An Exotic Car Track Day I Did in the Czech Republic...(MEGA BWW!)
11-12-2006, 08:57 AM
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An Exotic Car Track Day I Did in the Czech Republic...(MEGA BWW!)
This happened back in May. Now I've finally had time to go though all the photos and make a writeup.
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/nogaroblue/most2006&page=all">For those with ADD, you can jump straight to the photos here.</a>
Anyway, I have a number of friends from the Prague area in the Czech Republic. One of them is the former owner of <a href="https://www.audiworld.com/features/feature/rs4sedan.html">this car</a>. He has since moved on and picked up a beautiful <a href="http://www.nogaroblue.com/cars/Nickmost1.jpg">996 Porsche GT3 RS</a>. With a full carbon fiber body, Manthey Racing BBS Magnesium wheels, and a custom straight through exhaust system...his new car is pushing over 400 hp with less than 3,000 lbs of curb weight. Impressive it is. Nik invited me to visit him in Prague and drive up to the Most Autodrom in northern Czech for a private rented track day. I made the hotel arrangements, packed up some tools, extra brake parts, 4 cameras, the girlfriend and set off.
The 435 (700 km) drive from Koln to Prague was quite enjoyable. Most of the route on the German side is open Autobahn with no speed limits. Fuel consumption sucks with sustained speeds of 130+ mph, but that's the price for fun I guess. I really didn't take any pictures of the drive to Prague. In hindsight, I sort of regret that, but at the time I was more concentrated on getting there and enjoying the drive.
For those who don't know the Czech Republic, it's an emerging Eastern European country. This means that as a whole, the country is considerably poorer than its Western European neighbors like Germany, Austria, etc. It's more in line with Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Russia, etc. There is a huge gap between the rich and the poor, with very little middle class. Much of the country is run down, but you can see obvious signs of development and improvement. The first of which is the highway which runs from the German border directly to the capital city of Prague. Not only is this highway nearly brand new, there is very little traffic as the percentage of the population with cars is significantly lower than in Germany. I set the cruise at 90 mph and just relaxed until I came to my exit which is about 30 miles outside of Prague.
Pulling though the small town where my hotel was situated, I couldn't help but notice the stares I was getting from everybody out in the street. My shiny and loud Nogaro Blue S4 <a href="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech1.jpg">stuck out like a sore thumb </a>amongst the cold war era <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Skoda89.JPG">Skodas</a> which are the norm for the Czech people. It was a strange feeling, and honestly not a good one. I prefer to keep a low profile, which is why I drive an S4 in the first place.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech3.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech30.jpg">
Soon I arrived at my hotel which is nicely situated on a river which runs though town. I had stayed at this hotel before, so there were no surprises. My friend Nik told me some more of his friends from out of town should be arriving at the hotel soon, all car guys. Cool. I went back to my room to relax as I knew I had a few long days ahead of me.
No sooner did I peek my head out of the window, did I see a <a href="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech7.jpg">brightly colored 996 Porsche being brought in on a trailer</a>. "Hmm, that looks interesting," I thought. I grab my camera and run down to take a look.
I was greeted with this beast. OMG. As if the brightly colored graphics and 6 piston ceramic brakes didn't give it away, the vital statistics were listed right on the side window. 646 horsepower. 642 ft-lbs. 0-186 mph (300km/h) in 21.9 sec. That's only about, uhhh, 20 seconds faster than a C6 Z06. Top speed? Try 225 mph. Um, yeah. I'm not getting on the track with this guy.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech4.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech6.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech5.jpg">
I stopped back at my friend Nik's house to see how he was doing. Just as I arrived, he was heading out in his GT3 with his brother right behind in a Benz E55 AMG. They were out to wash their cars. Perfect timing, as I had more bugs than paint on the front of my Audi. Off we were.
