Nurburgring 24 Hour Event
Discussion
Well it has taken a week of recovery, catching up on work, sorting photos, washing racid camping gear and trying to write something hopefully coherent about what my mates and I got up to at Nurburgring 24hour nearly a week ago. I hope with my entirely inadequate skills to give a sense of what was an amazing event it was.
Arriving at the Travel Destinations campsite Thursday evening after a 0400 start from Warwick we were greeted by the not entirely unexpected semi chaos and techno blaring from a dozen directions at once.
Camp setup in quick time we walked 5min up to the GP circuit in the fading light of Thursday for night practice, I was amazed, what had always looked like a flat and souless new-era track on TV was actually a plunging, twisting, climbing arena with stunning views at every turn. You could simply spend the weekend here and see so much racing, but we had only just begun.
CURSE THOSE LOUDSPEAKERS
Then it begun to rain and if you want to know just how wet N24 was then feel free at pretty much any juncture to insert "And then it begun to rain" You wouldn't be far from the truth.
The spectacle was worth every sodden step.
Friday started with the same trek up to the GP circuit but with intent to keep on the move anticlockwise around the circuit.
Through the pits was an eyeopening introduction to just what organised chaos it takes to get 160 cars to work together in the space meant for 33.
After a little wandering we exited the GP circuit and head out through Nurburg village and picked up the Track trail by Tiergarten, we then crossed over the bridge and headed for Meuspath as the path inside the cicuit also seemed to be taking us away from the track also.
We missed a lot of the mornings events but in reality all we wanted was a good spot to watch the classic in the afternoon and to get as far as we good, so far the weather was kind and sunscreen, hats and glasses necessary protection.
So our walk took us well away from the main straight where we could hear the cars but see nothing, through the village of Meuspath where it seemed every other house had a track prepped something tucked away.
We found our way back under the circuit through more beautiful forest with distantly heard racing and finally got back to the armco at Galgenkopf two and half hours after we left the GP circuit. WTCC was supposed to start shortly so we trekked on to Schwalbenswantz for hopefully some spectacular views of the little carousel. It was there that the crowd began to build back up again with two camps in particular competiting for the title of worse and loudest techno music, I put my earplugs back in and found a shady spot to wait for WTCC.
So we saw a handful of WTCC cars go past then..... nothing and...... a lot more nothing. No idea what was going on we left and made the choice to continue on the inside of the circuit which resulted in a truly beautiful walk through a forest where we saw two cyclists and a deer for the hour and half it took us to get to Brunnchen, with many attempts to get near the circuit (where there was still nothing happening) only resulting in much backtracking and finding isolated marshall posts whom we didn't feel like approaching just in case our choice of path really wasn't meant to be taken.
Arriving with an hour before the start of the Classic we tucked into some very well earned Currywurst mit pommes and a few brews to ease some seriously aching feet.
And then it rained. Not just a pleasant shower to cool everyone off but an absolute drenching which in retrospect was a portent of what would happen 24hours later during the N24 itself. Everyone took shelter wherever there was some to be had, the bitburger awning being a popular choice unsurprisingly.
The classic rolled past on the warm up lap with everyone still taking shelter and ten minutes later with the sky gradually beginning to brighten we found a spot to watch the classics go by with a surprising ammount of pace.
At this point I'll mention the gradient of the track, if you think video robs a circuit of its elevation compared to the experience of a touristfahren lap, try it on shanks pony, the Brunchen complex looks like it's dropping of a mountain and it's jaw dropping to see cars coming through at speed.
But after a pleasant hour of beer and classics buzzing past and only moderately offensive techno we pushed on, up Brunchen through campsites already looking a bit to close to post apocalyptic chaos.
Past the entrenched sitess of homebuilt granstands and heated paddling pools and many many sex dolls of Wippenman to the Karussell, a very special feeling walking up that single track to that famous banked corner, my words or pictures are inadequate to do it justice and on reflection most of the weekend feels like that, for years watching the N24 from afar, watching the videos, playing the games, doing Touristfarhren built my expectations up and up and up and at every turn the Nurburgring blew me away, the beauty of the circuit, the madness of the fans, the savagery of the cars and the relentlessness of the drivers.
On back down the steep steep slope to Steilstecke, at this point a fog and smoke shrouded sea of tents in amongst which I spotted my home flag, after a quick confused chat it turn out they weren't Aussies as far from home as I, but locals who had once camped out with some years ago, been gifted the flags and inflatable kangaroo and had been flying
them ever since. With a friendly chat they stood us some beers and we pushed on.
