Discussion
Thinking of taking the cerbie to the Nurburgring later this year but have a couple of questions...
1. are helmets compulsory - I don't mind packing it but helmet + cerbie roofline = crap visibility and I reckon I'll need all the visibilty I can get...
2. how strict are they on noise levels - the cerbie I have now puts out 119db and I notice the 'ring is limited to 95db which is a hell of a difference. Are they likely to turn me away....
Thanks
DC
1. are helmets compulsory - I don't mind packing it but helmet + cerbie roofline = crap visibility and I reckon I'll need all the visibilty I can get...
2. how strict are they on noise levels - the cerbie I have now puts out 119db and I notice the 'ring is limited to 95db which is a hell of a difference. Are they likely to turn me away....
Thanks
DC
dai capp said:
Thinking of taking the cerbie to the Nurburgring later this year but have a couple of questions...
1. are helmets compulsory - I don't mind packing it but helmet + cerbie roofline = crap visibility and I reckon I'll need all the visibilty I can get...
Helmets are not compulsory during the tourists sessions. Advisable if you can though.
dai capp said:
2. how strict are they on noise levels - the cerbie I have now puts out 119db and I notice the 'ring is limited to 95db which is a hell of a difference. Are they likely to turn me away....
They do occasionally get the sound meter out. The limit is 95db, realistically you want to be less than 100db. If you cannot get below 100db I would not recommend making the trip.
DAZ
(awaits tales of people who have got away with driving cars making 120db noise)
Wearing a helmet is not currently compulsary, however is highly recommended - it's your head though!
In terms of noise, if the vehicle is excessively loud, you may well find you are one of their 'random check' (as you've just gone through the barriers). The way around this is to pull forward on very low revs up to and through the barriers, and once out onto the track, don't gun it until you've gone under the 'bridge' (you'll see what I mean when you get there!)
Also, be aware that although you have a fast car, there are lots of fast DRIVERS in (relatively) low powered cars, who may well have done hundereds of laps. Always keep an eye on your mirrors. Take care with the bikes. Some are very agressive in their approach, but they also have less room for manouevre once comitted.
Everyone who drives/rides the ring benefits from mutual respect...
Have a good time.
PS the roads around the ring are mental. The main road down to Adenau is VERY quick, but watch out for police. Don't take the p1ss on the public roads though, save the speed for the circuit. See if you can get a couple of pax laps first. Rather than try and learn the whole circuit, make a mental note of 2 or 3 points only where you were surprised which way the circuit went etc. The trick is to build up steadilty over the weekend, not kiss the armco in the first hour!
In terms of noise, if the vehicle is excessively loud, you may well find you are one of their 'random check' (as you've just gone through the barriers). The way around this is to pull forward on very low revs up to and through the barriers, and once out onto the track, don't gun it until you've gone under the 'bridge' (you'll see what I mean when you get there!)
Also, be aware that although you have a fast car, there are lots of fast DRIVERS in (relatively) low powered cars, who may well have done hundereds of laps. Always keep an eye on your mirrors. Take care with the bikes. Some are very agressive in their approach, but they also have less room for manouevre once comitted.
Everyone who drives/rides the ring benefits from mutual respect...
Have a good time.
PS the roads around the ring are mental. The main road down to Adenau is VERY quick, but watch out for police. Don't take the p1ss on the public roads though, save the speed for the circuit. See if you can get a couple of pax laps first. Rather than try and learn the whole circuit, make a mental note of 2 or 3 points only where you were surprised which way the circuit went etc. The trick is to build up steadilty over the weekend, not kiss the armco in the first hour!
Daz,
Thanks for your feedback - I guess visibility won't be a problem 'cause I won't be going - even with the cats back in the cerbie I can't get below 105db :frown:
Saw your contribution to another thread on the 'Ring - you seem pretty competent around there with some good lap times!
Cheers
DC
Edited to say started this post before reading Fergus'... I'll have to see nearer the time whether I feel inclined to risk the noise police. Also, I love my car too much to want to risk stuffing it - I think I'd be an 80%er...
>> Edited by dai capp on Monday 7th June 12:44
Thanks for your feedback - I guess visibility won't be a problem 'cause I won't be going - even with the cats back in the cerbie I can't get below 105db :frown:
Saw your contribution to another thread on the 'Ring - you seem pretty competent around there with some good lap times!
Cheers
DC
Edited to say started this post before reading Fergus'... I'll have to see nearer the time whether I feel inclined to risk the noise police. Also, I love my car too much to want to risk stuffing it - I think I'd be an 80%er...
>> Edited by dai capp on Monday 7th June 12:44
It's the car and PSM doing the work mate. Together with many hours comparing videos of my laps against some excellent videos of drivers in GT3s etc (my videos were filmed during the good old days when you were allowed to video yourself)
Edited to say take a look at the noise section of Ben Lovejoy's Nurburgring site:
www.nurburgring.org.uk/noise.html
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Monday 7th June 12:48
Edited to say take a look at the noise section of Ben Lovejoy's Nurburgring site:
www.nurburgring.org.uk/noise.html
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Monday 7th June 12:48
Don't feel that you need a fast car to enjoy the 'ring. The circuit is daunting enough to learn and there is precious little room for error. Just about anything will do for the first 30 laps or so.
