Nurburgring solo
Discussion
ecain63 said:
I've done the Ring solo a few times. If you ask me, it's usually easier and smoother than relying on your compadres to be on time and in the right place.
Yes, 'convoys' can feel like herding cats, although the highlights - going through tunnels or blatting down clear stretches of de-restricted autobahn - are often worth the hassle.I'd done both at 'Ring and can honestly say it's fine solo. Do not let that stop you from experiencing the place, because it will feel like a home from home to you, very quickly.
Would one of your mates hop in as a passenger rather than driving their car across or just don't fancy it at all?
I've done it mostly as a group of cars but also with my girlfriend and you can make it into more of a holiday that includes track days rather than being just a track day... She's probably now done more trackdays than most PH'ers and enjoys the trips, finding a nice small town off the motorway for lunch and a nice hotel definitely helps!
I've never done a ring trip solo but have done UK tracks solo. During the day I wouldn't worry about it at all, loads of people to chat to and everyone is happy to talk cars or trackdays... The evenings could be a bit of a concern as the social side over beers can be a massive part of the trip for me. Generally I think it's one of the best places there is to have a few beers talking cars with people you've never met but this may not happen every night etc. That said, I now do most trackdays and trips with people I've met at other trackdays and through trips etc. so it's a great way to meet like minded people!
I'm on the circuitdays event on 1st July but I think it may have sold out now...
I've done it mostly as a group of cars but also with my girlfriend and you can make it into more of a holiday that includes track days rather than being just a track day... She's probably now done more trackdays than most PH'ers and enjoys the trips, finding a nice small town off the motorway for lunch and a nice hotel definitely helps!
I've never done a ring trip solo but have done UK tracks solo. During the day I wouldn't worry about it at all, loads of people to chat to and everyone is happy to talk cars or trackdays... The evenings could be a bit of a concern as the social side over beers can be a massive part of the trip for me. Generally I think it's one of the best places there is to have a few beers talking cars with people you've never met but this may not happen every night etc. That said, I now do most trackdays and trips with people I've met at other trackdays and through trips etc. so it's a great way to meet like minded people!
I'm on the circuitdays event on 1st July but I think it may have sold out now...
I have a few questions, as I'm a complete novice about the 'Ring:
(1) How much does it cost?
(2) How does the insurance work?
(3) What do they do with the wrecks they pick up from time to time?
Sorry if these answers are buried in the threads somewhere, but I haven't been able to find them ..
(1) How much does it cost?
(2) How does the insurance work?
(3) What do they do with the wrecks they pick up from time to time?
Sorry if these answers are buried in the threads somewhere, but I haven't been able to find them ..
M4cruiser said:
I have a few questions, as I'm a complete novice about the 'Ring:
(1) How much does it cost?
(2) How does the insurance work?
(3) What do they do with the wrecks they pick up from time to time?
Sorry if these answers are buried in the threads somewhere, but I haven't been able to find them ..
It's actually hard to search for the circuit's website. It gets a bit lost on Google, but some good general advice and info here: https://www.nuerburgring.de/driving/touristdrives(1) How much does it cost?
(2) How does the insurance work?
(3) What do they do with the wrecks they pick up from time to time?
Sorry if these answers are buried in the threads somewhere, but I haven't been able to find them ..
1.) Between 25 and 30 Euros per lap in touristenfahrten. Or from about £500 per day on a closed trackday.
2.) You have none on touristenfahrten, at all. You can buy trackday cover, but generally still pay for wrecked armco.
3.) You will not get your car back until you settle the recovery and armco bill. It is impounded.
Digga said:
2.) You have none on touristenfahrten, at all. You can buy trackday cover, but generally still pay for wrecked armco.
And even more crucially you don't effectively have any cover against any third party claimant in a UK insured car on TF.Unless things have changed over the past 3/4 years ?
Digga said:
M4cruiser said:
I have a few questions, as I'm a complete novice about the 'Ring:
(1) How much does it cost?
(2) How does the insurance work?
(3) What do they do with the wrecks they pick up from time to time?
Sorry if these answers are buried in the threads somewhere, but I haven't been able to find them ..
It's actually hard to search for the circuit's website. It gets a bit lost on Google, but some good general advice and info here: https://www.nuerburgring.de/driving/touristdrives(1) How much does it cost?
(2) How does the insurance work?
(3) What do they do with the wrecks they pick up from time to time?
Sorry if these answers are buried in the threads somewhere, but I haven't been able to find them ..
1.) Between 25 and 30 Euros per lap in touristenfahrten. Or from about £500 per day on a closed trackday.
2.) You have none on touristenfahrten, at all. You can buy trackday cover, but generally still pay for wrecked armco.