Traffic laws are fairly flexible in the Czech Republic, although that is scheduled to change in the future. Due to the average Czech demographic, fines are relatively cheap and traffic laws are not strongly enforced. As a result, the driving habits of Czech residents differ slightly from the US or European norm. What am I babbling about? Well, the official speed limit on Czech highways is 120 km/h or about 75 mph. As soon as Nik reaches the onramp, he guns his GT3 RS and the rear end squats down with authority. Straight pipes on a racing engine will do this. Right behind, I put the hammer down as well. At the end of the on ramp, we're merging onto the highway at about 135 mph. At this point he's pulled about 2 car lengths on me from where he was before. He keeps his foot on it up to about 150 mph where he's managed to pull a little more on me, just as I've done on the E55 AMG behind me who is struggling to keep up. Soon we come up on traffic going at a saner 80 mph or so. What to do? Nik sweeps into the breakdown lane and flies by the small group of cars on the right. Uncomfortably, I follow suit. Nik's brother is right behind me in the big Benz. It could have been a scene right out of the Gumball Rally, but this was normal everyday driving to them.
After exiting onto a winding backroad (and breaking any moving violation that remained unbroken after the highway run), we found ourselves at a gas station with a run down garage in the back. After paying the humble garage attendant the equivalent of less than $5, he spent about a half an hour and carefully washed and dried our cars completely by hand.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech2.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech19.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech20.jpg">
Later that night, I met with Nik and a few of his friends downtown in Prague at a coffee house that one of the guys in the group owned. Prague is an absolutely beautiful city with so much history and classic architecture to see. <a href="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech13.jpg">They have cool taxis too.</a> Driving around in Prague is very enjoyable. The sound of a tuned exhaust echoing between the stone walls is an effect you don't get very often. The contrast of the old and the new is breathtaking...just as the contrast of Prague's rich to the surrounding area's poor. I take the opportunity to snap some pictures of the cars against the beautiful backdrops.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech8.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech9.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech10.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech11.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech12.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech14.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech15.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech16.jpg">
Once I get back to the hotel, I see that some of the other car guys have arrived. My S4 seemed to just blend into the surroundings as exotic machines like a Lambo Murcielago, numerous Ferraris, Porsches 911's, two tuned Cayenne turbos with 700 horsepower, M3's, a C5 Z06, and more started to fill the parking lot. We had made special arrangements to park our cars within an enclosed area that would be guarded the entire night. Bad things can happen to nice cars in Eastern Europe.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech17.jpg">
The next morning, we all got up early in preparation for the roughly 2 hour drive from our hotel to the track up in an area called Most. We had all agreed to drive together in a caravan as only a few knew the way. The language is difficult, as is the rarely existent signage. Heck, most of them didn't speak English, but somehow we got by and still were having a fun time together. We lined up all the cars in a row and set off.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech18.jpg">
Things were sedate as we drove along the pristine 4 lane divided highway that heads to the center of Prague. This wasn't very long lasting though. Soon we were off the highway and on the 2 lane backroads that were to take us to Most. Nice highways with efficient traffic flow are a rare commodity in Eastern Europe. Most roads are only two lanes with little or no shoulder. The pavement condition is terrible due to the often overloaded truck traffic. Large bumps and potholes appear out of nowhere and without notice. Old and decrepit Russian trucks going 45 mph are the norm. This creates traffic backup nightmares...especially to a certain group of cars in which the average horsepower count is over the 400 mark. Dangerous passing situations were the order of the day. It seemed perfectly acceptable to pull out and overtake regardless of oncoming traffic. Those not wanting a head-on collision simply had to make room. That's that. It was something I was not at all comfortable with and didn't partake in. Luckily my S4 has adequate passing power and I was able to overtake without worry. The average Czech car with under 100 hp is a different story altogether. In just an hours time, I witnessed numerous close calls and dangerous situations.
The pace we maintained on the backroads picked up considerably from the highway. The fastest car of our group, the Lamborghini Murcielago, also had the least ground clearance. As a result, he was forced to take a slow pace as he complained that he frequently bottomed his undertray or suspension. As my car was one of the faster in the group and had sufficient ground clearance, I quickly found myself near the front of the pack along with the tuned Gemballa 700 hp Cayennes and a tuned B5 RS4. Our cars proved to be the best combination of performance and suspension travel for the ill maintained roads. After about an hour of very fast, Gumball type high speed driving, we pulled into a service station to regroup and wait for the tail end of the pack to catch up. At this point I was 3rd in line behind a Cayenne and the RS4. As we all got out of our cars, my previously ignored 4 door sedan was getting all sorts of questions and looks. "What have you done with that thing?!?! Man, your car is faster than I expected!" said both the Ferrari 360 driver and the Gemballa Cayenne driver. The Cayenne driver claimed he could not keep up with me after 120 mph. The discussion turned then to tuning as American tuning is typically more aggressive and cheaper than the equivalent European tuning.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech21.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech22.jpg">
After another hour long high speed stint on the backroads of the Czech Republic, we find ourselves at the Most Autodrom in the city of Most. I entered the grounds, paid my modest $70 fee, and parked my car.
