Will 11 yr old car fan enjoy 3 days at Nurburgring?
Discussion
I've arranged to go with a couple of mates, one who's a regular and 2 of us are 1st timers. They are both taking their lads with them and my son is also booked on to come.
When we're there he will be 3-4 weeks off his 12th birthday so I can't book us a ring taxi lap which was my plan.
I'm in 2 minds about using my own car or hiring something there, although leaning towards the latter currently. But am also nervous about taking him out on a track that I've never driven. Whilst I can take my time and build up to speed that we're both comfortable with I have no control over the other drivers around me, so wondering if this is a daft idea full stop.
So any of you that have been before and taken your car loving kids, have they enjoyed it?
When we're there he will be 3-4 weeks off his 12th birthday so I can't book us a ring taxi lap which was my plan.
I'm in 2 minds about using my own car or hiring something there, although leaning towards the latter currently. But am also nervous about taking him out on a track that I've never driven. Whilst I can take my time and build up to speed that we're both comfortable with I have no control over the other drivers around me, so wondering if this is a daft idea full stop.
So any of you that have been before and taken your car loving kids, have they enjoyed it?
antspants said:
I've arranged to go with a couple of mates, one who's a regular and 2 of us are 1st timers. They are both taking their lads with them and my son is also booked on to come.
When we're there he will be 3-4 weeks off his 12th birthday so I can't book us a ring taxi lap which was my plan.
I'm in 2 minds about using my own car or hiring something there, although leaning towards the latter currently. But am also nervous about taking him out on a track that I've never driven. Whilst I can take my time and build up to speed that we're both comfortable with I have no control over the other drivers around me, so wondering if this is a daft idea full stop.
So any of you that have been before and taken your car loving kids, have they enjoyed it?
I'm not some kind of safety weenie (I do track days, and all my own stunts), but a small child and the Ring feels like a bad idea to me. The place seems to attract a bunch of complete morons on tourist days - some have money and fast cars, some have less money and rubbish cars; but they all drive beyond their abilities.When we're there he will be 3-4 weeks off his 12th birthday so I can't book us a ring taxi lap which was my plan.
I'm in 2 minds about using my own car or hiring something there, although leaning towards the latter currently. But am also nervous about taking him out on a track that I've never driven. Whilst I can take my time and build up to speed that we're both comfortable with I have no control over the other drivers around me, so wondering if this is a daft idea full stop.
So any of you that have been before and taken your car loving kids, have they enjoyed it?
To know what the potential fallout of meeting one of these a
holes might look like, here's an hour-long compilation from 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmxthUXM2zEI don't know your kid, but if he's anything like I was at 11 years he'll love 3 days at the ring with you so long as it's not just 3 days of hanging around in a vast expanse of grey paddock. Get a museum visit in, maybe book a hotel with a pool etc etc.
Obviously we don’t know what car you will be driving and what safety provisions it has but for a little extra safety / peace of mind you could buy your boy an inexpensive full face crash helmet and a foam / karting type neck brace.
Obviously we don’t know what car you will be driving and what safety provisions it has but for a little extra safety / peace of mind you could buy your boy an inexpensive full face crash helmet and a foam / karting type neck brace.
C70R said:
I'm not some kind of safety weenie (I do track days, and all my own stunts), but a small child and the Ring feels like a bad idea to me. The place seems to attract a bunch of complete morons on tourist days - some have money and fast cars, some have less money and rubbish cars; but they all drive beyond their abilities.
To know what the potential fallout of meeting one of these aholes might look like, here's an hour-long compilation from 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmxthUXM2zE
That compilation is from 2011 - 2017 so 7 years. I haven't watched the whole thing but the first 3 of 4 crashes were races, not TF days.To know what the potential fallout of meeting one of these a
holes might look like, here's an hour-long compilation from 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmxthUXM2zEAt 11 I would have been over the moon to go. I would do it - you don't have to drive at 11/10ths and if you keep an eye on your rear view mirror you can usually spot the people to avoid way off.
C70R said:
I'm not some kind of safety weenie (I do track days, and all my own stunts), but a small child and the Ring feels like a bad idea to me. The place seems to attract a bunch of complete morons on tourist days - some have money and fast cars, some have less money and rubbish cars; but they all drive beyond their abilities.