Read Ben's site and JW's as well. They are very informative.
Passenger laps are highly recommended.
Read Ben's site and JW's as well. They are very informative.
Passenger laps are highly recommended.
I f you think the car is going to fail the test then just take it easy and dont draw attention to yourself.
Dont sit there reving the engine in either the car park, at the barriers, or as you come in off a lap.
That way they have no reason to suspect you over any of the other 1000 cars that pass through the barriers on a daily basis.
Have fun
Dont sit there reving the engine in either the car park, at the barriers, or as you come in off a lap.
That way they have no reason to suspect you over any of the other 1000 cars that pass through the barriers on a daily basis.
Have fun
This might help you learn the circuit a bit! www.8200rpm.com/stuffvids/nbgrhrlap1.wmv
I'm seriously considering going.... it is just 'one of those things on the list' that must be done ...
I think I would feel safer on a dedicated track day though like the easytrack event... i.e. everyone should at least be folowing the same rules and hence less chance of a misunderstanding..
Any thoughts?
I think I would feel safer on a dedicated track day though like the easytrack event... i.e. everyone should at least be folowing the same rules and hence less chance of a misunderstanding..
Any thoughts?
powelly said:
I'm seriously considering going.... it is just 'one of those things on the list' that must be done ...
I think I would feel safer on a dedicated track day though like the easytrack event... i.e. everyone should at least be folowing the same rules and hence less chance of a misunderstanding..
Any thoughts?
Similar thoughts myself on it being a "must do" place, which is why after many yrs of watching 'In Car 956' & thinking of doing it, ive raided the piggy bank & im going in a couple of weeks.
I would agree that a proper track day surely must be by far the safest way of doing it with just other track cars rather than coaches, suicidal bikers, serious track cars, mentally fast locals & bumbleing tourists sharing the same tarmac at once.
Track days there do seem few & far between & a tad pricey (tho I guess this is less of an issue to many PHers) however seeing as its such a long track, (regulars tell me its over 50 laps before you really can start to learn it & thus push it) It seems to me then that rather than spend a whole expensive track day barely getting to grips with the track the best is to go out on a couple of public days or pref a weekend or something to learn the track a bit, then go back on a track day & enjoy it a bit more.
Besides who knows how long the nanny state we live in will let public days continue anyway?? it might yet end up being just orgainsed track days at some point in the future.
Then again I could of course be just speaking boll*ks, as ive never been, so just all IMHO
iguana said:
however seeing as its such a long track, (regulars tell me its over 50 laps before you really can start to learn it & thus push it) It seems to me then that rather than spend a whole expensive track day barely getting to grips with the track the best is to go out on a couple of public days or pref a weekend or something to learn the track a bit, then go back on a track day & enjoy it a bit more.
Yep, that's the flipside of my thinking, I'm never going to be able to afford 50 laps, so just go to a public day, chill out, ignore trying to be fast and enjoy the experience...
The best way to learn the place is go there with someone that knows it already.
I did this on a bike, and although I wouldnt recomend the place for bikes it was a good way to learn the lines.
Secondly watch existing footage of others going round
Thirdly play the games, they will at least give you an understanding as to which way the track is going.
The big problem with the Ring is the amount of time you spend getting off line to those faster than you. It isnt like a track day where you can hold the racing line, it is a road and as soon as someone indicates to overtake you must by law move over, providing it is safe to do so. You will find however that this doesnt always happen and many laps will be wasted.
A good bit of advice is really go for it on the long straights, once you get to know them, that way you dont let another group of people catch you up and take you off line again.
The busy time is lunch time, and I always used to tell the guys I took over there to stay off the track until about 2/3. The most crashes occur between 12 and 2 really due to people being tired, 10 minutes of concentration at a time is a lot for most people, and there is a slight bottle neck also.
So get there for 8 in the morning and take advantage of the others in their beds, and be last to leave also. There is plenty of time for beer, so stay until the end, just make sure you get plenty of rest and coffee.
I did this on a bike, and although I wouldnt recomend the place for bikes it was a good way to learn the lines.
Secondly watch existing footage of others going round
Thirdly play the games, they will at least give you an understanding as to which way the track is going.
The big problem with the Ring is the amount of time you spend getting off line to those faster than you. It isnt like a track day where you can hold the racing line, it is a road and as soon as someone indicates to overtake you must by law move over, providing it is safe to do so. You will find however that this doesnt always happen and many laps will be wasted.
A good bit of advice is really go for it on the long straights, once you get to know them, that way you dont let another group of people catch you up and take you off line again.
The busy time is lunch time, and I always used to tell the guys I took over there to stay off the track until about 2/3. The most crashes occur between 12 and 2 really due to people being tired, 10 minutes of concentration at a time is a lot for most people, and there is a slight bottle neck also.
So get there for 8 in the morning and take advantage of the others in their beds, and be last to leave also. There is plenty of time for beer, so stay until the end, just make sure you get plenty of rest and coffee.
