Nurburgring 2018

Author
Discussion

doogalman

701 posts

244 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
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e30m3Mark said:
Forgive me if this sounds daft, but is using a computer game (Project Cars) accurate enough to be helpful in trying to learn the corners?
I instruct at the Ring & Spa for Circuit days and many other companies. Video games nowadays can and do offer some usefull content. It can give you a good idea of what the track is like and when you first drive the track it can help you familierise with the surrounding quicker. But saying that it can also prove of no use. I have instructed people that have driven 1000's of virtual laps and were completely lost on their 1st real driving lap.
Also many 1st timers can and do rock up in their pride and joy and learn the basics of the track very quickly with no gaming experience. Tuition is still the best leg up to get to know and understand the quirks and foibles of the track.
People often go the rent a car route, but in my mind on a trackday driving another car other than your own can work for some but most people really do get on well with their own car that they know intimately.
On a side note if anyone is after somewhere to stay for the ring events. I have two guestrooms 11 miles south of the track. PM for details.
Roy

doogalman

701 posts

244 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
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kiethton said:
Watching with interest - very much considering the September DN dates (cost dependent). Was also looking at instruction - would ~5 laps be enough (split into 3 to learn the basics and 2 more later on to improve)?

Only other worry is the car, insurance sorted easily enough, but would a NA S2 Exige suffer on some of the long straights at the ring?

Any instruction is usefull, Best instruction you can get is with an instructor sat in with you to discuss what needs discussing. Instruction on DN I believe is on a lead follow arrangement. You may want to send an email to Darren at DN to discuss.
As for car. The Exige is a great car in what ever form it is. Spent many days instructing at the Ring in Exiges. Trust me it will be more that adequate. As for the long straights, don't worry there's only really 1 long straight and you may want to use that as a breathing space to ease off and take in the shear spectacle that the track is. Or you may just want to go for it, but the bulk of the track is handling and technical rather than horsepower. I always say there is more fun to be had in a good handling package rather than one that has too much power, especially if new to the place. You will be taking scalps in your n/a Exige !-)

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
quotequote all
doogalman said:
kiethton said:
Watching with interest - very much considering the September DN dates (cost dependent). Was also looking at instruction - would ~5 laps be enough (split into 3 to learn the basics and 2 more later on to improve)?

Only other worry is the car, insurance sorted easily enough, but would a NA S2 Exige suffer on some of the long straights at the ring?

Any instruction is usefull, Best instruction you can get is with an instructor sat in with you to discuss what needs discussing. Instruction on DN I believe is on a lead follow arrangement. You may want to send an email to Darren at DN to discuss.
As for car. The Exige is a great car in what ever form it is. Spent many days instructing at the Ring in Exiges. Trust me it will be more that adequate. As for the long straights, don't worry there's only really 1 long straight and you may want to use that as a breathing space to ease off and take in the shear spectacle that the track is. Or you may just want to go for it, but the bulk of the track is handling and technical rather than horsepower. I always say there is more fun to be had in a good handling package rather than one that has too much power, especially if new to the place. You will be taking scalps in your n/a Exige !-)
Thanks, really coming around to this now. Just pinged off an e-mail to Darren now, hopefully it'll be allowed and if so I'll sign up this week smile

Digga

40,206 posts

282 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
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DN19 booked. thumbup

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
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Jamonit said:
Excuse my ignorance Ben but was the Cayman R the only mid engined of the set ? I only ask because my Cayman GTS gave me confidence from the first time I tracked it .

I've sold it now and will be replacing it with the GT3 soon .No doubt it will present me with a fresh set of questions / challenges !

Rob .
Hi Rob, as well as the Cayman R, the following are mid-engined: Audi R8 V10, McLaren MP4-12C, and Cayman GT4, so I've actually driven more mid-engined cars around the Ring than another other configuration! Ben

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
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I've just booked #RINGMEISTERS #DNEvents for 27 & 28 August 2018 as a Christmas present to myself!

Lindner Casino hotel booked out though on those dates strangely...

Jamonit

41 posts

76 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
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Hi Ben , I've tried to book to these dates on line but keep getting a message saying the're not open for booking yet ? Help !

ringweekends

616 posts

252 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
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Ladies - apologies for any inconvenience.

The spangly bespoke booking app had a mild case of brainfarts late this afternoon.
Steve the dev is looking at it now but we've taken everything offline while he's in his safe space.

I'll post back when we're happy it's working as intended.

Cheers
Darren

ringweekends

616 posts

252 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
quotequote all
baronbennyt said:
I've just booked #RINGMEISTERS #DNEvents for 27 & 28 August 2018 as a Christmas present to myself!

