Spa or Nurburgring
Discussion
Myself and Andy were instructing yesterday for Circuit Days. Wow we lucky with the weather on both days! Yes a lot of cars particularly on the Monday but in general most people played by the rules and much fun was had by everyone. Not sure i have ever instructed at Spa with so many Brit novices there, as said by Darren during briefing we have all had to be novices at some point and i'd like to say a big thanks to everyone that acknowledged that and gave people room on track. It makes our job a little easier and encourages the novices to do more track based driving.
See you guys next year!
See you guys next year!
LaSource said:
Got back late last night....
Did you have any issues with the Shuttle? We were meant to be on the 20:50 but due to cancellations we had something like 11 trains worth of people before us. In the end we paid £149 and took the ferry which brought back some memories of school trips in the mid 90'sAlex L said:
Did you have any issues with the Shuttle? We were meant to be on the 20:50 but due to cancellations we had something like 11 trains worth of people before us. In the end we paid £149 and took the ferry which brought back some memories of school trips in the mid 90's
Yes - found out on route back that tunnel wasn't working so booked a ferry as well and took the 2035....it was almost empty surprisinglyThe difference between the ring as spa is this;
If you want to make a weekend of it - see 100's of mental cars - watch some track action - chat to lots of like minded petrolheads - see lots of rare cars, probably see a smash or two - then have a go yourself - and generally have an awesome time with your mates - Ring.
If you want to do a track for just the track driving element and push your own limits - spa is probably one of the best tracks in the world.
personally I would go to the ring from wed-sat - then drive to spa on sunday morning and do a day there.
But I would go to the ring for a long weekend given the choice of the two.
If you want to make a weekend of it - see 100's of mental cars - watch some track action - chat to lots of like minded petrolheads - see lots of rare cars, probably see a smash or two - then have a go yourself - and generally have an awesome time with your mates - Ring.
If you want to do a track for just the track driving element and push your own limits - spa is probably one of the best tracks in the world.
personally I would go to the ring from wed-sat - then drive to spa on sunday morning and do a day there.
But I would go to the ring for a long weekend given the choice of the two.
The X-Bow is an impressive machine. I imagine it being a bit squeaky driving home on the track rubber in the heavy rain!
The number of cars wasn't a big problem, lots of very considerate drivers out.
Had an absolute blast with a few different cars. In particular a GT4, an E30 on slicks with what sounded like a V8, a brief run with another V6 Exige and a great battle with an M3.
My Cup was faultless apart from not letting me heel and toe (wouldn't blip). Needs investigating. Ordering race pads and track tyres when I get home tomorrow, on the overnight ferry now. Force 5 forecast. Joy.
Good to meet so many of you there, until the next time
The number of cars wasn't a big problem, lots of very considerate drivers out.
Had an absolute blast with a few different cars. In particular a GT4, an E30 on slicks with what sounded like a V8, a brief run with another V6 Exige and a great battle with an M3.
My Cup was faultless apart from not letting me heel and toe (wouldn't blip). Needs investigating. Ordering race pads and track tyres when I get home tomorrow, on the overnight ferry now. Force 5 forecast. Joy.
Good to meet so many of you there, until the next time
Alex L said:
Your Exige looked awesome and there was some serous metal on track yesterday. We did a day trip from London to Spa and back in the AMG GTS
Very kind of you to say so, thanks LaSource said:
Alex L said:
Did you have any issues with the Shuttle? We were meant to be on the 20:50 but due to cancellations we had something like 11 trains worth of people before us. In the end we paid £149 and took the ferry which brought back some memories of school trips in the mid 90's
Yes - found out on route back that tunnel wasn't working so booked a ferry as well and took the 2035....it was almost empty surprisinglyfoxsasha said:
Very kind of you to say so, thanks
Were you in the silver/grey exige 360 cup? Was admiring it in the paddock. Iirc I drove up behind you on one lap and remember thinking it was being driven quite quickly. With many others I would close the gap fairly quickly but that was not the case with you.
