Last time I went to the 'ring it was less about the driving and more about engaging in something approaching 'proper journalism', finding out about the mess left by the
NuroDisney development.
As a 10-year 'ring veteran there was plenty of personal experience (expertise is probably going a bit far) to weave into the story, but an actual lap? Nah. And nor have I done one since 2009.
Which feels a bit weird especially given, for
R26 one of Dan's previous 'ring toys
a period, the 'ring was a huge part of my life and one that I just seemed to turn my back on for a bit. It's kind of like when you lose touch with a friend without realising. You go from regular calls, trips and nights out in the pub. To, without really noticing, the occasional text or Facebook update.
Indeed, it's more than simply an analogy because there really are friends I associate with my years of going to the 'ring that I've just kinda lost touch with. We had the best of times and worst of times together, put in a hell of a lot of laps, ate a lot of steak on stones, talked a lot of crap and, on occasion, paid for a few bits of Armco too. And then I just walked away from it all.
When I first went to the 'ring it was probably just in that transitionary period between being a need-to-know, Fight Club-esque secret society and the global phenomenon it is now. Hell, even the Americans are now hooked on the the 'ring lap dick measuring - at the LA show last year it seemed no car, be it Mustang or Camaro, could show its face without a Nordschleife on-board vid and seven-something laptime. Things have changed in the decade we've been acquainted, that's for sure.
'Ring bound Porsches at Eurotunnel
The attempt to turn the Nurburgring into a global megabrand has met with mixed success of course, but the track hasn't changed and I'm still at a loss as to why, after all that time (and money...) invested learning the damned thing, I then seemed happy to walk away. Maybe it was the realisation that the last lap I did - a wonderful, deserted run round in an Exige S on a closed trackday rather than the Tourist Drive - was about as good as it was going to get and that's taken the wind out of the desire to try and go any better. Weird sensation, but I guess it does happen!
We're still talking about it of course, not least via man on the ground Dale Lomas's Ringside Seat updates.And I was struck at yesterday's Sunday Service by the sheer number of 'ring stickers on the back of PHers' cars. Clearly the 'ring still matters collectively. It certainly does going by the number of Porsches here as I write at the Eurotunnel all headed the same way.
Happy memories; should they stay that?
Will it still have the same personal magic for me though? I guess I'll find out tomorrow as PH gatecrashes the
Destination Nurburgring
trackday in force. And I'll know it does if that feeling of butterflies in the stomach after turning off the E42 at Prum and onto the backroads into the Eifel kick in once again. One thing's for sure though, with Chris Harris, Dale and myself out there all pursuing personal projects you may be hearing a bit more 'ring chatter than normal on here in coming days and weeks.