Nurburgring 2018

[mwggriffiths]

e30m3Mark said:

Thanks guys.

I've probably done 12 or more track-days, so not a total novice, but my old E30 probably isn't as quick as a lot of more modern stuff. I'm just mindful of not getting in the way. I have Project Cars on my PS4 though, so will see if I can at least get some idea of corner sequence. I'm also looking to try and go with someone I can follow for a few laps to up my confidence. Anyway, thanks again chaps. Mark

You might be surprised your M3, driven well would be very very capable - it's what it was built for after all! I've been held up by GTRs and been blown into the weeds by mk5 Astra diesels - knowledge is king, and as has been suggested racing games really do help, but you also need to know your car and how it handles.

I've just returned from my 3rd trip this year, and this time I took 3 complete novice mates with me. None of them had even raced the track on Playstation before! It’s the first time I've been the most experienced person in my group and I was kind of nervous! I did a load of laps (2 or 3 for each person) with them as passengers first, describing the corners, where I was placing the car and common hazards etc, then had them follow me for a lap or two. Two of the guys were very familiar with their cars, and could concentrate on following me, the other was trying to learn the car and the new tyres and the track all at once! After that I went out as a passenger with one of the more experienced guys and with my reassurance which way the track went we certainly weren't holding anyone up, but then the guy who had the most to learn decided to go out by himself. In the rain. He span at Ex-Muhle and was lucky to miss all the barriers. Next time I'll insist on passengering with novices for at least a couple of laps, despite hating being the passenger!

Learning lessons from our mistakes I'd suggest:

• Plenty of virtual practice first
• Take a car you're confident in thrashing, and are confident will take the abuse - the last thing you want is to be learning the car as well as the track
• Go mid-week – it’s cheaper, there are less track closures, less nutters and the laps are so much quieter than weekends, meaning you can concentrate on your lines, not on getting out of the way. I did one Sunday lap on my last trip and parked it for the day – it was awful, so, so busy and the track ended up closed for more than half the day! The weekdays, while only open for ~2hrs in the evening, allow more clean, quiet laps in a day.
• Go out as a passenger with someone first (plenty of friendly locals or a Ringtaxi if you’re feeling flush)
• Follow someone in a similar car and/or get instruction (Companies like Apex do rentals and / or instruction)
• Wet laps are really quiet, but I’d avoid them unless your car has stability control until you know which corner is coming up next – certain corners are massively slippy in the wet!
• Watch out for bikes, they share the track with you, are hugely vulnerable and quick in a completely different way to a car. I followed a friend on his Fireblade in May and if he kept the speed sensible on the straights we’d do the same laptime, but achieve it in completely different ways!

As for accommodation I've stayed at AirBnBs and camped at CampingAmRing – both definitely the budget end of the spectrum! You've got to camp at least once, but I really do see the appeal of a roof over your head, especially given how little price difference there really is!

[e30m3Mark]

mwggriffiths said:

e30m3Mark said:

Thanks guys.

I've probably done 12 or more track-days, so not a total novice, but my old E30 probably isn't as quick as a lot of more modern stuff. I'm just mindful of not getting in the way. I have Project Cars on my PS4 though, so will see if I can at least get some idea of corner sequence. I'm also looking to try and go with someone I can follow for a few laps to up my confidence. Anyway, thanks again chaps. Mark

You might be surprised your M3, driven well would be very very capable - it's what it was built for after all! I've been held up by GTRs and been blown into the weeds by mk5 Astra diesels - knowledge is king, and as has been suggested racing games really do help, but you also need to know your car and how it handles.

I've just returned from my 3rd trip this year, and this time I took 3 complete novice mates with me. None of them had even raced the track on Playstation before! It’s the first time I've been the most experienced person in my group and I was kind of nervous! I did a load of laps (2 or 3 for each person) with them as passengers first, describing the corners, where I was placing the car and common hazards etc, then had them follow me for a lap or two. Two of the guys were very familiar with their cars, and could concentrate on following me, the other was trying to learn the car and the new tyres and the track all at once! After that I went out as a passenger with one of the more experienced guys and with my reassurance which way the track went we certainly weren't holding anyone up, but then the guy who had the most to learn decided to go out by himself. In the rain. He span at Ex-Muhle and was lucky to miss all the barriers. Next time I'll insist on passengering with novices for at least a couple of laps, despite hating being the passenger!

