Did 'The Ring' for the 1st time this weekend
Discussion
Guys,
I know lots of you are probably veterans of the place, but i had my first taste of the infamous Nurburgring this weekend and just thought i'd died and gone to Pistonhead heaven !!!!
Great atmosphere at the start gate as people chatting and watching you go throught the Barriers
Couldn't believe the amount of spectators on some of the corners, taking photos, and probably waiting to see someone go off !!!
I did 5 laps in my GT3
, and got totally trounced on my 1st lap by GTI golf's and the like, but got quicker and quicker, but i think it would take best part of a whole weekend to start to know track well enough to take on the locals !!!
I saw quite a few brits there aswell.
A true Mecca for speed freaks.
There was someone taking an Merc SLR round aswell !!
If you've not done it, you aint lived !!!
G.
I know lots of you are probably veterans of the place, but i had my first taste of the infamous Nurburgring this weekend and just thought i'd died and gone to Pistonhead heaven !!!!
Great atmosphere at the start gate as people chatting and watching you go throught the Barriers
Couldn't believe the amount of spectators on some of the corners, taking photos, and probably waiting to see someone go off !!!
I did 5 laps in my GT3
, and got totally trounced on my 1st lap by GTI golf's and the like, but got quicker and quicker, but i think it would take best part of a whole weekend to start to know track well enough to take on the locals !!! I saw quite a few brits there aswell.
A true Mecca for speed freaks.
There was someone taking an Merc SLR round aswell !!
If you've not done it, you aint lived !!!
G.
Glenn,
You are a brave man to take on the Nordschleife in a GT3 on your first visit.
It does take a bit of time to figure out those corners, I'm glad to hear your ego could take being passed by locals in rather pedestrian machinery. That is not always the case, especially with drivers of Porsches.
TVR drivers seem to accept the fact more readily, and for some reason usually appear to be suffering from shell shock.
You are a brave man to take on the Nordschleife in a GT3 on your first visit.
It does take a bit of time to figure out those corners, I'm glad to hear your ego could take being passed by locals in rather pedestrian machinery. That is not always the case, especially with drivers of Porsches.
TVR drivers seem to accept the fact more readily, and for some reason usually appear to be suffering from shell shock.
Yes,
I know that ego is not very useful at the ring, i treated the circuit with nothing but the total respect that it deserves, knowing only too well that it could chew me up and spit me out at any moment !!!
But when i learn it, i WILL get my revenge !!
(just how long that will take, i'm not sure)
G.
I know that ego is not very useful at the ring, i treated the circuit with nothing but the total respect that it deserves, knowing only too well that it could chew me up and spit me out at any moment !!!
But when i learn it, i WILL get my revenge !!
(just how long that will take, i'm not sure)
G.
Just signed up for this thing and already people are talking about our outing to the Legendary Ring this weekend. I can confirm that the man in the Yellow GT3 was giving the ring the respect it's due, however was not hanging about by any means.
I think its fair to say we all had a few "moments" to keep us honest, but taking it slow was not the order of the day, that would just not be fun.
Although having been there before I was initially a little apprehensive, compounded by watching an SL55 AMG have a very large off 50 yards infront of me on the first lap... (oooops), but fun and much tyre wear was had by all.
Here's to the next one. (I might even keep that pesky GT3 behind me).
Chris
I think its fair to say we all had a few "moments" to keep us honest, but taking it slow was not the order of the day, that would just not be fun.
Although having been there before I was initially a little apprehensive, compounded by watching an SL55 AMG have a very large off 50 yards infront of me on the first lap... (oooops), but fun and much tyre wear was had by all.
Here's to the next one. (I might even keep that pesky GT3 behind me).
Chris
I was out at the Ring on thew weekend of the 18/19th - that the weekend you were there?
We took a bunch of cars out first to Goodyear's test track at Colmar-Berg, then on a bunch of road routes through the Mosel and Rhine valleys and finally out to the Ring. Here are some pictures. Hope you like.
Cars are Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ-340, Honda NSX, Vauxhall VXR220 and Lotus Exige. We also had a Mercedes CL65 AMG along, just for shits and giggles and to find out what 612bhp felt like when unleashed around the Nurburgring.
