AutocrossAddict@aol.com wrote:
> I'm having a friend overseas get me a Skyline GT-R brochure (English version)
> and send it to me.
I can do you one better. :)
I was in Germany for business a couple of weeks back, and I was provided a CLK
320 Cabrio to help me get around. (DaimlerChrysler is spread all over
Stuttgart).
Well, you're a racer-guy, you're in Germany, you've got a company car, and
you've got a free weekend. What do you do?
You drive to the Nuerburgring of course! You know, the 21km long race course
that was too dangerous for F1, so they opened it up to the general public? 20 DM
a lap?. Can't pass up that kind of seat time!.
Ye gods, what a place! That's a _man's_ track. It drives like a scaled-up
autocross, except with blind turns, and trees, and more massive elevation
changes than I ever thought possible on a race track.
While I was there, I bumped into a bunch of journalists from Automobile (in Ann
Arbour of all places - small world!) Where they were testing a Suburu WRX, a
Mitsubishi Carisma EVO VI, and a Skyline GT-R. They had some Brit race car
driver who knew the place driving, and a handful of writers writing.
Well, the EVO VI is mechanically very similar to my Talon, so I crawled all over
it looking for goodies that might have Talon applications. They started asking
questions, I started providing answers (as best I could) - and then I asked if I
could take it for a lap.
"Uhh, NO!" :) But I _could_ get a ride with their driver. So I got a tour of the
'ring in an EVO VI driven by a guy who knew the place. Fun! And yes, he was
signifigantly faster than me. ;)
The Skyline doesn't look as big and blocky up close as it does in pictures.
Incidently, Andy the Brit's favourite of the three was the EVO VI. "Well, this
little thing just grips and goes, doesn't it?" :)
Overall, a great weekend - and if DC <salute!> ever moves me to Stuttgart, I'm
living at the track, and commuting every day. :)
DG
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