Nurburgring anyone?

[WannaBeRacer]

I would love to do a trip to the ring. I've found a british company that does private track day's there. That's right flying laps and very limited traffic. Anyone interested? Car's rent for between 299 pounds and way up from there.

here's the link
http://www.destination-nurburgring.com/book-now

[Rob-RT]

Been twice, and might swing by in April this year. You really don't need to go to any special track days, traffic is not that heavy and you are going to have your doors blown off you regardless of the car you bring. A public street in Germany has more skill than your average lapping day in Canada :P I say just go on an open day with your rental car, pay for a few laps, and go home to brag.


I will say, it is a brutal and nasty track. 1 lap is exhausting, and the track never feels level. Maybe it would be different after 1000 laps, but no amount of Gran Turismo seems to give me confidence to take that blind hill balls out, to brake after the dip, or to go flat out on the left sweep 2 turns before the first carousel. So really, just go for the joy of driving, don't time it or anything.


Oh, and make time to go to the museum, and try to talk your way into a tour of the M development facility (not exactly open to the public, but they do tours).

[RedRabbit Racer]

another option is something like the BMW taxi ride in a V10 M5 driven by a local ringer. much less risk of a huge repair bill if you miss a corner and you still get the speed first hand.

[Doug Stark]

There is a current issue with the Ring right now. A private company has taken over the track under some weird lease agreement with the local Government. They are now putting a hold on private car rental companies using the track and have raised their fees to manufacturers. There is a save the ring website that has just gone up that has more info. People wishing to drive on the ring this year should check out the latest updates first.

http://savethering.org/

[Viperoni]

been twice, and might swing by in april this year. You really don't need to go to any special track days, traffic is not that heavy and you are going to have your doors blown off you regardless of the car you bring. A public street in germany has more skill than your average lapping day in canada :p i say just go on an open day with your rental car, pay for a few laps, and go home to brag.


I will say, it is a brutal and nasty track. 1 lap is exhausting, and the track never feels level. Maybe it would be different after 1000 laps, but no amount of gran turismo seems to give me confidence to take that blind hill balls out, to brake after the dip, or to go flat out on the left sweep 2 turns before the first carousel. So really, just go for the joy of driving, don't time it or anything.



qft

[Rob-RT]

There is a current issue with the Ring right now. A private company has taken over the track under some weird lease agreement with the local Government. They are now putting a hold on private car rental companies using the track and have raised their fees to manufacturers. There is a save the ring website that has just gone up that has more info. People wishing to drive on the ring this year should check out the latest updates first.

http://savethering.org/


There is a private company running the place now (which I don't understand since I always thought it was a public toll road), and as such prices have nearly doubled. There are some politics going on with rental companies (Apparently the company that owns the ring also owns rental companies, and doesn't like competition). Most of what I read though is that there is not much threat, and I have heard rumours like this for years now. Again, like everything motorsport, it could one day without warning just disappear ;)



Oh, I forgot to mention, if you plan to take a rental car from Hertz or similar company, try not to mention the 'ring to them! A lot of places have fine print against the track, especially in Frankfurt and Dussel, and I have heard a few horror stories. One guy rented a 911 from Hurtz and a month later received a $2000 bill for tire and brake wear, siting a picture they found of him at the ring haha.



Come to think of it, a flying lap would be fun. Heres a video I took after they shut down track to the public, so the owner of Evo magazine could do a lap in his new GT3RS and Merc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSAzDFi8DxA

[WannaBeRacer]

When you break down the costs I think this tour is a pretty good cost wise. Gotta figure 150euro's for hotel at least and laps are 20 euro's per lap (can do quite a few in a day) Obviously there's a price to pay to have the track closed which I'm sure isn't cheap maybe 200 euro's I guess after you consider how many laps you can run. This isn't much more then a day at mosport at the tour cost is for 2 day's.

[pwrace]

Rentals are operating. The only restrictions I was told of are no coaching sessions or taxi rides on touristfarten days.

Just got back from Europe trip. I rented a stage 2 Swift from :

http://www.rent4ring.de/en/info/rentals-for-the-nordschleife.html

and ran a touristfarten evening session... Unbelievable track - a world away from Ontario circuits incl. MIR ... carousel, lots of bend combinations. However, unless you've done some practice on Granturismo5 the blind bends will mean (if you are sane person) you wont be running more than 6 or 7/10ths.

My recommendation would be to try and schedule for a proper track day - get an instructor and more chance to run unfettered. You get all sorts out on Touristfarten days. I saw a dude with an open top smart car !!

BTW - it can be dangerous. I saw a couple of accident aftermaths during my 4 laps. Seemed to be minor fender benders. Apparently 3 to 12 folks die a year, mainly motorcycle riders I believe.

Other interesting options :

http://www.rsrnurburg.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=77

Cheers... worth trying if you're over there.

[pwrace]

Some links you might find interesting :

http://heiser.net/documents/nurburgring/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdUZPlkFcEA&feature=feedf

[Taylor]

All I would say is if you go, give yourself the most potential days in which to drive. There's evenings during the week and then the full weekend days four Touristfahrten.

If you don't, you could end up with a rainy day (rather slick), or early or mid day an accident could cause the track to close for the remainder of the day.

I too used Rent4Ring, Stage 2 Swift, last year, in the rain. It was great. But after 4 laps and the track started to get wetter, we packed it in. Of course after the adrenaline calmed down, I wished I had snuck in 2 more.. but it was probably the right thing to do.

In the rented vehicle on R888's when wet, I was passing most people. When it started to dry, I got passed a lot by people who clearly knew the track.

I'm looking forward to going again, but I'll make a week out of it I think.

Think of Adenau and the other surrounding towns like many Colorado Ski Resorts. It's a Ski Resort, but for Motorsport. Very cool place for people like us.

Also, the stage 2 swifts had a reasonably low total liability amount. Some other rental companies the total potential liability (i.e. to replace a damaged vehicle) is very high, so shop smart.

Also the food and service at the Pistenklause is quite good. And for you Top Gear fans, that's the place Sabine Schmitz' family operates. Also happened to see her at the track and then at the restaurant. Not sure what she was driving, I was too focused on getting rid of my queasy stomach after doing a lap as a passenger with my father.

And yeah.. Forza only helps you identify a handful of corners. Entering mid-way (in Adenau) I was completely lost.

Anyhow.. it's worth it. It's our meccha.

http://www.wiredmotorsports.com/dankpit/photos/europe/ring1.jpg
http://www.wiredmotorsports.com/dankpit/photos/europe/ring2.jpg
http://www.wiredmotorsports.com/dankpit/photos/europe/T0I_3087R.jpg
http://www.wiredmotorsports.com/dankpit/photos/europe/T0I_3090R.jpg

[Bunnie]

I did a few laps last September in a relative's VW Polo. It was the day before a Porsche Club day so there were a couple hundred late-model Turbos doing extra practice. Very interesting!!!!!!
There are a few "Ring for Dummies" websites that give all kinds of tips including things not to do. As noted, all the rental car companies have fine print in their contracts and GPS tracking units in their cars. Not only do you have extra charges but life-time world-wide ban with your rental company.
Definitely recommended!
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/310/dscf0316a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/97/dscf0316a.jpg/)
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/849/dscf0289z.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/833/dscf0289z.jpg/)

[Viperoni]

I hit the ring in early June this year in a new Opel Corsa OPC, R888's and coilovers, it did well :)

I think my laps were in the 10 and a half minute range on a regular Touristenfahrten (tourist day).

[ONdriver]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mCamguzqjs