1st trip to the ring, nervous as hell!!
Discussion
So my wonderful other half has arranged for me to go to the ring next week as a birthday present! So excited but completly bricking it as
1. Never drove abroad
2. Never been on track
3. Loads of what ifs....breakdown/crashes etc.
Going with my brother who as been several times now so thats good, in his words "stop being a drama queen, it will be fine"
My car is not what you would call "at home on the track", '98 328i Touring......Auto!! Serviced last week, going in tomorrow for rear pads, alternator belt and tiny leak on the power steering. Is there anything else i should be checking/replacing??
Plan is 2 laps (1 each), get my sticker, thank the lord the car is in 1 piece and hopefully dont see a thread on here about slow ass drivers causing mayhem on the ring lol. We also have talked about walking the entire way round as the scenery is awesome apparently. Any other must do's while i'm there????
1. Never drove abroad
2. Never been on track
3. Loads of what ifs....breakdown/crashes etc.
Going with my brother who as been several times now so thats good, in his words "stop being a drama queen, it will be fine"
My car is not what you would call "at home on the track", '98 328i Touring......Auto!! Serviced last week, going in tomorrow for rear pads, alternator belt and tiny leak on the power steering. Is there anything else i should be checking/replacing??
Plan is 2 laps (1 each), get my sticker, thank the lord the car is in 1 piece and hopefully dont see a thread on here about slow ass drivers causing mayhem on the ring lol. We also have talked about walking the entire way round as the scenery is awesome apparently. Any other must do's while i'm there????
http://www.am-tiergarten.de/en/restaurant_nuerburg...
You must have steak on a stone, 5 mins drive from the ring.
Just enjoy yourself, its not a race against the clock, take it easy and you will be fine.
Read the rules of the ring before you go out.
The new museum is very good and is worth a look.
You would be better off buying your lap tickets in bulk, if its your first trip go for 5 laps, if you enjoy it, get some more!!!
You must have steak on a stone, 5 mins drive from the ring.
Just enjoy yourself, its not a race against the clock, take it easy and you will be fine.
Read the rules of the ring before you go out.
The new museum is very good and is worth a look.
You would be better off buying your lap tickets in bulk, if its your first trip go for 5 laps, if you enjoy it, get some more!!!
Just enjoy it at your own pace.The driving abroad thing you'll get over long before you make it to the 'ring. Takes most people a few minutes IME.
Read up on what you should have in the car WRT spare bulbs, hi vis etc, and other than that just relax! Don't get red mist, be prepared to get overtaken a lot, drive at your own pace and keep cool. Take a break once in a while and make sure you keep to the right to let people past.
There's nothing to it, bloody good fun.
Read up on what you should have in the car WRT spare bulbs, hi vis etc, and other than that just relax! Don't get red mist, be prepared to get overtaken a lot, drive at your own pace and keep cool. Take a break once in a while and make sure you keep to the right to let people past.
There's nothing to it, bloody good fun.
First time I went to the'Ring, I stayed in a hotel near Ex Muhle and was rather shocked at how steep the track was. In fairness, I was a wee bit scared, not helped by the fact it was Manufacturers' test week and the cars were being maxed, making it look all the more scary. However once people start turning up for the Tourist Fahrt, there's a real sense of excitement (tension?) in the air, and I just had to give it a go. Was it worth it: **YES**!! Just enjoy the track but keep a very close eye on your mirrors.
As per comments above, ensure you get yourself to the Pistonklause for a steak-on-the-stone, and generally mingle with other petrolheads.
Regarding walking around the track, how much time have you got? I walked from Ex Muhle up to Flugplatz, including stops to enjoy the cars razzing by, and it took a good 2-3 hours. Oh, and be careful for ticks, especially if walking through grassy fields. I had jeans on, but still had a bugger implant himself in my shin. A trip to the Doctors was required the next day.
As per comments above, ensure you get yourself to the Pistonklause for a steak-on-the-stone, and generally mingle with other petrolheads.
Regarding walking around the track, how much time have you got? I walked from Ex Muhle up to Flugplatz, including stops to enjoy the cars razzing by, and it took a good 2-3 hours. Oh, and be careful for ticks, especially if walking through grassy fields. I had jeans on, but still had a bugger implant himself in my shin. A trip to the Doctors was required the next day.
thanks for the responses, feel alot happier now. Will check out that steak place, sounds great. As for walking, we have 2 full days so hopefully wil fit it in. By the way if you see a blue 3 series touring on the 9th/10th June, PH sticker in the rear window, kinda going a bit slow, with the driver gripping the steering wheel muttering "its not bloody like the game", that will be me lol, give us a wave (not the middle finger one).
Going with someone who is 'seasoned' will help a lot with the smaller day-to-day things. If you've never driven on track before, just obey the cardinal rules (eyes on mirrors and pull over to the right and indicate if you're not comfortable with the speed) and you'll be fine.
It's always tough for a first-timer as you're trying to take everything in as well as (for the most part) being conscientious and aware of those around you.
It's a spectacular place full of spectacular sights. Forget what other people may or may not be thinking. Keep yourself within your limits and I guarantee you will have an experience that you will never forget for all the right reasons.
As mentioned, the Pistenklause has to be visited. It's run by the Schmitz Family (as in Sabine Schmitz of the ring-taxi fame) and their Argentinian steak on a stone is fantastic. On the main road in Nuerburg village - just up from the M Testcentre is the Motorsport cafe. It's a nice spot for late night drinks and there's a great pizza parlour next door, too.
It's also worth dropping down into Breidscheid (the alternate entry to the 'ring) as there's plenty of cafes and bars for a change of scenery. The roads between here and the main entrance are superb and are well worth a drive themselves.
