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Euro Combo 08 - Nick's write up
Nick
Traer-Clarke's write up of his Euro Combo '08 adventure
My Euro Combo started a bit earlier than the rest of the party as myself and my
co-pilot for the trip, Lindsay aka giggles went to Amsterdam for 4 days to
relax, before the madness of the Nurburgring and the beauty of Spa. We had a
good relaxing time and took in the sights before we left early Saturday morning
in glorious sunshine to make our way to Nurburg and meet up with the rest of the
Euro Combo'ers.
It was all going so well, until 40km left of our journey to do and a little
yellow engine light lit up on my dash telling me to pull over and stop. What
now? I thought, bloody cars! However, after a few expletives we managed by shear
luck to stumble upon a Ford garage in the middle of no where. Two helpful German
salesman informed me that it was an electrical problem and if there was nothing
drastic happening with the car I should proceed to where I was going and sort it
out there. We took his advice and proceeded at a mind numbing 50kph with giggles
navigating us though some of the most beautiful scenery and forests we had ever
seen.
We arrived at the Nurburg to the familiar sounds of engines and tyres being
strained and pushed round the nearby circuit and instantly felt the tingles and
warmth of excitement as I knew it wouldn't be long until I was going to once
again take on 'the green hell'. But first time to check in and get the car
sorted.
We had been at Nurburg for less than 40 minutes when the rest of
the party started to arrive, first my brother JC and then Mrk, Martin and the
Doc. Followed closely by Tony, Paul and Steve. Unfortunately Stormy had to take
Hugh to Hospital as he had something stuck in his throat and needed it removed.
Mrk was greeted by giggles and I, and was instantly told that my car was not
working and did he know what to do. Of course he did! Mrk was once again my
saviour and new instantly what to do and within 10 minutes it was fixed and
ready to roll! We all sat outside the Zurburg and drank some well earned cold
beers and refuelled our stomachs, whilst all getting to know one another.
Right, time to take in the sights and smells of the Nurburgring. When we arrived
they where running an event by BF Goodrich that saw some awesome GT, GTR and GT
Cup cars being raced around the North Loop. We went to a viewing area and
decided to watch the race for the last hour before they opened the track to the
public.
Lindsay 'Giggles' & Nick 'Clarky'
Race over, time to get to the track. Giggles, JC and myself drove in my car to
the gates, brought a 4 lap ticket and off we went... climbing up the back
straight onto the chicane and then over the old start, finish line into the
downhill left hander and the track begins. The memories where a blur,
remembering how tight and twisting the track is, the overhanging trees and the
tributes as graffiti that litter the track all seem to make it close in around
you; as the pace increases so does your pulse. Into blind crests and bumpy
braking areas, twisting left, right uphill and down...what a place, what a
track, what a challenge!
Whilst waiting to go onto the track I remember sitting in my car, the nerves
alive and my stomach doing somersaults thinking 'can I remember the right way,
am I going to be able to string this together so that we have a good time and
not end up backwards into the armco'. 'Is the car going to be ok, have I put
enough pressure in the tyres'....the barrier is open, off we go. All the
previous thoughts had diluted into adrenalin and we where on it. I have no idea
how or why but I felt at ease on the track. It all seemed to roll into one big
rollercoster. I was hitting the apexes and getting into the right braking zones
and applying power smoothly and the transition from corner to corner was working
well. The car felt tight and planted, no dramas, just a good driving experience.
I have very little experience at the Nurburgring and it would take the rest of
my life to master, but whilst I'm doing that I'm going to have one hell of a
time!
That evening we all met up at the famous Pistenklause restaurant. What a place!
if your a car nut and love anything and everything associated with motor-sport
and its history then you have to go there and have a steak on a stone and just
indulge in the photos, the history, the signatures of drivers present and past
and the memorabilia that quite frankly litters the place. We all got chatting
and drinking and the day turned to night and the stories and laughs where thick
and fast. I thought 'this trips going to be one to remember'.
Sunday Morning, we awake to clear blue skies and not a whisper of wind, perfect.
Already you can hear the cars on the track and those making there way to it. The
Nurburgring is waking up and the air is electric. We have breakfast and decide
that rather than going straight to the track we will go to the many viewing
areas an indulge in some automotive porn! The track is simply glowing in the
sun, the red and white kerbs standing out amongst the green of the grass and the
grey of the tarmac. The graffiti is amazing and stirs emotions as you begin to
think of the history and heritage that this track has. The drivers that have
'taken it on' and triumphed. And a thought to those who have lost. We sit and
watch as professional drivers, armatures and motorcyclists take there cars and
bikes around the circuit. Some of the machines here are just amazing, the engine
noises and snarling exhaust notes filling the air. The smell of rubber, oil and
brakes mixing with smell of the surrounding pines. Fantastic.
