Nurburgring....
Discussion
going to The Ring for a weekends thrash in April, my first visit, going with others some who have done it before many who have not, staying in sabine's family hotel in Nurburg, any advice from anyone who has been will be most welcome, i am trying to learn the circuit from youtube, google and GT4, but appreciate i will only gt to know which way the track goes and will never learn the surfaces/undulations, so fire away if you've been there and done it...
Edited by plowy on Sunday 6th January 21:26
Videos et al are good fun, but to learn the track, book yourself onto an 75Experience day. I'm sure Ed will be along with more details soon.
There are also a few circuit guides available, some of which you can find online, e.g. the one linked to in this thread
There are also a few circuit guides available, some of which you can find online, e.g. the one linked to in this thread
Edited to add links
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 6th January 22:38
Plowy ... you will have a great time. We envy you. 1st time I went was 1965 and raced there many years. Best driving road in the world.
I always think that if you can be around someone who's not been around, the first time they arrive back at the 'pits', you will see a different person to the one that left!
It's just plain daunting. All fun, ladish and spunky as you get ready - quiet, reflective, heavy breathing when you get back.
'How on earth am I going to learn that lot?'
The secret is a balanced approach to start with, and then practice. Have your car properly prepared and take your time. Nowadays, of course there's so much shrapnel charging around at the same time, there's plenty of stuff that will seriously distract you. So do what you do when you go skiing. Get up the mountain first (thing in the morning) or last (thing in the evening); give yourself some room.
I don't know what your objective is - a fast drive in the country or possible race venue for you. But driving the Ring at speed proficiently in a fast car will take 20 or so laps if you have an aptitude for it; or never if you don't.
The big thing that doing it on screens doesn't portray, is quite a physical relationship that you go through. Driving your car around at speed is one thing, doing it through all the changes of elevation and surface changes is another and gives it a totally different character. It's all much more violent than you can imagine. Techniques need to be well disciplined. Try the big circuit at Cadwell for a taster. (But only a taster.)
You soon cut the circuit into segments and learn one segment after another, just like driving to and from work. You soon make a note of prominent features if you travel them often enough.
And it is absolutely
ing lethal in the wet. Just one mistake …
What joy!
I always think that if you can be around someone who's not been around, the first time they arrive back at the 'pits', you will see a different person to the one that left!
It's just plain daunting. All fun, ladish and spunky as you get ready - quiet, reflective, heavy breathing when you get back.
'How on earth am I going to learn that lot?'
The secret is a balanced approach to start with, and then practice. Have your car properly prepared and take your time. Nowadays, of course there's so much shrapnel charging around at the same time, there's plenty of stuff that will seriously distract you. So do what you do when you go skiing. Get up the mountain first (thing in the morning) or last (thing in the evening); give yourself some room.
I don't know what your objective is - a fast drive in the country or possible race venue for you. But driving the Ring at speed proficiently in a fast car will take 20 or so laps if you have an aptitude for it; or never if you don't.
The big thing that doing it on screens doesn't portray, is quite a physical relationship that you go through. Driving your car around at speed is one thing, doing it through all the changes of elevation and surface changes is another and gives it a totally different character. It's all much more violent than you can imagine. Techniques need to be well disciplined. Try the big circuit at Cadwell for a taster. (But only a taster.)
You soon cut the circuit into segments and learn one segment after another, just like driving to and from work. You soon make a note of prominent features if you travel them often enough.
And it is absolutely
ing lethal in the wet. Just one mistake …What joy!
Take your time to learn the track.
Watch your mirrors closely.
Keep to the right unless you are overtaking something.
Only overtake on the left.
Make sure that your car's in tip top condition, ie. brakes and tyres are good and it is not losing any fluids whatsoever.
Max. noise limit at 4000rpm is 95dba.
Don't be tempted to try and keep up with an old Golf/Astra or whatever if it passes you, just let them go.
Stay out of the armco, it's expensive.
Have fun
Watch your mirrors closely.
Keep to the right unless you are overtaking something.
Only overtake on the left.
Make sure that your car's in tip top condition, ie. brakes and tyres are good and it is not losing any fluids whatsoever.
Max. noise limit at 4000rpm is 95dba.
Don't be tempted to try and keep up with an old Golf/Astra or whatever if it passes you, just let them go.
Stay out of the armco, it's expensive.
Have fun
LexSport said:
Videos et al are good fun, but to learn the track, book yourself onto an 75Experience day. I'm sure Ed will be along with more details soon.
A course in the Alfas, or private instruction, can actually be a cost effective way of coming to terms with the Nordschleife.If the groupe you are coming over with have a lot of experience, and are reasonably good at sharing it with you, you should do well enough following the advice above. If not, I would recommend professional tuition of some sort.
Although people mock them, I would strongly recommend you "learn" the track on a game/sim. Whilst the actual driving experience will be completely different it will massively reduce your learning time. If like most on this forum you have a competitive nature, you will have to keep that very much in check for a while!
LexSport said:
to learn the track, book yourself onto an 75Experience day. I'm sure Ed will be along with more details soon.
That looks fantastic. Have you done the course yourself?I have had a look on their website and they only have one date in showing in March when they will have the track to themselves. Do you happen to know if they are planning any other non-public days this year?
The quality of drivers on the public days can make for a pretty frustrating day.
I did one of the days with them on a public day back last Summer. I can't recommend it enough.
