[s-cars] NAC: but close....

[matt ludwig.]

 From my friend, I just got this note a little while ago. i am pretty  
sure a couple of you will like this one.... ; )


"50 miles south of Stuttgart. I'm standing right next to what was  
inspired by the SR71 Blackbird fighter jet back in the 80s. Beautiful.

Squeeze myself into Recaros wrapped in Nomex. Hot as hell inside the  
cabin, probably 140 or more. I'm sweating like a pig before I've even  
fired her up. Engine starts with a blue oil cloud and I prepare  
myself for proper oil temperature and off I go. 1st is down-left.  
Takes some time getting used to...Blip the throttle and I'm off. Slowly.

Second gear is hard to find, and missing it could be catastrophical  
since reverse is right up there too. Incredibly precise but doesn't  
like roads that aren't perfectly surfaced. WAY more nervous than a  
regular SC, but I was expecting even worse.

The turbos are set to 1.1 bar, 469 hp at 5950 rpm. A little wheel on  
the dash (in case I get a death wish) turns it up to 1.3... maybe  
some other time. Current setting is probably exciting enough.

Here we go. 1500 rpm, second gear.
Full throttle.
Rpms are rising slowly. Sloooowly......
Uh, hello?
GOD-FREAKING-DAMN!!!
 From 3000 rpms up to 7200 in a nano-second. SO QUICK I didn't even  
react - i was too busy keeping the pinball on the road. Holy crap!!

Rear tires are screaming, cars pointing everywhere but straight  
ahead. Incredibly fast on these narrow roads. Don't make a mistake.  
Don't make a mistake.

On-ramp up to the autobahn. Full throttle. The rental CLS500 I had  
arrived in a few minutes earlier felt uncomfortable going 150 mph on  
this same stretch of road. This just wanted more, MORE! The faster  
you go, the calmer the car feels.

Non-existing rear view means that lane changes are exciting -  
anything smaller than trucks are impossible to notice. Meh,  
whatever.., full throttle again. GOD-FREAKING-DAMN!!! 100-130-150-170  
mph in only a few seconds.

Acceleration is absolutely incredible even in 4th and 5th. 170 mph  
and a Passat places itself in the left lane right infront of me.  
Tires scream beyond words. No ABS.. Doesn't matter. I'm hanging off  
the four-point harness with my forehead squeezed against the  
windshield. Passat stays intact. Phew.

I'm getting aquainted with the car, so I get back onto the small  
roads. A long sweeping turn up ahead, agressive throttle once again  
and I'm awarded with the most amazing drift you could imagine.  
Getting off the throttle at this point would be devastating. Turn  
after turn, this car is absolutely mindblowing.

Back to the dealership to load up the car on a freight train and  
taking to where it belongs in Northern Europe... The wait is going to  
be torture.

Oh, and in case that wasn't clear - I drove the Yellowbird today. :D"


i envy this man for today....


matt ludwig.

1995.5 S6 Avant
South Portland, Maine