So, finally back in sunny SoFlo after a short trip back home to Sweden. But I was only in Sweden for less then 24h before my GF and I jumped in her Audi RS4 and headed south towards Southern Europe.
The main reason for this trip was to attend one the world most hardcore racing schools, The Scuderia Hanseat Racing School, located at the infamous "Green Hell", aka The Nürburgring. And since we were down south anyways, we took a "short" trip down to my dads wife (my father passed away in a car accident last year) and see how things where.
So, first things first! The RS4 was to waken from it's winter nap, newly serviced, new rotors and XP.-10 racing pads. Those pads eat through rotors like it was nothing, and when the rotors cost over 1000USD it's not very amusing.
I love palm trees, but Stockholm is extremely beautiful in the springtime.
We took the "Oresunds bridge" that goes from Sweden to Denmark. It's one of the worlds longest at 26kms + a 9km long tunnel. Not a bad view!
The best thing about driving on the German Autobahn on a sunday is the fact that all trucks (Semi's) are not allowed to drive then, so traffic is like zero. Which helps ones average speed quite a bit. I have driven this route like 120 times before and have never seen so little traffic. The German "Staus" are infamous!
We downed quite a few of these on the way
epper:Mid Europe
I am an American muscle guy at heart, but the detail and quality on Audi's RS cars is fuggin amazing.
Pimped Challenger on the Autobahn, sounded nice!
We took the "Brenner pass" that passes by Innsbruck in Austria, as it's much cheaper and easier since Switzerland isn't in the EU. Not to mentions a million times more beautiful, the views on this road are unbelievable. One of the most scenic roads in Europe.
When we are about 2 miles from our exit we end up in this mess... 2 frickin hours not moving an inch...
Arriving in the wonderful village of Maranello, Italy. Home of Ferrari, and neighbor to Pagani, Lambo, Maserati, Edonis, Ducati etc etc.
Ferrari Factory. I am proud to say that I am officially banned from the factory due to a little predicament that happened a few years ago during a tour. I accidentally wandered off from the group and happened to see something I shouldn't have...and accidentally took a pic of it...
oke:Ferrari store, loooooots of goodies in there
Ferrari Museum
After 26 hours of driving we have finally arrived at my fathers place! Stockholm - Marnello = 1640 miles.
The car below may not look like much, but my dad bought it brand new 1971, and has only out 30k on it. It's like new both in and out, and has the rare option of a Porsche sport steering wheel on it :rockon:
Since my dads very early passing (61 years old, father of 5) his collection of cars have not really been taken care of. In my family I am the only one with the car and racing interest/passion/hobby and with me living here in FL now it hasn't been easy. So since we were there my girl and I took care of the cars, and brought them back to life! There was quiite a bit to do with them, but we managed to do pretty good.
This picture is of his office, and in the office he has a glass wall looking out over some of his collection. The white 3000GT-VR4 is one of the first delivered in 1990, and it has been tuned by Hennessy performance. 450AWHP. Not bad back in the early 90's. Oh, don't miss the official Pirelli girl posters on the wall :rockon:
Also in this pic is my dads 1979 Corvette Stingray, also a one owner car with under 30k miles on it. And one of very few sold in that color combo
Ferrari 456M GT, and Ferrari 360FI CS
Alfa 147 GTA Novitec. Novitec supercharger, HR adjust. suspension, Porsche 996 Turbo brakes, rollbar, Sparco Evo seats and some other mods. 395whp. Runs like hell and is amazing on the road course.
Hmm...think I found an exhaust leak..dammit...
Beautiful motor, and the little thing that says Holset makes it even better :rockon:
Corvetten Stingray
Nice behind
Delorean DMC 1981
Awesome car, slow like a frikkin Geo but still pretty cool
A little Fiat 500, completely restored and new paint job. IT gets more looks then the Ferrari down here!
1971 Cadillac Fleetwood Limo. This car actually has an interesting story behind it. The first owner was actually America's 40th president, Ronald Reagan! So it still has armored doors and windows. The second owner was actually The Joker (Jack Nicholsen) in the movie BATMAN. It was his ride in the actual movie! Check out the front license plate "Gotham City" :rockon:
Ferrari's
In the sun after 11 months
After changing the battery (easier said then done in this car as it's placed in front of the passenger side wheel well) it was time for a test drive.
The noise this car makes is nothing less than a symphony. It's not the fastest in the world, but omg what a piece of moving art.
See the rollbar covered on leather? It's all in the details!
The heart! I had to get dirty and empty out 1.5q of oil since someone put to much in it. The tolerances in these motors are extremely small, and to much (or to little) can cause expensive damage.
Time for the next one, battery was shot here as well, and of course it took like an hour to change this one to...then both of the alarms started acting up...
Then it was time to blow the dust of this car. Ferrari's classical 6-speed gear box is probably on of the nicest ones on the block. Nothing beats the metallic "clink - clink" noise it makes shifting gears.
Out of coincidence the owner of the local Ferrari shop was passing buy and noticed the cars, so i grabbed him and told him we have to cars in need of some love. So he called over 3 guys and they started on the spot! The 360 needed new pads and rotors, and one of the doors was acting up so they brought it back to their shop to fix it.
WTF does it say here?
Beetle
Ferrari shop
F40...OMG...
California...OMG...
