I’ve had quite a few comments about Adam Tait’s take on the Nürburgring last issue. Legendary it might be, but judging by the conversations I’ve been having the circuit’s beginning to lose some of its magic. Hotel prices have rocketed, you need a second mortgage to afford a beer at the bar – and if you come off. Well, God help you! Take into consideration the rubbish pound/euro exchange rate, and you begin to wonder why so many people still bother making the trip. Mates reckon, if you take a car down there, stay in a hotel, book the track for a few laps and drive back home, you’ll happily wave goodbye to £800. Factor in a minor spill or – worse still – a breakdown necessitating a tow home, and you’ll be facing a severe financial kicking.
So, here’s the plan. We need to come up with an alternative. There must be an as yet undiscovered circuit in Albania or other some such hidden corner of Europe where they still have their own currency, and where there’s cheap booze, cheap accommodation, and where a weekend of racing will cost just buttons to finance. Ok, I am probably dreaming – but if this rings any bells, please let me know.
Of course there’s plenty of cracking tracks here in Blighty. Cadwell’s good, Castle Combe’s fun and Oulton Park is right up there as well... If you’ve got a favourite, somewhere we can make our own, instead of parting with all our hard-earned dosh motoring down to Germany – email me, and we’ll put together a table of the most popular.
Finally, thanks for your support in 2009. All of a sudden French Car Show doesn’t seem quite so far away now, so we hope you’ve been busy in the garage over the Christmas break.

Here’s to 2010!

Ian Cushway