First time to the Nurburgring

First time to the Nurburgring

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Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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Given there's a good few people who have been, I've been watching the various beginners guides on youtube to try and give myself some idea of what to expect.
Basic idea's is DO NOT even try for times, just enjoy yourself and stick to the right hand side.
Sadly I don't have a PS4 to try with on Grand Turismo or akin, so have to make do. Plan is to go visit the ring from the 12th to the 16th August this year. IF anyone's there at the same time from here and had some time on the ring, if i can get a few passenger rides it would be most helpful! Quite happy to pay my way.

I've also worked the car I'm taking over in preparation for this, making sure any leaks are sorted and the brakes are in tip top condition with decent tyres. See: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Is there anything like tools or such I would be best off taking just in case?



Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
Tonsko said:
You've probably seen this M3 video in your investigations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt0QL_LkDDM
Seen that one.. definitely not planning to drive it in the wet on my first go laugh
Hence the question regarding if anyone is there at the dates stated, a passenger ride with some pointers where the bits to be careful are would help.

Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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1ians said:
Pretty sure it was an E30 325i.
Looks like it, Dashboard is a good give away.

Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Brakes have been top of the list on things to sort, have already put in fresh ATE TYP200 - (Superblue) HEL stainless lines and Mtec dimple and grooved front discs.

Plan is to put some DS2500 pads in before we leave and bed them en-route.

Good call on the ADAC Cover.. have to see how much it is for a month

Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
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Brakes have been bled!, I've got ATE TYP200 aka Superblue. Should be up to it, from going across Milton Keynes and lots of heavy braking it stands up to that.
Only a week and a half to go now eek

Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Wednesday 12th August 2015
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I'm here now at Hotel de Nordschlife and got a friend along for the ride, but welcome to drop in.

We're here till Monday morning and planning to try and get a few laps in tomorrow and on Friday.. Sunday maybe probably very early on or late in the session. Booked 4 laps for tomorrow biggrin

Look for the E46 330i touring on my project thread over in Readers rides, has a big Pistonheads sticker on the back window biggrin

Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Friday 14th August 2015
quotequote all
And last night was epic, managed to blag a quick sighter lap before hand, (Thank you Stuart with the black 330i) then went on for our first 2 laps.





First lap was comical as I was chasing a UK reg'ed Nissan GTR and ended up passing him early on the lap due to him not going anywhere fast enough. laugh

Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Saturday 15th August 2015
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Thinking it was one of the ring taxi's at the Karusell or something that was going for broke.
Had to stay high on that night, but did manage to link both last night though it was manic for the first half of the lap, just couldn't get into the rhythm. frown

Hoping Sunday maybe better if i decide to have another few laps.

Shot from last night:


Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Sunday 16th August 2015
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We may have seen you Spadriver, but the weather's been so bad, we came back to our apartment for the afternoon.
Will be heading for Pistenklause this evening for a meal before we pack up in the morning and head down to Stuttgart.


Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Monday 17th August 2015
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Was about on Sunday, but we didn't go out on track, too wet and wasn't risking the car for a few fun laps.
Now down in Stutgart for 2 nights, then up to Colonge to see some family there before heading to Spa for the F1.

I do have a couple of pictures to post once i get ahold of them, but the wireless in this hotel is garbage.. works in the main building.. but the rooms me and my friend have are on the far side of the building and the connection is so weak, it takes 2-3 goes before anything loads.. can forget youtube and anything else.

Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
Did learn a few things from my trip.
1: Brakes - Best to have these in tip top condition, sliders greased well, fluid flushed out and changed for something high performance, Motel 600 or ATE TYP200 (superblue) works fine, braided hoses if you have time to install them and decent pads, DS2500s I found are EPIC and no fade on the 330i i took.
2: Crash helmets - WEAR them, seriously. 1 guy the night we got there got rushed to hospital after wiping out 150m of barrier and dropped 300 feet.. car was pancaked, and he'd not worn a helmet.
3: Get a secondary rear view mirror and have a friend running as a co driver watching behind you. This helped both me and my friend when we went as one would drive, the other could warn you when fast traffic was coming up so you could have a chance to give space and not end up running off the road,... most of the time.


Watch out for the 'ring taxis' especially the Green / black GTR, they like to try and run you off the road all to get their fast laps in irked

Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
quotequote all
doogalman said:
Sf_Manta said:
3: Get a secondary rear view mirror and have a friend running as a co driver watching behind you. This helped both me and my friend when we went as one would drive, the other could warn you when fast traffic was coming up so you could have a chance to give space and not end up running off the road,... most of the time.
Seriously, if you havn't got time to check mirrors before, mid and exit of any of the corners Back off a bit. It is your responsability as you are the one in control of the car. Asyour track knowledge builds then so will your speeds. Drive within your limits not your passengers, what if he misses something??
I was checking the mirrors regularly, but when people are cutting me off, and you don't know the circuit, it does help to have someone just double checking for you. it saved both me and my friend a few times as people would regularly dive inside at the worst times and I'd be almost run off the circuit. I'd rather be safe than off the road in the barrier thank you!

Sf_Manta

Original Poster:

2,192 posts

191 months

Wednesday 9th September 2015
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I went via this route:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/DFDS+Seaways+-+D...

The 257 makes for a fun drive after the long boring drives on the motorways. Scenery is spectacular!
Good places to eat would be Pistenklause for one, there's a decent Italian place that does proper pizzas at decent prices. It's just by the bridge where the Nordshcliefe goes over the 257 as you go through Adenau if heading north into the centre of town, there's also a place called 'Pitstop' there by that bridge which isn't bad either.