To know what the potential fallout of meeting one of these aholes might look like, here's an hour-long compilation from 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmxthUXM2zE
To know what the potential fallout of meeting one of these a
holes might look like, here's an hour-long compilation from 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmxthUXM2zE
That BMW doing the one handed drift shortly before examining the armco.One thing I learnt on Assetto Corsa was to slow down on corners where there are large crowds. There's a reason they're all sitting there looking through their mobile phones at you.
The Moose said:
C70R said:
I'm not some kind of safety weenie (I do track days, and all my own stunts), but a small child and the Ring feels like a bad idea to me. The place seems to attract a bunch of complete morons on tourist days - some have money and fast cars, some have less money and rubbish cars; but they all drive beyond their abilities.
To know what the potential fallout of meeting one of these aholes might look like, here's an hour-long compilation from 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmxthUXM2zE
That compilation is from 2011 - 2017 so 7 years. I haven't watched the whole thing but the first 3 of 4 crashes were races, not TF days.To know what the potential fallout of meeting one of these a
holes might look like, here's an hour-long compilation from 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmxthUXM2zEAt 11 I would have been over the moon to go. I would do it - you don't have to drive at 11/10ths and if you keep an eye on your rear view mirror you can usually spot the people to avoid way off.
Just to echo what some are saying - an 11/12 year old, if with any interest in cars, would love the Nurburgring.
A tourist lap can be done at a safe easy speed with a kid properly secured in the passenger seat, keeping an eye out not only in front of you but also a keen eye on the mirrors.
As mentioned there is the museum, also there is the F1 paddock tour, many spectator points to view the track etc. etc.
If you've not driven the track before, just make sure its dry when you go out and use common road skills to judge speeds for the upcoming corners. Keeping your perceived braking distance in sight at all times.
p.s. keep an eye on kids when they are in the car park areas, some plebs like to display the "look at me" card by accelerating and stopping whilst entering/exiting the area.
A tourist lap can be done at a safe easy speed with a kid properly secured in the passenger seat, keeping an eye out not only in front of you but also a keen eye on the mirrors.
As mentioned there is the museum, also there is the F1 paddock tour, many spectator points to view the track etc. etc.
If you've not driven the track before, just make sure its dry when you go out and use common road skills to judge speeds for the upcoming corners. Keeping your perceived braking distance in sight at all times.
p.s. keep an eye on kids when they are in the car park areas, some plebs like to display the "look at me" card by accelerating and stopping whilst entering/exiting the area.
One time we went, both my friends took their sons, the youngest being a similar age.
He loved it. Came out with us all a couple of times, and was able to blag a ride with Sabine Schmitt as we were staying in her sister's hotel, Pistenklause.
That said, it was great weather and there was a lot of very exotic cars running around so he was happy being left spectating. His dad also took time away from the track to look around the F1 circuit/museum etc.
He loved it. Came out with us all a couple of times, and was able to blag a ride with Sabine Schmitt as we were staying in her sister's hotel, Pistenklause.
That said, it was great weather and there was a lot of very exotic cars running around so he was happy being left spectating. His dad also took time away from the track to look around the F1 circuit/museum etc.
Excellent, a far more positive response than I expected! I was anticipating most people asking if I was mad 
It sounds like there's enough to keep him interested if we can do a few laps over the 3 days, some spectating, museum etc. Like somebody mentioned the thought of just wandering around a car park for 3 days sounds bloody boring to me, let alone an 11 year old. Once you've seen one Porsche... However he does love cars so I'm sure will enjoy the car spotting in the paddock as well as everything that overtakes us
We're going with friends of his and mine so it's not like he's stuck on his own with 3 old farts anyway. Was just worried that as the ring taxi isn't possible and if everybody ridiculed the idea of taking him on track with me, it might be a long 3 days!
It sounds like there's enough to keep him interested if we can do a few laps over the 3 days, some spectating, museum etc. Like somebody mentioned the thought of just wandering around a car park for 3 days sounds bloody boring to me, let alone an 11 year old. Once you've seen one Porsche... However he does love cars so I'm sure will enjoy the car spotting in the paddock as well as everything that overtakes us
We're going with friends of his and mine so it's not like he's stuck on his own with 3 old farts anyway. Was just worried that as the ring taxi isn't possible and if everybody ridiculed the idea of taking him on track with me, it might be a long 3 days!
