Nurburgring 2018
Discussion
How was DN20 for everyone? Great couple of days however driving standards on day one left a lot to be desired , quite a few stoppages and people overtaking on the right! Got my first wet laps in on day two which was great as track was pretty much empty, shame the fog lead to an early closure but those are the breaks...can’t wait for the next trip there.
RSbandit said:
How was DN20 for everyone? Great couple of days however driving standards on day one left a lot to be desired , quite a few stoppages and people overtaking on the right! Got my first wet laps in on day two which was great as track was pretty much empty, shame the fog lead to an early closure but those are the breaks...can’t wait for the next trip there.
I had a good couple of days but I can see changes afoot based on some of the incidents. Track closure doesn't bother me too much as I feel so sorry for the people who damage the car, the track or worse.However, does anyone have a video or picture of the Radical which lost control when leaving the TF car park and flung itself accross the DH main straight into the guard rail on the opposite side broadside for oncoming cars? I spotted the car as I left for a lap but I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing!
RSbandit said:
DN 20 was on the right only, seems some participants weren't paying attention at the briefing although most of the offending cars had continental plates so perhaps it got lost in translation
IME, that has often been the case. However, for the purpose balance, on the last DN I attended in May:
- the E36 BMW that decided the no overtaking on the first half hour of sighting laps did not apply to him was (rented?) on German plates, but
- the 991 GT3 RS that overtook several of us under caution flags was most definitely on UK plates
nigelonich said:
I had a good couple of days but I can see changes afoot based on some of the incidents. Track closure doesn't bother me too much as I feel so sorry for the people who damage the car, the track or worse.
However, does anyone have a video or picture of the Radical which lost control when leaving the TF car park and flung itself accross the DH main straight into the guard rail on the opposite side broadside for oncoming cars? I spotted the car as I left for a lap but I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing!
Heard about this but didn’t see, can you imagine what would have happened if someone was hammering down the straight at 250kmh+ when the radical came across the track. Sounds like race teams will not be allowed in future but this guy clearly wasn't up to steering that car! However, does anyone have a video or picture of the Radical which lost control when leaving the TF car park and flung itself accross the DH main straight into the guard rail on the opposite side broadside for oncoming cars? I spotted the car as I left for a lap but I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing!
There is quite a wide gap in track knowledge and experience between the fastest and slowest people on these days and some of the fast cars can be extremely aggressive and frankly discourteous to participants who are clearly trying to learn. My friend who was quite inexperienced at the ring (less than 20 laps total) was using his own car there for the first time and in the space of one lap one of the race cars had stormed up on his bumper at quite a lick giving my mate a major fright ( he thought they were going to collide) then soon after another idiot in a quick Porsche decided to fly past him on the wrong side, to say my pal was annoyed and fairly pissed off when he came back in is an understatement! People need to remember that everyone has paid the same money to be there whether you're doing 7.30 min laps or 12 min ones, you'd swear there was a prize for fastest lap of the day or something. Still an awesome event but more dick heads present than usual this time.
RSbandit said:
Also given there were 73 on the reserve list for the event I don't know why any places are offered to race cars in the first place
Speed differentials are always going to provide the potential for danger. There is no doubt about that.Last VLN ably demonstrated the hazard, and this with top-level professional drivers: https://www.facebook.com/nuerburgring/videos/25441...
Generally I quite like the 'buzz' of race cars passing you, flat out, but on the other hand, it can be disconcerting and even experienced track day drivers will be busy just trying to get the hang of the 'Ring for their first few trips, so I can see it might intimidate some.
Digga said:
Speed differentials are always going to provide the potential for danger. There is no doubt about that.
Last VLN ably demonstrated the hazard, and this with top-level professional drivers: https://www.facebook.com/nuerburgring/videos/25441...
Generally I quite like the 'buzz' of race cars passing you, flat out, but on the other hand, it can be disconcerting and even experienced track day drivers will be busy just trying to get the hang of the 'Ring for their first few trips, so I can see it might intimidate some.
Fully agree with all the comments so far.Last VLN ably demonstrated the hazard, and this with top-level professional drivers: https://www.facebook.com/nuerburgring/videos/25441...
Generally I quite like the 'buzz' of race cars passing you, flat out, but on the other hand, it can be disconcerting and even experienced track day drivers will be busy just trying to get the hang of the 'Ring for their first few trips, so I can see it might intimidate some.
