I think I’ve done a 1000 laps of the Nürburgring in a multitude of racing games. After GT4 introduced us mortals to The Nordschleife, I probably spend like 50% of my game time there. As for my friend Mike, I think my obsession rubbed off a little bit, so we’ve always talked about going. It just never happened. Well, random life events happened and Mike ended up buying a very nice 350Z that he was going to baptize it at the Nürburgring with me in the car.
So off we went on the 2nd weekend of September 2020. Long drive but a 350Z handles it surprisingly well. It’s a bit of an odd ball car though. It’s excellent as a GT car, cruising at 170km/h is a piece of cake. But it’s still too harsh and too noisy to be a GT but at the same time too soft and (much too) heavy to be a track car. Anyway, it got us there, did 4 laps at the Ring (at walking speed) and back with not a single hiccup. Only small issue was on the last lap, with me at the wheel of course, before pointing the car north: a track prepped BMW Estate came a bit too close during Füchsrohre and “gently” brushed the left rear quarter even though us being total rookies were glued to the right side edge of the track with the “Eventual Right” indicator going, trying not to get in the way of the locals. Still, it happened, luckily no harm done that couldn’t be buffed out. Driver of the BMW was super cool though and waited for us at the roundabout exiting the track so we could inspect the damages together and have a chat.
I should mention: I was scared shitless when we were entering the track for the first time. Even worse after the first lap when we were cooling down in the parking lot and Mike said “Your turn”… I’m mighty brave in racing games, and can get away with a lot – real life is something completely different. (I was scared shitless)
Anyway – great trip, many laughs and coming back to the Ring was not an question of if, but when. So cheap’ish RWD options were discussed of which there are not many – the only sensible answer would be a 1.8 MX5. Would’ve loved an NA with Pop-up-up-and-down-headlights – just as everybody else. This obviously results in the slightly younger and slightly less charming sister being much cheaper, so there’s your answer: NB. So on the 3rd of October, BIL and I jumped in the trusty VW up! and went look at a 1999 1.8 NB. In black. Not my favorite color, but beggars can’t be as the saying goes.. It looked nice enough, drove ok (I guess, first time in a an MX) and no visible rust in the places I had been told to look. Made a not very cheeky offer and a purchase was made.
Bonus info: Cars in Denmark are horribly expensive, Mike paid less in Sweden, quite a bit, for his lower mileage 350Z than I ended up paying for my MX5.
This post was backdated!
Something Something MX5 