Nurburgring trip 14th & 15th May
Discussion
Pictures here: www.pikeynet.com/05/05/14/nurburgring.htm (no
captions on them yet)
Report here: (warning - long!)
This was always going to be a short weekend as having spent most of my
annual holiday allocation on sailing I couldn't really afford the
Monday off too.
Leaving after work on Friday I got delayed by a closure of the A2. I
eventually arrived at the tunnel very late and as the trains were full
the only one I could get on was 4.5 hours after the one I intended. So
got to the other side and took the usual trip through France and
Belguim, stopping at my usual half way / fuel refil point in Eupen.
Turns out that after hours in Belgium all the petrol stations "remain
open" but ONLY if you have a Belgium credit card (automated machine).
So, even though I had a third of a tank I realised after my 8th
station in a row (all down that strip) that I might have a problem.
We then deviated from the route to take roads more likely to have
manned stations... this didn't happen. We then headed into Germany on
the E42 - they MUST have some... nope! With the petrol light on and
the gauge at zero we pulled in at a well lit restuarant / bar and
called the AA.
Eventually the AA passed the call to the ADAC who passed it onto a
local breakdown company who telephoned me. He said the ADAC have a
policy not to cover people who run out of petrol, so I'd have to pay
85 Euros just to get him there and he would only bring 5 litres of
fuel BUT he could just send a cab to me - this would cost 40Euros. "Ok
thanks, please do that". Whilst waiting for the cab I called the AA
and asked what's going on (after a 15 minute, £1 a minute wait of "you
are in a priority queue and very important to us" I spoke to a bloke
who said to send them the bill and they'd pay. Great, but what about
the fact I'd been looking for a petrol station for an hour / 3rd of a
tank and yet they'll only bring me 5 litres of fuel. "Oh", he said,
"you'll have to call us again when you run out again". F**K me - these
people must work for London Underground or something!
So the taxi turns up and, being typically German, is very very
helpful. He understands the problem of the 24 hr garages being "local
shops for local people(!)" and there is a manned on in Bitberg. No
problem - he's going there and I can follow him. So, we zoom off down
the E42 at up to 130mph (I do love Germans!) and in no time at all are
at a garage that takes cash. As I'm filling up he draws me a map of
how to get to Nurburg from there and has a little chat. Hmmm... can't
really imagine this attitude from my local minicab company!
After upsetting the lady at Burgstube by turning up at 2am we go to
bed. Next morning and YUCHHHH.... really horrible outside. However, we
go down to breakfast and realise that the breakfast they have at
Burgstube is nicer than the one we had in a 5* hotel in France the
previous weekend! 5* hotel - 46 Euros for breakfast, Burgstube -
"included" in 55 Euros for a night cost. Hmmm...
My girlfriend
hadn't been to the Ring before (she's not a car person) and was
actually making breakfast last longer as she didn't want to go out!
Bought a ticket (and the nice man gave me 3 laps back for 6 laps
remaining on a 2003 ticket I found in my car!) and out we went.
P*ssing down with rain, VERY wet, very slippery and we had a slow,
tourist drive. Another couple of laps and sped up a bit, but still
nasty. Few cars there - parking was no problem and there was very
little traffic out on circuit. Popped down to Adenau for a super lunch
(again, fantastic food for not many Euros) and then back to the
circuit. The circuit was very slippery now - even going round at
sedate speeds I got the car in a 4 wheel drift a few times. Was good
to hone balancing skills! A few more slow-ish laps and had a coffee
and walk around the car park. Didn't see anyone I knew but took some
nice snaps.
Was quite funny in the car park as my girlfriend was asking what the
cars were she liked. "That's a 911" I'd reply... "and that one?",
"that's also a 911". "How about that one?", "a 911". Then "why are all
the Porsches 911s when they look so different" and "this is just a car
park of 911s isn't it?" Strange how you don't think of the bleeding
obvious until someone points it out" Oh, and then there was one more
question "so why don't you have a 911" err.. because I'm poor?
Whilst out on one lap a 911 spun in front of me, having a very lucky
escape of spinning on the grass and popping back out onto the black
stuff. I managed to get past without hitting him / the mud but noticed
there was half a ton of grass & mud on the track. I called the
marshalls and reported it, "just before miss hit miss" I said...
"nope, don't know that one " he replied. Ah, so miss-hit-miss is an
English nickname isn't it?! We managed to figure out which corner it
was by counting back from one we both knew! He told me in the future
to get the number off the marker boards - Mmm... probably should have
done that!
