skoobidude

In recent years I've ended up doing nothing during the Aug bank holiday.
This year some friends have invited me to go along with them to the 'ring. My 3 month old M3 will be trailered and towed by an Audi S6 v10 as I want to keep overall mileage off the car, and the kind Audi friend offered anyway.. I'll have a blast down the autobahn if it's not too busy though.

Has anyone been who can offer advice etc? I realise track insurance is a must, as is the additional car cover. Do I seek this through my own insurance our take out a seperate policy soley for the weekend?

Any other tips welcome.

Thanks

Nick

D11AKS

iTrader: (1)

Just take it steady as one thing I can guarantee is that no matter what car you go round in some stripped out golf will woooop you *** as he does 300 laps a year

Watch your mirrors and expect the unexpected such as going round a blind double apex corner to find a coach doing 40mph

Dont think you are senna as there are a lot of corners and undulations that you won't learn on your first trip

It's easy to get carried away

I don't bother dropping in to either carousels as I pride my car and it shakes them to bits

Spend sometime in the car park and visit a few of the viewing points to soak up the atmosphere

Have a great trip and enjoy if you have never been before you will be going back time and time again

Dave1980

Same as the above, mind the bikers. They do like to try to overtake you on the blind side mid bend and only drive what you can see u ntil you get to know the track (which takes years of regular trips).
For a tip look out for the painted squares on the curbs on the way into the corner and the circles on the way out. Give you an idea of where you should be.

Enjoy it though, no trackday anywhere else compares to it .

Been three times but not for a while as i have a sensible car for the moment. Will go again though.

Social side is good too, Sabines restaraunt is very good. And Adenau has a good pizza parlour.

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

Re: bikers - essentially the rules are drive in the right so no taking the racing line. Follow the rules and you won't upset anyone.

As said, you are just as likely to get a Mk1 Gti taking you up the inside as you are a bike.

5t.

Dave1980

sorry didnt mean it to sound like a jib against bikers. just personal experience. agreed there is always someone faster coming by no matter what you are in.
just enjoy it, and dont time the laps as 99% of crashes are down to people trying to better their lap times.

see here for all you need to know too. http://nurburgring.org.uk/

davyboy

65.8% of all stats are made up on the spot!

99% indeed!

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

spot on.

Having been four times the thing you don't get from the computer games is the changes in height. the place is up and down like a tart's knickers and views can be very misleading.

Personally, I would say slow in and fast out is the key. Don't be tempted to bury your foot on the straights as chances are the surface will change, there will be bumps and/or potntially oil down that will see you heading into the armco.

Keep it sensible, watch your mirrors like a hawk and keep on the blackstuff.

5t.

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

Don't forget to get your 'Ring sticker!
I've never been but did loads of research as I planned to go but events conspired against me.
The bumps are what catch loads of people unaware, along with the elevational changes. Pray for a dry day and keep off the kerbs!
However, I have to ask, it's Wednesday now, and you're only just sorting out insurance? I would go for specialist insurance and not go via the company you're insured with at the moment.

Springs

iTrader: (4)

a lot of places won't offer insurance cover. We spoke to one of the bigger ring car rental companies when we were last there and they mentioned that there are only 1 - 2 companies in the UK that would offer any sort of ring insurance if you can make it worth it for them.

It it was further away i would say look into ADAC cover as they will recover you from the ring if you have an accident. Otherwise you have to pay the ring people to get you off..

Gutmann pug

Make sure you have your insurance cover in writing from your insurer before you drive on track. Make sure it 100% stipulates that you are covered to drive on the Nurburgring. If you haven't got that, then you are more than likely not covered. I do not know of one insurer who as a matter of fact covers you on the ring. If there is any doubt, or you are interpreting their wording in a certain way, then you are not insured. It's really not worth the risk with a brand new M3. Infact if you hit another person it's not worth it full stop.

I run northloop.co.uk and the associated forum, pop over if you need to know anything else.

Steve_PPP

iTrader: (3)

^^ Sensible advice.

I've been for each year for the last 3 years, and drive the circuit knowing that i'm uninsured if something goes wrong. Normal trackday cover isn't worth anything if you're driving during Touristenfahrten as its not a closed session and road law still applies (along with the 3rd party liabilities for insurance companies )

Even in an M5, you'll be lucky to get under 11 minutes on your first few laps as you'll be trying to remember whats ahead unless you've spent hours on youtube watching laps to learn where the corners go. Take your time, watch your mirrors and keep it out the armco!

Otherwise, enjoy the surroundings, spectate at Brunchen and Breidscheid as a minimum. Pizza place between the bridge at breidschied and the petrol station is good & cheap, plus Sabine's folks restuarant (Pistenklause in Nurburg) is great for a steak

GC8

Ironically, and as Im sure youre aware, the operators had a deal with a German insurer to cover Brits on TF days, but they stopped a couple of years ago as hardly anyone took them up on it!


Simon

Dave1980

Dont forget to have your curry wurst and chips in the viewing areas, lovely stuff. I love my food and drink and think i would go just for that . Will see if i can find some pics to post up (of cars as well as the food).

Locals are all friendly too, its a great atmosphere there.

ring taxi ride is well worth the 60 euros if you can get a cancellation on the day too.

Dave1980

A few photos from my previous trips

nice skyline (note the serious tyres)








Yes these do sometimes go round the ring


This made an amazing noise and did get driven like it should be , 360 Stradale


Coming down to Adenau Bridge, doesnt look as steep in the photo


Strange Fiat under development, this was 2004.


Pizza and beer in Adenau, recommend this


Local German Ferrari Club


Made me chuckle






Try not to do this!


The legendary goony bus crew who i went with. 300 and something bhp cossie engine in it. Blew away a few unsuspecting porsches on the straights, bends a different story


My old trusty scooby, tuned a little bit miss it but not the fuel consumption


The Zakspeed Viper (available for rides)


Didnt go on the track but a few of the nice things you find hiding around the car parks

Leslie

Its a long course and therefore difficult to learn over a short period of time. Not worth pushing your luck anyway-could be very expensive. It will certainly be a worthwhile experience.

Have a Bratwurst for me-I do miss them!

Les

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

IIRC ADAC are the recovery company at the Ring.

The course is so long and rises through the hills you can set out in sunshine only to find a soaking track halfway round.

As I said, slow in, fast out!

5t.

skoobidude

Thanks for all your help and advice. Will passenger a lap in my friend's Boxster before driving myself and yes I'll take it easy. I am an old 40yr old afterall

Thanks

Nick

D11AKS

iTrader: (1)

Me too but managed to get a little carried away with my M3 a couple of years ago and it's not a nice feeling watching the Armco getting closer through the rear view mirror

All through over confidence in the car and lack of ability In a pretty inocuose part of the track too

Gutmann pug

If you're talking about the Allianz one, then it wasn't taken up because it wasn't worth the paper it was written on.

Gutmann pug

If you haven't got insurance then don't drive. If you do then please pm me the company name

GC8

Im not sure who it was with Gary, other than that they were a German company and they covered British cars on TF days.

I was only ever aware of it because I read about it on the Nurburgrings website.


Simon