Nurburgring trip
Discussion
justin220 said:
Hopefully heading over to the Ring in October with a few mates, but I will be the only tvr going in our group..
Any tips from people who've done it? Got RAC cover sorted, not sure whats parts to take? Oil maybe?
How was it? For those who have went
Justin,Any tips from people who've done it? Got RAC cover sorted, not sure whats parts to take? Oil maybe?
How was it? For those who have went
I would take a 100 amp fuse, a throttle cable and a set of jump leads with the Andesron connection.
Enjoy the ring, drive at you own speed and keep an eye out for the bikes and GT2/3 Porches that will be supremely quick (they come from no where).
Personally I would want to make sure the car had recently been serviced and you may wish to consider a brake fluid/pad upgrade.
Camera...and a fist full of Euros. Oil and fuel (good quality) is available only 5 mins from the ring.
Try and get booked close to the ring, maybe in Adenau, for your accomodation. I use the Blau Echt from time to time, cheap, clean and car parking off road.
It will take a very long time to completely familiarise yourself with the track, but i would suggest you have several passenger laps before you drive it yourself. This will make you realise just how bad some of the corners are! It is very difficult to drive with so many people wanting to get past distracting you from any line you may have committed yourself to. Best time to get on is first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening. Best not to go on as a novice in the damp/wet. Take it easy and enjoy 
Justin, you have seen these two threads I presume?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Not exclusively Cerbs so come join us? The more the merrier (and you can do Spa aswell as The Ring and get trackday support
)
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Not exclusively Cerbs so come join us? The more the merrier (and you can do Spa aswell as The Ring and get trackday support
)thanks for the replies so far, I hadn't thought about a throttle cable, or (stupidly) a 100a fuse. So cheers
Anderson leads, got, and I'm actually sitting on a train just now on my way to trackvroad to pick up my freshly serviced car
Fubar - no I haven't, thanks for the links, will have a wonder over!
As for learning the track, I'm not concerned about setting lap times etc, I'm purely wanting to go for the experience
Anderson leads, got, and I'm actually sitting on a train just now on my way to trackvroad to pick up my freshly serviced car
Fubar - no I haven't, thanks for the links, will have a wonder over!
As for learning the track, I'm not concerned about setting lap times etc, I'm purely wanting to go for the experience
Take a look at some laps that have been filmed on the Ring. It's not the same as actually driving, but it will give you an idea of 'what's next' when you get on the track
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=664cJLeKsO4
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=664cJLeKsO4
)Suggest you pessimistic about parts and take what you can. Tracks are always hard on cars and I would suggest you include basics such a spare engine mount, engine drive belt, exhaust manifold gaskets and a set of spark plugs.
Enjoy you trip. Were going to Spa and Nurburgring with Andy Race (TVR Monster)in October, this being our second time having been last year. Its a fantastic trip and well organised. If you have the chance try the computer games to give some familiarity with the circuit, its well worth it and gives a clue whats coming next. As mentioned, you get all types of vehicles on track at the same time, apart from Porsche, thoroughbred race cars and bikes, we saw cars go on track with passengers and kids also Wolsleys from the sixty's pottering round at 50mph, so you never know whats around the corner bearing in mind I believe there are in excess of 130 bends per circuit. Remember there a noise limit of 95db at the curcuit. Enjoy yourself.
Enjoy you trip. Were going to Spa and Nurburgring with Andy Race (TVR Monster)in October, this being our second time having been last year. Its a fantastic trip and well organised. If you have the chance try the computer games to give some familiarity with the circuit, its well worth it and gives a clue whats coming next. As mentioned, you get all types of vehicles on track at the same time, apart from Porsche, thoroughbred race cars and bikes, we saw cars go on track with passengers and kids also Wolsleys from the sixty's pottering round at 50mph, so you never know whats around the corner bearing in mind I believe there are in excess of 130 bends per circuit. Remember there a noise limit of 95db at the curcuit. Enjoy yourself.