We then go to the track and decide to try and get a lap in. It was gridlock, the
place was just heaving with people, cars, bikes and Marshall's. You just
couldn't get near the place. Martin and the Doc both suffered hour plus waiting
times to get to the track. So we decided to park nearby and walk in. By this
time it was about 11am and the sun was getting hotter and hotter. We met up with
Mrk, Tony and a few of the other Euro Combo'ers who all stated that they had
never seen the place so busy. We got in the drinks and chilled for a while. An
accident on the track had closed it and no-one was going anywhere. Some 40
minutes later it re opened and Mrk said to Giggles, JC and myself 'comon, lets
go out'. Ok, I gulped. Mrk is a good friend who I've known since my school days
and I've always known him to be a very good driver. He is ARDS qualified and
also very experienced. He drives a gorgeous blue Mitsubishi Evo9 that kicks out
515bhp...Thats 515bhp! The reason for me gulping is due to this fact. Last year
when we came on the Euro Combo 07' it was absolutely honking it down, we had
streams of water running across the track and blind crests into mist and fog.
Mrk was doing sub 9 mins laps in a 400bhp Evo and its was exciting to say the
least. I remarked at that the time that had it been dry I think I would have
passed out! So, back to a dry track and Mrk driving the 515bhp Evo...
F@*K ME! what a car, what a ride...what a driver! I swear I've never been so
heart pumpingly pumped up ever before in my life! My god it was fast. I've no
idea how fast the laps where, but at one point I definitely screamed like a
girl as we went flying over a blind crest at 150mph. Mrk later stated to have
taken the same blind crest at 160mph later in the day with a load of screaming
Polish chaps aswell. Fantastic!
After that performance my day couldn't be topped, not in driving terms anyway.
Giggles, JC and myself all went back to the viewing points and took lots of photos
whilst basking in the sunshine. Our smiles permanently across our faces!
Around 4pm that day we got in our cars and along with Martin we headed to
Belgium for Mondays track day at the glorious Spa Grand Prix Circuit.
That evening we all meet up and had our usual pizza's in the square at Stavalot
and discussed the days events and looked forward to another days driving.
Monday morning was as sunny and as perfect as the previous morning in Germany.
Its was also my birthday. 34 years young. We all met up in the morning for
breakfast and made our way to the circuit for the morning briefing on track
safety and driver etiquette.
Helmets on chaps! Nick, perfect. Stormy not quite.
Spa was an all together more organised affair. It was well marshalled and had all
the safety one would need. We even got to use the new F1 pit lane and garages. A
great facility with bags of room for all. This was going to be my first track
day at spa and I was looking forward to it. So as soon as the briefing was over
I took my brother JC out on the 3 'sighter' laps. The track had loads of space
and there was plenty of grip. The track surface was also very smooth, a stark
contrast to the Nurburgring! Once that was over I decided to take it easy and
just watch for an hour or so. I was fortunate enough be offered lifts by Paul
and Steve in there stripped out BMW E30, which is such a good car. I also had
the pleasure of a lift with Stormy and his Subaru which handles and sounds
fantastic.
I enjoyed taking my car around the circuit. The top half of the circuit once you
have finished climbing up the long straight is a series of bends that are
constantly dropping. Once I had learnt the lines I found them to be one of the
best driving experiences ever. They seem to flow into one another, the car
almost feels as though it was gliding as you negotiate the fast left and right-handers, hooking up the apexes and powering down the hill into one of the most
challenging double left-handers ever. Entry speed for me was around 85-90mph,
making one turn and holding the line using throttle control to bring the car
round and keeping it loaded, eventually using full throttle and exiting around
the 110-115mph. Magical. Spa offers you everything that you could ask for, Eau
Rouge is still an awesome corner and until you've experienced it, its hard to
describe. The circuit was cloaked in sunshine and looking beautiful, everyone
was smiling and there where no drama's or big accidents. My day was turning out
to be all that I had hoped it to be. Then, Mrk said to me 'comon Nic, lets go
out'....ok, lets go!
Photos from left to right:Nick coming into the pits after his first exciting laps -- out on track
I had already been out with Mrk and his Evo proved to be one of the best cars at
the track. The power it delivers and how it delivers it are mind blowing. It has
so much grip and poise it positively soaked up any bend you could throw at it,
all at frighteningly quick speeds. So I was looking forward to receiving yet
another thrill ride. However, we where simply cruising round and I didn't give
it much thought as Mrk was doing some testing, so not even after a lap we where
back in the pit lane. Mrk went straight to the pit box that was outside our
garage stated 'As its you birthday, you get to play'...Me, driving your Evo at
Spa, hot damn boy! yes please! All I'm going to say is a big thankyou to Mrk for
letting me have a go in his car, it was an unforgettable experience that I'm
going keep to myself and my dreams. My Euro Combo experience was at its peak!
Photos from left to right:Mrk out, and Nick nervously getting back in, behind the wheel!Nicks at La source and concentrating hard -- Accelerating down to Pouhon
-- Now he's relaxed & having fun
After a great days driving we all went back to the Hotel in Stavelot and got ready to
go out. We went to our favourite restaurant and the banter was good, everyone
had enjoyed there day and had much to talk about. The beers flowed and the food
was good. Oh, and yes it was my birthday so with the threats of a soaking
looming on the way back to the Hotel I thought it best to throw myself into
fountain. It was a very cold experience, but a funny one.
Nick post fountain dip, Happy Birthday!
The next morning we all said our goodbyes and wished all a safe journey, we will
see you next year...Track-Masters, Thank You for another brilliant trip. Can't wait for
the next one.
Clarky & Giggles.
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