3.) You will not get your car back until you settle the recovery and armco bill. It is impounded.
I have browsed that link you kindly supplied, and on a quick look it seems the cost (in your own car) is as you say (25 to 30) but you can also rent a car (Golf / Porsche / Mercedes) for a price.
1 lap in a Golf is 289 Euros but with a 10,000 Euro excess on the insurance
If you pay more (488) the excess reduces to 5,000.
One of the many YouTubes shows someone wrecking their Rental Scirocco. That would be expensive.
Our group of 7 has gone to the Ring (apart from last year) for the past 11 years. We drive solo but as a group.
A few tips/comments
1. Adenau is the best place to stay. Pinnocios offers great value food. Their accommodation & parking is very basic. Good good and atmosphere at Sabine's (R.I.P.)Mums place: Pistenclause in Nurburg.
2. Blau Eckerle (Adenau) is comfortable, good parking, it's close to Pinnocios.
3. A typical TF day will have a mix of cars from the school run, town runabouts to the wall poster 'icons'. Driver skills are also of a similar variance.
4. "WTf"! reaction after first ever passenger ride. The speed at which cars appear from nowhere and overtake is very scary. Keep right with your indicator on if you're apprehensive about your first solo drive.
5. "OMG"! after first track-day lap. I drove the wrong car (too heavy) that day but it was a true adrenaline rush and emerged unscathed.
6. You will find that even (there are exceptions - they're the precious ones who park in the middle of two spaces) those with serious metal and carbon are very approachable & chatty and will gladly take passengers (at your own risk).
7. Experience on a racing game will help you learn the track- but it's no substitute for the real thing. Furthermore, having an experienced Ringer as a passenger can really help too. There are also some great 'how to' videos on the web.
8. Visit Cochem, if just for the drive.
9. A trip to the Ring is a definite must do bucket list thing. I've met many who have said I'd love to do the Ring. Do it! Life is not a dress rehearsal.
10. When you do get to, DRIVE WITHIN YOUR LIMITS. Drive the Ring like a country road you don't know. Don't time yourself and build up your speed as your track knowledge expands. This knowledge will take many laps to acquire. Be patient and enjoy yourself! It's one of the best things you can do with your clothes on. 😂
A few tips/comments
1. Adenau is the best place to stay. Pinnocios offers great value food. Their accommodation & parking is very basic. Good good and atmosphere at Sabine's (R.I.P.)Mums place: Pistenclause in Nurburg.
2. Blau Eckerle (Adenau) is comfortable, good parking, it's close to Pinnocios.
3. A typical TF day will have a mix of cars from the school run, town runabouts to the wall poster 'icons'. Driver skills are also of a similar variance.
4. "WTf"! reaction after first ever passenger ride. The speed at which cars appear from nowhere and overtake is very scary. Keep right with your indicator on if you're apprehensive about your first solo drive.
5. "OMG"! after first track-day lap. I drove the wrong car (too heavy) that day but it was a true adrenaline rush and emerged unscathed.
6. You will find that even (there are exceptions - they're the precious ones who park in the middle of two spaces) those with serious metal and carbon are very approachable & chatty and will gladly take passengers (at your own risk).
7. Experience on a racing game will help you learn the track- but it's no substitute for the real thing. Furthermore, having an experienced Ringer as a passenger can really help too. There are also some great 'how to' videos on the web.
8. Visit Cochem, if just for the drive.
9. A trip to the Ring is a definite must do bucket list thing. I've met many who have said I'd love to do the Ring. Do it! Life is not a dress rehearsal.
10. When you do get to, DRIVE WITHIN YOUR LIMITS. Drive the Ring like a country road you don't know. Don't time yourself and build up your speed as your track knowledge expands. This knowledge will take many laps to acquire. Be patient and enjoy yourself! It's one of the best things you can do with your clothes on. 😂
Jambon said:
Our group of 7 has gone to the Ring (apart from last year) for the past 11 years. We drive solo but as a group.
A few tips/comments
1. Adenau is the best place to stay. Pinnocios offers great value food. Their accommodation & parking is very basic. Good good and atmosphere at Sabine's (R.I.P.)Mums place: Pistenclause in Nurburg.
2. Blau Eckerle (Adenau) is comfortable, good parking, it's close to Pinnocios.
3. A typical TF day will have a mix of cars from the school run, town runabouts to the wall poster 'icons'. Driver skills are also of a similar variance.
4. "WTf"! reaction after first ever passenger ride. The speed at which cars appear from nowhere and overtake is very scary. Keep right with your indicator on if you're apprehensive about your first solo drive.