By the time we got there, a fair number of people had already arrived. By mid morning, the amount of high performance hardware present was absolutely staggering. Ruf, Gemballa, and Techart tuned Porsches were commonplace. The only two C6 Z06's in the entire country had managed to show up. Numerous F360, 360 Challenge Stradale, and F430 Ferraris were seen. A handful of Lambos came and went. Carrera GT? Sure. Ultima GT? Yup. The highlight of the day though would have to go to the Masarati MC12. This supercar is mechanically similar to a Ferrari Enzo, just more expensive and more exclusive.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech25.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech26.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech34.jpg">
Soon it was time for my first of three 20 minute track sessions. I was in a group which included a number of sedans (thankfully) which were similar in performance to my S4. My group included a handful of tuned E46 M3's, an M6 race car, an E36 race car, an E36 with huge slicks and a small block V8, and an E55 AMG Mercedes. As it was my first time on this particular track (I'm not an expert driver by any means), and my car was shod with street rubber (most in my group were running R-compouds), I ended up finishing mid pack. I was as fast or faster than anything in the straights, but my 3600+ lb car on 225 mm wide street tires just can't hang in corners compared to the lighter cars on R compounds. The long straights were enough for me to hunt down a few M3's though. Later I received a few compliments on how good my Autospeed Performance ASP Tru-dual exhaust sounded howling down the straight at 7,000 RPM and 100+ mph.
<a href="http://www.nogaroblue.net/Videos/MostS42006.avi">Right click save as for footage from my S4 on the track...</a>
<a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-42214696103345431&q=nogaroblue&hl=en">Google video version</a>
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech31.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech35.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech36.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech32.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech33.jpg">
Throughout the three sessions, the S4 performed flawlessly. The ECS Stage IV brakes with EBC Redstuff pads stood their ground. The Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 tires worked well until the end of the 20 minute sessions where they would get pretty greasy. My oil temps with the Achtuning oil cooler stayed under 260 degrees F. Overall, I had a great time on the track.
The same can't be said for everyone. Later in the afternoon, the fastest group of cars went out. This included the Carrera GT, Masarati MC12, Lambos, Ferraris, and numerous tuned Porsches. Towards the end of the session, I hear a loud bang and a few yells as everyone starts running towards the other end of the pits. It turns out a beautiful white Techart tuned Porsche GT2 got a little overzealous with the power on oversteer and found himself face to face with the pit wall. He narrowly missed taking out the Carrera GT. By the time I get to the wreck, the owner of the car has already stepped out and is busy snapping pictures with his camera phone. The car is a total loss. Oh, helmets are not mandatory here in the Czech Republic, and few were wearing them. I was impressed that the driver didn't have a single scratch considering the severity of the crash. Maybe he'll wear a helmet in the future, maybe not. In any case, he didn't seem too distraught about the whole deal. It was probably a good excuse to ditch that ol' 996 and step up to a 997 or Carrera GT.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech29.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech27.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech23.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech24.jpg">
After a fun day, I broke off from the group and made my way back to the hotel. Shortly before leaving the two lane backroad, I come across a lone policeman waving his red lollipop firmly at me and signaling me to pull over. I knew I was speeding somewhat, but without seeing a police car or radar station anywhere near the officer, I wasn't very concerned. After rolling down the window, our game of charades began as I speak no Czech. He spoke no German or English. He spoke a little bit of Polish (which my girlfriend is fluent in), so eventually we found a common ground. He informed me I was going 142 km/h in a 80 km/h zone. Yikes. That's 88 mph in a 50 mph zone for those metrically challenged. Funny, I don't remember going 142 km/h (within the last few minutes) or a 80 km/h zone. My heart sank, as I know this type of infraction would mean a hefty fine back in the US. It would be slightly cheaper in Germany, but still not something I was excited to pay. The officer demanded 500 Czech Koruna. That sounds like a lot, right? Well, that works out to about $20 USD. Happily I paid the man and set off. My girlfriend asked the officer how he determined our speed. He said "oh, there is a radar gun hidden in the trees back there..." Yeah, sure. Ha ha ha. The money went straight into his pocket.
A few weeks later I emailed a guy I know with a C6 Z06 who was stopped by the same officer in the same location under the same circumstances. After paying the same $20 for supposedly going over 160 km/h, the officer requested the Z06 driver light `em up and smoke them good when he left. Eastern Europe rocks. <a href="http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1387681&highlight=smoke">Proof!</a>
The trip back to Germany was fairly uneventful. I was stuck in traffic near Frankfurt which is normal in Germany. I did have a chance to play with a tuned Lamborghini Gallardo for the better part of 45 minutes. My car was fully loaded with two people, a week's worth of luggage, camera gear, extra brake parts (rotors, hats, and pads), and other misc. stuff which came out to a gross weight of over 4100 lbs. That meant I couldn't hang with the 3600 lb Lambo, but he didn't pull much on me if I was in the right gear. The video is crappy, I know. I don't want to hear about it.
<a href="http://www.nogaroblue.net/Videos/S4vsGallardo.avi">Right Click Save-as for Lambo Gallardo Video</a>
<a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8354596999276378935&q=nogaroblue&hl=en">Google Video version</a>
Overall, the long weekend was a unique experience. I guess after hanging out with these guys a few times I am pretty desensitized to exotic cars. They all came to visit me and run the Nurburgring a few months later, but that's another thread. ;-)
I hope you enjoyed the story and the photos.
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/nogaroblue/most2006&page=all">Here is a link to the entire photo gallery</a>
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/nogaroblue/most2006&page=all">For those with ADD, you can jump straight to the photos here.</a>
Anyway, I have a number of friends from the Prague area in the Czech Republic. One of them is the former owner of <a href="https://www.audiworld.com/features/feature/rs4sedan.html">this car</a>. He has since moved on and picked up a beautiful <a href="http://www.nogaroblue.com/cars/Nickmost1.jpg">996 Porsche GT3 RS</a>. With a full carbon fiber body, Manthey Racing BBS Magnesium wheels, and a custom straight through exhaust system...his new car is pushing over 400 hp with less than 3,000 lbs of curb weight. Impressive it is. Nik invited me to visit him in Prague and drive up to the Most Autodrom in northern Czech for a private rented track day. I made the hotel arrangements, packed up some tools, extra brake parts, 4 cameras, the girlfriend and set off.
The 435 (700 km) drive from Koln to Prague was quite enjoyable. Most of the route on the German side is open Autobahn with no speed limits. Fuel consumption sucks with sustained speeds of 130+ mph, but that's the price for fun I guess. I really didn't take any pictures of the drive to Prague. In hindsight, I sort of regret that, but at the time I was more concentrated on getting there and enjoying the drive.
For those who don't know the Czech Republic, it's an emerging Eastern European country. This means that as a whole, the country is considerably poorer than its Western European neighbors like Germany, Austria, etc. It's more in line with Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Russia, etc. There is a huge gap between the rich and the poor, with very little middle class. Much of the country is run down, but you can see obvious signs of development and improvement. The first of which is the highway which runs from the German border directly to the capital city of Prague. Not only is this highway nearly brand new, there is very little traffic as the percentage of the population with cars is significantly lower than in Germany. I set the cruise at 90 mph and just relaxed until I came to my exit which is about 30 miles outside of Prague.
Pulling though the small town where my hotel was situated, I couldn't help but notice the stares I was getting from everybody out in the street. My shiny and loud Nogaro Blue S4 <a href="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech1.jpg">stuck out like a sore thumb </a>amongst the cold war era <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Skoda89.JPG">Skodas</a> which are the norm for the Czech people. It was a strange feeling, and honestly not a good one. I prefer to keep a low profile, which is why I drive an S4 in the first place.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech3.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech30.jpg">
Soon I arrived at my hotel which is nicely situated on a river which runs though town. I had stayed at this hotel before, so there were no surprises. My friend Nik told me some more of his friends from out of town should be arriving at the hotel soon, all car guys. Cool. I went back to my room to relax as I knew I had a few long days ahead of me.
No sooner did I peek my head out of the window, did I see a <a href="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech7.jpg">brightly colored 996 Porsche being brought in on a trailer</a>. "Hmm, that looks interesting," I thought. I grab my camera and run down to take a look.
I was greeted with this beast. OMG. As if the brightly colored graphics and 6 piston ceramic brakes didn't give it away, the vital statistics were listed right on the side window. 646 horsepower. 642 ft-lbs. 0-186 mph (300km/h) in 21.9 sec. That's only about, uhhh, 20 seconds faster than a C6 Z06. Top speed? Try 225 mph. Um, yeah. I'm not getting on the track with this guy.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech4.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech6.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech5.jpg">
I stopped back at my friend Nik's house to see how he was doing. Just as I arrived, he was heading out in his GT3 with his brother right behind in a Benz E55 AMG. They were out to wash their cars. Perfect timing, as I had more bugs than paint on the front of my Audi. Off we were.
Traffic laws are fairly flexible in the Czech Republic, although that is scheduled to change in the future. Due to the average Czech demographic, fines are relatively cheap and traffic laws are not strongly enforced. As a result, the driving habits of Czech residents differ slightly from the US or European norm. What am I babbling about? Well, the official speed limit on Czech highways is 120 km/h or about 75 mph. As soon as Nik reaches the onramp, he guns his GT3 RS and the rear end squats down with authority. Straight pipes on a racing engine will do this. Right behind, I put the hammer down as well. At the end of the on ramp, we're merging onto the highway at about 135 mph. At this point he's pulled about 2 car lengths on me from where he was before. He keeps his foot on it up to about 150 mph where he's managed to pull a little more on me, just as I've done on the E55 AMG behind me who is struggling to keep up. Soon we come up on traffic going at a saner 80 mph or so. What to do? Nik sweeps into the breakdown lane and flies by the small group of cars on the right. Uncomfortably, I follow suit. Nik's brother is right behind me in the big Benz. It could have been a scene right out of the Gumball Rally, but this was normal everyday driving to them.
After exiting onto a winding backroad (and breaking any moving violation that remained unbroken after the highway run), we found ourselves at a gas station with a run down garage in the back. After paying the humble garage attendant the equivalent of less than $5, he spent about a half an hour and carefully washed and dried our cars completely by hand.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech2.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech19.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech20.jpg">
Later that night, I met with Nik and a few of his friends downtown in Prague at a coffee house that one of the guys in the group owned. Prague is an absolutely beautiful city with so much history and classic architecture to see. <a href="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech13.jpg">They have cool taxis too.</a> Driving around in Prague is very enjoyable. The sound of a tuned exhaust echoing between the stone walls is an effect you don't get very often. The contrast of the old and the new is breathtaking...just as the contrast of Prague's rich to the surrounding area's poor. I take the opportunity to snap some pictures of the cars against the beautiful backdrops.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech8.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech9.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech10.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech11.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech12.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech14.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech15.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech16.jpg">
Once I get back to the hotel, I see that some of the other car guys have arrived. My S4 seemed to just blend into the surroundings as exotic machines like a Lambo Murcielago, numerous Ferraris, Porsches 911's, two tuned Cayenne turbos with 700 horsepower, M3's, a C5 Z06, and more started to fill the parking lot. We had made special arrangements to park our cars within an enclosed area that would be guarded the entire night. Bad things can happen to nice cars in Eastern Europe.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech17.jpg">
The next morning, we all got up early in preparation for the roughly 2 hour drive from our hotel to the track up in an area called Most. We had all agreed to drive together in a caravan as only a few knew the way. The language is difficult, as is the rarely existent signage. Heck, most of them didn't speak English, but somehow we got by and still were having a fun time together. We lined up all the cars in a row and set off.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech18.jpg">
Things were sedate as we drove along the pristine 4 lane divided highway that heads to the center of Prague. This wasn't very long lasting though. Soon we were off the highway and on the 2 lane backroads that were to take us to Most. Nice highways with efficient traffic flow are a rare commodity in Eastern Europe. Most roads are only two lanes with little or no shoulder. The pavement condition is terrible due to the often overloaded truck traffic. Large bumps and potholes appear out of nowhere and without notice. Old and decrepit Russian trucks going 45 mph are the norm. This creates traffic backup nightmares...especially to a certain group of cars in which the average horsepower count is over the 400 mark. Dangerous passing situations were the order of the day. It seemed perfectly acceptable to pull out and overtake regardless of oncoming traffic. Those not wanting a head-on collision simply had to make room. That's that. It was something I was not at all comfortable with and didn't partake in. Luckily my S4 has adequate passing power and I was able to overtake without worry. The average Czech car with under 100 hp is a different story altogether. In just an hours time, I witnessed numerous close calls and dangerous situations.
The pace we maintained on the backroads picked up considerably from the highway. The fastest car of our group, the Lamborghini Murcielago, also had the least ground clearance. As a result, he was forced to take a slow pace as he complained that he frequently bottomed his undertray or suspension. As my car was one of the faster in the group and had sufficient ground clearance, I quickly found myself near the front of the pack along with the tuned Gemballa 700 hp Cayennes and a tuned B5 RS4. Our cars proved to be the best combination of performance and suspension travel for the ill maintained roads. After about an hour of very fast, Gumball type high speed driving, we pulled into a service station to regroup and wait for the tail end of the pack to catch up. At this point I was 3rd in line behind a Cayenne and the RS4. As we all got out of our cars, my previously ignored 4 door sedan was getting all sorts of questions and looks. "What have you done with that thing?!?! Man, your car is faster than I expected!" said both the Ferrari 360 driver and the Gemballa Cayenne driver. The Cayenne driver claimed he could not keep up with me after 120 mph. The discussion turned then to tuning as American tuning is typically more aggressive and cheaper than the equivalent European tuning.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech21.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech22.jpg">
After another hour long high speed stint on the backroads of the Czech Republic, we find ourselves at the Most Autodrom in the city of Most. I entered the grounds, paid my modest $70 fee, and parked my car.
By the time we got there, a fair number of people had already arrived. By mid morning, the amount of high performance hardware present was absolutely staggering. Ruf, Gemballa, and Techart tuned Porsches were commonplace. The only two C6 Z06's in the entire country had managed to show up. Numerous F360, 360 Challenge Stradale, and F430 Ferraris were seen. A handful of Lambos came and went. Carrera GT? Sure. Ultima GT? Yup. The highlight of the day though would have to go to the Masarati MC12. This supercar is mechanically similar to a Ferrari Enzo, just more expensive and more exclusive.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech25.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech26.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech34.jpg">
Soon it was time for my first of three 20 minute track sessions. I was in a group which included a number of sedans (thankfully) which were similar in performance to my S4. My group included a handful of tuned E46 M3's, an M6 race car, an E36 race car, an E36 with huge slicks and a small block V8, and an E55 AMG Mercedes. As it was my first time on this particular track (I'm not an expert driver by any means), and my car was shod with street rubber (most in my group were running R-compouds), I ended up finishing mid pack. I was as fast or faster than anything in the straights, but my 3600+ lb car on 225 mm wide street tires just can't hang in corners compared to the lighter cars on R compounds. The long straights were enough for me to hunt down a few M3's though. Later I received a few compliments on how good my Autospeed Performance ASP Tru-dual exhaust sounded howling down the straight at 7,000 RPM and 100+ mph.
<a href="http://www.nogaroblue.net/Videos/MostS42006.avi">Right click save as for footage from my S4 on the track...</a>
<a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-42214696103345431&q=nogaroblue&hl=en">Google video version</a>
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech31.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech35.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech36.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech32.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech33.jpg">
Throughout the three sessions, the S4 performed flawlessly. The ECS Stage IV brakes with EBC Redstuff pads stood their ground. The Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 tires worked well until the end of the 20 minute sessions where they would get pretty greasy. My oil temps with the Achtuning oil cooler stayed under 260 degrees F. Overall, I had a great time on the track.
