During the previous weekend, the Nürburgring in Germany served as a focal point for automobiles spanning various eras, ranging from a 1920s BMW Dixi 3/15 Sport to a 1990s BMW E36 320i STC. The 2024 Nürburgring Classic provided a unique opportunity to witness iconic vehicles from the past displayed in the paddock and roaring at full throttle on the track.
Commencing my day at Adenau, the lowest segment of the Nordschleife, at 9:00 am was a deliberate choice, far removed from the central hub of activities, setting the stage for an exciting start.
Although the Nürburgring Classic takes place on the GP Circuit, the Nordschleife is exclusively dedicated to Pre-War vehicles for a special session on Saturday mornings. Despite my limited knowledge of these cars, I relished the sights and sounds of these vintage speed demons in this iconic environment.
Following the conclusion of the session, I proceeded to the paddock of the Nürburgring GP Circuit. The paddock area here isn’t expansive, leading to a compact arrangement of race cars and support vehicles in a single location. While this layout facilitates photography, it can be challenging to find a cohesive theme amidst the diverse collection.
Amidst a crowd of individuals, with no designated path for the racing vehicles to move to and from the track, you discover yourself immersed in the center of it all. Staying vigilant becomes imperative, yet everyone gets the opportunity to closely observe the racing equipment.
One particularly themed location is the historic Nürburgring paddock at the opposite end of the site. This area was where the Pre-War vehicles were positioned.
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It’s a great opportunity to witness the cars up close during the grid walks. Spectators are granted a brief 15-minute window to step onto the starting grid before the races commence. Capturing photos on the grid was challenging due to the large crowd presence.
Both the casual track sessions and the various spectator cars on display never fail to impress.
The presence of Porsche 911s is common at car events in Germany, but at the Nürburgring Classic, all the unique models were on display. The most remarkable find for me was this off-road-ready classic long-hood 911 spotted at the Porsche Club Nürburgring.
This Porsche 911 pays homage to the present-day spirit of the legendary 935 model. Dressed in the iconic Vaillant colors, this G-series Porsche 911 – likely a Turbo variant – is a masterwork by DP Motorsport. Another custom creation by DP caught my eye at the same event, but I'm keeping that one for a separate feature...
The Nürburgring Classic event has a timeless appeal, and the year 2024 was no exception. While the schedule was quite packed, causing me to miss a few races in order to savor the atmosphere of the paddock, it never felt like I was missing out on any of the excitement.
Steve Edward
Instagram: stevedwrdCaptured by Jonathan Wedel
Instagram: jonathanwdl
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