Click for image gallery

Now that’s a title. As soon as I saw this on an Internet forum, I knew it would be good. With a name like that it had to be! But where did it come from, who was responsible?

The idea was simple and brilliant. As many Cerbera’s to the Nurburgring as possible. The guy running the Thread was Sinclair Scotchmere and his thinking was that it was something that he’d like to do himself…but with some company. Not exclusively a Cerbera event, but with them as the focus. All tvrs were welcome, strength in numbers and all that. So putting it out there he waited to see would happen.

Over the coming months, through the winter around 60 Cerberas registered interest, so with the distinct possibility of a major event on his hands, Sinclair asked us at tvrmonster.com for some guidance and support. We had the clout and connections and were able to arrange full support for the trip with our regular support team tvrcarparts and Dulford Automotive. So another monster International really, but it was still very much Sinclair’s baby.

At Dover ferry Port, on a clear and fortunately very warm Saturday morning in April, we had 20 Cerberas, 3 other assorted tvrs, a Viper and an M3 thrown into the mix; with more joining us from Europe later on. It was quite a sight for all the other tourists and truckers on the ferry with the cars drawing lots of attention. Everyone had made it except the monster Griff unfortunately. After a full rebuild of all mechanical parts, we had some issues with one of the refurbished heads and that meant my car was parked up and left in Kent at my sisters. Bummer! Still, everyone else made it and so after seeing all the cars loaded we met up in the Café. This was the first chance that many had had to meet. Guys (and Girls) who had been chatting for months and years in the tvr forums finally had the chance to put faces to names and discuss the trip/cars/experiences. Many were tired after some very long journeys but there was still quite a buzz even if only from the snoring of Uncle Bulgaria.

On arrival in France, we pulled over to the truck stop to get all the cars together, hand out the Tour Polo-shirts for Ring Day, and get all the Decals on the cars. Ian (Fusion 1) has a Print business and had arranged roundels and name stickers for every car with the title “Blackpool Rockets”. So with everyone sorted 20 odd tvrs fired up, left the Docks and headed off on Euro-route E40, bound for Germany.

What a road trip it was. Several guys were filming the run, and passengers were hanging from windows taking pictures, quite something. Soon we were out of France and onto the Belgium Motorways. 30 miles stretches off dead straight motorways with wall-to-wall Cerbera’s popping and banging away had the locals pulling over as fast as they could, but we still had to behave for the moment…80mph still in force.

As we pulled in for lunch and fuel at the Vervier Shell garage (a regular haunt for all Racers and Trackday nuts) the cars drew their usual crowds. The noise and look of the tvrs always draws a crowd every time we stop, and the Cerbera interior is a major “WOW” point for the Europeans. One of the reasons that we do our own trips is to promote tvr in Europe as a Grand Tourer and Trackday car, and as usual the cars were generating huge interest.

We arrived at the Hotel just in time for Dinner. I had booked a table for 16 in the Pistenclaus Restaurant, as it usually gets very busy. Splitting into two groups, some were staying in Dusseldorf and some in Nurburg itself. We were in the Ring contingency. The “Am Tiergarten Hotel” is the family Business of the Schmidt family, and we always stay there. Sabine Schmidt is a famous racer and has appeared on Top Gear etc showing JC how to do the “Ring” in 10mins. She has done it herself sub 7mins in racecars and is a local Legend, but under 10 is respectable for Newbie road cars. Anyway, the “Pistenclaus” has been a Racers haunt for 60 years with the walls and ceilings are adorned with memorabilia from the greats of Motorsport. It’s a must do for most “Ringers”. They have all been there, Schumacher, Senna, Brabham, Hill  you just have to find them on the walls while you eat the local delicacy…a Pistenclaus Sizzler Steak. It’s all parts of the experience!

Next day, we breakfast early and pop over the hill to the “Green Hell” café and car park. The Dusseldorf contingent arrived as the track opened and we started to head out for the first laps. I went out with Chris (ZZ Top – a monster veteran) in his Griff and we put in a respectable 10-minute lap with only one spin! Cold tyres and an unsighted complex on the brow of a hill – standard fare at the “Ring” – put the car out too wide, but Chris held on well and there was no damage. A lesson to those who followed. As the day progressed and with everyone getting used to the idea of it just being a track, and not some sort of Mad Max experience with trap doors, machine gunners in the trees and mines on the track if you deviate from the line…everyone really started to enjoy themselves. Confidence was growing, everyone was sensible and several were into the very low 9-minute times. Very respectable indeed; and all times obtained from videos after the event.

Also joining us at the Ring were a German Tuscan (with a HUGE Union Jack decal on its bonnet!), a German Griff, a Swiss Chimeara and Luxemburg Cerbie; 37 tvrs tore up the “Ring” on one beautiful, and sunny weekend in April. A wonderful trip with some excellent company.

For those of you who havn’t been yet, why is the Nurburgring so special? Why the reputation? Well the North Loop or “Nordscliefe” as its know to locals, is the old GP track, built in 1927. The last remaining pre-war road racetrack, it was used in Formula 1 until the mid seventies when it was deemed too dangerous and difficult to Marshall. Famous for it 12 miles and 127 corners, traversing three villages over the Eiffel hills and valleys, “The Ring” has been a Mecca for motor sports junkies ever since…the Ultimate Trackday. Johnny Vaughan said on “Top Gear” that he had had a fantastic day there and that they should open up the place as a Theme Park for blokes called “Stag World”. Well Johnny, the Germans have already done it; and its called “The Ring”. The best track in the world, hundreds of like-minded enthusiasts driving everything from Carrera GTs (we had one at our Hotel) to Trabants, all are welcome. Every budget, every Nationality. What matters is that you know…and that you are there.

So how did everyone do? Well, we had a few breakdowns (most of which were repaired by the crew with the exception of mine and a Tuscan with a shot clutch), Cerbera clutch slave cylinders in the main. Cooked by the excessive heat build up of a Belgium traffic jam mainly. No cars were damaged (though there were a couple of spins) and no one was hurt. Absolutely everyone loved it and several were hassling Sinclair for the next trip dates before we left! Many Steaks were eaten, and LOTS of Optima burnt and loads of laughs and smug grins too.

Here’s to Cerburgring 2008! But if you can’t wait, then keep your eyes open for another Spa-Ring trip in October. Our own Phil James (BossCerbera) is racing in the Spa Historics endurance race on the Sunday, with a Ring afternoon on the Monday. There’s even a Trackday at Spa on the Tuesday if you are keen. HHmmmm.

Andy
Tvrmonster.com

Too many new friends to mention, but special thanks to Sinclair, Ian, Phil, Nick, Nicky, Gary, and of course Dulford Automotive & tvrcarparts. Pics by many - and Gary Sims in particular