The 'Ring was due to open at 2:30 today, so a lot more track time was to
be had. I went out to Adenau in the morning in search of cash, and bought
some oil and a new visor (dark) too. Marvin, Mike and Amanda turned up
in the bike shop while I was there, and we spent quite a lot of time looking
at the onboard toys of the BMW-Wing.
Back at te Pension Mike did the TRX oil change, into a Tupperware cake
box that he had bought for the purpose. Marvin was considering using some
of the old oil to top off the FJ. His argument that it had done the same
mileage as the stuff that was in there and so wasn't going to be any worse
had validity, but it didn't seem right to me. Then the wind blew some grass
and muck into it and the question became moot. Mike then had all sorts
of trouble finding out what to do with the oil. No one seemed to know,
and in Germany they have strict laws about that sort of thing. Presumably
Germans don't change their own oil, as eventually the only solution found
was for it to go back to the UK in the van of one of Adamanda's friends.
When the Ring opened we tried to act casual about it and hung about
for half an hour or so. Or it could have been an attempt to avoid spending
too much money. Marvin did another lap and decided that the cost was too
much and that he would never get the hang of it, and gave me the 3 laps
left on his ticket. Odd behaviour in someone complaining about the cost,
but Marvin is nothing if not odd. I went out for another couple of laps
and it started to come together a bit. I was at last faster than the Smart
Cars. Then a lap following Adam who was following Amanda (with Mike and
Jeremy somewhere in the formation). A bit slower than I had been going,
but a much better line, which was instructive.
On the next lap I caught a tow from a Fireblade who seemed to know
the lines and had a good and instructive lap. It was coming together now,
and I accidentally bought another 6 lap ticket. I had noticed an A reg
Kawasaki 750 Turbo in the parking area, and eventually started talking
to him. (well, we were both British and odd enough to bring 15 year old
bikes to the Nurburgring). He had been many times before, and we agreed
to do a lap together. He knew the lines, and the 750 was very fast in a
straight line, enough of a match for the FJ for me not to overtake. It
was also so wobbly in corners that I didn't dare even try to overtake.
You're a nutter mate.
Jim then arrived and, as he has done the 'Ring course, we were all
keen to be shown the official line. We went out behind him on his second
lap, and though he wasn't enjoying it he was pretty smooth. Jeremy was
amazed how late the turn in point for Adenau forest was until Jim admitted
that he had missed the brakes. Closing time was getting close by this time,
and Mike had run out of laps. I offered him one of mine and we went out
together. I soon left him behind though, I was feeling really good and
it was all coming together really well. I couldn't say what corner was
coming next, but I could remember where the exit was once I saw the entrance.
I got Adenau forest spot on, a lovely transition from left peg down to
right peg down, and the pegs took a bit of a towelling in other places
too. I slowly overhauled an RSV mille, but couldn't get past him before
the end of the lap. I have no idea what the lap time was, all I know is
that it was 46 seconds faster than Mike. It's a great place, but I later
found out that the fatality rate is 1.2 per week. I don't like those odds.
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