Enjoy it, be safe and be sure to let us know how you get on.
It's always tough for a first-timer as you're trying to take everything in as well as (for the most part) being conscientious and aware of those around you.
It's a spectacular place full of spectacular sights. Forget what other people may or may not be thinking. Keep yourself within your limits and I guarantee you will have an experience that you will never forget for all the right reasons.
As mentioned, the Pistenklause has to be visited. It's run by the Schmitz Family (as in Sabine Schmitz of the ring-taxi fame) and their Argentinian steak on a stone is fantastic. On the main road in Nuerburg village - just up from the M Testcentre is the Motorsport cafe. It's a nice spot for late night drinks and there's a great pizza parlour next door, too.
It's also worth dropping down into Breidscheid (the alternate entry to the 'ring) as there's plenty of cafes and bars for a change of scenery. The roads between here and the main entrance are superb and are well worth a drive themselves.
Enjoy it, be safe and be sure to let us know how you get on.
Get off the E40 at Eupen and take the 258 all the way to the ring pretty much - lovely road through a national park - fast and winding once your out of belgium 
If you have time stop off at Monschau (its en route if your on the 258) Its a popular biker stop off point. Its really nice to park up and have a stroll down there by the river and get your first large German beer at one of the many bars or restruants. Enjoy!
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&xhr=t&...
If you have time stop off at Monschau (its en route if your on the 258) Its a popular biker stop off point. Its really nice to park up and have a stroll down there by the river and get your first large German beer at one of the many bars or restruants. Enjoy!http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&xhr=t&...
318is boy said:
Get off the E40 at Eupen and take the 258 all the way to the ring pretty much - lovely road through a national park - fast and winding once your out of belgium If you have time stop off at Monschau (its en route if your on the 258) Its a popular biker stop off point. Its really nice to park up and have a stroll down there by the river and get your first large German beer at one of the many bars or restruants. Enjoy!
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&xhr=t&...
We done this.. I think. (Very bumpy road, until you get to Germany then its lovely?) If you have time stop off at Monschau (its en route if your on the 258) Its a popular biker stop off point. Its really nice to park up and have a stroll down there by the river and get your first large German beer at one of the many bars or restruants. Enjoy!http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&xhr=t&...
OP, I went for my first time a few weeks ago and was the same as you. Scared about it, but when you actually do it, its excellent.
- Driving on the other side of the road is brilliant, works very well and the driving standard over there is much better.
- The Nurburgring is quite something, you never realise it until you're there. The steepness of the track is very suprising, you can't see the difference in height on videos at all.
- Its a very friendly place, there are two marshalls who guide you off the track. When we were there it was raining nearly all day, and they were still stood there in the rain, smiling all the time.
- The local roads are very nice to drive on, easy to get carried away but the locals don't like you hooning on them which is fair enough.
- Have fun! Its the reason you've gone there. Take it easy, let the dodgy people carrier overtake you, watch out for the Porsches (They're bloody quick!) and just do it at your pace.
Edited by JonnyFive on Thursday 2nd June 15:11
Well I (and the car) survived the ring!!
Really enjoyed the 2 days we had, only downside was only managing 1 lap, powernap after driving 12 hours throu the night turned into a snorefest so only just got on before it shut ( thursday) and friday there wasnt an opportunity as the VLN cars were practising ahead of saturdays race.
So 1189 miles door to door, ave. of 30.1 mpg (was at 33.5 until getting back to the uk and sitting in traffic on the M20 for 2 hours due to a major.........bridge repair, so they shut the road at J8).
The car outperformed my expection completely, sitting quite happily at 100mph on the autobahns and then performing like a hooligan on the ring. I never thought my car could handle/brake/sound and accelerate like it did lol. (my brother is now looking for a 328i sport).
Highlights of the trip, roads in Germany were awesome, as was the standard of driving throughout our journey, seeing (what we think) was the new M5 testing, the sound of road going M3's (and 911's) at full chat and seeing/hearing the new Aston and the Lexus LFA in full race gear giving it the beans.
Will I go back?? oh yes!!
Really enjoyed the 2 days we had, only downside was only managing 1 lap, powernap after driving 12 hours throu the night turned into a snorefest so only just got on before it shut ( thursday) and friday there wasnt an opportunity as the VLN cars were practising ahead of saturdays race.
So 1189 miles door to door, ave. of 30.1 mpg (was at 33.5 until getting back to the uk and sitting in traffic on the M20 for 2 hours due to a major.........bridge repair, so they shut the road at J8).
The car outperformed my expection completely, sitting quite happily at 100mph on the autobahns and then performing like a hooligan on the ring. I never thought my car could handle/brake/sound and accelerate like it did lol. (my brother is now looking for a 328i sport).
Highlights of the trip, roads in Germany were awesome, as was the standard of driving throughout our journey, seeing (what we think) was the new M5 testing, the sound of road going M3's (and 911's) at full chat and seeing/hearing the new Aston and the Lexus LFA in full race gear giving it the beans.
Will I go back?? oh yes!!
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LOL I only got 2 laps before they closed the track on saturday after the VLN race but it was worth every penny!!!
addsvrs said:
damn your pic is better that mine lol i really am crap at taking photos
LOL...Just made me laugh seeing your shot was identical to mine!!! Shame you didn't stay till saturday as there was a en mass of E30, 36, 46, 90, 92 M3's on track and it was the full curcuit! Driving down the whole Pit Straight was incredible to drift the hairpin (due to grease) at the end of it was a feeling unmatched by any B road! My 328 sits happily at 140mph along the Autobahns returning great fuel economy too! Just the overtaking lorries and smart cars/corsas were the issue! Love it!BTW thanks for the appreciation to the picture...no skill involved the camera did all the work!
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