And at this turn Nurburgring gave us another surreal moment, barely half a mile on from Steilstrecke camp, the techno distant the crowds disapeared. Hiking towards Kesselchen we had the path, the classics and the track to ourselves.
The hour walking high over the track was magic and the decent into Adenau village with the enormous campground of Breidsheid looming over it felt like changing planets.
We tucked into Schnitzels and restorative beers in the village with the Classic finished and final N24 practice starting we contemplated the 30000 steps and 18 miles we had already covered from the TD campsite to Adenau and the fading light and fog we'd have to contend with if we pressed on. Then we caught the bus back to camp determined to pick up the circuit again at Adenau tomorrow. Race day.
TL-DR, Nurburgring 24hour event is entirely amazing. Don't hesitate, do it!
Part 1 Thu-Fri
Arriving at the Travel Destinations campsite Thursday evening after a 0400 start from Warwick we were greeted by the not entirely unexpected semi chaos and techno blaring from a dozen directions at once.
Camp setup in quick time we walked 5min up to the GP circuit in the fading light of Thursday for night practice, I was amazed, what had always looked like a flat and souless new-era track on TV was actually a plunging, twisting, climbing arena with stunning views at every turn. You could simply spend the weekend here and see so much racing, but we had only just begun.
CURSE THOSE LOUDSPEAKERS
Then it begun to rain and if you want to know just how wet N24 was then feel free at pretty much any juncture to insert "And then it begun to rain" You wouldn't be far from the truth.
The spectacle was worth every sodden step.
Friday started with the same trek up to the GP circuit but with intent to keep on the move anticlockwise around the circuit.
Through the pits was an eyeopening introduction to just what organised chaos it takes to get 160 cars to work together in the space meant for 33.
After a little wandering we exited the GP circuit and head out through Nurburg village and picked up the Track trail by Tiergarten, we then crossed over the bridge and headed for Meuspath as the path inside the cicuit also seemed to be taking us away from the track also.
We missed a lot of the mornings events but in reality all we wanted was a good spot to watch the classic in the afternoon and to get as far as we good, so far the weather was kind and sunscreen, hats and glasses necessary protection.
So our walk took us well away from the main straight where we could hear the cars but see nothing, through the village of Meuspath where it seemed every other house had a track prepped something tucked away.
We found our way back under the circuit through more beautiful forest with distantly heard racing and finally got back to the armco at Galgenkopf two and half hours after we left the GP circuit. WTCC was supposed to start shortly so we trekked on to Schwalbenswantz for hopefully some spectacular views of the little carousel. It was there that the crowd began to build back up again with two camps in particular competiting for the title of worse and loudest techno music, I put my earplugs back in and found a shady spot to wait for WTCC.
So we saw a handful of WTCC cars go past then..... nothing and...... a lot more nothing. No idea what was going on we left and made the choice to continue on the inside of the circuit which resulted in a truly beautiful walk through a forest where we saw two cyclists and a deer for the hour and half it took us to get to Brunnchen, with many attempts to get near the circuit (where there was still nothing happening) only resulting in much backtracking and finding isolated marshall posts whom we didn't feel like approaching just in case our choice of path really wasn't meant to be taken.
Arriving with an hour before the start of the Classic we tucked into some very well earned Currywurst mit pommes and a few brews to ease some seriously aching feet.
And then it rained. Not just a pleasant shower to cool everyone off but an absolute drenching which in retrospect was a portent of what would happen 24hours later during the N24 itself. Everyone took shelter wherever there was some to be had, the bitburger awning being a popular choice unsurprisingly.
The classic rolled past on the warm up lap with everyone still taking shelter and ten minutes later with the sky gradually beginning to brighten we found a spot to watch the classics go by with a surprising ammount of pace.
At this point I'll mention the gradient of the track, if you think video robs a circuit of its elevation compared to the experience of a touristfahren lap, try it on shanks pony, the Brunchen complex looks like it's dropping of a mountain and it's jaw dropping to see cars coming through at speed.
But after a pleasant hour of beer and classics buzzing past and only moderately offensive techno we pushed on, up Brunchen through campsites already looking a bit to close to post apocalyptic chaos.