In the vineyards above the Rhine valley town of Bacharach
Colmar-Berg was a blast. The track was basically a series of variable radius bends linked by a mile long straight and then a 210-degree banked turn. The guy who was hosting us at Goodyear managed to punt the VXR220 clean off the track into the infield, spinning it so many times he lost where the track went. The good thing about CB was that there was great surfaces and plenty of run off for this sort of action...
The NSX gets a bit sideways through Turn One.
From Colmar-Berg we decamped to Cochem in Germany where we were hosted by Dr No, the representative from the local tourist office who hated the French, the East Germans, the Americans, the Italians and the Spanish. He probably hated the English too. At least he should after being ribbed solidly for an hour over dinner. Cochem itself was a pretty scenic place and has a castle that's fun to storm at night. We got a day tour from a guy who also looked like a throwback from the Third Reich and seemed entirely too fascinated by the medieval torture instruments.
That's the River Mosel in the background. The Evo almost went in.
A snapshot outside the hotel of the Exige and the VXR220.
From Braubach we drove up the Mosel valley to Koblenz to pick up another toy. A brand spanking new Porsche 997 Carrera S was ours to play with, so I took it up to the German Corner - where the Rhein and Mosel meet - and organised a photo shoot there. I had great fun yelling off the top of a huge-ass statue with a loud hailer.
The new shape of 911.
From there it was a fast road route down to Braubach and more castles. The local one was considerately shrouded in scaffold for me to clamber up. Braubach's a great place to grab a few atmos shots of the cars...
The road routes on the flanks of the Rhine Valley are Das Scheisse. Winding their way into the hills near Bacharach and Boppard are some screaming bends to plunder. The Exige was the daddy here although 420bhp worth of 911 Turbo wasn't too shabby either.
Then it was on to the Ring. Friday was rocking. The standard of driving was very good and it wasn't too busy. In the morning we got to watch the industry drivers giving the shakedown to some vehicles debuting at the Paris Show. I got to see the new Mercedes R Class, the Range Rover Sport and a few other newbs as well as some tyre and stability control tuning for the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
Saturday was interesting with plenty of accidents caused by bikers who didn't have a clue as to what they were doing. We had camera permits and rigged the Evo up with video cameras for a couple of laps. I swooped in on a 911 GT3 RS in the Foxhole and figured it'd make great video to put the number plate camera of the Evo inches from his rear bumper going through Adenauer Forst chicane. Unfortunately he got so flustered he almost left the circuit! I overtook him and looked for someone quicker to chase.
Like this nicely prepped GT2
Or this guy lifting wheels through Flugplatz
Unfortunately the test was getting to some of the cars. The NSX did a rear suspension bush, the VXR's engine resorted to a safe ignition map, the Evo brake discs warped catastrophically and the 911 Turbo munched through a set of front pads in pretty short order. Only the Exige felt as fresh as a daisy.
The Exige in the Karusell
The Evo leaps into Pflanzgarten four up on a recce for the camera laps.
Chasing Jags.
The Jaguars above were filming a piece for Top Gear TV. Jeremy Clarkson was trying to set a 10 minute lap in the S-TYPE 2.7 diesel. Most of the actual driving was undertaken by Sabine Schmitz, a local racing driver and, until she recently crashed it, a BMW M5 RingTaxi driver. There's no way Clarkson would set a ten minute lap although I think maybe the finished article's going to be edited to make it look as if he did.
The Mercedes CL65AMG.
The Merc was just bonkers. Unleashing all that torque just overwhelms the rear tyres and I had an interesting oversteer moment in the Pflanzgarten at 125mph. Given that the car costs £145,000 I didn't want to be the one who crashed it. After a couple of laps I left it in the paddock.
>> Edited by bad_roo on Tuesday 28th September 19:18
>> Edited by bad_roo on Tuesday 28th September 19:18
>> Edited by bad_roo on Tuesday 28th September 19:19
We took a bunch of cars out first to Goodyear's test track at Colmar-Berg, then on a bunch of road routes through the Mosel and Rhine valleys and finally out to the Ring. Here are some pictures. Hope you like.
Cars are Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ-340, Honda NSX, Vauxhall VXR220 and Lotus Exige. We also had a Mercedes CL65 AMG along, just for shits and giggles and to find out what 612bhp felt like when unleashed around the Nurburgring.
