Friday 13th September 2013

VLN with Dale: Time For Tea?

Imagine all the madness of a busy day on the Nordschleife, just with racing cars instead

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This video is from last month, and I shot it during VLN round six, an epic six-hour race at the Nurburgring. Looking back, I'm overjoyed that we finished the race in one piece. The conditions in that drama were the same as they are today; leave the pits on fresh wets under a wall of torrential rain only to find the rest of the 24km circuit bone dry within minutes.

At one point you can see me darting from wet patch to wet patch in effort to reduce the heat in the delicate rain tyres. And woe betide the driver who changes to slicks, because he's guaranteed to find a flood out there somewhere. Of over 200 entries, fewer than 150 actually crossed the line. Our team was delighted to finish, so the second place in class still just feels like a bonus.

This weekend is the seventh VLN race of 2013, and there are still three more to go. I predict it will be a typical Nürburgring saga. Man and machine pushed to the limits through wind, fog and rain. If you want to watch it, you should be able to logon from 1045h (UK time) here.

I'm not sure how much of our little Rent4Ring BMW 125i (#506) you'll be able to see amongst the Porsches, Astons and AMGs, but we will be out there. Wish us luck!

Vid here.
 

[Matt UK]

Fantastic and congratulations!

I really liked the 5 min film - have you got any raw race footage? Maybe a lap or two lurking on youtube somewhere without the music and clever edits?

[Dale Lomas]

Hi mate, lots of videos on the team channel; http://www.youtube.com/rent4ring

Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAPnRhF4BfA

[Mr.Jimbo]

Love that video, I've worked a few VLNs from the pits (Jag XFS) including the 24hr last year when we won our class. The first half of the video really captures the great atmosphere you only seem to get at the VLN... It's like a theatre, monumental highs, moments when all seems lost and euphoric nail biting unknowns... You leave destroyed, tired, filthy and hopefully ecstatic with a massive grin on your face, brilliant.

[Mr.Jimbo]

Love that video, I've worked a few VLNs from the pits (Jag XFS) including the 24hr last year when we won our class. The first half of the video really captures the great atmosphere you only seem to get at the VLN... It's like a theatre, monumental highs, moments when all seems lost and euphoric nail biting unknowns... You leave destroyed, tired, filthy and hopefully ecstatic with a massive grin on your face, brilliant.

[NGK210]

Great vid. Like it when the 1 passes the 911 at Carousel(?) - GIRFUY!

[HorneyMX5]

Seems to really capture the atmos, a cracking little film.

[Vixpy1]

Cracking film that..

[nickfrog]

Cheers Dale and have a good one this weekend. See you next month (the mechanically sympathetic frog).

[Zed Ed]

Those 86's took a bashing in that race

[Mr.Jimbo]

Love that video, I've worked a few VLNs from the pits (Jag XFS) including the 24hr last year when we won our class. The first half of the video really captures the great atmosphere you only seem to get at the VLN... It's like a theatre, monumental highs, moments when all seems lost and euphoric nail biting unknowns... You leave destroyed, tired, filthy and hopefully ecstatic with a massive grin on your face, brilliant.

[trackdemon]

Loved that, reminded me of my trip in June - some Norwegian buddies of mine are racing in the 9xx racing team (1.50 on your video) and I was out there for the June race (the one red flagged because of the chap who sadly had a heart attack mid race). Even on my Friday practice passenger lap we got bumped, it's pretty hairy out there... Hoping to make the race in a couple of weeks, possible magazine feature. Would be nice to say hi, assuming you're there!

[Cable]

Wow, well done! Great result and a lot of playing dodgems by the looks of things. Cheers!

[jl34]

i was actually there watching that race!, great footage

[CampDavid]

Well worth the watch, more interesting than most ring vids

[Reavenger]

Enjoyed the video. Good insight into racing and what it was like. Highlights for me were: Clio going backwards @ 1:11 and the Porsche trying to overtake on the outside @ 1:50 being...ehmm...running out of track?

[Iroquois Plisken]

Reavenger said:

the Porsche trying to overtake on the outside @ 1:50 being...ehmm...running out of track?

Looked more to me like avoiding the dangerous 1-series driver from bumping him off the track. Probably saw what he did to the 86 earlier on when he turned in on top of the 86 driver. Knob.

So is that race always like that, full of drivers that don't check their mirrors or generally enjoy a spot of bumper cars?

[rallycross]

Great video shame it's got horrible music over the top.

[priley]

Interesting re-mix but the original is better. Inspiring vid from the Baron...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syy0s7rNDQg&fea...

[adzpz]

Great video - S%$! Music!

[Kawasicki]

Iroquois Plisken said:

Reavenger said:

the Porsche trying to overtake on the outside @ 1:50 being...ehmm...running out of track?

Looked more to me like avoiding the dangerous 1-series driver from bumping him off the track. Probably saw what he did to the 86 earlier on when he turned in on top of the 86 driver. Knob.

So is that race always like that, full of drivers that don't check their mirrors or generally enjoy a spot of bumper cars?

No. It seemed pretty disciplined when I drove there. Not much drama.