About 4pm something terrible happened - the chavs arrived! Novas,
blinged up to the whatsits came with their lowered wheels, their
blacked out windows, their boom, boom, booming, Burberry everywhere
and a bunch of 19 year olds hopping around. Booshacka! Respect!
Hovering nearby I overheard a bit of a conversation between some of
them... "you paid £20,000 of mods on that [was referring to his
seriously blinged up Nova]? Mate, you can buy an Evo for seventeen
grand" Excellent!! I went down to Planzgarten for some picture
taking, and then over to showboat.
Another few laps and the fog was really thick. I really quite enjoyed
driving like this as you realise you know the track when you can go
about as fast without seeing it! Anyway, it was freaking my g/f out a
bit and it was getting a bit silly so we went back for a coffee.
Anyway, car park full of Chavs, a circuit full of fog and the need for
a beer looming, I called up Ben and went over to the Pig where we had
a beer with Ross and Karl. Later joined by Garry, Dave, Matt and
Joshen (and some others, but I'm rubbish with remembering names!). Ah,
"Sailing Ben" I was called a number of times! After a few drinks
headed back over to Lindenhof for some eating & proper drinking, then
to the Pistenklause for more drinks.
Next morning and the sun was sort of out. The track was drying and it
was looking good. Took a sighting lap to work out how dry it was and
then another flying lap. My girlfriend, who up to this point had been
saying how it wasn't that scary then started screaming! Flying over
Planzgarten 1 she really wasn't happy as the tyres struggled for grip
going round the right hander (was a perfect move though), then jumping
over 2 (felt like we got air) she screamed, but that next blind bit
did it and she shouted "I WANT TO GET OUT - I'M NOT EVER GOING ROUND
AGAIN". Anyway, I was having a great lap... quite amazing how you can
ignore your passenger's shouting if you're enjoying yourself! Time for
a coffee... Did some more dry laps but this time found that if I
left it in a higher gear so the engine noise was less she wasn't so
scared. I concluded it's only the sound of a VTEC pumping at 9,000 rpm
that invokes the fear!
The track closed at this point so we went up to the castle and
SHOCK... it was open. Had a walk round and went to the top. Very high
and the views were incredible. Recommended if you haven't been up
there.
Decided to finish the last 4 laps from the ticket before leaving at 1
and got in the queue. The entrance queue was from the edge of the
village - I'd never seen it like that! All car parks and all overflows
were full and the roads were now all backed up. Even though they put a
great flow system in the car park, the volume was just too high. With
the extreme high numbers of tourists it was silly season out there and
accidents were so expected Anyway, queued for 15 minutes to get
in, and when about 5 minutes away, they closed the track again. Took
30 minutes for them to clear the cars from the track EXIT onto the
road! The queue was the whole length of DH!! This stayed closed for
the hour and a half we had until we had to leave.... so we left.
The journey home was uninteresting but we did get a bit of a result
with the tunnel - somehow managed to sneak onto the departing train!
Arrived at terminal to check in at 17:25, was on the 17:36 train...
that NEVER happens
So, apart from the sh*t at the start, all in all a great weekend.
Always very successful when one returns with self and car intact! This
had been my first visit for a while and I realise I shouldn't have
left it so long. It's quite a magical place. The really unusual thing
is my girlfriend really enjoyed herself and is looking forward to
going back. Didn't expect that!
Apologies for length!!
Ben
www.pikeynet.com/05/05/14/nurburgring.htm
captions on them yet)
Report here: (warning - long!)
This was always going to be a short weekend as having spent most of my
annual holiday allocation on sailing I couldn't really afford the
Monday off too.
Leaving after work on Friday I got delayed by a closure of the A2. I
eventually arrived at the tunnel very late and as the trains were full
the only one I could get on was 4.5 hours after the one I intended. So
got to the other side and took the usual trip through France and
Belguim, stopping at my usual half way / fuel refil point in Eupen.
Turns out that after hours in Belgium all the petrol stations "remain
open" but ONLY if you have a Belgium credit card (automated machine).
So, even though I had a third of a tank I realised after my 8th
station in a row (all down that strip) that I might have a problem.
We then deviated from the route to take roads more likely to have
manned stations... this didn't happen. We then headed into Germany on
the E42 - they MUST have some... nope! With the petrol light on and
the gauge at zero we pulled in at a well lit restuarant / bar and
called the AA.
