This is my first lap ever of the famed and dangerous Nürburgring in Germany. The intrepid videographer was my wife, who braved just this one lap to get me the evidence I needed to prove my feat. She opted out of the second lap. The car I am in is a Suzuki Swift. But, Jim, why not a Porsche, or BMW or something more exciting, you ask? Well, those cars are available. But they were so expensive to rent, even for only a couple of laps. The Swift was not only ready to go at the time, it proved to be the perfect car for someone with zero experience on a track. Yes! The very first time I ever drove a car on a track, it was the Green Hell!! Go big or go home, right?
You’ll notice that I mostly keep to the right. this is because I knew I wouldn’t be tearing it up, and they tell you to treat it like any other road. What that means is that a faster car might signal you that they want by. Or you may just see them coming. Either way, you would turn on your right turn signal to let them know that you see them and will move over to the right to let them by. I did this often. But I did actually pass someone on my second lap!
It looks in the video that I’m barely moving. It is quite difficult to convey the seat of the pants feelings of being in the car in a video format. You, the observer, cannot feel any of the acceleration or other loads that we in the car felt. I can assure you, however, that I pushed that little car as much as it and my sphincter would allow. I didn’t break any records, but I had the time of my life and made many a petrolhead friend very, very jealous! Enjoy!
Jimperfections 