Like most serious auto enthusiasts, we at MotoringFile hold the Nurburgring in the highest regard. And as MINI owners, it’s holds an extra special place in our hearts. The ‘Ring is the place that BMW tests and refines all of it’s cars and performance accessories – including the MINI and all of those popular JCW bits and pieces.
So when we heard that BMW North American had made a short documentary on the ‘Ring it was a no-brainer for an MF Video Friday. We guarantee you’ll be reaching for your passport after watching…
Very nice, thanks for adding this, Gabe. Nice to see a few MINIs in the video, too.
Nurburgring is a culture for me. Its a religious experience. Its pure therapy that goes beyond the normal psyche. Its has close to heaven one can get without actually dying to get there. It has a presence, a sort of mystical force surrounding the track. Obsessed? Yes, and proud of it. For a piston head, there isn’t any experience quite like it. To be in the presence of this track driving it, there will be a moment, you realize you are IT, driving on the track that claimed so many lives, and many great racing legends who have put down rubber before you. There is nothing in comparison in the world and never will be.
For all those wanting to visit this mecca of speed, no matter what you have to spend to get here, I promise you its worth every single cent, and it only took you the first turn to figure that out.
Great documentary – I know I’d love to go there one day. 🙂
It’s a shame though that the video and audio are out of sync – the video lags behind. I even tried downloading a local copy of the video… same problem. I suspect that something went wrong whenever it was originally encoded in Google Video format.
It is a shame MINI doesn’t offer European delivery to us people in the States, so one could enjoy the experience of taking their MINI around the track. After 5 yeards, I had to give up on MINIs half-hearted attempt to get European Deliver up and running. Bought a Porsche and took it to the “Ring”. What a wonderful experience an absolute blast! Such a beautiful area. Matter of fact I did see two MINI clubs at the track!
OK, I’d like to go for a ride with Sabine Schmidtz! 😉
I hear it’s quite fun a delivery van, as well. 😉
“IN a delivery van” – Oopsie.
Only if you have the right driver. 😉
been there, done that, only did a few laps but what an amazing place. very nice video but it doesn’t come close to the actual experience; the scenery, the ups & downs, camber, weather, grip & lack of grip… I envy those who live nearby… big time…
Unfortunately after watching this, my wife wants an X5. Arrgh!!
vin.
If you hold it in the highest regard, please take the time to spell it correctly. From Wikipedia:
“The Nürburgring (alternative spelling without umlaut: Nuerburgring, but never “Nurburgring”), known as simply “the Ring” by enthusiasts, is the name of a famous motorsport race track in Germany.”
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BCrburgring" rel="nofollow ugc">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BCrburgring</a>
Very nice and thanks for posting this for us to enjoy and dream and plan to get there someday some way whatever it takes!
ROAD TRIP!!!!!
>If you hold it in the highest regard, please take the time to spell it correctly. From Wikipedia:
Thank you James Day. That has to be the most ridiculous comment I’ve seen on this site in some time. First off if you notice something on MF that doesn’t appear to be correct, the contact link at the top would be infinitely more appropriate. Secondly if you do notice something (and apparently want the entire world to know of the problem) don’t be such an ass about it.
And if you must know, the reason we don’t typically use <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umlaut" rel="nofollow">umlauts</a> (look I can link to wikipedia too!) on this site is that we’ve found it breaks our RSS feed in some readers. You can get a sense of the issue in the url you posted as well.
another good reason for me to re-visit Germany. Thanks for this excellent video. There were many amazing comments in the video, but one that sticks in my mind – that an entire life of an engine can potentially be depleted in less than 5 laps in “the ring”.
I was fortunate to visit the “Ring”, but sadly it was the week before Christmas and it was snowing and sleeting so bad that we could hardly walk from the parking area to the museum door without slipping on the ice.
Needless to say there was no driving on the course that day, or that week for that matter.
The museum is fabulous, not to be missed, many historic cars.
I hope to return someday when the weather is good and have some fun.
Bill
Well that brings a tear to my eye (Longing? Homesickness?) Great documentary, thanks for posting it Gabe! (Even if you didn’t use the umlaut :-p)
Definitely on my list of things to do before I die
Go to frontrangebmw.com. The click on the X5 “The Nuerburgring Experince” Then click on the map in the lower left corner. The map will bring up a link for a “ride around the ring with comentary.” The ride is with Hans Stuck in a M3 GTR while he sets a new track record for that car! IT IS AWESOME!
Hey all–
Something I learned in planning our trip to Europe (and The Nurburgring) this summer: Most major car rental places (unsurprisingly) frown on customers taking their rental cars out on The ‘Ring. Hertz, for example, will ban you from renting from their company anywhere in the world if they find you’ve taken their car on the track.
There are a couple of local businesses that rent “‘Ring Toys” for shorter periods so you can experience the track firsthand.
A very informative website: <a href="http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/</a>
Cheers,
vin.
<blockquote>A very informative website: <a href="http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/</a></blockquote>
I think they misspelled their own website URL ; )