I’m no experienced organiser, and have only praise for Darren and his DN team, but from a purely business perspective, getting new ‘inexperienced’ drivers through the pipeline is what secures future revenue and therefore the lifeblood of this enterprise. In the other hand racing teams may just be trying to get as cheap as possible access to the track, and would switch at a moments notice if more affordable comes up by any other means. Furthermore, none f the ‘inexperienced’ drivers caused any of the accidents during the two track day event. Going forwards perhaps drivers with less than X number of Ring laps could carry and L on the car and be offered extra tuition at a cost?
Happy to stand corrected though if I got anything wrong.
Boxster_racer said:
I’m no experienced organiser, and have only praise for Darren and his DN team...
Likewise, they do an excellent job.I should add that I would always try to step up and help them in instances where I think other drivers are taking the piss. Some people might not be bothered, or think it's someone else's job, but at the end of the day, if drivers are doing things that put other attendees at risk, or threaten to jeopardise the session, then it really is up to 'us' to help the organisers and marshals police the event. If they don't know they can't do anything about it.
Digga said:
ikewise, they do an excellent job.
I should add that I would always try to step up and help them in instances where I think other drivers are taking the piss. Some people might not be bothered, or think it's someone else's job, but at the end of the day, if drivers are doing things that put other attendees at risk, or threaten to jeopardise the session, then it really is up to 'us' to help the organisers and marshals police the event. If they don't know they can't do anything about it.
Absolutely, it’s the third time I enjoy DN track days, and their organisation is always getting better ! I should add that I would always try to step up and help them in instances where I think other drivers are taking the piss. Some people might not be bothered, or think it's someone else's job, but at the end of the day, if drivers are doing things that put other attendees at risk, or threaten to jeopardise the session, then it really is up to 'us' to help the organisers and marshals police the event. If they don't know they can't do anything about it.
I did try to help in identifying risky drivers, and they were very prompt in addressing the issues. I would be happy to volunteer for them if this helps DN continue to be successful in the future.
You are correct, it needs the drivers on track to report driving they feel is not acceptable on the event. That happened on Day 1 and Darren told us to speak to every driver on Friday morning explaining in no uncertain terms the fact it was a track day and certain driving standards would not be tolerated.
I`d like to think standards were much improved on Friday and we only had to speak to a very few people that day.
Whilst non of the novices may have had an incident, there was some less than ideal driving from some. Braking mid corner for no apparent reason and dropping to what felt like walking pace when they probably felt they were going too fast or not indicating to invite the train of cars behind didn`t help.
I know we all had to learn sometime, I`d like to think I`m a courteous driver and wait for the invite rather than diving up the inside, but they have to take some responsibility for the overtake, it was hard to know if they were moving out of the way to let you past or taking a weird line sometimes.
Every event is a learning experience and one of the most complained about things a few years ago was race teams. Darren took the decision to not allow them on the events after a lot of feedback. Now people complain about novices.
I don`t envy him trying to find the balance. It`s surprising how you see some situations reported aren`t quite as black and white as the drivers involved may believe.
I have to say, I had a bloody fantastic time
I`d like to think standards were much improved on Friday and we only had to speak to a very few people that day.
Whilst non of the novices may have had an incident, there was some less than ideal driving from some. Braking mid corner for no apparent reason and dropping to what felt like walking pace when they probably felt they were going too fast or not indicating to invite the train of cars behind didn`t help.
I know we all had to learn sometime, I`d like to think I`m a courteous driver and wait for the invite rather than diving up the inside, but they have to take some responsibility for the overtake, it was hard to know if they were moving out of the way to let you past or taking a weird line sometimes.
Every event is a learning experience and one of the most complained about things a few years ago was race teams. Darren took the decision to not allow them on the events after a lot of feedback. Now people complain about novices.
I don`t envy him trying to find the balance. It`s surprising how you see some situations reported aren`t quite as black and white as the drivers involved may believe.
I have to say, I had a bloody fantastic time
Digga said:
Speed differentials are always going to provide the potential for danger. There is no doubt about that.
Last VLN ably demonstrated the hazard, and this with top-level professional drivers: https://www.facebook.com/nuerburgring/videos/25441...
Generally I quite like the 'buzz' of race cars passing you, flat out, but on the other hand, it can be disconcerting and even experienced track day drivers will be busy just trying to get the hang of the 'Ring for their first few trips, so I can see it might intimidate some.
Wow incredible save from the guy in the Merc scary stuff Last VLN ably demonstrated the hazard, and this with top-level professional drivers: https://www.facebook.com/nuerburgring/videos/25441...
Generally I quite like the 'buzz' of race cars passing you, flat out, but on the other hand, it can be disconcerting and even experienced track day drivers will be busy just trying to get the hang of the 'Ring for their first few trips, so I can see it might intimidate some.
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