In the vineyards above the Rhine valley town of Bacharach
Colmar-Berg was a blast. The track was basically a series of variable radius bends linked by a mile long straight and then a 210-degree banked turn. The guy who was hosting us at Goodyear managed to punt the VXR220 clean off the track into the infield, spinning it so many times he lost where the track went. The good thing about CB was that there was great surfaces and plenty of run off for this sort of action...
The NSX gets a bit sideways through Turn One.
From Colmar-Berg we decamped to Cochem in Germany where we were hosted by Dr No, the representative from the local tourist office who hated the French, the East Germans, the Americans, the Italians and the Spanish. He probably hated the English too. At least he should after being ribbed solidly for an hour over dinner. Cochem itself was a pretty scenic place and has a castle that's fun to storm at night. We got a day tour from a guy who also looked like a throwback from the Third Reich and seemed entirely too fascinated by the medieval torture instruments.
That's the River Mosel in the background. The Evo almost went in.
A snapshot outside the hotel of the Exige and the VXR220.
From Braubach we drove up the Mosel valley to Koblenz to pick up another toy. A brand spanking new Porsche 997 Carrera S was ours to play with, so I took it up to the German Corner - where the Rhein and Mosel meet - and organised a photo shoot there. I had great fun yelling off the top of a huge-ass statue with a loud hailer.
The new shape of 911.
From there it was a fast road route down to Braubach and more castles. The local one was considerately shrouded in scaffold for me to clamber up. Braubach's a great place to grab a few atmos shots of the cars...
The road routes on the flanks of the Rhine Valley are Das Scheisse. Winding their way into the hills near Bacharach and Boppard are some screaming bends to plunder. The Exige was the daddy here although 420bhp worth of 911 Turbo wasn't too shabby either.
Then it was on to the Ring. Friday was rocking. The standard of driving was very good and it wasn't too busy. In the morning we got to watch the industry drivers giving the shakedown to some vehicles debuting at the Paris Show. I got to see the new Mercedes R Class, the Range Rover Sport and a few other newbs as well as some tyre and stability control tuning for the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
Saturday was interesting with plenty of accidents caused by bikers who didn't have a clue as to what they were doing. We had camera permits and rigged the Evo up with video cameras for a couple of laps. I swooped in on a 911 GT3 RS in the Foxhole and figured it'd make great video to put the number plate camera of the Evo inches from his rear bumper going through Adenauer Forst chicane. Unfortunately he got so flustered he almost left the circuit! I overtook him and looked for someone quicker to chase.
Like this nicely prepped GT2
Or this guy lifting wheels through Flugplatz
Unfortunately the test was getting to some of the cars. The NSX did a rear suspension bush, the VXR's engine resorted to a safe ignition map, the Evo brake discs warped catastrophically and the 911 Turbo munched through a set of front pads in pretty short order. Only the Exige felt as fresh as a daisy.
The Exige in the Karusell
The Evo leaps into Pflanzgarten four up on a recce for the camera laps.
Chasing Jags.
The Jaguars above were filming a piece for Top Gear TV. Jeremy Clarkson was trying to set a 10 minute lap in the S-TYPE 2.7 diesel. Most of the actual driving was undertaken by Sabine Schmitz, a local racing driver and, until she recently crashed it, a BMW M5 RingTaxi driver. There's no way Clarkson would set a ten minute lap although I think maybe the finished article's going to be edited to make it look as if he did.
The Mercedes CL65AMG.
The Merc was just bonkers. Unleashing all that torque just overwhelms the rear tyres and I had an interesting oversteer moment in the Pflanzgarten at 125mph. Given that the car costs £145,000 I didn't want to be the one who crashed it. After a couple of laps I left it in the paddock.
>> Edited by bad_roo on Tuesday 28th September 19:18
>> Edited by bad_roo on Tuesday 28th September 19:18
>> Edited by bad_roo on Tuesday 28th September 19:19
Great pics Bad Roo. Glenn & Bad Roo, get yourself down to an organised track day at the 'Ring, rather than just sampling a public day. RMA seem to have taken over the mantle from Wheeltorque on this one, as far as the UK TDOs are concerned. However, you can also join foreign TDOs/clubs that provide exclusive use on non-public days.
