Trip to Nurburgring proves to be a Classic - News

One of our customers brought two of our classic Jag’s after the event closed down. He took one to the Nurburgring for a few days. Here's what he thought!

After going on a couple of track days and really enjoying them, I decided it was time to do the man-sized version – a trip toGermany’s fabled Nurburgring. Following a rush of blood to the head, I’d recently bought the two 1967 MK2 white Jags, ex of Mallory Park that used to be part of an Everyman Classic Trackday Experience. It’s a long story, ask the wife! They have had an interesting life subsequent to their disposal before coming into my hands, including ownership by a Swedish millionaire and a period in a lock up in Uttoxeter!

What better way to go to the ‘Ring than in a classic Jag? And what better excuse does an man need but to tie in the trip with a group of friends and a visit to the local beer festival too?!

After a leisurely jaunt down to the Euro-tunnel, picking up two mates en-route, we blasted across France and Belgium into Germany in the pouring rain. The Mk2s are far from standard, courtesy of life at Mallory, and include gas flowed heads, spax adjustable's all round, drilled and vented discs, and single box exhausts. It’s fun cruising past ‘moderns’ at nearly a ton in something nearly half a century old!

We arrived in Adenau in the late afternoon, and met up with five other mates who had driven down earlier in a Mercedes E63 AMG and a BMW M3. Two other ex-pats flew in from Saudi to make ten in all. And the beer did flow.

The following (late) morning saw the small convoy heading up to the Nurburgring. Plenty of thumbs up from locals and car fans alike that aren’t used to seeing classic British machinery 600 miles from home. All was fine until we arrived at the circuit. The bloody thing was closed for testing! Still, we tried to enjoy the fabulous yet nearly deserted facilities. Who builds such a brilliant venue and doesn’t do it justice? It’s up for sale at the moment, so hopefully the new owner/s will have a better idea what to do with it. Maybe we could get Chris Evans involved?!!

An afternoon trip to Koblenz lightened the mood, but we managed to break the Jag’s speedo cable at about 105 trying to keep up. Damn those E63s accelerate fast. It’s a useful way to do a long trip on a limited mileage classic insurance policy though…

That evening we booked at Sabine Schmidt’s restaurant. I’ve never seen so much motoring memorabilia, and guests are encouraged to leave goodies and sign the walls (and ceiling, and floors). Have the steak, don’t bother with the pasta carbonara. The rest of the evening remains hazy, as the local beer fest lived up to all expectations.

Sunday, our last day, and after a very late start we considered another trip to the circuit, but continuing heavy rain and doubts about our sobriety made us drink coffee for a while before the long journey home.

A trip to the ‘Ring should be on everyone’s bucket list, and a trip in a classic Jag better still. The old girl made the trip faultlessly apart from the broken speedo cable and a slight blow on the exhaust. A testament to British engineering!

The MK2 Jags enjoyed many years at Mallory Park (circa 1993-2009), and so if any readers have driven them, have any photos or tales to tell, I’d love to hear about it. You can contact me at n8nns[at}yahoo.co.uk

Cheers from Nigel aka ‘Two Jags Prescott’.