4 laps...

I took a ride in a Golf with a guy who owns the rental. Simi rode in the back seat. We both were sick feeling as the guy, with over 4,000 laps experience waxed every car he could and drove holding a conversation, and occasionally double apexs with one hand on the wheel, one on the window, and looking over his shoulder at Simi in the back seat. The ride was INSANE. It made Simi REALLY sick feeling, a fear of death perhaps. I shook it off, and grabbed my 3 series, gutted, caged, race buckets, and 150 hp and headed out. The first lap was pretty scary, really. No video game does justice to bumps, or elevation changes. Gran Turismo taught me a lot about where to go, and what to look for, but the "ass-to-eye" coordination of feeling what the car is doing and looking around helps in leaps and bounds. The Bimmer handled fantastically well, and was perfectly setup for the course, but it was certainly lacking for power. I topped it out at 205km but it really ran out of steam about 180km. Maybe that's a good thing that I didn't go stupid fast, cause there are many turns in which you see seemingly fresh skidmarks that run a 90 degree angle to the Armco. Ouch.

First lap, felt the car out. Returned to the paddock, hands shaking, blood flowing, and a smile I couldn't hide. The 20km of one lap is about 10 minutes worth of tire squeal, and just insanity. I was driving the 'Ring. Second lap was a little better but on blind fast sweepers, I was still braking and loosing the precious momentum. 3rd lap was even quicker, and 4th lap was right after the 3rd. The car started to get really squishy on it's tires as I had a downhill on camber decreasing radius turn that was a nice heart pounding 4 wheel drift on greasy rubber. Slowed the driving a bit, let a GT3RS whoosh by and kept on going. Passed a Boxster, TT and surprizingly a handful of motorcycles. More bikes than cars at the circuit. I got waxed buy the previously mentioned GT3RS, a M3, a RS4, and many many bikes. The track only had 12-15 cars, and about 30 bikes as it was a rainy afternoon here, drying up around 5pm, and of course the billion people watching "football" Euro 2008. Germany vs. Turkey.

So, 4 laps down, and about 40 minutes of driving. Maybe less, but that's just wishful thinking. 10 minute laps are pretty fast, maybe quicker driven on a video game, but if you screw up, the reset button is easier to push. I returned on my 4th and final lap to find Simi with her helmet on and a smile and ticket ready to go. I didn't want to push her to drive, but she recovered from the roller coaster earlier, and I rode with her, telling here where to go faster and where to not. She did GREAT!

Returned the now bug splattered, tires feathered, brake dust sodden BMW, filled with gas, and with 6km over the 130km driving limit, which they waived, and shared some stories. Stopped at a local bar for pizza a stones throw from the entrance to the circuit. Simi found sign out front said "Pizza Ricer" so we laughed and went there. Great pizza as fans slowly arrived for giant mugs of beer to root on Germany. Now, typing this, in the hotel watching the game, and just thinking about those 4 laps. Just 4, but holy hell was it FRICKEN INCREDIBLE.