Chapter 2 – The “Ring”

It all started back in August of 2008 when Dave Quinlan & I decided we wanted to race the 24 hrs of Daytona.

Yes – there have been twists and turns, modifications, adaptations and some experimenting along the way….just like any good road course, 😉 It was, however, the undeniable birth of Guardian Angel Motorsports as you know it now.

Well – it’s August again and over a beer at Smith & Wollensky, the devil on my shoulder (also known as Dave Quinlan) has enticed me with stories of grandeur, triumph and general awesomeness. June 2015 is GAM’s second chapter in the global endurance tri-fecta.

It’s time for GAM to do the 24hrs at the Nurburgring.

The “Green Hell” as named by Jackie Stewart is an anomaly in the road racing world. The Eifel Mountains hold court to the most difficult road course on the planet. The Nordeschleife or “North loop” track was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. The north loop is 20.8 km (12.9 mi) long and has more than 300 metres (1,000 feet) of elevation change from its lowest to highest points.

The track was completed in spring of 1927, and the ADAC Eifelrennen races were continued there. The first races to take place on 18 June 1927 showed motorcycles and sidecars. In addition, the track was opened to the public in the evenings and on weekends, as a one-way toll road. The whole track consisted of 174 bends (prior to 1971 changes), and averaged 8 to 9 metres (26 to 30 ft) in width. It’s SKINNY!!

On to The ‘Ring we go – following our fearless leader Q – the 3x, podium finishing veteran that he is. We’ll be working with his team named RSR to initiate the certification process which consists of three separate ‘Ring races prior to being ‘certified’ to participate in the 24hr race.

The likely chariot will ultimately be the pictured e46 complete with sequential gearbox and full aero attachments. Training will happen via other ‘whips’ likely some Lotus Exige and Porsche Cayman w/PDK cars. The prescribed method will be a Fall ’14 four hour race. A Spring ’15 four hour race and then a ADAC pre-24hr educational day with the 24hr race starting the next day.

We’ll race in the series entitled VLN which is a 10 race endurance series. The first race is targeted for 10.25.14. Dave & colleague @ RSR outlined this agenda for the first trip over:

1. Tuesday We fly on Lufthansa direct into Frankfurt.
2. Wednesday-Arrive to track about 1pm. Shake off the cobwebs. Tourist session 5pm – 730pm. We rent cars from RSR and just do laps with all the other people on the track. Gets you exposed.
3. Thursday – mountain bike tour or road tour from 1pm. Ron takes us to all the viewing spots around the track and discuss the turns. tourist session 5pm – 730pm….more laps with traffic but laps are laps. Its not about speed….more about learning the turns.
4. Friday – 8am – 2pm GP track…do laps on the F1 part of the complex. Race cars only. You don’t use 80 percent of the GP track for VLNs but you DO use the whole thing for the 24H. 4pm – 6pm free practice Nordschleife….more lap time on the full Ring….race cars only.
5. Saturday – 11:40 a.m. RACE! 5.30pm Awards.
6. Sunday…fly home on a noon flight. Home at 2pmEST.

Not so bad huh? So….who’s coming with? So far there are five that have expressed interest. Can we mount a 2 car effort? What about a cause to fund raise to? Anyone have any nominations? The past three Daytona 24hr events have raised NO LESS than $50k each.

Calling all able bodied personnel! Shoot me an email – GET INVOLVED!! Quick before the place goes bankrupt or private and we lose our shot to experience one of the most significant motorsports experience one could ever have.

LET’S DO THIS!