Eventually the AA passed the call to the ADAC who passed it onto a
local breakdown company who telephoned me. He said the ADAC have a
policy not to cover people who run out of petrol, so I'd have to pay
85 Euros just to get him there and he would only bring 5 litres of
fuel BUT he could just send a cab to me - this would cost 40Euros. "Ok
thanks, please do that". Whilst waiting for the cab I called the AA
and asked what's going on (after a 15 minute, £1 a minute wait of "you
are in a priority queue and very important to us" I spoke to a bloke
who said to send them the bill and they'd pay. Great, but what about
the fact I'd been looking for a petrol station for an hour / 3rd of a
tank and yet they'll only bring me 5 litres of fuel. "Oh", he said,
"you'll have to call us again when you run out again". F**K me - these
people must work for London Underground or something!
So the taxi turns up and, being typically German, is very very
helpful. He understands the problem of the 24 hr garages being "local
shops for local people(!)" and there is a manned on in Bitberg. No
problem - he's going there and I can follow him. So, we zoom off down
the E42 at up to 130mph (I do love Germans!) and in no time at all are
at a garage that takes cash. As I'm filling up he draws me a map of
how to get to Nurburg from there and has a little chat. Hmmm... can't
really imagine this attitude from my local minicab company!
After upsetting the lady at Burgstube by turning up at 2am we go to
bed. Next morning and YUCHHHH.... really horrible outside. However, we
go down to breakfast and realise that the breakfast they have at
Burgstube is nicer than the one we had in a 5* hotel in France the
previous weekend! 5* hotel - 46 Euros for breakfast, Burgstube -
"included" in 55 Euros for a night cost. Hmmm...
My girlfriend hadn't been to the Ring before (she's not a car person) and was
actually making breakfast last longer as she didn't want to go out!
Bought a ticket (and the nice man gave me 3 laps back for 6 laps
remaining on a 2003 ticket I found in my car!) and out we went.
P*ssing down with rain, VERY wet, very slippery and we had a slow,
tourist drive. Another couple of laps and sped up a bit, but still
nasty. Few cars there - parking was no problem and there was very
little traffic out on circuit. Popped down to Adenau for a super lunch
(again, fantastic food for not many Euros) and then back to the
circuit. The circuit was very slippery now - even going round at
sedate speeds I got the car in a 4 wheel drift a few times. Was good
to hone balancing skills! A few more slow-ish laps and had a coffee
and walk around the car park. Didn't see anyone I knew but took some
nice snaps.
Was quite funny in the car park as my girlfriend was asking what the
cars were she liked. "That's a 911" I'd reply... "and that one?",
"that's also a 911". "How about that one?", "a 911". Then "why are all
the Porsches 911s when they look so different" and "this is just a car
park of 911s isn't it?" Strange how you don't think of the bleeding
obvious until someone points it out" Oh, and then there was one more
question "so why don't you have a 911" err.. because I'm poor?
Whilst out on one lap a 911 spun in front of me, having a very lucky
escape of spinning on the grass and popping back out onto the black
stuff. I managed to get past without hitting him / the mud but noticed
there was half a ton of grass & mud on the track. I called the
marshalls and reported it, "just before miss hit miss" I said...
"nope, don't know that one " he replied. Ah, so miss-hit-miss is an
English nickname isn't it?! We managed to figure out which corner it
was by counting back from one we both knew! He told me in the future
to get the number off the marker boards - Mmm... probably should have
done that!
About 4pm something terrible happened - the chavs arrived! Novas,
blinged up to the whatsits came with their lowered wheels, their
blacked out windows, their boom, boom, booming, Burberry everywhere
and a bunch of 19 year olds hopping around. Booshacka! Respect!
Hovering nearby I overheard a bit of a conversation between some of
them... "you paid £20,000 of mods on that [was referring to his
seriously blinged up Nova]? Mate, you can buy an Evo for seventeen
grand" Excellent!!
I went down to Planzgarten for some picture taking, and then over to showboat.
Another few laps and the fog was really thick. I really quite enjoyed
driving like this as you realise you know the track when you can go
about as fast without seeing it! Anyway, it was freaking my g/f out a
bit and it was getting a bit silly so we went back for a coffee.