When I went I signed up to these forums to get some more info....
http://www.northloop.co.uk/
http://forum.ringersforum.com/
A couple of forum members who were going to be there at the same time offered for our group to follow them round and also give passenger rides. If we slowed cos the pace was too hot they also slowed down so as a result we had some idea of the track went (!) but at our speed. It really made a difference especially at off camber bends over blind crests...... in the rain
Maybe worth you asking the question....?
You'll love it
http://www.northloop.co.uk/
http://forum.ringersforum.com/
A couple of forum members who were going to be there at the same time offered for our group to follow them round and also give passenger rides. If we slowed cos the pace was too hot they also slowed down so as a result we had some idea of the track went (!) but at our speed. It really made a difference especially at off camber bends over blind crests...... in the rain
Maybe worth you asking the question....?You'll love it
Mr Plow said:
I'm off to the ring soon
Aha! I wondered if that's what you were up to from your other thread... 
Mr Plow said:
do they test every car?
Nah. When I was there last summer they didn't test anyone. August bank holiday weekend, the place teeming with cars and bikes and I didn't see anyone testing for noise. In fact, the staff seemed to keep a very low profile. The only time we saw anybody 'in charge' was when the track was closed for the inevitable crashes.I was a total novice, only my second time on a track and my first driving trip in Europe, so I can't really add any practical information to what's already been said. I kind of went on a whim with a mate of mine on the way to visit friends in the south of Germany. I'm sure it's well worth doing some research beforehand to get the most out of it, here and elsewhere on the web. Longers' suggestion of blagging some passenger laps is a great idea, you'll never learn the circuit but at least you'll get a feel for how it all works.
Insurance?? Seems to be rather a grey area and I'm sure others will have a more authoritative view on this. I looked in to it, decided the whole thing was a minefield and just made sure I had comprehensive European cover and kept my fingers crossed!
Have a great time!!
Guillotine said:
Gentleman Geoff said:
just made sure I had comprehensive European cover and kept my fingers crossed!
all the biggies aa rac green flag exclude the Ring and a 30km area, so make sure you get away from adenau before making the call.Bad Nuenaur is about right!
andy
But while we're on the subject of breakdown cover, the AA cover specifically excludes the Nurburgring by name so you can't argue with that. I took out RAC breakdown cover for my trip last year, but I think they all exclude 'motor racing circuits' or words to that effect.
I'm sure there are people on here who know more about this, but I think if you breakdown whilst actually on the 'ring itself you have no choice but to pay them for their own recovery service to get you off the track.
Just returned (yesterday) from my trip to the 'Ring in my Cerb. Third year I've been now, but first time I've driven. I wasn't that fussed about spares, taking the view that I could try and take a whole boot full, but when the breakdown comes I'd end up needing the one thing I hadn't taken. I had a fairly comprehensive tool kit though, including full socket set, spark plug tool, laptop with Diag software, hyd. jack, screwdrivers, spanner set, zip ties and duct tape. Took a 5 litre bottle of oil, and topped up every so often. Didn't take any other fluids as you can generally get them (at a premium) at most garages. I was going with a group of 50 cars though, and generally in a convoy of 4+, so would have had help had I broken down.
As for track action, we arrived on Thursday and left on Tuesday. All days were dry and hot, don't think I would have bothered if the track was wet or damp. Thursdays session was busy, but not too much so, didn't even bother with the weekend sessions they were that busy. There was an extended session on Monday which was brilliant, nice and dry and not huge amounts of traffic. I was lucky enough to go round with one or two other drivers that semi-knew the circuit and which corners were coming up, so I just followed their line, and if I felt they were going too fast I just let them go off ahead.
