Ring as a passenger
Discussion
Aiming to call in to the Nurburgring on the way to S France next August. Diesel Jag not the ideal tool to hack around, plus I would probably get in everyone's way.
Is it easy to hitch a ride as a passenger? or are the leadfoots a bit precious about the extra weight? Also, is it good form to offer the driver some euros?
Is it easy to hitch a ride as a passenger? or are the leadfoots a bit precious about the extra weight? Also, is it good form to offer the driver some euros?
I was thinking exactly this when I first visited as a spectator but now that I know the place I can only echo the sentiments of MD above, who are you getting in with and how are they going to drive?
Depends how much of a thrill you want I suppose, the adrenaline of sitting next to someone who may or may not know how inappropriate their corner entry speed is into that right hander that's actually a left ? It's going to be hard to beat
Depends how much of a thrill you want I suppose, the adrenaline of sitting next to someone who may or may not know how inappropriate their corner entry speed is into that right hander that's actually a left ? It's going to be hard to beat
Clarkson got round it diesel Jag so no reason you can't. I'll be far from the most inappropriate car you'll see on track.
Regarding pax laps, maybe I'm foolhardy, but when I went I jumped in with a few people I met and got chatting to. The ride in the R500 was probably more fun than driving my own MR2 round!
Regarding pax laps, maybe I'm foolhardy, but when I went I jumped in with a few people I met and got chatting to. The ride in the R500 was probably more fun than driving my own MR2 round!
Chat to people. Decide whether you would actually want to get in a car with them. Wait to see if they offer.
Some drivers like passengers, some just don't and many it will depend on how they feel at the time, who they are there with, how good a day they are having and so on.
Don't just walk up to a car that you like and assume that the driver is happy for you to act as ballast. And no - money really shouldn't be offered or asked : if you want a ride on a commercial basis there are companies with proper public liability cover for that (the BMW ring taxi, the Aston Copilot car and so on). Drivers might accept a coffee, ice cream or whatever afterwards though.
Personally I am not keen on taking complete randoms round, but will usually take friends of friends for a couple of laps when I am there. So what you need to do IMHO is talk to people and make friends but don't go in with any expectations. Also - consider that some of the most fun passenger laps to be had can be in surprisingly unsexy machinery
Some drivers like passengers, some just don't and many it will depend on how they feel at the time, who they are there with, how good a day they are having and so on.
Don't just walk up to a car that you like and assume that the driver is happy for you to act as ballast. And no - money really shouldn't be offered or asked : if you want a ride on a commercial basis there are companies with proper public liability cover for that (the BMW ring taxi, the Aston Copilot car and so on). Drivers might accept a coffee, ice cream or whatever afterwards though.
Personally I am not keen on taking complete randoms round, but will usually take friends of friends for a couple of laps when I am there. So what you need to do IMHO is talk to people and make friends but don't go in with any expectations. Also - consider that some of the most fun passenger laps to be had can be in surprisingly unsexy machinery
Only time I've let a passenger (not being a friend or friend of a friend) come around with me was last summer.
Nice chap from Detroit, he was very pleasant and offered to use the last lap on his ring card.
It helped he was into Fords and wanted to see what all the fuss was about with their European Performance cars.
Nice chap from Detroit, he was very pleasant and offered to use the last lap on his ring card.
It helped he was into Fords and wanted to see what all the fuss was about with their European Performance cars.
Nothing wrong with catching pax laps & its a pretty normal part of hanging out there.
As said above, have a chat first and if you're hearing a lot of bravado move on.
Say hi on the Northloop forums & see if you can line something up with one of the regulars.
Reasonable chance I'll be there, if so you're welcome to catch a ride.
I've always been happy to give passenger laps but I have only asked drivers I know are experienced and safe for passenger laps.
The strangest though was some random coming up to me as I was wandering through the car park. He offered me his lap ticket (with 3 remaining) if he could passenger with me. How did he even know I spoke English? Whether I knew where the track goes or even that I wasn't a mentalist trying to set a lap record in potential TUV failure.
The strangest though was some random coming up to me as I was wandering through the car park. He offered me his lap ticket (with 3 remaining) if he could passenger with me. How did he even know I spoke English? Whether I knew where the track goes or even that I wasn't a mentalist trying to set a lap record in potential TUV failure.
I sold a couple of unused laps to a guy queuing at the ticket office last summer, on the proviso that I could get a pax lap with him. Proved to be a great decision as he was quite handy in the Cobra he was driving.
I regularly hitch pax rides with complete strangers, and return the favour when asked. The only thing I doubt I'd have the balls to do is hitch a ride on the back of a bike - and I jump out of planes for fun.
I regularly hitch pax rides with complete strangers, and return the favour when asked. The only thing I doubt I'd have the balls to do is hitch a ride on the back of a bike - and I jump out of planes for fun.
Do it! But try and pick someone who knows their stuff. (Not always easy I know) I was there last year on my bike this time and got chatting to a group of British bikers, after a few minutes one of them asked me if I'd like to jump on the back of his 1000cc Gsxr. An incredible experience to say the least.
He knew his stuff and came flying past R35s and GT3s. Scary stuff mind, not something I think I'd do again.
Rj
He knew his stuff and came flying past R35s and GT3s. Scary stuff mind, not something I think I'd do again.
Rj
unless you know the person well, ,,,,,,,don't.
just because they talk the talk and have the GTR in the car park, don't assume they know deck all about the ring.
before you do anything, before you even go to the main car park, find Brunchen ( commonly called the main viewing point) sit up there for say 20 minutes and if you don;t get nervous watching them, go home. That lets you see some of the speed some people can take, you'll usually see a near miss too.
Heard too many stories of people having nasty accidents in strangers cars ( and thats not a dogging euphemism).
just because they talk the talk and have the GTR in the car park, don't assume they know deck all about the ring.
before you do anything, before you even go to the main car park, find Brunchen ( commonly called the main viewing point) sit up there for say 20 minutes and if you don;t get nervous watching them, go home. That lets you see some of the speed some people can take, you'll usually see a near miss too.
Heard too many stories of people having nasty accidents in strangers cars ( and thats not a dogging euphemism).
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