Is the Nurburgring getting too expensive?

[bad_roo]

It doesn't seem too long ago that I was heading out to the Ring four, five or six times a year. Nowadays I go a lot less and I think the reason why is that it's getting so hellishly dear. The last weekend trip I took (Porsche Cayman) looked like this:

25 lap ticket: £257
Fuel for 25 laps: £225
Fuel there and back: £120
Ferry: £85
Hotel: £120
Food/drink: £100

That doesn't factor in wear and tear on brakes/tyres/clutch etc. Include that and it's hard to do a weekend with a reasonable number of laps for much less than a grand.

N.B. I don't do camping.

Edited by bad_roo on Thursday 31st July 16:49

[sniff petrol]

Go with a mate to share the costs?

[bad_roo]

I usually do, but that only takes the edge off accommodation/ferry and petrol there. The big ticket items (fuel on track and lap tickets) are still expensive. Go a couple of weekends and you've easily spent the same amount as a week somewhere exotic.

I think even Ben Lovejoy has jacked it in.

Edited by bad_roo on Thursday 31st July 21:04

[Glenn McMenamin]

The only upside to this, is that hopefully it will stop it getting busier and busier every year, it will never be a cheap weekend though.

[kusee pee]

I agree that it's getting more expensive and the poor exchange rate sterling/euro doesn't help at the moment. Maybe it is keeping some away - this weekend was far less crowded than I expected it to be which resulted in a lot of clear track. Still well worth the trip but this is the first visit that costs have become more evident to me.

[norman156]

I've been tempted by the idea of a trip to the Nurburgring many times, but the main thing that puts me off other than the risk of an accident is the cost. As outlined in your first post it all adds up to quite a bit... I think for me it would be too expensive to go over there specifically for the Nurburgring, I'd have to make it coincide with either some sort of road trip or maybe next year's frankfurt motorshow, with a few laps around the track on the way.

[TVR_owner]

In reality, the costs for your weekend are about the same as it would cost me to do a track day at Brands (assuming I could do the track mileage) if I stayed the night before and after the event.

I was at the Ring last weekend and it was quite quiet. The only cost increase that irks me is the cost per lap at the ring since last year at 20% ish.

[900T-R]

TVR_owner said:

I was at the Ring last weekend and it was quite quiet. The only cost increase that irks me is the cost per lap at the ring since last year at 20% ish.

From 12 to 14 to 16 to 19 to 21 (I think) euro almost year-on-year. I wish the same could be said (percentage-wise) about my salary.

[bad_roo]

I guess with the spiralling numbers of visitors, Nurburgring GmbH are just trying to find out how price sensitive the clientele is with that policy. Double the price and halve the traffic would possibly be a desirable policy for them, if not the local hotels/restaurants.

[SpeedyDave]

Jahreskarte has been going up €100 each year, I guess it will be €1100 next year. All this will surely drive down numbers but its obviously the 'lower end' of the carpark which will leave first.

Given the 'everyman' tradition of the ring it will be a shame to see it steadily becomming a rich mans playground full of nothing but GT3s

Edited by SpeedyDave on Friday 1st August 10:44

[gtdc]

I only went to one - on June 29th - and that was just lunacy. If it got quieter I think that would be a pretty good thing.

Next time I go I think it will be on someone elses trackday.

Melindi



ETA

Sorry no signatures allowed.

Edited by Big Al. on Monday 4th August 19:05

[croftsj]

I went last weekend and compared to my last visit numbers were definitely down and car parks/access was a lot quieter and easier. Noticeably a lot less Brit cars but a lot more exotica and lots of Swiss cars.

Considering the fact damage is paid for by the 'damager' it's hard to see how the price rises can be justified. What is the money being spent on? Re-surfacing, not really needed, the only poor surfaces are the Karussels and to tarmac them would detract from the Ring IMHO.

The digital map is new from 2007, but honestly does anyone really use it? It's impossible to tell exactly where an incident has occured as you queue at the barriers.

I camped this year, never again. The Germans idea of a quiet weekends camping involves a nightly (until 5am) sound off of German techno Euro pop ste and AC/DC. Morons, all of 'em.

[RLK500]

I went last weekend (first time) and was quite shocked to see the cost of a single lap at e21. However, I did find the track quite quiet and it was nice to have some space to play and discover the lines. There was a lot of exoctica there and you could have been forgiven for thinking it was a Porsche GT2 festival, as there were stacks of them. Will defo return but it will only be a yearly visit rather than multiple times per year. In all honesty I would probably sacrifice a few UK days to ensure I could afford to go to the ring. With this in mind, I suspect others may do the same and therefore we may see high 'ring prices having an indirect effect on the UK Trackday scene.

[jvr]

Is it?well the only expensive part is getting there,i.e boat £100 plus petrol.Once you are there hotels are cheap,petrol is the same as UK and say do 6 laps in 1 day approx £90,now compare to british track day.£200 for the track approx,petrol to get there and while you are there,out of that 'day out'you won't get much change out of £300.The ring is a weekend away,has a special atmospere and i think far much more of just a track day.





Just don't hit anything

Paul

[TVR_owner]

jvr said:

Is it?well the only expensive part is getting there,i.e boat £100 plus petrol.Once you are there hotels are cheap,petrol is the same as UK and say do 6 laps in 1 day approx £90,now compare to british track day.£200 for the track approx,petrol to get there and while you are there,out of that 'day out'you won't get much change out of £300.The ring is a weekend away,has a special atmospere and i think far much more of just a track day.





Just don't hit anything

Paul

Pretty much my thoughts Paul.

[RLK500]

I do agree. It is a special place and much more than just a trackday weekend, which is why I would be happy to sacrifice UK days so that I could afford to go to the 'ring. I also like the slightly less anal/nannying approach at the 'ring than you get in the uk. The T-shirts and shorts being allowed is one particular aspect. Can't see what the issue is with this in the UK, in a saloon/enclosed car it shouldn't make any difference.

[GC8]

bad_roo said:

Is the Nurburgring getting too expensive?

Yes it is: when I first went in my first 968, it cost DM12 for a lap. That roughly equates to £4:80 (and that went down as the DM weakened). When I was last there it cost €21, which was £17! Added to that the place was absolutely full of knobbers driving like idiots.....

[jvr]

GC8 said:

bad_roo said:

Is the Nurburgring getting too expensive?

Yes it is: when I first went in my first 968, it cost DM12 for a lap. That roughly equates to £4:80 (and that went down as the DM weakened). When I was last there it cost €21, which was £17! Added to that the place was absolutely full of knobbers driving like idiots.....

Very true,point taken how much can they get out from us,but in Uk check out the increases lately on food gas leccy council etc etc...its probably roughly in line.
Paul

[absolutely]

Stop going if it is too expensive for you!

Or you make a holiday of it, I have done that twice now. 1 maybe 2 days in a week is fine, the 1st time I went it was a 3 hour drive from where we were staying.

[gutmann pug]

The costs have stopped me going this year.

I can't afford to keep having grand weekends