Ring virgin - any advice
Discussion
I'm planning on going to the Ring later this year with a couple of friends and am looking for some advice. I've had a good look at "www.nurburgring.org.uk" which is a great source of info.
Loosely there seem to be 2 options:
1. turn up, pay your Euros and off you go
2. Go with a "track day" organiser such as RMA.
We have all done some track days, but are by no means experts. Cars are Caterham's and 911's.
I hear good things about RMA, but they are fully booked for their next trip and the one after that is not until November, which is just too far away. Are there any other organisers out there that you might recommend? Going with a track day company seems to make sense for my first trip.
Alternatively, are their any Ring instructors that will go out with you for a lap or 2 to give general advice?
If we decide to go it alone are there better times than others - for example week day vs weekend.
Many thanks,
Nigel
Loosely there seem to be 2 options:
1. turn up, pay your Euros and off you go
2. Go with a "track day" organiser such as RMA.
We have all done some track days, but are by no means experts. Cars are Caterham's and 911's.
I hear good things about RMA, but they are fully booked for their next trip and the one after that is not until November, which is just too far away. Are there any other organisers out there that you might recommend? Going with a track day company seems to make sense for my first trip.
Alternatively, are their any Ring instructors that will go out with you for a lap or 2 to give general advice?
If we decide to go it alone are there better times than others - for example week day vs weekend.
Many thanks,
Nigel
nigel911 said:
I'm planning on going to the Ring later this year with a couple of friends and am looking for some advice. I've had a good look at "www.nurburgring.org.uk" which is a great source of info.
Loosely there seem to be 2 options:
1. turn up, pay your Euros and off you go
2. Go with a "track day" organiser such as RMA.
We have all done some track days, but are by no means experts. Cars are Caterham's and 911's.
I hear good things about RMA, but they are fully booked for their next trip and the one after that is not until November, which is just too far away. Are there any other organisers out there that you might recommend? Going with a track day company seems to make sense for my first trip.
Alternatively, are their any Ring instructors that will go out with you for a lap or 2 to give general advice?
If we decide to go it alone are there better times than others - for example week day vs weekend.
Loosely there seem to be 2 options:
1. turn up, pay your Euros and off you go
2. Go with a "track day" organiser such as RMA.
We have all done some track days, but are by no means experts. Cars are Caterham's and 911's.
I hear good things about RMA, but they are fully booked for their next trip and the one after that is not until November, which is just too far away. Are there any other organisers out there that you might recommend? Going with a track day company seems to make sense for my first trip.
Alternatively, are their any Ring instructors that will go out with you for a lap or 2 to give general advice?
If we decide to go it alone are there better times than others - for example week day vs weekend.
I think unless you go for a german trackday organiser, there may be no other companies that have sole use of the ring for closed session (full) lapping. (On the Touristenfahren days (TF) (i.e. public) you cannot do a full 'flying lap', as you need to come into the 'pits' and go through the barrier again).
There are a few people who you could probably hire as ring instructors, although on a public day, this would almost be no different from someone who is willing to sit beside you to give you advice - initially, which way the corners go). However, this person can clerly only be in one car at a time, so may be frustrating for a group.
In terms of when to go, if you avoid the UK bank holidays, you will get less 'forum based trips' (i.e. lots of 'Ring virgins') which should give you a less busy time on track, with the associated probability of less track closures. Be aware that on non UK bank holiday weekends, that the availability of full days (i.e. 9am - 7pm) opening times is reduced. You may find that the (likely) decrease in traffic offsets the reduced opening hours. All my 4 or 5 trips this year will not be on UK bank holiday weekends. 9 years of it getting busier and busier have taken its toll on me!!!
Get onto northloop.co.uk or the ringers forum (link on ben lovejoy's site).
If you're sensible and willing to listen to some advice, and obey some pretty simple track rules/ettiquette, you won't have any problems at all.
good luck!
Never been myself, but I understand that you SHOULD NOT TAKE A STOPWATCH, nor should you video yourself.
In fact, I think both of the above a strictly banned now. Stopwatches encourage heroics on a potentially very dangerous circuit (which nobody "knows their way round" after just one trip!!). We've all got a little slice of ego in us, and it should be left in your garage. Videoing your laps does similar things to peoples driving from what Ive read on the various Ring websites.
Have fun, I would love to go one day...
Ed.
In fact, I think both of the above a strictly banned now. Stopwatches encourage heroics on a potentially very dangerous circuit (which nobody "knows their way round" after just one trip!!). We've all got a little slice of ego in us, and it should be left in your garage. Videoing your laps does similar things to peoples driving from what Ive read on the various Ring websites.
Have fun, I would love to go one day...
Ed.
