DAY 2 - Hanno did a good job keeping me awake yesterday, so I was able to sleep the whole night. My alarm wakes me at 7:30am, but the sun must not have heard it.

Hanno and I head over to Frankfurt Central Station...

...but not to catch a train.

We plan to grab coffee and breakfast here...

...and pick up the car we reserved for a drive on the Autobahn. An automatic wagon is not what we expected, but, considering the mandatory snow tires are speed rated at 210 kph (130 mph), upgrading to a faster car would be a waste of money

Hanno and I inspect the car before we leave the garage.

Hanno drives first, so I can take some pics

Stuck in traffic (behind a 1 Series Bimmer) as we approach the Messeturm

Heading west on A66 away from Frankfurt...and away from traffic!

Passed by a dirty Audi going twice our speed

Hanno accelerates towards 200kph on a stretch of unrestricted highway

Traffic laws on the Autobahn are strictly followed...we never get passed by a car to our right. If a faster car approaches from behind, we simply move to the right (unlike in L.A., no car suddenly accelerates to block such a lane change).

Wind power

Roughly half way to our destination. I will take over at the next exit and drive us the rest of the way to Nürburg.

An hour and a half after leaving Frankfurt, we catch our first glimpse of Nürburgring Nordschleife...the first time Hanno and I have actually seen "The Green Hell" in person. That said, it is not looking very green today.

We knew before coming that the 'Ring would be covered with snow, but decided to drive anyway. I had hoped it would melt overnight, but the temperature here has not been (nor will it be) above freezing for quite some time. This stretch is known as the Pflanzgarten, 17km into the 21km long Nordschleife circuit (as measured from the public entrance, not from where Gran Turismo marks the start/finish line). I can only imagine what its like to watch cars racing towards us from this vantage point.

It is hard to believe that one of the most famous racing circuits exists within such a tranquil setting.

Hanno mounts his GoPro camera to record this last stretch of the drive...though I am not sure how exciting that footage will look. Not only do I have to stay within the posted speed limit, I also have to watch for black ice.

I park next to ring°werk, the center infamously known as "NüroDisney" due to its much-maligned operators' attempt to transform the 'Ring into a family-friendly theme park.

Much to my surprise, the info°center is actually open. I wonder how much business they get when the circuit is not hosting races, track days, or Touristenfahrten (tourist drives).

Judging by the lack of activity I see inside the Fan Shop, not much.

Hanno and I book the Backstage Tour. It does not start until 2pm, so we decide to walk around on our own. We step outside near the start/finish line of the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit.

As with the Nordschleife, the GP circuit is covered in snow. I can only imagine what it would be like to race here on the snow. (This video was posted on YouTube the day after I visited the 'Ring)

We cross the bridge over the main straight