So, I went to The Ring, quick points for newbies
Discussion
1. It's around 270-300 miles from Calais so leave most of the day to get there. We took an 8am (UK time) tunnel train, spent the day driving down there and got there later afternoon. The track was open until 7 so you can get a few laps in.
2. Adenau is the local town, it's small but food is good and beers (large) come in litres!
3. Like most tracks, it's a few miles away from the local town
4. When you arrive at the Ring there is a little 'shop' where you buy as many laps as you want. They put them on a contactless card and then you just 'flash' your card at the barrier.
5. Laps are 30 Euros each
6. It's full of Porsches and BMW, 80% are full on hardcore track cars or modified cars. But I went in a Megane R26.
7. Sunday is very busy but most people left by lunchtime, presumably to get back home
8. On track is little different from a normal TD. Keep an eye on your mirrors and where you're going. Some bits you'll recognise and some you won't. Knowledge of the track makes a huge difference and many people are locals so know it better than you and so are much faster.
9. I found a car that was a bit quicker and then followed it. it is much easier/quicker to do this as a newbie. Don't try this when a GT3 RS flies past though!
10. On one day the track was closed for 2 crashes for most of the morning and on both days bike crashes early on in the day closed the entire track to bikes for the rest of the day (cars fine though).
11. Get there about 7am and you'll have the track to yourself although being about 22km long, even with lots of cars it can still be quite quiet where you are.
12. Enjoy and take sunblock (it was 36 on Sunday there with a 55 degree track temp!)
13. Spa is just off the motorway on the way there/back so its easy to pop in and have a quick wander around.
2. Adenau is the local town, it's small but food is good and beers (large) come in litres!
3. Like most tracks, it's a few miles away from the local town
4. When you arrive at the Ring there is a little 'shop' where you buy as many laps as you want. They put them on a contactless card and then you just 'flash' your card at the barrier.
5. Laps are 30 Euros each
6. It's full of Porsches and BMW, 80% are full on hardcore track cars or modified cars. But I went in a Megane R26.
7. Sunday is very busy but most people left by lunchtime, presumably to get back home
8. On track is little different from a normal TD. Keep an eye on your mirrors and where you're going. Some bits you'll recognise and some you won't. Knowledge of the track makes a huge difference and many people are locals so know it better than you and so are much faster.
9. I found a car that was a bit quicker and then followed it. it is much easier/quicker to do this as a newbie. Don't try this when a GT3 RS flies past though!
10. On one day the track was closed for 2 crashes for most of the morning and on both days bike crashes early on in the day closed the entire track to bikes for the rest of the day (cars fine though).
11. Get there about 7am and you'll have the track to yourself although being about 22km long, even with lots of cars it can still be quite quiet where you are.
12. Enjoy and take sunblock (it was 36 on Sunday there with a 55 degree track temp!)
13. Spa is just off the motorway on the way there/back so its easy to pop in and have a quick wander around.
Mostly good info. On point 8 I'd go further and advise that it's actually a two lane toll road during TF and you have to stay right and allow faster traffic past on the left. You're allowed to take your line through the corners as you would a track if the road is clear, but you have to stay right to allow faster cars through, though most will wait if you're in the middle of a corner or sequence of corners. Taking a left hand apex without checking if anyone is coming up could ruin your bank balance for a long time as you'll be at fault for any accident damage.
None of this applies to track days there.
None of this applies to track days there.
Pdelamare said:
Mostly good info. On point 8 I'd go further and advise that it's actually a two lane toll road during TF and you have to stay right and allow faster traffic past on the left. You're allowed to take your line through the corners as you would a track if the road is clear, but you have to stay right to allow faster cars through, though most will wait if you're in the middle of a corner or sequence of corners. Taking a left hand apex without checking if anyone is coming up could ruin your bank balance for a long time as you'll be at fault for any accident damage.
None of this applies to track days there.
WRONG, there are many trackdays held on the Nordschleife that put all the liability onto you if you are the instigator of an accident. How do I know? Because on all the trackdays there that I instruct on I take the time to read the disclaimer in full.None of this applies to track days there.
I was there the weekend just gone (june 29th and 30th), really hot at 36degc but the track was much quieter than ive previously seen.
We were told there have been two busy weekends before this one so the numbers were down on saturday and sunday.
It was a prime weekend for a clear track with no rain
We were told there have been two busy weekends before this one so the numbers were down on saturday and sunday.
It was a prime weekend for a clear track with no rain
teabagger said:
I was there the weekend just gone (june 29th and 30th), really hot at 36degc but the track was much quieter than ive previously seen.
We were told there have been two busy weekends before this one so the numbers were down on saturday and sunday.
It was a prime weekend for a clear track with no rain
Same weekend as me.We were told there have been two busy weekends before this one so the numbers were down on saturday and sunday.
It was a prime weekend for a clear track with no rain
doogalman said:
WRONG, there are many trackdays held on the Nordschleife that put all the liability onto you if you are the instigator of an accident. How do I know? Because on all the trackdays there that I instruct on I take the time to read the disclaimer in full.
Sorry, I meant UK rules track days, as the vast majority of anyone reading this would take part in. 2. Adenau is the local town, it's small but food is good and beers (large) come in litres!
- Nurburg is the local town - Adenau is much bigger, but is half-way around the lap and has the shopping areas
3. Like most tracks, it's a few miles away from the local town
- Nurburg is local, but it's only really got bars/restaurants, no real shops
4. When you arrive at the Ring there is a little 'shop' where you buy as many laps as you want. They put them on a contactless card and then you just 'flash' your card at the barrier.
- you can load up credits online, before you go, and either use your phone app or the plastic card at the barrier (card is easier)
5. Laps are 30 Euros each
- depends on the day - most Mon-Thur are €25/lap, Fri-Sun are €30 - but if it's a bank holiday then it's €30
- if you put enough credits on you get 'bonus' credits (i.e. buy 20 laps, get 100 credits for 3-4 laps)
10. On one day the track was closed for 2 crashes for most of the morning and on both days bike crashes early on in the day closed the entire track to bikes for the rest of the day (cars fine though).
- use the time to drive around some of the smooth & relatively empty roads in the area
11. Get there about 7am and you'll have the track to yourself although being about 22km long, even with lots of cars it can still be quite quiet where you are.
- track doesn't open until 8am though - and opening may be delayed if there's mist/fog/ice on the track.
- Nurburg is the local town - Adenau is much bigger, but is half-way around the lap and has the shopping areas
3. Like most tracks, it's a few miles away from the local town
- Nurburg is local, but it's only really got bars/restaurants, no real shops
4. When you arrive at the Ring there is a little 'shop' where you buy as many laps as you want. They put them on a contactless card and then you just 'flash' your card at the barrier.
- you can load up credits online, before you go, and either use your phone app or the plastic card at the barrier (card is easier)
5. Laps are 30 Euros each
- depends on the day - most Mon-Thur are €25/lap, Fri-Sun are €30 - but if it's a bank holiday then it's €30
- if you put enough credits on you get 'bonus' credits (i.e. buy 20 laps, get 100 credits for 3-4 laps)
10. On one day the track was closed for 2 crashes for most of the morning and on both days bike crashes early on in the day closed the entire track to bikes for the rest of the day (cars fine though).
- use the time to drive around some of the smooth & relatively empty roads in the area
11. Get there about 7am and you'll have the track to yourself although being about 22km long, even with lots of cars it can still be quite quiet where you are.
- track doesn't open until 8am though - and opening may be delayed if there's mist/fog/ice on the track.
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