Despite the weather forecast it was still dry, although it was very humid.

The track opened at 6, and I joined the queue, and finally got on track at 6.30!

I’d only fitted my new EBC yellows and a new set of disks prior to the journey over, and had done very little braking. This was probably why they had gone by Metzgesfeld! I took the rest of the lap a bit easier, and you could feel the brakes working again after they’d had some time to cool. The only other moment to speak of was a nice sideways moment at T13 because the tyres had no temperature in them.

Due to the queue to get off track I went straight out for another lap, this time the brakes lasted till Breischeid before feeling a bit spongy. Again, after a while without use, they’d start to get a bit of feel back in them. During this lap a UK Audi A6 forced me on to the grass at Eiskurve. He apologised for turning in on me, but it was probably just as much my fault for diving down the inside following an M3 closely. At this point Clare had had enough and wanted to get out. I managed one more lap before the track closed. This lap felt much better and the brakes seemed to work for the whole lap….maybe I should have broken them in before now!!

The only other concern I had was running too small a tyre on the rear of the car, it did not feel as stable as before especially when the car become unsettled in a corner.

We spent the evening in the Chinese celebrating Ian’s birthday, although getting ready for this was interesting as a thunder storm had just hit town! For the first time since camping, I was concerned that the tent might blow away!! A later learned that there were trees down in the area.

Sunday

The track opened an hour later than normal at 9 due to a road sweeper having to sweep parts of trees off the track, by this time that car park was already busy. I managed to do 2 nearly dry laps before petrol, air, and breakfast. I went out to do another and the heavens opened, that was me done for a while.

I met up with the girls and we went for a coffee at the new sports bar in Breidscheid. After a while sat in the warm and dry, we did half a wet lap in the Astra, followed by a full lap with a couple of interesting slides due to the Nang Kang ditch finders.

Clare then did a lap with a nice sideways moment at the start of Hatzenbach, nicely held too.

We then went to watch the action at Brunchen 2 and took some pics for an hour or so, before finding somewhere to watch the Monaco grand Prix..

I wasn't sure where would be showing the GP, but the Paddock Bar in Nurburg had a big screen and some spare tables, so that was lunch and the GP taken care of. During this time the rain had stopped and the roads were drying.

I then went out and did a few laps while Hollie and Clare went surfing the internet at the PK.

I was begining to get used to the car again, although always aware that the narrower rear tyres were causing some interesting moments. Smoothness was key, in fact more than normal. Took Paul out for a lap, and by luck Paul follet in the white 968 was following.

I then took Nige's lad Matty out for a few laps. One of these was pretty memorable as I had to take to the grass on the run to Swalbanschwantz. There was an accident and the car in front reacted quicker than me, leaving me no option but to take to the grass. Thank
goodness there was no big kerb and the grass was not too wet.

I managed a bit of car park chat with Lasse about his VLN antics, and I went out to do a laps with Clare, me first, but there was lots of accidents and a closure when we got back. Clare’s first lap in the 944 for 2007 would have to wait a little longer. Parked up at the bridge and watched for a bit before Clare went out to do her maiden 944 lap. She’s lost a bit of confidence and ended up getting out of the way of others cars more that enjoying the lap. I did the next lap which was littered with crashes including a biker down on the run up to Hohe Acht.

As expected the track was closed when we returned. Went to the PK for an arpres drive beer and spoke to a friendly Ferrari owner chap and his mate. Then it was back to the camp site for a curry and to meet our new noisy neighbours.

While I was cooking Clare went and had a chat with them about the volume of the music and the some of the innapropriate lyrics. Instead of getting a volley of abuse they were happy to turn the music down, and eventually off altogether. I didn't want to ruin there time, so once Hollie was in bed we had a chat and said that having music was OK, just not too loud, and certainly not all night!

They were a real good bunch of guys, and we enjoyed a few beers around the campfire before retiring to bed a little unsteady on our feet.