Author Topic: The most expensive taxi ride of my life (Read 7832 times)

2kwk4u · « **on:** May 12, 2009, 02:03:28 PM »

Now that I'm leaving Germany in two weeks, I finally convinced myself to just bite the bullet and go for it:

http://bmw-motorsport.com/ms/ringtaxi.html

I'll post pictures and impressions next week.

Critterman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 12, 2009, 02:11:56 PM »

195 Euros????? Does that include a change of underware? It says you can take a couple of others with you, going to share the ride?

PS. When was the last time you were in a taxi in this area?

2kwk4u · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:03:13 PM »

I just booked it last night. I asked around today, but the few gearhead/speed freak friends I have (not many of us in Air Force Intel career fields... mostly dungeons and dragons geek-types) aren't gearhead/speed freak enough to commit on such short notice. Hopefully I find a couple people to split the fare with... with the understanding that I have shotgun locked up!

Critterman · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:25:43 PM »

Movie camera is a must. There are more of us that you realize

2kwk4u · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:34:59 PM »

Not sure if I'll video it or not. Afraid I won't have as much fun if I'm worrying about getting a good video the whole lap... that or I'll chuck all over the dashboard of an M5 because I'm trying to focus on the little screen of my camera at speed

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2009, 04:23:36 PM »

Get a tri-pod and bungee and strap it in the center between you and the driver. Have fun, can't wait to hear about it.

GXPsy Rose · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2009, 05:10:58 PM »

We want video

, We want video

That way we can live vicariously through your experience.

Critterman · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2009, 10:46:23 AM »

Check back with them, they probably have a mount you can rent.

GXPinKC · « **Reply #8 on:** May 13, 2009, 12:19:52 PM »

Ah...Germany, Autobahn, great sports cars, great people, beautiful ladies, great beer what more could you ask? Race Track and mounted camera for all to see and relive your journey. What's not to like. I am indeed envious! Have a Blast, and don't forget to tip on the taxi ride!

2kwk4u · « **Reply #9 on:** May 13, 2009, 01:27:51 PM »

Crap! I'm not sure how current this info is, but there's apparently an in-car video and photo ban that's enforced on the ring these days:

http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/videoban.html

I'll still bring along my cameras for trackside photos, but it's unlikely to be as good out there as this day was:

http://presson.smugmug.com/gallery/6249677_uA4Ef#394821757_LFxXu

Critterman · « **Reply #10 on:** May 13, 2009, 03:32:26 PM »

I would bet that means that they take a video of each ride, and then offer to sell it to you.

2kwk4u · « **Reply #11 on:** May 13, 2009, 03:52:20 PM »

It's not just a ban for the ring taxi, though. It's a ban for ANYONE driving on the ring... in their own cars, even! Not even the passenger can take happy snaps or film.

Uranium-238 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 13, 2009, 08:25:43 PM »

Pretty sure that rule is still in effect. Last time I looked any attempts to time a lap are forbidden as well.

However, those rules only apply to the track when it's a part of the highway system. When it's setup for racing only you can do whatever you want. (How else would they make that great Corvette ZR1 lap video?

2kwk4u · « **Reply #13 on:** May 14, 2009, 12:36:35 AM »

You are correct, U-2... (hey, Goat's name shortening is fun!). The ring taxi only runs on TF (tourist drive) days. When GM is testing, they are renting the facility for their own purposes, so they can do whatever they want provided that they pay to replace the guardrails they damage, clean up the fluids they spill, etc...

2kwk4u · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2009, 04:26:42 PM »

OK, I posted the only video I have of the ring taxi at you tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLCtls4i8AY

Here I am with my "cabbie" (I think it was Jorg Mueller, but I'm ashamed to admit I already forgot his name in all the excitement):

Note that I'm repping the Solstice shirt AND jacket. I'm such a geek!

The ride was brutally awesome!

It had just started to rain on some sections of the track when we got out, so we went through a few corners sideways... and somewhere north of 100MPH! All on purpose, and very controlled... just for kicks. Scary as hell, but fun as hell, too!

The car is amazing. When he started it, the seat bolsters all gave me a giant hug. Nice touch, and definitely helped to keep me planted for the lap. It was a helluva ride. All the while, the driver is giving us pointers on what lines to take, and where to brake (and more importantly where NOT to brake). It was well worth the money. Even if I hadn't found a couple of guys to share the cab with, it would have been worth the money, I think.

After the lap in the M5, one of the other guys took me around in his Carrera S. That was also a thrill ride. He called it an "easy lap," but it wasn't exactly a Sunday drive. Unfortunately, my good sense kept me from taking my own hooptie out on the track. I think my transmission is getting ready to crap out. Seems like the torque converter clutch is starting to fail. It just wasn't meant to be...

Nonetheless, I picked up a nifty nurburgring sticker to put on the GXP. Since I've actually been on the track, and the GXP was developed at the 'ring, I won't feel like a poser now putting the sticker on the car. Besides, very few people in the states will even know what it means anyway

Critterman · « **Reply #15 on:** May 17, 2009, 04:39:24 PM »

Sounds like you had a great time, Can't wait to hear a turn by turn when you get back

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #16 on:** May 17, 2009, 05:23:34 PM »

Awesome, if they only had something like that here in the US.

Koobie · « **Reply #17 on:** May 19, 2009, 04:17:41 PM »

This has been one of things I have to do in my life before I die, and that is take the ring taxi. I heard about it on Fifth Gear, and ever since I've wanted to do it.

Ben L · « **Reply #18 on:** May 19, 2009, 05:14:50 PM »

Quote from: GXPinKC on May 13, 2009, 12:19:52 PM

Ah...Germany, Autobahn, great sports cars, great people, beautiful ladies, great beer what more could you ask? Race Track and mounted camera for all to see and relive your journey. What's not to like. I am indeed envious! Have a Blast, and don't forget to tip on the taxi ride!

Yes, but every sixty years or so, we still have to go over there and kick some ass when they get too big for their leiderhosen!

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Author Topic: The most expensive taxi ride of my life (Read 7832 times)

Ben L