[mhh]

After a few days of watching my wife shop in Paris, I rented a Fiat 500 and drove the 500 km to the Nurburgring today.  I had a great run across France - fantastic freeways and being a Sunday, the traffic was pretty light too.  I didn't see a single cop.  The Fiat cruises nicely at 140km/h although I managed to coax 180 indicated at one stage - not bad for a 1.2 litre. 

At the 'Ring, I bought 4 laps - but after my first lap, the circuit was closed for 30 mins or so.  I'm not surprised - I passed 4 cars and one bike that were wrecked.  I guess one of these need medical help as the ambulance was out.  When I got back one the track, I came across another 3 fresh prangs and then a bike was down and the yellows were out again.  As  the cars slowed to pass the prang, a car and a bike collided at high speed right in my mirrors - the biker was thrown down the road.  I'm not sure what happened but either the bike or the BMW stopped and the other one didn't.  Major prang.  It was all behind me so I didn't stop.  After I finished my lap, the safety car was out again and the track was closed for another cleanup.  I decided not to wait for the re-opening this time.  It was way too scary out there for me.  I've never seen carnage like it.  The bikers are effing mad to be out there and I felt lucky to get back in one piece.

The circuit is amazing - ups and downs galore.  A total roller coaster.   

I've stopped in Luxemborg for the night on my way back to Paris.

Here's a few pics   Note that I got a pic of Sabine who was out in the Taxi.

[mhh]

More pics...

[cjay]

Great choice of cars Mhh

Surprised you got 180k's out of the 1.2, should have gone for the 1.4 

[mhh]

... should have gone for the 1.4 

You are right, cjay.  When I saw the 500 in the line up at Avis, I grabbed it, 1.2 and all. 

It's a great car - it feels much bigger on the road than it looks, don't you think?

BTW, as I was leaving the 'Ring, a guy wondered over and gave me his card.  I guess he remembered me - out of a hundred or more cars there, mine was the only Fiat 500. 

Anyway, he said he got some good pics of my runs - here's his site.

http://frozenspeed.com/

[AshSimmonds]

MHH texted me that he's at the start of Nurburgring in a white Fiat 500, I checked the webcam... JACKPOT! 

It's a great car - it feels much bigger on the road than it looks, don't you think?

[flamestone]

It was way too scary out there for me.  I've never seen carnage like it.  The bikers are effing mad to be out there and I felt lucky to get back in one piece.

I'm amazed that anything like this can remain open, considering we all apparently need protecting from ourselves with rules, rules, and more rules.

[mondi]

A bit different to your normal rides. 

[M500]

Nice pics. What car did you take on the ring? The 500?

[CortinaD]

Could you have gone for a run in the ring taxi if you wanted to?

[addy]

that's awesome. looks like it would have been fun.
can't wait to go there one day.