Trackdays With Alternatives To Bikes And More

Last week I spent some off-days with my wife in a western province of Austria called "Salzburg". After our arrival near the small village "Fuschl" directly situated at a lake called "Fuschlsee" we went for a hike up to the ruin of the castle "Wartenfels". From the castle we were able to get a view to the neighbouring valleys. At dinner time we met some friends in a local restaurant and had some great local specialities.

On the next morning we had to show up at 0730 at the race track called "Salzburgring", where normally Moto-GP and race car events take place. We had booked in early December last year in advance a participation on the "VW Track Days 2025" there. After a warm welcome of all the participants we were dived into 2 person teams and we had to run through a 4 module "Track Day".

Module 1:
"Race" behind a professional race guide with a distance of maximum 20-30 metres with a VW Golf 8 R 2025 with 333 HP in a group of 5 cars. Timeframe: 30 minutes nearly full speed with changing of the car behind the guide car every round on the track.Then changing the driver and "racing" for another 30 minutes.

Module 2:
Guided off-road section with two different VW models and changing of the drivers after each round and then change of the car. Used models: high-end equipped Touareg and the new Tayron.

Module 3:
Test of different models on a handling parcour. Used models: Multivan, ID.Buzz, ID.3 GTX, Golf 8 R, T-Roc

Module 4:
Like module 1 but this time with a T-Roc R 2025 with 320 HP.

You may expect that we had a great time there. You are right, but we were not really lucky with the weather conditions. In the early morning we had some hard rain which changed to the well known low intense rain called "Salzburger Schnürlregen". This means it's pouring in a low intensity, but it never stops. Those conditions were "interesting" in the modules 1 and 4 when we "raced" on the race track. All cars were equipped with additional radios to hear the commands of the race guide. He drove is car in front of the group and we had to follow and we're not allowed to overtake. Due to the rain we had ugly conditions behind the other cars, but we speeded up to 220 km/h in the ordered low distance to the others in our 30 minutes "race". On some spots on the track it was not a really good feeling to speed like this with the other unknown and also not race experienced drivers around you. Happily the whole Track Day passed by without any accident!

In comparison of the Golf R and the T-Roc R I personally preferred the T-Roc on the race track.

The module 2 (off-road parcour) was interesting. I did not expect the off-road capabilities of the Touareg. We were able to pass big obstacles with 2 wheels in the air in the terrain without any issues. At the end of each round we also had to pass a 70 degree downhill section. Without the usage of our safety belts we would have fallen out the cars through the front window.

The module 3 (handling parcour) was a great experience too. I did not expect the capabilities of the electric ID.Buzz with 340 HP and a weight of 2,5 tons (!!!). For me this car was the best of the available cars at the handling parcour.

We were also informed about the prizes of the tested cars.
Golf R: up to € 85.000.-
ID.Buzz: up to € 87.000.-
Multivan and Touareg: up to + € 100.000.-
All the others are in between.

Conclusion of my wife and me:
We won't by a VW model in the future.

After this exhausting event we enjoyed the rest of the day at the "Fuschlsee" were we went for a hike.

The next day we started with a hiking tour on a hiking trail on the sea level of +1.000 metres around the mountain called "Gaisberg". This mountain is reachable in 20 minutes by public transport from the centre of the city of Salzburg. From the trail you have a great view down to the city of Salzburg and the lovely surrounding parts of the province of Salzburg.

After this hiking tour we went back to the city and enjoyed the sights and possibilities of the old town of Salzburg.

The last day we spent in Salzburg and the near city of Freilassing in Germany for some shopping.

In the following some impressions.

View to the "Fuschlsee" from our accomodation.


Our hiking trail up to the ruin castle "Wartenfels".


A part of the old castle in a wonderful terrain.


The weather on our "Race Day".


Waiting for the start of the "race" with the T-Roc


My wife is speeding!


The downhill section.


The start of our hiking trail around the "Gaisberg"


Typical part of this "easy" trail.


A wonderful view of parts of the Alps.

 

Part 2:
Some more impressions.

A view from the "Gaisberg" to the city of Salzburg". In the center the castle "Hohen Feste" and the complete old town.


One of our "followers".


At the "Fuschlsee".


One of the uncountable churches of the city of Salzburg.


The "Sound of Music" bus for the famous "Sound of Music Tour".


In the "old town".


Castle "Mirabell"


The world famous photo point next to the castle "Mirabell". In the back the castle "Hohen Feste".


A local music group performing some local "hits".