2003 Nurburgring / Stuttgart AMG & Mercedes Classic Centre Trip

[GrahamC230K]

Well as fas as I am aware we are all back from our trip safely and had the most amazing time.

This is by no means "the official" write up, but I wanted you guys to see some pics etc to get a taste, as that is what I would want to see if I had been unable to go.

There is some "has to be seen to be belived" video footage from Dorian and Scott from the Nurburgring, but for now, I'll show you what I have. It's not very organised, so if you have questions - ask. - a near enough 7 hour drive (basically flat out where possible) from Suttgart to Calais yesterday took it out of me!

Those on the trip were:

Myself and brother - C230K
Sym + Wife - C200
Steve Perry - C240
Maff + Guest Richard - SL350
Dorian - SL320
Scott + guest Ben - 190 2.6
Maffs Father + M8 Stewart in Nissan 300 Twin Turbo

The trip consisted of a Gumabll style drive to the Nurburgring on Saturday, a quick lap when we got there, a day at the 'Ring Sunday, on to Stuttgart in the afternoon for a personal tour of AMG on the Monday morning. That followed by a very special tour of the Mercedes Classic Centre courtesy of strings pulled by Scott.

The dark warehouse shots you see of half covered vehicles have bot been seens by many, so feel honoured!!

Anyway to the footage, most of which my brother took for me, so blame him for the dodgey in car shots.

Some vid clips:

Setting the Scene at the Nurburgring 1

Setting the Scene at the Nurburgring 2

Setting the Scene at the Nurburgring 3

A 190 EVO 3

Scott being told off for having ze video equpment inzide ze car

Me in the C230K driving around the ring (snippet)

Pics:

The Gallery - no particular order

to wet your appetite, some of my favourites are:

2 up - 3/4 fuel, full boot and 2 spare wheels (oh it was dark too)

Most we saw was a speedo showing about 146mph and the most I noticed on the GPS was 142mph! Stable, smooth and vibration free. Brakes straight from that speed too.

Enjoy!.......

 

[Flyer]

Damn!

I needed to get some work done this afternoon

Current maxing out my connection getting the movies ...

 

[sym]

.....and there's more

Brief summary of the trip . . . WOW !! I can't quite beat Graham's max speed . . . . but we had a leisurely drive down the Autobahn in my little C200

No pics from the Nurburgring, (as I was too busy concentrating on driving, and my other half was under the seat) although I have some video from the Nissan 300 which makes for interesting viewing !!

...followed by the AMG Factory where we saw one of these :-

...and also one of THESE, which I definitely NEEEEED !!

...a nice selection of coloured wire at the AMG workshop

...somebody busy . . .obviously retro-fitting COMAND in this particular car . . .

...what you really want for a multimedia set-up

...and then finished off with a service at a Stuttgart dealer on Monday, for about 50% of the UK cost !

more pics to be posted at www.sym.me.uk . . . . soon !

BIG thanks to Matt for organising, and Scott for "string-pulling" at the Classic Centre, where we witnessed some VERY awesome stuff !

S.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Got the T-Shirt?

Well the T-shirt wasn't enough, so following the trend of pretty much every vehicle at the 'ring I had to oblige.......

I like it!!

 

[Flyer]

Just gone through the movies (had a problem with one) and looked at your photos Graham & Sym - looked like a great trip .

Pleased that you all got back without mishap. The Nurburgring's caught a few people out .

I thought Jude (Mercedes Lady) was going with you??

 

[GrahamC230K]

Originally posted by Flyer
I thought Jude (Mercedes Lady) was going with you??

Had to pull out, which was a shame. Poor Gaby (Sym's bird) had to put up with us all on her own.

Originally posted by Flyer

Pleased that you all got back without mishap. The Nurburgring's caught a few people out .

We know.......and they say the young are wreckless.....the more senior members of our trip tried out the Armco.....no one hurt, all fixed locally and it seems owners not too fussed!!

 

[Flyer]

Ouch! But then it is a track-day car, isn't it? - I noticed one of the pics of it on a trailer.

Would the more senior member be Maff's dad? Better that than the SL...

Nick sticker Graham - looks custom made for your (clean) car

 

[GrahamC230K]

Originally posted by Flyer
Ouch! But then it is a track-day car, isn't it? - I noticed one of the pics of it on a trailer.

Would the more senior member be Maff's dad? Better that than the SL...

Nick sticker Graham - looks custom made for your (clean) car

Yeah it's a track day car for them, so no tears shed.

Cas is clean yes - after the serious workout it got (I know it's run in now!) I thought it deserved a valet for good behaviour.

The sticker is kind of custom. I bought serveral sizes and colours, some with writing some not. That map was a different perspective to some which were too tall to fit in that position, so I used that and the text cut with a stanley knife from another design. So yes, a 1 off

Very few cars in the UK with those (especially that car and owner have actaully ben around) but many car enthusiasts that will know exactley what it is.

 

[Steve_Perry]

Great pics G. and Sym. Once I get my APS film developed and transferred to CD I'll post them up for others to see.

Some figures for my car:

1,690 miles total for the round trip.

Highest speed I managed on the way back - 143 mph on the speedo (so I guess 140mph actual). Dorian was travelling ahead at 145 mph. Stunning

S.

 

[Flyer]

143 mph eh, I've not been above 95 in my CLK (Corrado was a bit different ) - too risky in this country these days ...

So how many crashes did you see on the Autobahn - after all, the Scamera Partnerships would have us believe you're playing Russian Roulette every time you drive over 70 (see Scamera Petition thread).

Look forward to seeing your pics Steve - we've got a really good selection to look at .

(I think the poundhost server is being pounded as I can't get past page 2 of Maff's pics )

 

[Steve_Perry]

Originally posted by Flyer
So how many crashes did you see on the Autobahn...

Andrew,

Saw one very serious smash up on the Nurburgring... A guy totalled his lovely Mitsi Evo VII He wound up in hospital with head injuries and is also facing a bill to repair the sections of barrier that he wiped out at the ring.

On the way back home, Dorian, Scott and I passed a big crash scene, in France I think, but it was a lorry that had somehow got mangled.

S.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Originally posted by Steve_Perry

On the way back home, Dorian, Scott and I passed a big crash scene, in France I think, but it was a lorry that had somehow got mangled.

S.

Saw that one too.

 

[scotth_uk]

A guy totalled his lovely Mitsi Evo VII

I have good pictures - will get them from Ben today!

 

[GrahamC230K]

I give up, so if anyone knows which codec is required to play my videos, please let me know!

I have way to many on my PC to figure out which one it is required for these to work elsewhere.

 

[sym]

The latest version of "Windoze" Media Player works fine for me.

S.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Originally posted by sym
The latest version of "Windoze" Media Player works fine for me.

S.

My brother is having the trouble and I tried it on PC at work with W2K and WMP 9, it fetched a codec from the net but you only get audio, no picture

 

[sym]

My pics now uploaded . . . (probably no different to everyone elses, but so what !!)

Link Here

S.

 

[Flyer]

Great Pics sym.

Are these awards?:

The translation is : Passion, achievement and responsibility. Fair assessment

 

[Maff]

Each engine builder has his/her own plaque that is attached to the top of the engine when completed. They are a listing of all the master mechanics who build engines at AMG.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Originally posted by Maff
Each engine builder has his/her own plaque that is attached to the top of the engine when completed. They are a listing of all the master mechanics who build engines at AMG.

I have a 3MegaPixel original if anyone wants to make a "replica"!