Tim Burton, automotive YouTuber flying under the handle Shmee150, has access to a generous fleet of high-performance vehicles like the Ford GT and the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, but when he asked his community which vehicle he should take for a spin around the Nürburgring during a track day, his fans didn’t want to see any of them on the famous track. They wanted to see his eyesore of a van, the bright pink Ford Transit Custom, taking on the challenge instead – so that’s exactly what he did.
What better way to lay down a blistering lap time than to take a spin with five passengers? Burton and the rest of his crew pile into the Ford Transit Custom for their first turn around the ‘Ring. Funnily enough, Burton admits that he hasn’t driven the van at all on the trip – so this is a serious trial by fire. They join a long line of cars waiting for their chance around the famous and grueling track.
A track worker says that the bright pink van conveys that Burton and his buddies have “some passion,” and with that, they’re ready to rip. They hit the track with a vengeance, pushing the Ford Transit Custom further than it’s ever gone before. While they get passed by some legitimate supercars (and a Mini Cooper), they’re just having a great time getting the tires squealing around the curves, all the while being careful not to let the top-heavy van get out from under them.
Once they lay down some laps – not breaking any records, but having a great time putting the obnoxiously pink van through its paces – the real challenge is afoot: parking the van in a parking garage without letting its roof scrape anywhere. They carefully ease it into its spot without damaging the roof.
While they were there, they picked up a souvenir: a pink Nürburgring sticker that’s nearly the same color as the pink van itself. It’ll end up on the van at some point, a badge of honor for its unconventional drive.
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