The last time I went round the Nürburgring, I was in a Citroën Visa diesel and Dad was driving. It was 20-odd years ago and we were on a family holiday, the route for which took us conveniently close to the 'Ring and Spa.
So while my long-suffering Mum waited in the pits, off we went for two laps. The Visa was fine on the downhill bits, less good going uphill. This was before the circuit was turned into a track-day theme park – complete with rollercoaster – known to all and sundry as a bumper sticker on hot saloons.
Despite that, I defy anyone to approach the track and not find their heart beating a little faster. On my recent return visit, we arrived just as it was getting dark, but the roadsigns point towards evocative places such as Adenau and Hohe Acht. Every now and then, you get a glimpse of track between the trees.
The reason for the trip was to celebrate 40 years of BMW's Motorsport division, and there would be the chance to drive some of the best M-cars around the Nordschleife itself.
However much footage you see from this place, nothing prepares you for the elevation changes. The plunge down into the Hatzenbach section that begins the lap is a real eye-opener, as is the drop into the 'Foxhole', the climb from Breidscheid and the famous jump at Pflanzgarten.