Although certainly expensive by comparison to the public days (you need to do about 25 laps or more to break even), they are open pit-lane all day, properly marshalled & medics etc, (for one thing, having flag marshalls means that you feel much more confidant in pushing harder over say the blind brows, confident of not being surprised by a bike or whatever on the ground in front of you, or a bus load of Jap tourists out taking pics !!), open pit-lane etc. Bikes & cars mixing it together on the same circuit is not IMHO a sensible combination, slow moving coaches & mini-buses etc even more so. Furthermore, bear in mind there are no briefings on the public days, so the standard of driving can be (highly) questionable, although obviously you do get some very competant drivers out, particularly locals who just "pop in" several times a week on the way home from work !
Full flying laps are also possible on the "Organised/Member only" days, as you don't have to come in after each lap on the straight & out through the barrier again, as you do on the public days.
Having sampled both, I'm loathe to do public days again. The benefit of having the circuit marshalled etc, alone outweighs the costs savings. Obviously if one intends to only do 2 or 3 laps for the general experience, then the public days provide a great insight & service. I have a strong feeing you'll both be at the 'Ring many more times though.
Although certainly expensive by comparison to the public days (you need to do about 25 laps or more to break even), they are open pit-lane all day, properly marshalled & medics etc, (for one thing, having flag marshalls means that you feel much more confidant in pushing harder over say the blind brows, confident of not being surprised by a bike or whatever on the ground in front of you, or a bus load of Jap tourists out taking pics !!), open pit-lane etc. Bikes & cars mixing it together on the same circuit is not IMHO a sensible combination, slow moving coaches & mini-buses etc even more so. Furthermore, bear in mind there are no briefings on the public days, so the standard of driving can be (highly) questionable, although obviously you do get some very competant drivers out, particularly locals who just "pop in" several times a week on the way home from work !
Full flying laps are also possible on the "Organised/Member only" days, as you don't have to come in after each lap on the straight & out through the barrier again, as you do on the public days.
Having sampled both, I'm loathe to do public days again. The benefit of having the circuit marshalled etc, alone outweighs the costs savings. Obviously if one intends to only do 2 or 3 laps for the general experience, then the public days provide a great insight & service. I have a strong feeing you'll both be at the 'Ring many more times though.
RMA have an organised 2 day trip early November 8/9th although you have to be an RMA member to attend.
Easytrack are also running a 2 day event later in the week 11/12th. It's their first time doing an organised trip at the Ring so not sure what the format is. Plus I think you need to of attended at least 1 other Easytrack event to attend.
Safety is a big concern for Track Day Companies running Organised days at the Ring hence the restrictions.
Easytrack are also running a 2 day event later in the week 11/12th. It's their first time doing an organised trip at the Ring so not sure what the format is. Plus I think you need to of attended at least 1 other Easytrack event to attend.
Safety is a big concern for Track Day Companies running Organised days at the Ring hence the restrictions.
I work for a 'white label' industry content provider so the stuff will appear in quite a few diverse places. One of our sponsors was a major Japanese electronics company and the plan next year is for them to hire the track exclusively for a day so some of their top brass and guests can be chauffered around in performance cars by some of our hired hands. That should be good.
I was there on the 20th, and Clarkson was still mincing about. I was in the CSL and was with a bunch of tuned up scoobies and other CSLs, 996C4S and Elise's. My first time there and after 6 laps was getting the hang of some of the corners. My DL1 suggests a BTG times of between 8.30 and 8.11
The CSL has been piloted round there in 7.49 by some loon German, so a bit to go yet...
Quite pleased with the KW suspension mods...
The CSL has been piloted round there in 7.49 by some loon German, so a bit to go yet...
Quite pleased with the KW suspension mods...
good write up and great pix.