Anyway, car park full of Chavs, a circuit full of fog and the need for
a beer looming, I called up Ben and went over to the Pig where we had
a beer with Ross and Karl. Later joined by Garry, Dave, Matt and
Joshen (and some others, but I'm rubbish with remembering names!). Ah,
"Sailing Ben" I was called a number of times!
After a few drinks headed back over to Lindenhof for some eating & proper drinking, then
to the Pistenklause for more drinks.
Next morning and the sun was sort of out. The track was drying and it
was looking good. Took a sighting lap to work out how dry it was and
then another flying lap. My girlfriend, who up to this point had been
saying how it wasn't that scary then started screaming! Flying over
Planzgarten 1 she really wasn't happy as the tyres struggled for grip
going round the right hander (was a perfect move though), then jumping
over 2 (felt like we got air) she screamed, but that next blind bit
did it and she shouted "I WANT TO GET OUT - I'M NOT EVER GOING ROUND
AGAIN". Anyway, I was having a great lap... quite amazing how you can
ignore your passenger's shouting if you're enjoying yourself! Time for
a coffee...
Did some more dry laps but this time found that if I left it in a higher gear so the engine noise was less she wasn't so
scared. I concluded it's only the sound of a VTEC pumping at 9,000 rpm
that invokes the fear!
The track closed at this point so we went up to the castle and
SHOCK... it was open. Had a walk round and went to the top. Very high
and the views were incredible. Recommended if you haven't been up
there.
Decided to finish the last 4 laps from the ticket before leaving at 1
and got in the queue. The entrance queue was from the edge of the
village - I'd never seen it like that! All car parks and all overflows
were full and the roads were now all backed up. Even though they put a
great flow system in the car park, the volume was just too high. With
the extreme high numbers of tourists it was silly season out there and
accidents were so expected
Anyway, queued for 15 minutes to get in, and when about 5 minutes away, they closed the track again. Took
30 minutes for them to clear the cars from the track EXIT onto the
road! The queue was the whole length of DH!! This stayed closed for
the hour and a half we had until we had to leave.... so we left.
The journey home was uninteresting but we did get a bit of a result
with the tunnel - somehow managed to sneak onto the departing train!
Arrived at terminal to check in at 17:25, was on the 17:36 train...
that NEVER happens
So, apart from the sh*t at the start, all in all a great weekend.
Always very successful when one returns with self and car intact! This
had been my first visit for a while and I realise I shouldn't have
left it so long. It's quite a magical place. The really unusual thing
is my girlfriend really enjoyed herself and is looking forward to
going back. Didn't expect that!
Apologies for length!!
Ben
www.pikeynet.com/05/05/14/nurburgring.htm
GoldenGT3 said:
Hi Pickey i was at the ring this weekend were you the guy in the pistonheads coat i saw you on sunday looks like you took a photo of my esprit or at least the quater light window
Well that was actually my girlfriend in the Pistonheads coat. You see it was raining hard and I had 1 foul weather sailing jacket and 1 Pistonheads pit jacket with me... and knew that only 1 of them was waterproof! Oh, and I'm selfish!
Yeah, I took a pic of that when it was parked at the Pflanzgarten (sp?) viewing point. I do like Esprits!
Well stroll on I was there too, in my little MX5.
Went there with a mate with his MG ZS 180.
Yep, the weather was crap to start, and I discovered I had no grip whatsoever on my new tyres in the wet. However, it was the first proper time there for me, and the first time ever for my mate. I stayed out in the wet as the track wasa so quiet. I'm able to say that on my 2nd lap ever no-one overtook me. On the grounds that I was the only one out there.
Later on I went out with my mate in his ZS. It was his third lap ever. The track was damp and greasy with a faint dry line in places.
My mate absolutely frit the sh*t out of me. On, I stress, his 3rd lap ever, he was hurling his car at the bends. (He has rallying experience in a former life) I was staggered at how quick he was learning the place. More than that though, I was staggered at how good the ZS is. I had no idea - it is simply a really serious car. You couldn't tell it was fwd, and the lift-off oversteer was tremendously helpful.
I had to ask him to slow down a bit, and didn't get back in the car with him the rest of the weekend. He did slow down for me, a bit, and despite the track conditions and his inexperience of the place I clocked him (I was timing him) at 10 mins 19 secs bridge to gantry. I never matched that time in the nice warm weather in the Mazda. I was a minute behind.
His fastest lap over the weekend, within 12 laps, was 9'20".
