Just back from the Nurburgring - Small Guide
Discussion
Great write up!
A real non-sequitor now
I did my first lap of the Ring back in 1962 when competing in Exercise Roadmaster1. A BAOR Army Driving Championship. Teams of three vehicles ...two 1/4 ton RHD Austin Champs with trailers and a 3 ton RHD 4x4 Bedford RL. The Berlin entries were in DKW Mungas and Mercedes Trucks as I recall. No LandRovers as far as I remember. The event was a blast round Germany even down into the "American Zone"., Self sufficient for 4 days and "Special events" every day (mostly navigation & cross country stuff). On the evening of day 2 two we arrived at what turned out to be the 'Ring! I had been there a few times spectating (1000km & GP) & recognised where we were! The
1/4 tonners left the trailers & when it was dark we had to do a lap of the ring at an average of 60kph (three checkpoints made by headamps shining across the road...high tech stuff) The next day we were on a 250 mile navigation run using tulips from a recent Sauerland National Rally!
Sadly the next year the Rally oriented organisers had too include other "Military" skills , so the hard core skills of navigating/timekeeping and map reading were a bit degraded in favour of more cross country and even shooting & first aid etc!
As we won the 1/4 ton class, 1st 3 tonner & team prize we were pretty pleased with ourselves & it got me into Rallying & eventually London to Sydney Marathons!
A real non-sequitor now
I did my first lap of the Ring back in 1962 when competing in Exercise Roadmaster1. A BAOR Army Driving Championship. Teams of three vehicles ...two 1/4 ton RHD Austin Champs with trailers and a 3 ton RHD 4x4 Bedford RL. The Berlin entries were in DKW Mungas and Mercedes Trucks as I recall. No LandRovers as far as I remember. The event was a blast round Germany even down into the "American Zone"., Self sufficient for 4 days and "Special events" every day (mostly navigation & cross country stuff). On the evening of day 2 two we arrived at what turned out to be the 'Ring! I had been there a few times spectating (1000km & GP) & recognised where we were! The
1/4 tonners left the trailers & when it was dark we had to do a lap of the ring at an average of 60kph (three checkpoints made by headamps shining across the road...high tech stuff) The next day we were on a 250 mile navigation run using tulips from a recent Sauerland National Rally!
Sadly the next year the Rally oriented organisers had too include other "Military" skills , so the hard core skills of navigating/timekeeping and map reading were a bit degraded in favour of more cross country and even shooting & first aid etc!
As we won the 1/4 ton class, 1st 3 tonner & team prize we were pretty pleased with ourselves & it got me into Rallying & eventually London to Sydney Marathons!
NFox said:
Ahh nice, still yet to do Spa and I really want to! Was it s track day you there or?
Yes Trackdays at both been to the Ring many times but it was my first time at Spa… I really liked Spa, Eau Rouge is a unique and v challenging corner as is Blanchimont but it’s ultimately 1/3 the length of the Ring and nothing can compare to Flugplatz-Schwedenkreuz-Foxhole …the best strip of tarmac anywhere in the world. Having said that I will definitely do Spa again as it offers something different to the Ring but as an experience well there’s only one winner . 
Nice write up.
Great photos!
I would just also add to the small guide that along with being very aware of faster and slower traffic on the 'ring, its always a good idea not to race other vehicles or to try and make it a mission to beat your lap times at any cost.
Locals at the 'ring are often on track day tyres and have also fine tuned their suspension setups and weight balance for that particular track and give them credit, they are pretty quick in even the most bland looking cars that they take on there.
With regards to timing your own laps, this adds a new level to how you approach the track, and I would say that it does focus the mind a bit more when you go for a lap time, but if you do choose to do that then never put yourself in to the position that you feel you are having to push your limits or enter in to a risky pass or anything like that.