Alex L said:
We were on the same one as you and appeared as were a few other people we'd seen at Spa, including the orange 675LT
Yes, they had all booked the 8:35 too but I think were put in an earlier boat? I was on the actual 8:35 as I was trailing further behind (had to book the ferry at a service stop as could not do it on the move with a helmet on )We've combined the 2 for the last 3 years. Tourist laps at the 'ring and trackday at Spa. So close it makes sense. We did the Monday with Circuit days this week, great weather all day was a bonus. The 'ring on the Saturday was pretty quiet, helped by the fact Sunday was closed and the morning was wet.
LaSource said:
Were you in the silver/grey exige 360 cup? Was admiring it in the paddock.
Iirc I drove up behind you on one lap and remember thinking it was being driven quite quickly. With many others I would close the gap fairly quickly but that was not the case with you.
Yes, its the one above that Alex has put up. I was trying. Iirc I drove up behind you on one lap and remember thinking it was being driven quite quickly. With many others I would close the gap fairly quickly but that was not the case with you.
Got to say that I was (repeatedly) looking longingly at the GT3 RSs. Fantastic machines. Great fun no matter what car your in though and that's what matters
My other half went out in the black 675LT above. Think shes smitten
Did Spa on the Monday and it was brilliant. Good weather and plenty of interesting cars. Went out on the Friday night and did the ring on Saturday - again, it was great. Weather ok and not too busy, no queues to speak off and limited crashes.
Booked it ages ago. Didn't have anything to take so a couple of weeks before had a search around eBay (tight budget) and bought an MOT failed e36 2.8 coupe for £500. Sorted the MOT bits, gave it a service, overhauled the brakes, bolted in a race seat, chucked a set of track wheels/tyres in the boot and took off with a couple of mates. Did about 1200 miles in total with no issues. I spent less on the car than I did on the rest of the trip yet had as much fun as anyone else.
What surprised me at Spa was the number of red flags. I did this last year and the weather was rubbish - it snowed - and there where less stoppages.
In answer to the OP. Do both! Possibly the two best circuits in the world and they're about an hour apart.
Booked it ages ago. Didn't have anything to take so a couple of weeks before had a search around eBay (tight budget) and bought an MOT failed e36 2.8 coupe for £500. Sorted the MOT bits, gave it a service, overhauled the brakes, bolted in a race seat, chucked a set of track wheels/tyres in the boot and took off with a couple of mates. Did about 1200 miles in total with no issues. I spent less on the car than I did on the rest of the trip yet had as much fun as anyone else.
What surprised me at Spa was the number of red flags. I did this last year and the weather was rubbish - it snowed - and there where less stoppages.
In answer to the OP. Do both! Possibly the two best circuits in the world and they're about an hour apart.
chrisr29 said:
Did Spa on the Monday and it was brilliant. Good weather and plenty of interesting cars. Went out on the Friday night and did the ring on Saturday - again, it was great. Weather ok and not too busy, no queues to speak off and limited crashes.
Booked it ages ago. Didn't have anything to take so a couple of weeks before had a search around eBay (tight budget) and bought an MOT failed e36 2.8 coupe for £500. Sorted the MOT bits, gave it a service, overhauled the brakes, bolted in a race seat, chucked a set of track wheels/tyres in the boot and took off with a couple of mates. Did about 1200 miles in total with no issues. I spent less on the car than I did on the rest of the trip yet had as much fun as anyone else.
What surprised me at Spa was the number of red flags. I did this last year and the weather was rubbish - it snowed - and there where less stoppages.
In answer to the OP. Do both! Possibly the two best circuits in the world and they're about an hour apart.
Legend Booked it ages ago. Didn't have anything to take so a couple of weeks before had a search around eBay (tight budget) and bought an MOT failed e36 2.8 coupe for £500. Sorted the MOT bits, gave it a service, overhauled the brakes, bolted in a race seat, chucked a set of track wheels/tyres in the boot and took off with a couple of mates. Did about 1200 miles in total with no issues. I spent less on the car than I did on the rest of the trip yet had as much fun as anyone else.
What surprised me at Spa was the number of red flags. I did this last year and the weather was rubbish - it snowed - and there where less stoppages.
In answer to the OP. Do both! Possibly the two best circuits in the world and they're about an hour apart.