Learning lessons from our mistakes I'd suggest:

• Plenty of virtual practice first
• Take a car you're confident in thrashing, and are confident will take the abuse - the last thing you want is to be learning the car as well as the track
• Go mid-week – it’s cheaper, there are less track closures, less nutters and the laps are so much quieter than weekends, meaning you can concentrate on your lines, not on getting out of the way. I did one Sunday lap on my last trip and parked it for the day – it was awful, so, so busy and the track ended up closed for more than half the day! The weekdays, while only open for ~2hrs in the evening, allow more clean, quiet laps in a day.
• Go out as a passenger with someone first (plenty of friendly locals or a Ringtaxi if you’re feeling flush)
• Follow someone in a similar car and/or get instruction (Companies like Apex do rentals and / or instruction)
• Wet laps are really quiet, but I’d avoid them unless your car has stability control until you know which corner is coming up next – certain corners are massively slippy in the wet!
• Watch out for bikes, they share the track with you, are hugely vulnerable and quick in a completely different way to a car. I followed a friend on his Fireblade in May and if he kept the speed sensible on the straights we’d do the same laptime, but achieve it in completely different ways!

As for accommodation I've stayed at AirBnBs and camped at CampingAmRing – both definitely the budget end of the spectrum! You've got to camp at least once, but I really do see the appeal of a roof over your head, especially given how little price difference there really is!

Many thanks for the insight. I've been using Project Cars / PS4 whenever I get the chance. I'm now at a point where SWMBO has told me to ''grow up'' at least twice in the past week though, so a break may be in order. A previous owner used to keep my car at Black Falcon and it was regularly used at the 'Ring so as you say, hopefully it should acquit itself pretty well. Hopefully I will make it out for myself next spring / summer.

[nigelonich]

Have been there several times this year and once with my family in July.

I stay in the Dorint in Nurburg when not with family. Its a few quid more but worth every penny. The breakfast options are very large and you can sit outside right beside the F1 track while you eat it which is nice. The Nurburg police station is at the front door so I find some peace of mind parking my trailer and the cars in front of the hotel but underground parking is available at extra cost.

The Linder is nice but ive never been able to get it for the same or less than the Dorint. I used to stay at the Hotel Am Tiergarten but burn outs and lager louts were just a PITA and its not much less than the Dorint.

However, I wanted a pool for the kids in July and chose to stay at the Dorint Park Hotel in Bad Neunhar which is down in the valley by the river in the lovely Spa Town in the Arwheiler area (vineyards etc). The hotel was very nice and typical Dorint quality and about 25 mins from the track.

There is a Centre Parks very near to Nurburg too which is poorly advertised.

HTH

[Dakkon]

We have always stayed at Hotel an der Nordschliefe just by Briedischied bridge, it is just a B&B, but reasonably priced, very clean and Eddy is very friendly.

http://www.hotel-an-der-nordschleife.de/

Means you can walk into Adenau for pizza at Pinocchio's in the evening and a cheeky beer or two on the way home at Comfy Corner.

[doogalman]

e30m3Mark said:

Thanks guys.

I've probably done 12 or more track-days, so not a total novice, but my old E30 probably isn't as quick as a lot of more modern stuff. I'm just mindful of not getting in the way. I have Project Cars on my PS4 though, so will see if I can at least get some idea of corner sequence. I'm also looking to try and go with someone I can follow for a few laps to up my confidence. Anyway, thanks again chaps. Mark

I instruct on many of the trackdays at the Nurburgring. A great intro to the ring is the events organised by the uk company "Circuit days" . They run slightly off-season trackdays and are very well organised with many other novices attending it would be ideal for you. Also some of the cheapest days on offer. There next is on oct 16.
Or if you ever just fancy winging it in tourist sessions, pm me and I can give you some instruction for a few beer vouchers !-)

[ukkid35]

Dakkon said:

We have always stayed at Hotel an der Nordschliefe just by Briedischied bridge, it is just a B&B, but reasonably priced, very clean and Eddy is very friendly.

http://www.hotel-an-der-nordschleife.de/

Means you can walk into Adenau for pizza at Pinocchio's in the evening and a cheeky beer or two on the way home at Comfy Corner.

You haven't been for a while, have you?

Eddy sold up 18 months ago, and the hotel is now run by Owen from Pinnochio's. I was concerned about the change of management, but I needn't have been. Customer service is even better than before, and my only complaint would be that the towels aren't as fluffy as they used to be.