Timing your laps by only going say 7 or 8/10ths, you will still naturally build up speed as you become familiar with the track and traffic. You will naturally find places where you can keep your foot in, and minimise those braking zones, along with increasing your corner speed and it can all be done relatively safely as long as you are not feeling that you have to push yourself or having a desire that you must keep up with the car ahead.
The mistake I see a lot out there is people thinking they have to push to their limits to get a 'respectable' or 'representative' lap time, and this all too frequently leads to a very expensive visit, where some also find themselves facing legal action that can last years. Its just not worth that sort of risk for what is at the end of the day, nothing that anyone is going to write home about.
So just go there to enjoy the place, the atmosphere, the like minded people, the cars, the scenery the local roads as mentioned in the OP, and the beer!
It is an amazing place and there is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.
Great photos!
I would just also add to the small guide that along with being very aware of faster and slower traffic on the 'ring, its always a good idea not to race other vehicles or to try and make it a mission to beat your lap times at any cost.
Locals at the 'ring are often on track day tyres and have also fine tuned their suspension setups and weight balance for that particular track and give them credit, they are pretty quick in even the most bland looking cars that they take on there.
With regards to timing your own laps, this adds a new level to how you approach the track, and I would say that it does focus the mind a bit more when you go for a lap time, but if you do choose to do that then never put yourself in to the position that you feel you are having to push your limits or enter in to a risky pass or anything like that.
Timing your laps by only going say 7 or 8/10ths, you will still naturally build up speed as you become familiar with the track and traffic. You will naturally find places where you can keep your foot in, and minimise those braking zones, along with increasing your corner speed and it can all be done relatively safely as long as you are not feeling that you have to push yourself or having a desire that you must keep up with the car ahead.
The mistake I see a lot out there is people thinking they have to push to their limits to get a 'respectable' or 'representative' lap time, and this all too frequently leads to a very expensive visit, where some also find themselves facing legal action that can last years. Its just not worth that sort of risk for what is at the end of the day, nothing that anyone is going to write home about.
So just go there to enjoy the place, the atmosphere, the like minded people, the cars, the scenery the local roads as mentioned in the OP, and the beer!
It is an amazing place and there is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.
Tyre Smoke said:
I'm only down the road from you (relatively speaking) in Devon. Sadly the Cerbera was sold in 2011 because she just wasn't getting enough use. Thought I'd scratched the TVR itch having had a Chimaera and a Cerbera. Fast forward to 2021 and in Cullompton Tesco filling station was a Chimaera. Fatal!
A few weeks later I'd bought this...
If you ever fancy a beer, let me know!
Sorry for the thread hi-jack. I'm pretty sure you bought that TVR off my Dad recently, as I recognise the plate, and I recall him saying it ended up in Devon. Did you collect it from Biggin Hill, Kent?A few weeks later I'd bought this...
If you ever fancy a beer, let me know!
OP - great write up. I've done the trip 4 times now, twice in my E46 M3 at the time, and then twice in my Meg R26. Also staying at the Lindner resort and stockpiling the kitchen from the local REWE supermarket. Did a hotel stay on one of the trips, and really didn't like it anywhere near as much!
christhreadgill said:
Sorry for the thread hi-jack. I'm pretty sure you bought that TVR off my Dad recently, as I recognise the plate, and I recall him saying it ended up in Devon. Did you collect it from Biggin Hill, Kent?
OP - great write up. I've done the trip 4 times now, twice in my E46 M3 at the time, and then twice in my Meg R26. Also staying at the Lindner resort and stockpiling the kitchen from the local REWE supermarket. Did a hotel stay on one of the trips, and really didn't like it anywhere near as much!
Sorry for the late reply. Yes, I did buy it from your dad. But I picked it up from the garage in London. OP - great write up. I've done the trip 4 times now, twice in my E46 M3 at the time, and then twice in my Meg R26. Also staying at the Lindner resort and stockpiling the kitchen from the local REWE supermarket. Did a hotel stay on one of the trips, and really didn't like it anywhere near as much!
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