I’m not judging the safety element - I’ve been a few times and always seen the result of a few incidents but never been involved in one, I’m on the fence with respect to the safety side.
But will it hold his attention for 3 days? Plus two very long drives? I’ve ruled out taking my kids for this reason and the fact that I’d have to be even more cautious than my already cautious approach while there.
But will it hold his attention for 3 days? Plus two very long drives? I’ve ruled out taking my kids for this reason and the fact that I’d have to be even more cautious than my already cautious approach while there.
Hungrymc said:
I’m not judging the safety element - I’ve been a few times and always seen the result of a few incidents but never been involved in one, I’m on the fence with respect to the safety side.
But will it hold his attention for 3 days? Plus two very long drives? I’ve ruled out taking my kids for this reason and the fact that I’d have to be even more cautious than my already cautious approach while there.
All depends how much he is into cars.But will it hold his attention for 3 days? Plus two very long drives? I’ve ruled out taking my kids for this reason and the fact that I’d have to be even more cautious than my already cautious approach while there.
Whenever I've done a track day, there have been kids there just watching, the thrill of seeing exotic/fast cars being a huge pull. The 'ring is that on steroids.
If he's more into video games, perhaps less so.
Ares said:
All depends how much he is into cars.
Whenever I've done a track day, there have been kids there just watching, the thrill of seeing exotic/fast cars being a huge pull. The 'ring is that on steroids.
If he's more into video games, perhaps less so.
Agree to a point. I know when the weather is nice, I enjoy hanging around the paddock and setting up camp for a few hours at the more ‘exciting’ corners probably as much as driving a few laps. I know it wouldn’t hold my sons attention for long - a day would be easy, think I could get him to a couple of days but he’d be getting bored of it by then. I’d have to break the journey up as well.Whenever I've done a track day, there have been kids there just watching, the thrill of seeing exotic/fast cars being a huge pull. The 'ring is that on steroids.
If he's more into video games, perhaps less so.
Maybe my lad isn’t as into cars as most.
antspants said:
Excellent, a far more positive response than I expected! I was anticipating most people asking if I was mad
It sounds like there's enough to keep him interested if we can do a few laps over the 3 days, some spectating, museum etc. Like somebody mentioned the thought of just wandering around a car park for 3 days sounds bloody boring to me, let alone an 11 year old. Once you've seen one Porsche... However he does love cars so I'm sure will enjoy the car spotting in the paddock as well as everything that overtakes us
We're going with friends of his and mine so it's not like he's stuck on his own with 3 old farts anyway. Was just worried that as the ring taxi isn't possible and if everybody ridiculed the idea of taking him on track with me, it might be a long 3 days!
stay at the dorint overlooking the track / next to the museum - has a nice pool. Or there is a centre parcs about 6 miles from the circuit.It sounds like there's enough to keep him interested if we can do a few laps over the 3 days, some spectating, museum etc. Like somebody mentioned the thought of just wandering around a car park for 3 days sounds bloody boring to me, let alone an 11 year old. Once you've seen one Porsche... However he does love cars so I'm sure will enjoy the car spotting in the paddock as well as everything that overtakes us
We're going with friends of his and mine so it's not like he's stuck on his own with 3 old farts anyway. Was just worried that as the ring taxi isn't possible and if everybody ridiculed the idea of taking him on track with me, it might be a long 3 days!
Bennno
I took my son round on a very wet November TF when he was 13 in a Swift from Rent4Ring. I just took it very easy and was probably never past 8/10ths, which was not very quick considering how little friction there was on the 888.
But I would probably not have taken him round if I didn't know the track.
The next challenge next year is to let him drive at 18, but this will be on a track day, not TF...
OP, I assume you're aware of TF third party liability constraints ?
But I would probably not have taken him round if I didn't know the track.
The next challenge next year is to let him drive at 18, but this will be on a track day, not TF...
OP, I assume you're aware of TF third party liability constraints ?
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