I believe that the dedicated day that is listed in March is a track day that Ron is organising. I know they've said that they'll have the Alfas and I believe Caterhams and MINIs available for hire. I'm sure there will be tuition available too, but I'm not sure if it will be run in quite the same way as the "normal" 75 Experience with classroom followed by follow-my-leader laps. I'm sure Ed will confirm.
The day I did was cut short by a very bad accident that meant our track time was cut short. Despite there being no obligation to do so, Ron arranged for our group to have access to the cars the next morning to make up for it.
Oh, and my passenger lap with Ron at the end of that morning was fantastic - half way around he had a phone call telling him that his next group of students were waiting in the GH car park so radioed the following students to tell them to make their own way back. I was then treated to a slightly quicker pace from Hoehe Acht back to the GH car park on R-tyres on a wet track. Somewhat humbling.
In summary, do it, and don't worry unduly about doing a course using TF track time.
I believe that the dedicated day that is listed in March is a track day that Ron is organising. I know they've said that they'll have the Alfas and I believe Caterhams and MINIs available for hire. I'm sure there will be tuition available too, but I'm not sure if it will be run in quite the same way as the "normal" 75 Experience with classroom followed by follow-my-leader laps. I'm sure Ed will confirm.
The day I did was cut short by a very bad accident that meant our track time was cut short. Despite there being no obligation to do so, Ron arranged for our group to have access to the cars the next morning to make up for it.
Oh, and my passenger lap with Ron at the end of that morning was fantastic - half way around he had a phone call telling him that his next group of students were waiting in the GH car park so radioed the following students to tell them to make their own way back. I was then treated to a slightly quicker pace from Hoehe Acht back to the GH car park on R-tyres on a wet track. Somewhat humbling.
In summary, do it, and don't worry unduly about doing a course using TF track time.
One nice thing about the track day is that we will be taking everyone who wants to go out on a track walk of sorts. As the Nordschleife is a bit long for the traditional track walk, what we will do is drive to the various important sections and stop and have a chat about them.
It will give you a whole new perspective on the track.
There will be instruction, both in the more or less traditional school format, and one on one private tuition available.
And additional benefit, yet to be confirmed, may be access to Touristenfahrt on Sunday as part of the package.
It will give you a whole new perspective on the track.
There will be instruction, both in the more or less traditional school format, and one on one private tuition available.
And additional benefit, yet to be confirmed, may be access to Touristenfahrt on Sunday as part of the package.
plowy said:
Thanks for all the pointers guys i'm dripping wet with excitment now !!!!!. Can anyone confirm if it's right that there is no on board cameras allowed now ??
Officially yes, so it depends how easy it is to spot.Obviously all the footage on you tube was taken before the ban
This guy gives good tuition at the ring,
and he also has a selection of cars for hire, he was at the RMA event back in November
a friend has some hot laps in the Exige and also some tuition as well during the day and was very happy.
http://www.jacos-paddock.com/Jacos_race_cars.htm
and he also has a selection of cars for hire, he was at the RMA event back in November
a friend has some hot laps in the Exige and also some tuition as well during the day and was very happy.
http://www.jacos-paddock.com/Jacos_race_cars.htm
1 said:
LexSport said:
to learn the track, book yourself onto an 75Experience day. I'm sure Ed will be along with more details soon.
That looks fantastic. Have you done the course yourself?I have had a look on their website and they only have one date in showing in March when they will have the track to themselves. Do you happen to know if they are planning any other non-public days this year?
The quality of drivers on the public days can make for a pretty frustrating day.
I did a brief write up which I posted on the Northloop forum. I'll ty to dig it out later/tomorrow.
Overall highly recommended, and a lap with Ron is quite an experience.
tertius said:
1 said:
LexSport said:
to learn the track, book yourself onto an 75Experience day. I'm sure Ed will be along with more details soon.
That looks fantastic. Have you done the course yourself?I have had a look on their website and they only have one date in showing in March when they will have the track to themselves. Do you happen to know if they are planning any other non-public days this year?
The quality of drivers on the public days can make for a pretty frustrating day.
I did a brief write up which I posted on the Northloop forum. I'll ty to dig it out later/tomorrow.
Overall highly recommended, and a lap with Ron is quite an experience.
You need to be registered I think.
hi guy's i'm a new guy in town but my wife's in insurance and i've learnt a few things i ort to share with you ... don't get too excited it's referring to insurance, competition car insurance will actually insure your car whilst on the n/burg ring contact 01159415255 ask for wayne rowland i did'nt realise this was possible and may consider taking my car now!! they also insure track days
plowy said:
going to The Ring for a weekends thrash in April, my first visit, going with others some who have done it before many who have not, staying in sabine's family hotel in Nurburg, any advice from anyone who has been will be most welcome, i am trying to learn the circuit from youtube, google and GT4, but appreciate i will only gt to know which way the track goes and will never learn the surfaces/undulations, so fire away if you've been there and done it...
Have you done any UK trackdays ? If not, then I strongly suggest getting yourself on one in say March to familrise yourself with your car and 'track driving' - it is very very different to 'fast road' driving. I had done many UK trackdays before and went to the ring last year - amazing - and the one piece of extra advice I would give is to give the bikers PLENTY of room. My policy was unless the bikers waved me though (on corners obviously!) then I backed off. Have fun !Edited by plowy on Sunday 6th January 21:26
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