I took some shots of you guys in the parking lot - amazing machines. My buddy was there in the other red VXR - he mentioned that your VXR was being driven very slowly, the electronic gremlims could explain that!
thread over on the VX forum: www.vx220.org.uk/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=10&t=14048&s=c9f95a3a80d1e47c248bd36bb38e2942
Did Sabine actually tell you that she's no longer driving the taxi because she crashed, or is that just a rumor?
few pics I took that weekend:
http://tinyurl.com/5rbbm
cheers
Kurt
www.nurburgring.org.uk/who/details.php?u=167
I took some shots of you guys in the parking lot - amazing machines. My buddy was there in the other red VXR - he mentioned that your VXR was being driven very slowly, the electronic gremlims could explain that!
thread over on the VX forum: www.vx220.org.uk/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=10&t=14048&s=c9f95a3a80d1e47c248bd36bb38e2942
Did Sabine actually tell you that she's no longer driving the taxi because she crashed, or is that just a rumor?
few pics I took that weekend:
http://tinyurl.com/5rbbm
cheers
Kurt
www.nurburgring.org.uk/who/details.php?u=167
kedelbach said:
Did Sabine actually tell you that she's no longer driving the taxi because she crashed, or is that just a rumor?
cheers
Kurt
I saw her driving the M5 on the Monday... I wondered how she manages to do that day in day out with Std M5 brakes, then I followed her. She goes in sideways everywhere! No need for much braking. Not the fastest way, but excellent car control and very entertaining for the passengers....
phatgixer said:
I was there on the 20th, and Clarkson was still mincing about. I was in the CSL and was with a bunch of tuned up scoobies and other CSLs, 996C4S and Elise's. My first time there and after 6 laps was getting the hang of some of the corners. My DL1 suggests a BTG times of between 8.30 and 8.11
The CSL has been piloted round there in 7.49 by some loon German, so a bit to go yet...
Quite pleased with the KW suspension mods...
WHAT! So you reckon after 6 laps you were doing between 8.11 and 8.30! Get outta here!
Dave
[/quote]
I saw her driving the M5 on the Monday... I wondered how she manages to do that day in day out with Std M5 brakes, then I followed her. She goes in sideways everywhere! No need for much braking. Not the fastest way, but excellent car control and very entertaining for the passengers....[/quote]
The brake pads aren't standard (like everything else on the car) - but yes she does like to show off! I had a taxi lap with one of the other drivers, in the wet. Very slidy fun
The driver told us the tires are changed every 10 (dry) laps, brakes about every 20, and the cars sent back to BMW where they are inspected and scrapped every year. Puts the 160€ per lap (3 passengers) into perspective - that doesn't even cover the tires costs!
BTW - Big Roo - can you share what was involved with obtaining that special camera permit? There's a lot of speculating on why the Ring has outlawed filming laps (even though some sneaky people still do it, just curious how you guys got the ok.
Kurt
I saw her driving the M5 on the Monday... I wondered how she manages to do that day in day out with Std M5 brakes, then I followed her. She goes in sideways everywhere! No need for much braking. Not the fastest way, but excellent car control and very entertaining for the passengers....[/quote]
The brake pads aren't standard (like everything else on the car) - but yes she does like to show off! I had a taxi lap with one of the other drivers, in the wet. Very slidy fun
The driver told us the tires are changed every 10 (dry) laps, brakes about every 20, and the cars sent back to BMW where they are inspected and scrapped every year. Puts the 160€ per lap (3 passengers) into perspective - that doesn't even cover the tires costs!
BTW - Big Roo - can you share what was involved with obtaining that special camera permit? There's a lot of speculating on why the Ring has outlawed filming laps (even though some sneaky people still do it
, just curious how you guys got the ok. Kurt
WHAT! So you reckon after 6 laps you were doing between 8.11 and 8.30! Get outta here!
I must admit, i looked at that remark twice !!!
After my 4th ever lap, i could only muster 9:30, obviously this is a crap time, but considering i never knew what was over the brow of those endless amounts of hills, it wasn't too bad.
G.
davyboy said:
I was there on the 20th, and Clarkson was still mincing about. I was in the CSL and was with a bunch of tuned up scoobies and other CSLs, 996C4S and Elise's. My first time there and after 6 laps was getting the hang of some of the corners. My DL1 suggests a BTG times of between 8.30 and 8.11
The CSL has been piloted round there in 7.49 by some loon German, so a bit to go yet...
Quite pleased with the KW suspension mods...
WHAT! So you reckon after 6 laps you were doing between 8.11 and 8.30! Get outta here!
Dave
Give us your email and I'll send you a DL1 trace...11mb.
CSL is pretty handy. (mine has AP's, SS race system and KW suspension)
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