Experience of mine at the Nurburgring

"Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder" (pabuuu4)
09/02/2015 at 17:39 • Filed to: nurburgring, experience, at160, celica

This summer I went to the Nurburgring with my 86’ Celica.

My Celica is not the godmachine you are probably picturing, with the 2.0 and possibly 4wd.

No, mine is the 80 hp 1.6 liter fwd (base?) model. And of course it only drinks (not the most fuel efficient car...) the finest of fuels: 98 super. (My car doesn’t like 95, the ‘regular’ stuff, it will have problems starting and run a rougher idle)

So I took my car to the ‘Ring and camped in a nearby town on a campsite. The car survived the 400 km journey fine, enjoyed myself with the mp3-casette adapter and drove with the windows open because of course there is no a/c.

After finally finding the entrance to the Ring we heard that the track was closed due to an accident. so we and everyone else flocked to the parking lots to look at what everyone brought with them. Some people did some repairs, some adjustments and they all lined up when it opened again.

We bought a 1 round ticket and we went for it.

Lining up to enter the track was scary, you could feel everyone eyeing your oddball car while I’m inside, trying not to fuck up being surrounded by cars easily 10x the worth of my car.

As we finally entered I floored it, and was immidiately overtaken by a green 60’s or 70’s Volvo. I know it’s not a race, but that was kinda funny.

I’m driving along, trying my best not to make an appearance in a youtube video.

I never overtook someone. Or maybe I did, if you count the chaps in the broken down Polo.

Then I noticed a safety car following me (he checked on the Polo guys and then took off) and not overtaking me.

I was trying my best, putting my Gran Turismo skillz to the test (but obviously staying on the right. I didn’t even have the speed at witch hitting the apexes and all that stuff would be needed) Yes, I was going flat out most of the way.

Do note im being careful while driving, because this was my ride home, and throwing a car that sat for 16 years around a track may not be super safe.

I’m done with my lap, satisfied I left the track only to be halted by a safety guy.

I roll down my window (who needs electric windows amirite?) and the guy says

‘Why are you so slow?’ (in german ofc)

he told me that the safety car followed me because they thought I was having problems with my car. Not knowing that I was Gran-Turismo-ing my hardest out there.

That hurt.

I couldn’t explain it to him because he walked away and gave me the sign to move along because other cars were coming.

I know my car maybe looks fast, but this was just bad..

I’ll be back, Nurburgring.

DISCUSSION (13)

Cé hé sin > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
09/02/2015 at 18:02

Can’t remember when I last saw that model of Celica....then I saw the back. Never heard of a non-hatchback one before.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Cé hé sin
09/02/2015 at 18:07

This is also why I’m having trouble finding information about it on the internet. I have to say though, the front spoiler and sideskirts are aftermarket parts installed somewhere in the late 80’s, early 90’s.

The rarity of this model is one of the things that I really like about the car.

MultiplaOrgasms > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
09/02/2015 at 18:21

How does it feel getting overtaken by scooters and campervans in your maaad JDM sports car?

Smoggi - powered by 3 cylinders > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
09/02/2015 at 18:25

Dude I don’t know if you noticed ... but your licence plates are blank. You should look into that.

Eberle-Hills-Cop > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
09/02/2015 at 18:27

My first car was that generation of celica (an 89) non hatch like that (notchback? I don’t know what you call it)

Honestly I miss it sometimes.

duurtlang > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
09/02/2015 at 18:32

I do like your car, but 80 hp (not 86?) is a bit meagre with that exterior.

My first car was ( is , I store it in a barn somewhere) a mk2 VW Golf. With the base 1.3i engine. 54 horses, with a 4 speed manual. In 1991, would you believe that? Anyway, I remember driving on a long winding onramp to a highway, doing my best to get all the power out of that VW that I could. It felt fast, and I was pleased with myself. Then I looked in my rearview mirror. A Prius, A &^#@$ PRIUS, was right behind me, casually cruising along. But who cared, I was having fun.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
09/02/2015 at 19:11

That’s a beautiful car! My Tercel had a 1.5 3AC motor that only made 65 HP and it did just fine.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Eberle-Hills-Cop
09/02/2015 at 19:11

Thats great! It is my first car too!

What do you miss about it?

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > duurtlang
09/02/2015 at 19:20

I have many moments like that, latest I can remember was when I pulled up on the left lane at a light, but I had to move over to the right line (invoegen?) at the end. So Im preparing to speed of and merge in front of the car next to me, a Hyundai Tuscon. So the light turns green and I’m doing my best, shifting late @ 5.000 rpm, feeling fast as fuck, only to look over and see the woman in the Tuscon looking down on her phone texting and pulling away from me with ease and overtaking me on the right...

I know my car looks too fast for what it is, but I like the way it looks, the stock 1-6 looks worse IMO.

I really like that I can feel fast, but not go over any limits. I do want to own a properly fast car sometime though.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > MultiplaOrgasms
09/02/2015 at 19:23

Honestly? I don’t care, this car looks very different from anything you usually see on the road today, It gets me a few strange or interested looks every time I drive it, and that makes it all worth it for me.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Smoggi - powered by 3 cylinders
09/02/2015 at 19:24

It’s so the police can’t trace me when I’m doing maaaaaad speeds on the highway.

Jonee > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
09/02/2015 at 19:25

That’s the right attitude. Plus, it’s so brown I want to cry. I, too, drive an old 1.6 liter Japanese car (it manages 110 horsepower), and it makes me smile every day.

Smoggi - powered by 3 cylinders > Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
09/02/2015 at 19:59

Damn. That is pretty clever.