Past the entrenched sitess of homebuilt granstands and heated paddling pools and many many sex dolls of Wippenman to the Karussell, a very special feeling walking up that single track to that famous banked corner, my words or pictures are inadequate to do it justice and on reflection most of the weekend feels like that, for years watching the N24 from afar, watching the videos, playing the games, doing Touristfarhren built my expectations up and up and up and at every turn the Nurburgring blew me away, the beauty of the circuit, the madness of the fans, the savagery of the cars and the relentlessness of the drivers.
On back down the steep steep slope to Steilstecke, at this point a fog and smoke shrouded sea of tents in amongst which I spotted my home flag, after a quick confused chat it turn out they weren't Aussies as far from home as I, but locals who had once camped out with some years ago, been gifted the flags and inflatable kangaroo and had been flying
them ever since. With a friendly chat they stood us some beers and we pushed on.
And at this turn Nurburgring gave us another surreal moment, barely half a mile on from Steilstrecke camp, the techno distant the crowds disapeared. Hiking towards Kesselchen we had the path, the classics and the track to ourselves.
The hour walking high over the track was magic and the decent into Adenau village with the enormous campground of Breidsheid looming over it felt like changing planets.
We tucked into Schnitzels and restorative beers in the village with the Classic finished and final N24 practice starting we contemplated the 30000 steps and 18 miles we had already covered from the TD campsite to Adenau and the fading light and fog we'd have to contend with if we pressed on. Then we caught the bus back to camp determined to pick up the circuit again at Adenau tomorrow. Race day.
End of part 1
TL-DR, Nurburgring 24hour event is entirely amazing. Don't hesitate, do it!
Edited by Wayoftheflower on Saturday 4th June 12:24
Edited by Wayoftheflower on Saturday 4th June 12:30
Part 2 Sat-Sun
Some more words, needless to say, Saturday morning was a bit of recovery session with all plans to watch the warmup events falling to the wayside in comparison with double helpings of BBQ sausages, eggs and lots of coffee. We made our way up to the pits and waited for the grid walk, described as not to be missed by fellow campers who'd been before. The queuing seemed interminable and even more so when we started to see other access gates open while ours nearest the pit exit remained closed. Even after it opened we were held behind a bit of safety tape while increasingly agitated marshals tried to keep thousands of eager spectators and forming up racecars safely separate. tbh it must have been a bit of a nightmare to be an official at that time but I hope it continues it was amazing to get up close to all the cars. Well except for the top 10 they were buried so deep in the humongous crowd I gave up trying to get a look and headed for the back of the grid to try and see as much as I could.
I butted my way into a conversion towards the middle of the grid to shake the hand of Aussies Mal Rose and Peter Leemhuis. Mal Rose being partly responsible for my N24 fandom with his fantastic 2007 documentary "Mal's Big Green Hell" Worth the effort hunting up a copy as the event was apparently much wilder only a few years ago.
Viper third from the back along with the Calibra and Mk3 Golf. Spot the tiny AMG stand off in the distance, pole sitter being way way away near there.
Found a spot back on the GP circuit to watch the start, putting on sunscreen as it was getting on the hot side and wondering whether that dark cloud was headed our way. It wasn't but it would shortly dump ice on the Nordschleife bringing out the red flags for hours.
We decided to wait for the restart before catching the bus back to Andenau to restart our circuit walk. But after seeing them parade again with no sign of racing we headed out to the bus stop, the circuit buses were fantastic with many stops around the track, hopefully in future they'll run more often as they were often quite crowded even late into the night.
Adenau village and Breidscheid camp were mental, the view of the track astounding and the racing was once again in full swing.
The eventual winner
My favourite photo of the whole weekend I think, the fog and rain might have been a pain at times, my camera getting full of condensation and my boots and legs covered in mud but it sure made for some atmosphere.
Trekking up to Wehrseifen and Kallenhard again the crowds thinned dramatically and we were treated to more amazing views.
And then it started to get really dark and foggy, making our way through Metzgesfeld campsite on the inside of the circuit to push on towards Adenau Forst. And suddenly we were alone with the track. Just a torchlit grassy path, a dense row of trees and the mayhem of the race and beyond that the thumping techno of another camp, but not another person around.
At this point I'll confess, we actually didn't make it all the way around. At Adendau Forst we faced jumping a small armco fence and heading into a dark and increasing foggy forest with entirely inadequate torches and headlamps. While we were blocked on our right by the circuit and to our left by a field of what I quickly discovered were nettles.