Detailed and looking great again!
So after 24h in Italy it was time to move on to out main goal, The Nürburgring! We took the same pass through the Alps, and still were amazed by the scenery.
Ingolstadt, RS4's place of birth!
After another 700miles we arrived at the Hotel Zur Burg in the heart of Nürburg village. A balcony view of the main straight was pretty sweet.
The parking lot was pretty nice to
Day 1 of the Racing school. Here is a brief summary of what it's all about:
The Nürburgring:
The world most dangerous track
14 miles long
Approx 80 "real" corners, over 100 bends
A total hight difference of 900 feet
Built in the early 1930's
The School:
Scuderia Hanseat Farher Schule
300 participants
12 groups
79 employees running it
4 days
51st annual year
24 of the world absolute best racing drivers, acting as instructors and judges during the training and final race. All om them have several World Championships behind them, and many other suitable credentials (fighter pilots etc).
The track (including the GP Formula one track) is devided up in 24 different sections, and the groups are then spread out to each section. There you drive it several times and walk the complete section with the instructors and really get a feel for it. It CRAZY how much more you learn about the "ideal line" this way. Especially when you have 14miles of track to remember
At the ned of the week they have the actual race/test where you get points for each section. The idea is to have as low points as possible.
Before you were let out on the track for practice we had to go to their proving grounds. Crazy fun!
It's not everyday you see a ZR-1 in mid drift :rockon:
"Open Tourist driving" and practice for the participants.
This is an actual Novitec 430 SCUDERIA. Twin S/C and over 750hp...:burnout:
This may look like a standard DBS, but this guy had sparco seats, 6 point harnesses and a full rollcage! I love it!
The morning line up before each group is sent out to the sections. My GF's RS4 in the foreground, and my rented Renault Clio Cup next to it. Not quite what I planned to drive but since my Z06 is at home with a blown engine this is what I was stuck with. BUT with brembo brakes, an AWESOME chassi, 200hp and a low weight of 2500lbs it still moved pretty damn good on the track.
Silvertape can fix it all!
Our group at "The Carusell". Here the cars have to handle over 3g's of force going through it at 90mph.
Pflanzgarten, one of the "jumps" on the track. ALOT of cars get in trouble here because of speed, but mostly just because they had the wrong line going through it. 6 cars were totaled here during the week.
Z06 in mid air!
Audi R8 V10
Some pics of our Swedish Pride and Joy! The driver was an amaxing driver who won his group, and also made The winners group due to his low low points. Creds to him for using his "egg" they way it's supposed to be used!
My baby for the week
FSZ-2, test track nr 2! Here the main objective is to actually drift, and purposely lose traction.
Since my FWD Clio wasn't much a "drifter", I jumped into my GF's RS4 and showed everybody how it was done. Check out my drift angle in the pic further below! :rockon:
Here is friend and fellow Ringrunners of Sweden Member showing off in his F430 Scuderia.
THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE, thank you very much :coolman:
Soem mixed pics from the practice driving, we were standing in The Brünchen section.
Another friend from Sweden driving a factory borrowed Merc SL65 Black Series. OMFG that car MOVES. CRAZY power in that thing, and he sure as hell can drive it :rockon:
Black series nr 2. with the optional camera package :lol1:
The SOUND OF THIS CAR IS F***ING AMAZING
Line for the gas station, my GF got about 7 laps to a full tank, and I got about 6. Now remember that we are paying almost 8USD a gallon...:bash:
Helping a friend changing brake pads. 2008 GT2 CS
Part of the Formula one track, with a bit of Slalom/autox sections. It is a crazy feeling having the opportunity to race on a real F1 race track!
A friend of mine after a full lap with me :lol:
NEIN! Hier mussen du schnellen fahren!
RSR, awesome guys who helped we find my car and also went head over heals helping me finding spare parts for my friends crashed 997 Turbo.
SL65 Black Series at the hotel
Time to go home
We drove with 3 other cars back to sweden. We left Nürburg at 5am, and we were at the ferry to Denmark 3.5h later. we are talking 450miles in 3.5 hours :rockon:
None of us let off the throttle expect for stopping for gas, 3 times haha. The RS4 is an awesome car, but only got like 7mpg doing 150mph. Empty Autobahn, no speed limit, great weather and driving one the worlds best cars, what more could one ask for?
But how did we do in the actual race?
epper:Me = Erik
GF = Hellena
Erik: 1st place Sportfahrer!!!
2nd place GP track Slalom/Autox
77 points
Hellena: 2nd place Sportfahrer
1st place Gp track Slalom/Autox
1st place ladies cup
78 points
I cannot express how happy we are to have achieved as well as we did. Our instructor (6 times winner of the 24H race) said it took him 7 times to get down to those numbers :beer:
I ALMOST got beaten by my GF, but my CLio and and I represented with on less point :burnout:
Obviously I couldn't do much about the Ladies Cup :lol1:
But honestly I am so extremely proud of my girl performing so well! She kicked some serious butt.
Here is a pic of her at the Gala dinner at The Dorint Hotel, my precious
epper:We were also quite happy that both our cars made it w/o damage. At the end there was about 15 totaled cars, 15 damaged, and 15 broken.
There is reason they call it The Green Hell.
I hope you liked the pics and story
Cheers :beer:
Mvh Erik