Lindner Casino hotel booked out though on those dates strangely...
There's the EDM New Horizons dance music festival on over the weekend prior, so the place will be crawling with artists and fluffers I'd imagine.

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
quotequote all
Jamonit said:
Hi Ben , I've tried to book to these dates on line but keep getting a message saying the're not open for booking yet ? Help !
Hi Rob, try ringing the Lindner Hotel. If you don’t get any luck there then try Hotel Zur Burg, that’s where I’m staying. Even closer to the circuit but pretty basic. Still, it’s clean and has en suite, a restaurant and a bar, which is all you need! Ben

http://www.nuerburgring-hotel.de/index.php/en/



baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
quotequote all
ringweekends said:
There's the EDM New Horizons dance music festival on over the weekend prior, so the place will be crawling with artists and fluffers I'd imagine.
How random! Still, we shouldn’t be too bothered by that crew around the circuit’s bars and restaurants I suppose.

Jamonit

41 posts

76 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
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Hi Ben , my problem is trying to book the Ringmeisters . The site says bookings opening shortly , but I understand you've already booked ? Perhaps I'm doing something wrong - never was much good with admin !

ringweekends

616 posts

252 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
quotequote all
Jamonit said:
Hi Ben , my problem is trying to book the Ringmeisters . The site says bookings opening shortly , but I understand you've already booked ? Perhaps I'm doing something wrong - never was much good with admin !
As mentioned above - we had the new booking system online for 30 minutes or so, during which Ben and Marcus placed orders.
Then, we found a couple of bugs and I took the system offline while the developer took a look at it.

I don't anticipate the system being available until late tomorrow evening - the API for the payment processor has changed slightly and borked our workflow. For the sake of another day offline we've elected to get it right, and test it again before relaunching.

I'll post back here when it's ready and back online.

Cheers
Darren

Jamonit

41 posts

76 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
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Thanks Darren . Will try again tomorrow night . Rob Gill .

ringweekends

616 posts

252 months

Wednesday 13th December 2017
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Jamonit said:
Thanks Darren . Will try again tomorrow night . Rob Gill .
Rob, I’ll email you when it’s good to go.

Cheers
Darren

CedricN

819 posts

144 months

Thursday 14th December 2017
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e30m3Mark said:
Forgive me if this sounds daft, but is using a computer game (Project Cars) accurate enough to be helpful in trying to learn the corners?
Absolutely, it will cut down the learning phase significantly. As long as you have the respect for the course when you get there and increase the speed progressively.

I also recommend the swifts, they are just so much fun. And have reasonable costs if you smash them. People tend to forget that the faster cars you can rent may have 8-13k euro in insurance costs if you are unlucky, thats some serious dough to dig up at the desk. Accidents can happen so easy, a bit of oil on the track and that's it.

I think you can get some good laps at TF aswell, just be there when it opens in the morning. You often get 2 good hours before the madness starts, then its better to be at the trackside or mountain bike around the track.

It took some laps before i could hold the pedal to the metal though fuchsröhre, that feeling is incredible even if you are in a swift smile

e30m3Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Thursday 14th December 2017
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Thanks for the replies re virtual laps. I have a couple of hours to myself today so might have to see how I get on. smile

Are there any hire companies that have older cars, like E30 or E36's? If I was to hire a car I would just like it to be something a little closer to my own.

iguana

7,025 posts

259 months

Thursday 14th December 2017
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Ref the Scirocco, on tf or a TD? I assume tf, he would have had to have insurance as a German car on a public road, cops could have helped.



Ref e36s yes are a few rentals round.
Jacos paddock used to dunno if still do & ringfreaks & need for ring & racers retreat

Edited by iguana on Thursday 14th December 12:49

Chris_OB

42 posts

75 months

Thursday 14th December 2017
quotequote all
iguana said:
Ref the Scirocco, on tf or a TD? I assume tf, he would have had to have insurance as a German car on a public road, cops could have helped.



Ref e36s yes are a few rentals round.
Jacos paddock used to dunno if still do & ringfreaks & need for ring & racers retreat

Edited by iguana on Thursday 14th December 12:49
TF.

I, very very stupidly, didn't get the police involved.

doogalman

701 posts

244 months

Thursday 14th December 2017
quotequote all
e30m3Mark said:
Thanks for the replies re virtual laps. I have a couple of hours to myself today so might have to see how I get on. smile

Are there any hire companies that have older cars, like E30 or E36's? If I was to hire a car I would just like it to be something a little closer to my own.
Yes "Ring freaks" they are based a few miles away and have E36's on their fleet. I know a few of the guys that work there and the cars are really well set up for the ring and well prepared.

http://www.ringfreaks.de/



Edited by doogalman on Thursday 14th December 13:17