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"Porsche Sporterlebnisfahrtage 2009" & Nuerburgring
I've had two wonderful weekends back to back and wanted to share both of them with you. First, Porsche specific - "Porsche Sporterlebnisfahrtage 2009" in Leipzig!
The "Porsche Sport experience driving days" in Leipzig is not driver training - it is more of a marketing event for Porsche.
My wife and I left Friday morning for Leipzig to spend the weekend at the Porsche Werk Leipzig where they make the Cayenne and the Panamera. The factory was built in 2002. They have a great FIA certified track and also an off-road course. The drive up was crappy. RAIN the entire way. Drove the Cayman - took 6+ hours. Leipzig is a former East Germany city. Great "Old Town."
First, I've gotta say that I'm a pure novice at track driving. Had thousands of miles at 100+ mph in my 7 years in Germany, but no track time at all. So, my comments are based on a first-time experience of a middle-aged man on an incredible track.....
After a wonderful lunch at the Porsche Welcome Center on Saturday, we did Cayenne "off road." Two people in each car - and you swap out drivers for each event. I must say that I was impressed with the outstanding capabilities of a GREAT road SUV. My wife, who has never driven an SUV (has had small cars - MINI, Honda Fit, etc) absolutely loved the Cayenne. She keeps hinting that her birthday is coming soon....
After the off-road, we then had a briefing on the production facilities, but did not get a factory tour. The Panamera was "unveiled" the next day in China and I think this is why they would not let us in the factory.
Sunday began early - with our own cars. Some on-track driving and braking training. It was good, but what came next was absolutely incredible.
We drove six of the Porsche models (OK, my wife and I skipped the Boxter and I got to drive the Carrera 4 twice.... and no complaints from me) on their track. Four laps in each car, then swap cars, then four more laps. First, the Cayenne S. My wife took two laps in the Cayenne, but then let me take all the laps after that (we were supposed to take 2 each - so I got 4 laps in each car).
Then, on to the Carrera 4. What a fantastic car. Then 4 laps in a Carrera S (loved the "4" more). Then 4 laps in a Carrera S convertible.
Then 4 laps in a 2009 Cayman S with PDK. WOW and WOW!!! That is truly a wonderful car. Do NOT drive this car if you have any reservation about buying one as you will HAVE to have one.... I have a base Cayman and now have dreams about how I can convince my wife that I have to have a new 2009 Cayman S (especially since she's been researching the Cayenne since we got back)!! In our group of folks, most of them loved the Cayman S and the Carrera S. I loved the Carrera 4 and the Cayman S. For a novice, I loved the handling of the Carrera 4 better than the Carrera S, but loved the new Cayman S best of all (maybe, just maybe I have bit of a Cayman-Bias), but for my money, this is one incredible car)!!
Then, after an incredible lunch, we did a short "road rally" in various models. Each group picked keys out of a can - we got the Cayman S, but swapped with the guys who got the Cayenne. They really wanted to drive the Cayman and since we have one, I said what the heck!
The "icing on the cake" was 2 laps (we both got 2 laps) in the GT3 with a Porsche professional drivers at the wheel. What a ride! They "showed off" a lot with some fancy drifting, but they provided each of us with a truly outstanding experience...
And, to top it off, we got home in under 4 1/2 hours with no problems. OK, my 2007 Cayman may be just a "base model," but she'll ride all day at 125+ MPH and with the sun out and no traffic jams - she demonstrated why even a "base" Porsche is an excellent ride!!!
So, after an incredible weekend, our thoughts turned to this weekend... My wife suggested the Nuerburgring! Having never done that (amazing how having a Porsche will change your perspective on what to do on the weekends!), I said heck yea!
So, this morning we headed up to the Ring. Less than 2 hours from home, we got there around 10. Unfortunately, the ring was closed at the time because of a wreck. We waited around and had a burger at the 'Devil's Diner," "des Teufels Kueche am Ring" (the Devil's Kitchen on the Ring)! Interesting, it was an American-style diner with great burgers! After an hour or so, the Ring reopened, and we waited around for a while and just watched the parade of cars entering the ring! Everything from an Aston Martin to lots of GT3s to semi-beat up station wagons. Thought it better to let the crowd press ahead after an hour+ closing before a novice entered the Nordschleife....
The Ring experience was something else!! How would I describe it? Sheer insanity!!!!! As they say, everything from busses to the "Ring Taxi" M5, the variations in speed was, yes, insanity! And, as I've heard, if you take a ride of the Ring, you'll either see a wreck, pass one, or be in one! In our case, we passed one - a motorcyclist. We saw the crashed motorcycle first, the helmet down the road a bit, and the rider further down the road being administered first aid (hope he's OK). Unfortunately, they again closed the Ring due to the wreck and we had to go, so we got just one lap (of the 50 -100 some folks say you need before you can even begin to really enjoy the Ring)! My wife says we have to get up earlier on Sunday and get to the Ring when it opens - 8 am!
Well, that's the last two weekends for us ..... not sure we can top it next weekend. But, my wife has already booked the women only Precision Driving course in Baden-Baden for June and I think I'm going to do the Precision Driving course in Leipzig in late May.
I think the Porsche "bug" has struck!!!
Safe Driving!
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