5. "OMG"! after first track-day lap. I drove the wrong car (too heavy) that day but it was a true adrenaline rush and emerged unscathed.
6. You will find that even (there are exceptions - they're the precious ones who park in the middle of two spaces) those with serious metal and carbon are very approachable & chatty and will gladly take passengers (at your own risk).
7. Experience on a racing game will help you learn the track- but it's no substitute for the real thing. Furthermore, having an experienced Ringer as a passenger can really help too. There are also some great 'how to' videos on the web.
8. Visit Cochem, if just for the drive.
9. A trip to the Ring is a definite must do bucket list thing. I've met many who have said I'd love to do the Ring. Do it! Life is not a dress rehearsal.
10. When you do get to, DRIVE WITHIN YOUR LIMITS. Drive the Ring like a country road you don't know. Don't time yourself and build up your speed as your track knowledge expands. This knowledge will take many laps to acquire. Be patient and enjoy yourself! It's one of the best things you can do with your clothes on. ??
I must say your post has lit a small fire in me that makes me want to do it. Especially point 10, sticking to that way of thinking takes a lot of my fear away of binning the car. A few tips/comments
1. Adenau is the best place to stay. Pinnocios offers great value food. Their accommodation & parking is very basic. Good good and atmosphere at Sabine's (R.I.P.)Mums place: Pistenclause in Nurburg.
2. Blau Eckerle (Adenau) is comfortable, good parking, it's close to Pinnocios.
3. A typical TF day will have a mix of cars from the school run, town runabouts to the wall poster 'icons'. Driver skills are also of a similar variance.
4. "WTf"! reaction after first ever passenger ride. The speed at which cars appear from nowhere and overtake is very scary. Keep right with your indicator on if you're apprehensive about your first solo drive.
5. "OMG"! after first track-day lap. I drove the wrong car (too heavy) that day but it was a true adrenaline rush and emerged unscathed.
6. You will find that even (there are exceptions - they're the precious ones who park in the middle of two spaces) those with serious metal and carbon are very approachable & chatty and will gladly take passengers (at your own risk).
7. Experience on a racing game will help you learn the track- but it's no substitute for the real thing. Furthermore, having an experienced Ringer as a passenger can really help too. There are also some great 'how to' videos on the web.
8. Visit Cochem, if just for the drive.
9. A trip to the Ring is a definite must do bucket list thing. I've met many who have said I'd love to do the Ring. Do it! Life is not a dress rehearsal.
10. When you do get to, DRIVE WITHIN YOUR LIMITS. Drive the Ring like a country road you don't know. Don't time yourself and build up your speed as your track knowledge expands. This knowledge will take many laps to acquire. Be patient and enjoy yourself! It's one of the best things you can do with your clothes on. ??
UTH said:
I must say your post has lit a small fire in me that makes me want to do it. Especially point 10, sticking to that way of thinking takes a lot of my fear away of binning the car.
One minor point to remember, the surfaces are pretty un-grippy, especially in the wet. If you're mindful of this, it is less of a surprise.This applies also to the newly resurfaced bits, which they try to 'match' because they deliberately do not want too much contrast.
Digga said:
UTH said:
I must say your post has lit a small fire in me that makes me want to do it. Especially point 10, sticking to that way of thinking takes a lot of my fear away of binning the car.
One minor point to remember, the surfaces are pretty un-grippy, especially in the wet. If you're mindful of this, it is less of a surprise.This applies also to the newly resurfaced bits, which they try to 'match' because they deliberately do not want too much contrast.
M4cruiser said:
Ok, thank you Digga.
I have browsed that link you kindly supplied, and on a quick look it seems the cost (in your own car) is as you say (25 to 30) but you can also rent a car (Golf / Porsche / Mercedes) for a price.
1 lap in a Golf is 289 Euros but with a 10,000 Euro excess on the insurance
If you pay more (488) the excess reduces to 5,000.
One of the many YouTubes shows someone wrecking their Rental Scirocco. That would be expensive.
When my friends and I have gone we've always found the Rent4Ring Swifts with the lowered excess has been the cheapest option. Do 5+ laps and the amortised costs are much better. You can rent it for the day with x laps included and see how you go. It's what I'd recommend. I have browsed that link you kindly supplied, and on a quick look it seems the cost (in your own car) is as you say (25 to 30) but you can also rent a car (Golf / Porsche / Mercedes) for a price.
1 lap in a Golf is 289 Euros but with a 10,000 Euro excess on the insurance
If you pay more (488) the excess reduces to 5,000.
One of the many YouTubes shows someone wrecking their Rental Scirocco. That would be expensive.
UTH said:
Digga said:
UTH said:
I must say your post has lit a small fire in me that makes me want to do it. Especially point 10, sticking to that way of thinking takes a lot of my fear away of binning the car.