A 180 ZS is possibly capable of a sub 9 min lap, which I think is amazing. Was also pretty amazed to discover that the Maz is quicker than bikes in the twisty bits.
>> Edited by heebeegeetee on Thursday 19th May 00:51
Went there with a mate with his MG ZS 180.
Yep, the weather was crap to start, and I discovered I had no grip whatsoever on my new tyres in the wet. However, it was the first proper time there for me, and the first time ever for my mate. I stayed out in the wet as the track wasa so quiet. I'm able to say that on my 2nd lap ever no-one overtook me. On the grounds that I was the only one out there.
Later on I went out with my mate in his ZS. It was his third lap ever. The track was damp and greasy with a faint dry line in places.
My mate absolutely frit the sh*t out of me. On, I stress, his 3rd lap ever, he was hurling his car at the bends. (He has rallying experience in a former life) I was staggered at how quick he was learning the place. More than that though, I was staggered at how good the ZS is. I had no idea - it is simply a really serious car. You couldn't tell it was fwd, and the lift-off oversteer was tremendously helpful.
I had to ask him to slow down a bit, and didn't get back in the car with him the rest of the weekend. He did slow down for me, a bit, and despite the track conditions and his inexperience of the place I clocked him (I was timing him) at 10 mins 19 secs bridge to gantry. I never matched that time in the nice warm weather in the Mazda. I was a minute behind.
His fastest lap over the weekend, within 12 laps, was 9'20".
A 180 ZS is possibly capable of a sub 9 min lap, which I think is amazing. Was also pretty amazed to discover that the Maz is quicker than bikes in the twisty bits.
>> Edited by heebeegeetee on Thursday 19th May 00:51
dazren said:
Quality report. Got to feel sorry for your girlfriend though, frightening the hell out of her through pflanzgarten 1 & 2. I would have thought your experience in the Vette going through Fuchsrohre a few years ago would have made your driving more passenger considerate! Nah!
DAZ
Yeah - we've all screamed at some point whilst at the Ring!
My moment was with Christer and I seem to remember the scare factor was with his 5 ton Corvette hooning round like your 996. I couldn't quite understand how a) it went so fast, b) it held on at corners, and c) the brakes could work so well. I had a fear that if it neared the armco -it'd go through it!! Actually come to think of it, she screamed coming through there too, but on the Sunday. There was lots of fog - particularly at the bottom of the fox hole. As we know you need speed for compression and grip at the bottom... well not in the fog and not slowly, but...
I figured (gambled) there was noone at the bottom stopped so plowed on down at a fairly rapid pace! She couldn't quite understand how not being able to see much isn't really a problem on that circuit! I explained if you don't know where the circuit goes, its as much of a problem even if you can see! Anyway, it was pretty bad then so we called it a day and went to the pub with the others. This is a pic of the road outside the ring... just to give you an idea of how bad it was: www.pikeynet.com/05/05/14/nurburg090.jpg Strangely noone else was on the circuit at the time! (Apparently they closed it shortly after)
>> Edited by pikey on Thursday 19th May 11:20
pikey said:
[quote=dazren]Quality report. Got to feel sorry for your girlfriend though, frightening the hell out of her through pflanzgarten 1 & 2. I would have thought your experience in the Vette going through Fuchsrohre a few years ago would have made your driving more passenger considerate! Nah!
DAZ
Yeah - we've all screamed at some point whilst at the Ring!
My moment was with Christer and I seem to remember the scare factor was with his 5 ton Corvette hooning round like your 996. I couldn't quite understand how a) it went so fast, b) it held on at corners, and c) the brakes could work so well. I had a fear that if it neared the armco -it'd go through it!! Actually come to think of it, she screamed coming through there too, but on the Sunday. There was lots of fog - particularly at the bottom of the fox hole. As we know you need speed for compression and grip at the bottom - well not in the fog and not slowly, but... I figured (gambled) there was noone at the bottom stopped so plowed on down at a fairly rapid pace! She couldn't quite understand how not being able to see much isn't really a problem on that circuit! I explained if you don't know where the circuit goes, its as much of a problem in good visibility as it is in bad!
Anyway, it was pretty bad then so we called it a day and went to the pub with the others. This is a pic of the road outside the ring... just to give you an idea of how bad it was: www.pikeynet.com/05/05/14/nurburg090.jpg Strangely noone else was on the circuit at the time! (Apparently they closed it shortly after)
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