The red flags were prolific. Don't think I've done a track day within so many stoppages before. Not really suprising, some of the driving was enthusiastic at best and downright dangerous at worst. Was badly cut up at the end of the pit straight by the 211. He cut straight across my nose whilst diving for the apex and I had to slam on to avoid t boning him. Also saw cars overtake on the right, had a Porsche come past me pretty much all off the track on the left over the crest of Eau Rouge, the white GT4 on slicks who would come screaming up your rear 1/4 inches from your bumper with full beam on burning your retinas etc.
The Europeans definitely have a different culture to track driving, not worse, just different which could be alarming when used to dealing with the very well mannered average Brit track dayer. Very much like the driving at the Ring which is a free for all when it comes to overtaking, all be it all done on the left.
The only truly dangerous moment was the above 211 which was a British car. The Europeans drove keenly but not overtly dangerously.
Still, it didn't spoilt it, at least not for me. The complete opposite in fact, it was great fun. I got more than enough track time and the driving standards didn't phase me as I deal with a lot worse whilst racing. Wouldn't have wanted to be a novice there for my first track day though. I imagine it'd put you off for life!
Both!
Spa is epic as a track, and the Nordschleife is also epic but more as a fast road (as opposed to a track as you'll never learn it all, and it is a lot less forgiving than Spa).
Spa is much more controlled, and has some run off areas (being a GP track) whereas anyone can drive the Nordschleife and so your chances of coming across some nutcases is way higher.
But you HAVE to do both as they are both absolutely great.
Spa is epic as a track, and the Nordschleife is also epic but more as a fast road (as opposed to a track as you'll never learn it all, and it is a lot less forgiving than Spa).
Spa is much more controlled, and has some run off areas (being a GP track) whereas anyone can drive the Nordschleife and so your chances of coming across some nutcases is way higher.
But you HAVE to do both as they are both absolutely great.
foxsasha said:
The red flags were prolific. Don't think I've done a track day within so many stoppages before. Not really suprising, some of the driving was enthusiastic at best and downright dangerous at worst. Was badly cut up at the end of the pit straight by the 211. He cut straight across my nose whilst diving for the apex and I had to slam on to avoid t boning him. Also saw cars overtake on the right, had a Porsche come past me pretty much all off the track on the left over the crest of Eau Rouge, the white GT4 on slicks who would come screaming up your rear 1/4 inches from your bumper with full beam on burning your retinas etc.
The Europeans definitely have a different culture to track driving, not worse, just different which could be alarming when used to dealing with the very well mannered average Brit track dayer. Very much like the driving at the Ring which is a free for all when it comes to overtaking, all be it all done on the left.
The only truly dangerous moment was the above 211 which was a British car. The Europeans drove keenly but not overtly dangerously.
Still, it didn't spoilt it, at least not for me. The complete opposite in fact, it was great fun. I got more than enough track time and the driving standards didn't phase me as I deal with a lot worse whilst racing. Wouldn't have wanted to be a novice there for my first track day though. I imagine it'd put you off for life!
This year we decided to go with a European operator (DF Trackdays from Holland) because they offered some good dates - Spa on Monday and then Zandvoort on Wednesday (early August). The day at Spa was actually run by SkyLimits. The overtaking rules were 'anything goes'. Left or right, under braking, in the corners, you name it! There was no briefing (the organizer said "just don't crash"!). Our group were half a dozen Brits and we were sharing the day mostly with Dutch and Belgians. Once we got used to the rules (or lack of), it was a brilliant day. There were no trains of cars, no frustration on track and no red flags. There were a few 'full course yellows' where we had to cruise around until the lights/flags went green again while the recovery truck was on track but that was only to recover breakdowns or someone who slid off and couldn't get going again. The day at Zandvoort (run by DF trackdays themselves) was just as good if not better.The Europeans definitely have a different culture to track driving, not worse, just different which could be alarming when used to dealing with the very well mannered average Brit track dayer. Very much like the driving at the Ring which is a free for all when it comes to overtaking, all be it all done on the left.
The only truly dangerous moment was the above 211 which was a British car. The Europeans drove keenly but not overtly dangerously.
Still, it didn't spoilt it, at least not for me. The complete opposite in fact, it was great fun. I got more than enough track time and the driving standards didn't phase me as I deal with a lot worse whilst racing. Wouldn't have wanted to be a novice there for my first track day though. I imagine it'd put you off for life!
I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to a novice but everyone in our group thought it was the best European track trip that we've been on.
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