In Gear: Nurburgring Die-Cast Racing Cars

1. AN ENVIABLE GARAGE
Dttinger Hhe am Nrburgring owner Hans Joachim Retterath and his wife, Annette, stock more than 3000 different models, ranging from a 1.5-liter Honda Formula 1 car to a Porsche 917/10 Can-Am turbo panzer to Winston Cup stockers. ($20-$2000)
2. HELL, JA!
This 1:43-scale Minichamps limited edition is the Ja zum Nrburgring-"Yes to the Nrburgring"-BMW M1 driven by Hans Stuck and Nelson Piquet in the 1000 Kilometers in 1980. The car is decorated with a course map of the Nordschleife. ($50)
3. MORE THAN A GAS STATION
Although it looks like a standard-issue tankstelle along the A258 near Nrburg in Germany, the Dttinger Hhe draws customers from all over the globe. During high season, Retterath opens a restaurant and hotel decorated with lots of spiffy artwork and period posters.
4. CLOSE PROXIMITIES
Mercedes-Benz grand prix driver Manfred von Brauchitsch was one of dozens of drivers who have signed autographs for Retterath, who is so close to the track that he once hand-carried fuel for Emerson Fittipaldi when the racing-car driver's Lotus ran out of gas. Pictured is a 1:18-scale CMC model of von Brauchitsch's Mercedes-Benz W154. ($150)
5. 1967 GP WINNERS
Retterath's extensive F1 collection is represented by 1:18-scale models of these 1967 grand prix winners-Jim Clark's Lotus 49 (Exoto, $300) and Dan Gurney's Eagle (Carousel, $200).