishing.
Tim gave me a flying lap in the XKR-S at the end of the day. As well as being gobsmacked by the bloke's pedalling skills we talked about the ring history (his old man was Willi Bergmeister) and how he was taken around it for the first time at just a few months old. We also talked about his accident - he had 34 upper body fractures, lost a kidney, 4 litres of blood, spent 4 minutes unconscious without oxygen and damaged his liver and heart. With all of that in mind it's amazing that he even survived, let alone made it back behind the wheel 6 months later. Astonishing.
What a guy. 
k.
I'd like to add a couple of bits from the trip if I may.
We were on the way back to the airport, and I was with Stuart in the back of a black with cream leather XJL Supersport. The driver introduced us to 162mph on the autobahn and soon after, I remember the Emeli Sande track "Read all about it, part 3" coming through the Bowers & Wilkins speakers. It was like a closing track to the whole trip and whenever I hear that track now I think about my visit to the 'Ring.
I also had the company of Richard Dredge ( www.richarddredge.com) on the way home - by coincidence we had both parked our cars in the same car park. Richard used to be on-line editor of both What Car? and Top Gear. A top chap who shared some great stories of his time as a motoring journalist.
We were on the way back to the airport, and I was with Stuart in the back of a black with cream leather XJL Supersport. The driver introduced us to 162mph on the autobahn and soon after, I remember the Emeli Sande track "Read all about it, part 3" coming through the Bowers & Wilkins speakers. It was like a closing track to the whole trip and whenever I hear that track now I think about my visit to the 'Ring.
I also had the company of Richard Dredge ( www.richarddredge.com) on the way home - by coincidence we had both parked our cars in the same car park. Richard used to be on-line editor of both What Car? and Top Gear. A top chap who shared some great stories of his time as a motoring journalist.
Edited by Fun Bus on Sunday 23 September 22:13
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