So sense prevailed and we turned around trying to find an alternative route that google maps said should lead us to Aremberg. But in the end we went too far back and arrived back almost to Andenau again having trekked another hour through a dark forest and away from the action.
Hopping on the bus again to get back to the race we went to the next stop Quiddelbacher Höhe and thus missed the famous Fuchsröhre and Flugplatz. A shame about that and the "well we almost walked around the Nurburgring" anecdote but with a feast of racing I can't feel too hard done by. Simply something to bring me back again soon!
Getting off the bus to be greeted by the ferocious sound and light show of the race after our quiet forest trek was a head spin, although by now my head had been spun so thoroughly it felt as though I'd dropped through dimensions into a heaven made just for race fans.
Another big crowd and camp although we started to find as we were nearer the GP circuit I think the fans were a bit less considerate with a lot of tents hard up against the fence preventing anyone sharing the view.
Still it didn't take us long to find yet another amazing spot to view from.
And finally back to the GP circuit grand stand to observe the pits operating at the witching hour.
Returning back to camp we had covered another 15miles on foot.
After far too short a sleep I awoke with a great need to warm my aching feet and get some coffee.
Eventually we limped back to the GP circuit and grandstands to watch the finish, what a finish too!
There's something special about a battered racecar still hard at work with twenty two hours under its wheels and 120 minutes left to go.
The fog never really let up through Sunday.
An end, a controversial one but whatever the order I have the only deepest admiration for the teams that made the finish.
End of Part 2
What an amazing event. Long may it continue and long may it indulge the insanity of its fans.
Edited by Wayoftheflower on Monday 6th June 20:16
Edited by Wayoftheflower on Monday 6th June 20:24
Edited by Wayoftheflower on Monday 6th June 20:46
Edited by Wayoftheflower on Monday 6th June 20:56
Edited by Wayoftheflower on Monday 6th June 21:03
Wayoftheflower said:
Crikey, you weren't that far from us on two occasions!Pre-hailstorm
At Adenau:
We ended up sharing the evening with a German family under the the second white gazebo from the left. They'd offered shelter the previous day when our companions (and their dog) got caught out in the downpour during the early part of the classics race, and had offered their hospitality to all of us.
Edited by cherie171 on Monday 6th June 21:59
Wayoftheflower said:
Wow! yeah, must've been within feet of each other. Next time I must remember to occasionally yell "I do zat time in a Van!" to locate other English speaking fans. 
Can you see yourself in this? 
(Pistonheads has resized it for the page - view in new tab / save as to see full size)
Dal3D said:
Can you see yourself in this?
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I think I was probably just around the corner in the Mercedes stand when that was taken. Looks like about half an hour after the start?(Pistonheads has resized it for the page - view in new tab / save as to see full size)
I am often found sat at that corner, or more specifically the bratwurst stand just out of shot on the right!
bltamil1 said:
I think I was probably just around the corner in the Mercedes stand when that was taken. Looks like about half an hour after the start?
I am often found sat at that corner, or more specifically the bratwurst stand just out of shot on the right!
I had a curry bratwurst from that very stand when I took that photo.. and a beer obviously I am often found sat at that corner, or more specifically the bratwurst stand just out of shot on the right!
Yeah, was just after the start before it all went "pete tong" on the other side of the circuit.
bltamil1 said:
IdiotRace said:
Does anyone know when the dates for next years race are announced? I really fancy going next year but unfortunately camping isn't an option for me.
Not announced yet, but my money is on Corpus Christi, 15th to 18th June.
It's generally held either on Ascension or Corpus Christi, as these are both holidays in Germany. I think there have been exceptions to that, but they are few and far between.
I would think that the Lindner and the Dorint hotels are pretty much booked out by teams/officials etc. Your best bet is a smaller place in one of the villages around the track.
I would think that the Lindner and the Dorint hotels are pretty much booked out by teams/officials etc. Your best bet is a smaller place in one of the villages around the track.
IdiotRace said:
Does anyone know when the dates for next years race are announced? I really fancy going next year but unfortunately camping isn't an option for me.
Caravan an option? There were some big ones parked in the camping am Nurburgring site and although they don't have water/sewage they do have power. Pick the right area and the well kept shower and toilet block is a 2min walk and the GP circuit 5min.Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff