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New Year resolutions |
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ones that you'll actually want to keep |
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You've just won the lottery, or suddenly discovered a great inheritance. Whatever the reason – the important thing is that now you're rich. But there's a catch, there always is. It's not what you're thinking though – you don't have to sell your soul, far from it in fact. The only condition is that you have no choice but to spend all the money in a single year, and no safe investments allowed either.
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Now you can really rub your hands with delight – you may actually enjoy this yet. If you like to travel the world, and have even a hint of petrol in your veins, here are a few good tips on how you can make the most of it: |
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Nordscheliefe (the original Nurburgring) |
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The original Nurburgring (known as the Nordscheliefe or the North Loop) is arguably the greatest and most demanding racetrack in the world. It’s also the most fearsome, and the infamous scene of multiple F1 champion Niki Lauda’s fiery crash in 1976 – the last time a Formula 1 race was held there.
Another legend of the sport and multiple F1 champion, Sir Jackie Stewart, termed the infamous Nurburgring – 'the Green Hell.' At the time, the track was both revered and anticipated for the challenge it presented, but also dreaded for the threat it posed. Sir Jackie, a forceful proponent for safety during his time in F1, once exclaimed that if he were ever to go around the track slowly, and in doing so notice the real dangers it posed, he may never race there again.
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The Nordscheliefe, at 14 miles in length with 173 tricky corners per lap, is the ultimate driving challenge. The track is so diverse in the nature of challenges it presents that a number of manufacturers use it to test their cars before they go into production – in fact, practically every major manufacturer tests its sports cars at the Ring.
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The track is located in Germany, midway between Cologne and Düsseldorf. And only in Germany – a country that still has large sections of unrestricted Autobahns – can a track such as the Nurburgring officially be designated a toll road where anyone with a car (or caravan even) pay a few Euros to drive around and test their mettle. Technically, it's a one-way public toll road with no speed limit, but certain rules do apply. It costs less than 20 Euros a lap, depending on how many laps your ticket allows you to complete.
The track is open to the public on most weekends, and you see a wide range of cars in the paddock ranging from supercars to diesel station wagons. Large rental car agencies don't allow their cars to be driven on the track, so if you're visiting the best thing to do is to rent a car from one of the local establishments that have cars meant specifically for the Ring – referred to as Ring Tools.
Needless to say, it's not for the faint of heart. The Ring has everything you could ask for in a track, or even a mountain road – an endless barrage of unforgiving dips, crests, bumps and blind corners that are unrelenting for the entire 14 miles. |
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If you feel driving around the track yourself may prove to be a little too adventurous, perhaps you'd fancy a drive around in a taxi. Not just an ordinary taxi though, Ring Taxis are BMW M5's driven by professional drivers – you can be rest assured that it'll be the ride of your life.
Try and soak in a little of the history while you're holding on for dear life, as the track has been the scene of some of the greatest races of all time, where only legends of the sport have prevailed.
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