Don't bother with times. If you've never driven the circuit you won't get any times fast enough to shout about anyway. One of the group I was with was in a modified classic Mini, never driven the track but had done racing earlier in life. He set a 9.45 BtG time on his second ever lap, which is pretty quick for a Mini, but then totalled the Mini on Monday evening. If you feel the red mist coming down just clear your head and ask yourself whether you'd rather have a car to drive home in, or a half decent time to brag about in a pub...
The track isn't hard on your car, you are hard on your car. I didn't really push the Cerb, took it for a very low rev drive down the straight to cool it down after each lap. Tyres were a bit sticky and brakes were hot, but apart from that the car was no different to a quick blast down an A road! Plus there are plenty of straights to keep an eye on oil pressure, temperature and fuel level.
As for breakdown and insurance... ADAC no longer do 'Ring recoveries, its a different German company, so if your a member with them you'll still be charged for getting recovered from the track. As others have said AA and RAC won't recover you from the 'Ring or surrounding area, or at least they won't foot the bill for it. Every insurance company now excludes the Nordschleife in their T&Cs.
If you need anymore 'Ring specific info, check out Ben Lovejoy's website. Oh, and get used to parking up and having people walk past the Porsche's, Audi's and Beemers to take photos of your car!
Oh yea, and spectating if you want to do any.... Adaneau Forest is great, especially during wet public sessions! Karrousell is a 30-40 minute walk from the main spectator corner (Brunnchen), and the walk also gives you great views of Wipperman. Brunnchen itself is good as the few show-boaters that go round know there will be people watching so tend to hang the back out going around the bottom two corners, including Sabine!
As for track action, we arrived on Thursday and left on Tuesday. All days were dry and hot, don't think I would have bothered if the track was wet or damp. Thursdays session was busy, but not too much so, didn't even bother with the weekend sessions they were that busy. There was an extended session on Monday which was brilliant, nice and dry and not huge amounts of traffic. I was lucky enough to go round with one or two other drivers that semi-knew the circuit and which corners were coming up, so I just followed their line, and if I felt they were going too fast I just let them go off ahead.
Don't bother with times. If you've never driven the circuit you won't get any times fast enough to shout about anyway. One of the group I was with was in a modified classic Mini, never driven the track but had done racing earlier in life. He set a 9.45 BtG time on his second ever lap, which is pretty quick for a Mini, but then totalled the Mini on Monday evening. If you feel the red mist coming down just clear your head and ask yourself whether you'd rather have a car to drive home in, or a half decent time to brag about in a pub...
The track isn't hard on your car, you are hard on your car. I didn't really push the Cerb, took it for a very low rev drive down the straight to cool it down after each lap. Tyres were a bit sticky and brakes were hot, but apart from that the car was no different to a quick blast down an A road! Plus there are plenty of straights to keep an eye on oil pressure, temperature and fuel level.
As for breakdown and insurance... ADAC no longer do 'Ring recoveries, its a different German company, so if your a member with them you'll still be charged for getting recovered from the track. As others have said AA and RAC won't recover you from the 'Ring or surrounding area, or at least they won't foot the bill for it. Every insurance company now excludes the Nordschleife in their T&Cs.
If you need anymore 'Ring specific info, check out Ben Lovejoy's website. Oh, and get used to parking up and having people walk past the Porsche's, Audi's and Beemers to take photos of your car!
Oh yea, and spectating if you want to do any.... Adaneau Forest is great, especially during wet public sessions! Karrousell is a 30-40 minute walk from the main spectator corner (Brunnchen), and the walk also gives you great views of Wipperman. Brunnchen itself is good as the few show-boaters that go round know there will be people watching so tend to hang the back out going around the bottom two corners, including Sabine!
Edited by jammy_basturd on Thursday 21st August 13:52
I have just today had my documents through from the RAC for Euro breakdown cover and can't see any exclusion of the 'ring or surrounding area in the T&C's at all. I'll scrutinise it thoroughly later but it so far looks OK. Anyway, the 'ring isn't a racetrack - it's a derestricted toll road
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