One minor point to remember, the surfaces are pretty un-grippy, especially in the wet. If you're mindful of this, it is less of a surprise.This applies also to the newly resurfaced bits, which they try to 'match' because they deliberately do not want too much contrast.
Digga said:
UTH said:
Digga said:
UTH said:
I must say your post has lit a small fire in me that makes me want to do it. Especially point 10, sticking to that way of thinking takes a lot of my fear away of binning the car.
One minor point to remember, the surfaces are pretty un-grippy, especially in the wet. If you're mindful of this, it is less of a surprise.This applies also to the newly resurfaced bits, which they try to 'match' because they deliberately do not want too much contrast.
This thread has been superuseful
I am definitely going to plan a trip.
One of the questions I do have though is whether TF, in and of itself, is a worthwhile experience?
Having read the posts I am inclined to just book a proper full trackday, maybe get insurance, and just avoid the terrible drivers; but would I be missing out part of the experience if I do that?
I am definitely going to plan a trip.
One of the questions I do have though is whether TF, in and of itself, is a worthwhile experience?
Having read the posts I am inclined to just book a proper full trackday, maybe get insurance, and just avoid the terrible drivers; but would I be missing out part of the experience if I do that?
Plenty of people do TF at own risk and have no issues. You can certainly do it at lower pace - keeping right and indicating right and watching mirrors.
A track day is another level altogether but I would get plenty of UK track experience first. It is absolutely the last place to learn how to drive well on circuit. Plenty of tracks have risky corners and awkward bits, but at the Ring, there are lots and many are approached blind.
A track day is another level altogether but I would get plenty of UK track experience first. It is absolutely the last place to learn how to drive well on circuit. Plenty of tracks have risky corners and awkward bits, but at the Ring, there are lots and many are approached blind.
Digga said:
Plenty of people do TF at own risk and have no issues. You can certainly do it at lower pace - keeping right and indicating right and watching mirrors.
A track day is another level altogether but I would get plenty of UK track experience first. It is absolutely the last place to learn how to drive well on circuit. Plenty of tracks have risky corners and awkward bits, but at the Ring, there are lots and many are approached blind.
I would agree to some degree. However I have known many people that have never driven on a race track in their lives prior to rocking up to a trackday on the Nordschleife. Yes I get to instruct some of them from anything from a 30 minute stint right upto guys that book me for a full day. Nearly all of them have a great time, as do the vast majority that do not opt for any help. The main thing that keeps these people safe is just accepting their level of knowledge is nothing or next to nothing about the place, and taking their time to enjoy learning what goes where. Normally it’s the guys with experience that crash as they have some experience and feel they are now invincible from making errors or not heeding the signs/conditions presented to them while on track. A track day is another level altogether but I would get plenty of UK track experience first. It is absolutely the last place to learn how to drive well on circuit. Plenty of tracks have risky corners and awkward bits, but at the Ring, there are lots and many are approached blind.
Z4MCSL said:
One of the questions I do have though is whether TF, in and of itself, is a worthwhile experience?
The important thing is to understand the full extent of the third party liability in a UK Reg car and the potentially huge uninsured losses (which a surprisingly small number of people do, probably including on this thread).It's effectively huge and technically they could come after all your assets, however small the risk is (or was as I don't know the current status, it would be good to hear from AGT Law).
NO Trackday experience. 1st ever track day I though what the hell! Give it a go! I was one of those. I just rocked up and paid my monies and stuck a big L on my boot at a 75degrer angle for optimum visual impact. A friend passengerd - he knew what lay over the brow or around each corner & gave me warning instructions on what to do. Had a close shave on one tricky corner but was unscathed after whole day. It was tiring but fun. My motor at the time was a V10 RS6. 😎
Z4MCSL said:
This thread has been superuseful
I am definitely going to plan a trip.
One of the questions I do have though is whether TF, in and of itself, is a worthwhile experience?
Having read the posts I am inclined to just book a proper full trackday, maybe get insurance, and just avoid the terrible drivers; but would I be missing out part of the experience if I do that?
I think that no 'ring experience & a' ring track day as yr 1st laps is a bit daft, it happens of course & on the face of it on is a calmer & far less busy environment to learn vs a sometimes mental TF, but the pace can be a lot lot faster than TF & drivers not expecting folks they are approaching to have no clue what lies ahead. I am definitely going to plan a trip.
One of the questions I do have though is whether TF, in and of itself, is a worthwhile experience?
Having read the posts I am inclined to just book a proper full trackday, maybe get insurance, and just avoid the terrible drivers; but would I be missing out part of the experience if I do that?
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