The same can't be said for everyone. Later in the afternoon, the fastest group of cars went out. This included the Carrera GT, Masarati MC12, Lambos, Ferraris, and numerous tuned Porsches. Towards the end of the session, I hear a loud bang and a few yells as everyone starts running towards the other end of the pits. It turns out a beautiful white Techart tuned Porsche GT2 got a little overzealous with the power on oversteer and found himself face to face with the pit wall. He narrowly missed taking out the Carrera GT. By the time I get to the wreck, the owner of the car has already stepped out and is busy snapping pictures with his camera phone. The car is a total loss. Oh, helmets are not mandatory here in the Czech Republic, and few were wearing them. I was impressed that the driver didn't have a single scratch considering the severity of the crash. Maybe he'll wear a helmet in the future, maybe not. In any case, he didn't seem too distraught about the whole deal. It was probably a good excuse to ditch that ol' 996 and step up to a 997 or Carrera GT.
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech29.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech27.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech23.jpg">
<img src="http://www.nogaroblue.com/Events/Most2006/Czech24.jpg">
After a fun day, I broke off from the group and made my way back to the hotel. Shortly before leaving the two lane backroad, I come across a lone policeman waving his red lollipop firmly at me and signaling me to pull over. I knew I was speeding somewhat, but without seeing a police car or radar station anywhere near the officer, I wasn't very concerned. After rolling down the window, our game of charades began as I speak no Czech. He spoke no German or English. He spoke a little bit of Polish (which my girlfriend is fluent in), so eventually we found a common ground. He informed me I was going 142 km/h in a 80 km/h zone. Yikes. That's 88 mph in a 50 mph zone for those metrically challenged. Funny, I don't remember going 142 km/h (within the last few minutes) or a 80 km/h zone. My heart sank, as I know this type of infraction would mean a hefty fine back in the US. It would be slightly cheaper in Germany, but still not something I was excited to pay. The officer demanded 500 Czech Koruna. That sounds like a lot, right? Well, that works out to about $20 USD. Happily I paid the man and set off. My girlfriend asked the officer how he determined our speed. He said "oh, there is a radar gun hidden in the trees back there..." Yeah, sure. Ha ha ha. The money went straight into his pocket.
A few weeks later I emailed a guy I know with a C6 Z06 who was stopped by the same officer in the same location under the same circumstances. After paying the same $20 for supposedly going over 160 km/h, the officer requested the Z06 driver light `em up and smoke them good when he left. Eastern Europe rocks. <a href="http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1387681&highlight=smoke">Proof!</a>
The trip back to Germany was fairly uneventful. I was stuck in traffic near Frankfurt which is normal in Germany. I did have a chance to play with a tuned Lamborghini Gallardo for the better part of 45 minutes. My car was fully loaded with two people, a week's worth of luggage, camera gear, extra brake parts (rotors, hats, and pads), and other misc. stuff which came out to a gross weight of over 4100 lbs. That meant I couldn't hang with the 3600 lb Lambo, but he didn't pull much on me if I was in the right gear. The video is crappy, I know. I don't want to hear about it.
<a href="http://www.nogaroblue.net/Videos/S4vsGallardo.avi">Right Click Save-as for Lambo Gallardo Video</a>
<a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8354596999276378935&q=nogaroblue&hl=en">Google Video version</a>
Overall, the long weekend was a unique experience. I guess after hanging out with these guys a few times I am pretty desensitized to exotic cars. They all came to visit me and run the Nurburgring a few months later, but that's another thread. ;-)
I hope you enjoyed the story and the photos.
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/nogaroblue/most2006&page=all">Here is a link to the entire photo gallery</a>
11-12-2006, 09:25 AM
#4
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Great post............
I've been to the csech republic a few times....Prague is a phenominally beautiful city....Some of the best beer I have ever had.........I was last there in 2000, and would like to get back........
11-12-2006, 09:38 AM
#6
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Great read!!
I can't tell you how envious I am reading your stories and seeing your pictures. It's one thing to travel around Europe, and quite another to have your SIII S4 with you! Thanks for sharing!
