My wait for the 2010 drift season was cut short last week when Alex and Corinna Gräff asked me if I was interested in tagging along with them to a test day organized by their main sponsor, Live Strip Racing at Hockenheimring. I was told that they had rented out the entire racetrack, giving me plenty of mobility and freedom at and around the track for any of the wacky experimental shots I had in mind. Alex and Corinna picked me up next morning with both their cars on trailers and we set off.

Alex had just finished the build of his E36 with a 321hp I6 motor and an E46 front end conversion, and Corinna had her E30 with the 4.4l V8 in it, punching out an easy 340hp. Alex’s car was shod with a set of  Alutec Toxic rims in matt graphite.

We got to the track without much delay, where I walked into this sweet Z06R that was undergoing some tests. I wish the ZR1 came with such an aggressive front end, rather than the stupid plexiglass hood cover installation it has.

I also saw this floating Seat in the pits.

Live Strip had arranged for photoshoots of all their team cars, but before that happened, the cars needed to be washed. This was not a big deal for the 24h race cars that were transported in covered trucks, but since both the drift cars were brought on open trailers, the salt and grit had left quite a mark. Alex and Corinna got to work. I really wanted to help out, but it was so cold….err…. I mean I had to take pictures.

I love Corinna’s new rims too, it makes the car look a lot more butch than before. The five spoke design definitely suits the V8 attitude of the car.

Once I got into the pits, this M3 GTR quickly caught my eye, but then again, I am not entirely sure this is an M3 motor. I was walking around the pits and I saw a sticker on a toolbox that read “330i” so this might as well have been it.

Mmmmm… the office.

It was like watching a science practical lecture. The car went out for a few laps, came back to the pits, the mechanics and engineers stormed over the car like a swarm of bees, a while later the car rolls out, repeat.

Holy track widening Batman!

One of the Live Strip promotional cars is a Hummer H3 shod with some of the most ludicrous rims I have ever seen. I could have lived in that rim.

Of course, Bayern wasn’t the only state being represented – Stuttgart was also around at the other end of the pit lane.

The photographer had covered three pits, I believe, with carpets in order to make an on-location-studio for the photoshoot. I don’t think I have ever seen someone use more expensive camera kit in my life. I just tagged along and shot some snaps in the background, although it was very difficult since I had no control over the lighting.

I bet you wish I focused somewhere else?

Ahem…cough cough!  :)

I managed to land a cheeky portrait of myself, thanks to Corinna who (wo)manned my camera.

Ahem

On the other end of the pit wall, stuff was busy.

Did I already mention I love these rims?

Later, the entire arsenal of horsepower was lined up for a photoshoot, before we lost the last bit of the daylight. I was on the roof of the pits, when I noticed a driver thrash his GTR within an inch of its life. Even though I work in the drift scene, I don’t think I have ever heard more tire squeal.

Here’s Corinna with Tom Winter, who pilots the 3000 horsepower beast of a drag car.

I found a step ladder that I nicked for a while to try something new.

Many of my friends criticized the scissor doors on this E36. What do you think?

The day was soon over and since I live so close to Hockenheimring, I decided it was a good idea just to stay at home, rather than waste money on a hotel room.

I was picked up next morning, and we stopped by on the way for a quick drive through car wash.

We were trailing this truck on the way to the track…

I think Alex likes it, no?

One of the 24h race cars returning to pits.

There were a couple of non liveried Porsche GT3 Cup cars flying around. I wonder what made those tire marks…

After a while I strapped myself to the back of Alex’s van to do some tracking shots, but the seatbelts were so useless, I ended up nearly strangling myself.

Right afterwards, Corinna was called in for her turn for the photoshoot.

It was freezing cold, so some of these flamethrower-heaters were set up in the pits, except the studio bit was almost completely covered, and since the heater burnt up all the oxygen, I am sure we were all a little high

Corinna lookin’ good.

The next turn was that of Tom and his dragster. Alex squeezed himself in and helped steer the car into the studio

After that, we had about an hour or so left for the day. Alex and Corinna therefore decided not to bring back home any fresh tires. Corinna picked up the very pretty Michelle and headed to the paddock for a smoke.

Improvisation is my middle name. Well one of my middle names at least, that’s how we were able to come up with this genius perspective

How many places do you get to see a team member gets to do donuts around their boss?

“Where are the rocket launchers?”

I hope you enjoyed the read. This year is going to be packed, a whole bunch of events are coming up in the next two months

Cheers

Alok