Good novice advice here-
http://bridgetogantry.com/index.php?o
ps I'd have to disagree with the advice of not taking a stopwatch or vid, please do take both & try & do 9 mins on yr 1st lap, heck go for a nice round 8.30, might be a good idea to have a note of my mobile num tho, cos when you've spanked it into the armco the AA will not be interested in bringing you home, my business does just that throughout the summer tho
http://bridgetogantry.com/index.php?o
ps I'd have to disagree with the advice of not taking a stopwatch or vid, please do take both & try & do 9 mins on yr 1st lap, heck go for a nice round 8.30, might be a good idea to have a note of my mobile num tho, cos when you've spanked it into the armco the AA will not be interested in bringing you home, my business does just that throughout the summer tho
Edited by iguana on Friday 9th February 16:22
ed_crouch said:
So to clarify, Iguana is making ample use of irony! ;-)
Ed.
Ed.
Aye
Forgot to say before, there is a 3rd way, several companies offer hand holding type trip groups, not really my sort of thing, but obviusly suits many as there are a few companies doing it & they always seem busy. Check out Northloop for details.
Firstly I think public days are really worth a visit because its so different to a trackday and the atmosphere is really special. Plus all sorts of exotica may turn up, sometimes just to pose in the carpark, which you wouldn't see at a trackday.
If you're planning multiple trips then maybe an RMA day would be a safer and less stressful way to get familiar with the track, but I'd suggest go for some public days, take a relaxed approach & get informed before you go.
I don't think its good value to pay for pro instruction until you've aquired a basic familiarity with the track. Unless you get into watching some vids & games it will take your whole first trip to get to this point.
I think its a really good idea to get some pax laps first so you can get some track knowledge and see how it all works (especially the traffic & overtaking etc) before you start burning your own cash and bumbling around in peoples way.
The best approach is to make contact with some of the regulars through
www.nurburgring.org.uk/ringers.html
and
www.northloop.co.uk
And see if you can line up some passenger laps. Of course there is no formal process for this so you could just take your chances with blagging rides in the carpark (and take your chances with your life on track depending on who you get in with!) but its much nicer if you've got some people to look for and you know they're willing to take you.
Some friends have grouped togeather in the past to buy some instruction time which they shared (including doing 4up laps with the instructor driving one of their sedans). I think that only selected instructors are allowed to teach on public days and there isn't a booth or anything so you probably want to set it up in advance.
Dave
Other things to consider:
1. book a lap or two in the ring taxi - it won't help with your driving per se, but will at least show you where the track does
2. the 75 Experience - www.75experience.co.uk - do Ring training and instruction either in their cars or yours - I've not done but am very keen to do so
3. ask around in the car park for people willing to take you for a passenger lap - before you drive your first lap - I did this and it was invaluable (though with someone I knew rather than asking in the car park), I suggest looking for UK cars and/or cars with the northloop.co.uk badges. Take a crash helmet with you, many ringers won't take passengers without a helmet.
4. if at all possible get someone who knows the track to passenger with you on your first lap(s) I did this too - best thing of all.
Finally, some advice I was given when I posted a similar request: irrespective of how many videos you've watched or hours spent playing GT4 - assume you know nothing, TAKE IT EASY, watch your mirrors and use your indicators.
And finally: the Viper has a non-cancelling right indicator for a reason
1. book a lap or two in the ring taxi - it won't help with your driving per se, but will at least show you where the track does
2. the 75 Experience - www.75experience.co.uk - do Ring training and instruction either in their cars or yours - I've not done but am very keen to do so
3. ask around in the car park for people willing to take you for a passenger lap - before you drive your first lap - I did this and it was invaluable (though with someone I knew rather than asking in the car park), I suggest looking for UK cars and/or cars with the northloop.co.uk badges. Take a crash helmet with you, many ringers won't take passengers without a helmet.
4. if at all possible get someone who knows the track to passenger with you on your first lap(s) I did this too - best thing of all.
Finally, some advice I was given when I posted a similar request: irrespective of how many videos you've watched or hours spent playing GT4 - assume you know nothing, TAKE IT EASY, watch your mirrors and use your indicators.
And finally: the Viper has a non-cancelling right indicator for a reason
Great advice above
Taking an experienced passenger is a great help as they can 'spot' for you regarding the fast approaching locals. Newbies tend to be trying so hard not to crash that they don't use the mirrors as often as is probably necessary.
Your first couple of laps won't be too enjoyable if it's busy because you will spend most of it off the correct lines letting faster stuff by. As you get more confident (and faster) not so much will catch you quickly and you spend more time on line which makes for a more flowing, enjoyable lap.
Quick guide to a lap of the Nordschleife
Taking an experienced passenger is a great help as they can 'spot' for you regarding the fast approaching locals. Newbies tend to be trying so hard not to crash that they don't use the mirrors as often as is probably necessary.
Your first couple of laps won't be too enjoyable if it's busy because you will spend most of it off the correct lines letting faster stuff by. As you get more confident (and faster) not so much will catch you quickly and you spend more time on line which makes for a more flowing, enjoyable lap.
Quick guide to a lap of the Nordschleife
Edited by DocJock on Saturday 10th February 06:45
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