There are moments in life when you meet something and are simply fascinated. And if this is still a driving legend like the Nissan 240RS, which was screwed together the same year I saw the light of day, then there are two eyes-in-the-face. This is what happened last weekend at the Eifel Rallye Festival in Daun - a festival that unites generations.
Although I was too small for 1985 to witness the extinction of the Group B Rally World Championship, I came very early by my love of motorsport to the classics of yore. To the real racing machines, in which simply the car and the pilot decided to victory or defeat. No highly complicated techniques and political decisions determined the battle for the podium.
Nissan drove the first group-B time safari rally with the new 240RS in 1983. While the works wagons of Mike Kirkland (chassis 006) and Shekhar Mehta failed early due to engine damage, the third of Timo Salonen led the rally until shortly before the finish, before his engine broke. The following year, chassis 006 was used as Chase Car (fast service vehicle) before being sold to Ashok Patel. The Kenyan was ninth best privateer on the Safari 1985.
Exactly this Nissan with the chassis 006 was brought from the present owner, Achim Loth, in the year 2008 from Kenya to Germany and restored since completely over five years. Not an easy task for the Swiss, because like many other rally cars from that time, the 240RS seemed to have disappeared from the ground and spare parts were hardly available. Fortunately, the car was almost complete, because at just 200 sporting offshoots of the Nissan Silvia every missing part meant a new production. Nevertheless, some sheet metal and engine parts and various small parts had to be made specifically for the 240RS.
The Nissan has been operational again since 2014 and took part in the Eifel Rallye Championship for the first time last year. And so I came to the tranquil and idyllic Daun last Friday to take a closer look at the whole thing. I would never have expected this crowd of people, this colorful mix of car fans who couldn't be more different - and no one had warned me of the fantastic cars that are just there on the “marketplace”. On my lap I discover the Audi Quattro, an Opel Ascona 400 and the unmistakable Lancia Delta Integrale. And then I stand in front of him: With a faithful look he looks at me and I'm captivated. What a beautiful racing car! And still in very good shape at 32!
After a brief introduction to the technology and the special features of the vehicle we drive in convoy to the meeting point for the ride. I'm second and wait patiently on the roadside in a "hairpin", what happens next. In one fell swoop, the silence of the Dauner Wald is broken. With thunder and rumble, it's becoming clear what you will see live shortly afterwards. The transmission creaks when changing gear, the tires squeal, it smokes and smokes, and the Nissan 240RS spurts up the mountain - including goose bumps. How then will the ride be?
When I take a seat in the tight bucket seat, as I put on the headphones in the past, strapping on the straps, I am already a bit dizzy in the stomach. "The seat is the only non-original part, it used to be a folding seat, but nowadays it's safe," Achim explains to me, before he has already started the first gear. By the way, the right hand drive is lower left, to complicate the whole thing even more.
While the car used to hunt across African steppes, the safari monster had to settle for a paved serpentine road outside of Daun - but that was still fun.
Even if we have to slow down from time to time because we run into traffic, man, that's an amazing feeling! It's not engine noise, no, it's music in your ears. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping in the forest and in the middle of it all this monster that with its 1000 kg has no problems whipping up the ascent into the woods. Strangely enough, I stayed completely mute during the ride, which is rarely the case with me. And when it was over, my heart was pounding and my face was huge. What a car! Here the driver's talent still dominates the car, not the other way around. Here the driver has to have the car under control, otherwise you will be on the roof on the next embankment. Here you experience real racing and still ask yourself, those guys from back then must have been crazy.
A short time later, Mike Kirkland proves that the "guys" of that time were not only crazy, but also incredibly charismatic and witty, answering his career and the Nissan in a straightforward Oxford English.
"It's just amazing to see my car again and, above all, all the work that Achim and the guys put in there. If you ask me, that's exactly the car I started with at the rally 32 years ago. I just do not see any difference at that time. "
What is your fascination with rallying sports?
"Motorsport is my life, that's what I love! I participated in 90 Safarir Lakes and many others, such as in Cyprus, Hong Kong, Beijing. I had the best life imaginable. If I could still do the sport at my age, nothing would stop me, but I'm just not fast enough now. The last rally I attended was 2006 in South America. That was 30 incredibly exciting and great days and the best thing about motorsport is: you really meet the best people in the world. "
How do you like the Eifel Rallye Festival?
"I think this event is just gigantic. I see so many cars here that I used to compete against. There are so many here that I know the original cars and are still friends with the drivers. "
Would you like to drive a rally car from today?
"No, I know that I'm not fast anymore. I am now 68 years old. But back in 2006, for the first time since 13, I was back in a rally car and we finished second. And even I was very surprised at how strong we were. "
Too bad that unfortunately I had to drive again after one afternoon, but the team had a great rally and was also awarded the prize for the car with the best original condition. I will not forget this indescribable experience so quickly. Thanks Nissan. Thanks Mike Kirkland.
Text and interview: Jasmin Müller Photos: Bernd Schweickard, Stefan Deck