For the first time since 2019, the fans at the Nürburgring are celebrating the 24-hour race. For a whole week they transform the Nordschleife into a motorsport madhouse. The most creative fans can be found at the campsites around the Ring.
Bavarian folk music sounds from loudspeakers at the Schwalbenschwanz campsite. The closer you get to the "Stubenmusi", the more striking the look of the fans is at this point. The group at the stand has thrown themselves into traditional Bavarian garb: the men are wearing dirndls. "Today is a theme party," says Tobi.
The 31-year-old and his friends have come up with a special program for Father's Day. On the sunny evening of Ascension Day, Bavarian Alpine flair will find its way onto the Schwalbenschwanz. The good-smelling Kassler rotates on the rotisserie. In keeping with the motto, there is puree and sauerkraut, as Tobi adds. A light, Bavarian beer is on the drinks menu for the day. The group expects to consume one crate of beer per day per capita. Suitable for the Nordschleife.
Fan return to the ring
The 24-hour race is something special for the spectators this year. After all, for the first time since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, fans are returning in full numbers to the legendary racetrack. The rush to the coveted campsites is therefore huge.
The organizer's plan to open the berths for the Nordschleife enthusiasts on Monday morning (23.5.2022) didn't work. Fans were already queuing up the weekend before to get a good seat. The campers blocked the federal road 412, especially in the Brünnchen area.
Many of the spectators had already arrived there several days before the spaces were accessible. The police therefore arranged for the popular location to be opened early. This allowed traffic to flow better again after many of the motorhomes and caravans were no longer on the road.
Tobi and his friends also arrived on Sunday to secure their place near the racetrack on Monday. It took a whole day to set up the timbered terrace, the tents and the installation of water, gas and electricity.
Six weeks of preparation
Like the teams, the campers also have to prepare for the spectacle of the 24-hour race. A total of one and a half months in advance, Tobi and his boys planned their trip to the Eifel. If you are wondering why you need so much time for the trip, you should take a look at the structure of the stand. The crew carted a shower, a fridge, an oven and a dishwasher to the dovetail.
The campers can live self-sufficiently with a generator. This is possible because the guys complement each other. Tobi himself is a butcher and takes care of the physical well-being of the troops. His buddy Thomas installed the terrace above the caravan.His job as a carpenter helped him.
The offspring is ready
The champagne Thursday at Tobi and his friends had to make way for the Oktoberfest. He has been driving to the Nürburgring in these for 20 years. He inherited his enthusiasm for the Nordschleife from his father. "I was born in 1991 and have been here with my father since '95." The 31-year-old from near Koblenz now has a son himself. "I now go to the Nürburgring every four weeks with my father and my son."
The boys built a slide on their terrace for the little ones. So Tobi's son could let off steam there. But it's not just children who use the slide - grown-up Dirndl wearers also had fun on the extension.
Tobi needs "two weeks" vacation for the party at the Ring. He's also more enthusiastic this year because he wasn't able to camp on site for two years.
Tobi keeps his fingers crossed for the Phoenix Audis. He knows the son of team boss Ernst Moser personally. Ron Moser is now the team manager of the squad. That's why the sympathies lie with the brand with the rings. In his opinion, however, another Bavarian brand took the overall victory: "I say BMW!" With the M4 GT3, the Munich company has brought a new car to the Nürburgring that has proven to be fast.
No pools at Brünnchen & Co.
Over the days at the Nordschleife, it can be seen that the fan-favorite pools have disappeared. You could only catch a glimpse of one on the TV screen. That doesn't stop the fans from celebrating their party at the Ring.
And the next big event starts on June 3rd. Then it gets loud again when the legendary Rock am Ring attracts hundreds of thousands of party-mad fans. Some 24-hour visitors will not go home at all, but will liven up the festival in a week with their enthusiasm.
Will Bavarian folk music be at the top of the hit parade again? A small question mark is at least appropriate.