,,just out of interest, any PS2 games cover the full circut?
And to answer my own question, looks like Gran Turismo 4 will be the one!
"... and Germany's famous 13-mile-long Nurburgring. All of the circuits in the game have been painstakingly re-created to the extent that every single point in the environment is accurate to within 15mm--around two-thirds of an inch. To drive this point home Yamauchi told us that Nissan's top test driver, who happens to be a huge Gran Turismo fan, was asked to drive one of the Nissan Skylines in the game around the Nurburgring and compare his Gran Turismo time to his real-life time. The driver was able to complete both in times of a little over eight minutes, and the two times ended up being within just five seconds of each other."
Oh I see many sleepless nights ahead when it is released..
>> Edited by powelly on Saturday 12th June 22:02
And to answer my own question, looks like Gran Turismo 4 will be the one!
"... and Germany's famous 13-mile-long Nurburgring. All of the circuits in the game have been painstakingly re-created to the extent that every single point in the environment is accurate to within 15mm--around two-thirds of an inch. To drive this point home Yamauchi told us that Nissan's top test driver, who happens to be a huge Gran Turismo fan, was asked to drive one of the Nissan Skylines in the game around the Nurburgring and compare his Gran Turismo time to his real-life time. The driver was able to complete both in times of a little over eight minutes, and the two times ended up being within just five seconds of each other."
Oh I see many sleepless nights ahead when it is released..
>> Edited by powelly on Saturday 12th June 22:02
dai-cap (and everyone else)...GO!
this is a one off track and it won't last forever. they've tried to put speed traps and cameras there already. i kid you not.
i can't remember the last time my griff was under 100 db. currently running 118db (128 on over-run) and i've never been noise tested yet! as someones already said. if you don't take the p1ss in the carpark, and wait for the bridge before giving it some you'll be fine.
i'm fortunate enough to have driven afew circuits around europe now and the 'ring is the best. a one off experience you CANNOT repaet anywhere else in the world, and people come from all over the world to prove it!
don't worry about being fast, you won't be! you'll think you are in your cerby, it'll feel fast but trust me you won't be. i was giving it max in me griff and was overtaken by a skoda rs. it was running about 20% faster then me and i couldn't stay with it! i'm quicker now having done 100 laps or so...but there are still PLENTY faster. its for drivers not cars.
there are a few laps around on dvd etc. there is one in halfords...porsche the legendary cars. which has a lap in a GT3 at the end. this will show you the way. doesn't look fast but it is. and they're not really trying if you watch the rev counter.
go for it...you owe it to yourselves and you cars.
I'M GOING!!! (again) EZTRACK november! it nearly full and you won't have much chance of getting on, so do it now!
Bin with them 3 times over 8 days! you won't find a better more helpful mix.
cheers
this is a one off track and it won't last forever. they've tried to put speed traps and cameras there already. i kid you not.
i can't remember the last time my griff was under 100 db. currently running 118db (128 on over-run) and i've never been noise tested yet! as someones already said. if you don't take the p1ss in the carpark, and wait for the bridge before giving it some you'll be fine.
i'm fortunate enough to have driven afew circuits around europe now and the 'ring is the best. a one off experience you CANNOT repaet anywhere else in the world, and people come from all over the world to prove it!
don't worry about being fast, you won't be! you'll think you are in your cerby, it'll feel fast but trust me you won't be. i was giving it max in me griff and was overtaken by a skoda rs. it was running about 20% faster then me and i couldn't stay with it! i'm quicker now having done 100 laps or so...but there are still PLENTY faster. its for drivers not cars.
there are a few laps around on dvd etc. there is one in halfords...porsche the legendary cars. which has a lap in a GT3 at the end. this will show you the way. doesn't look fast but it is. and they're not really trying if you watch the rev counter.
go for it...you owe it to yourselves and you cars.
I'M GOING!!! (again) EZTRACK november! it nearly full and you won't have much chance of getting on, so do it now!
Bin with them 3 times over 8 days! you won't find a better more helpful mix.
cheers
I'm with the last guy on this.. stop talking about it and go there. You will love it. You have no chance of being fast, so don't try. It won't make a scrap of difference to the experience whether you are the slowest car on the road it is just a truly awesome (in the original sense of the word) place.
Also, don't worry about your cerby. I was there in a decatted 4.5 and by keeping it quiet in the car park and through the barriers nobody even glanced my way with a noise meter.
Don't be surprised to get a lot of attention in the car park, they don't see many cerbies over there. Mine was the object of many photographs much to the dismay of a gorgeous orange murcielago that was so much faster it felt like I was going backwards at 120mph.. as I say, you ain't gonnna be quick but I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for weeks after my first trip.
Have fun.
Also, don't worry about your cerby. I was there in a decatted 4.5 and by keeping it quiet in the car park and through the barriers nobody even glanced my way with a noise meter.
Don't be surprised to get a lot of attention in the car park, they don't see many cerbies over there. Mine was the object of many photographs much to the dismay of a gorgeous orange murcielago that was so much faster it felt like I was going backwards at 120mph.. as I say, you ain't gonnna be quick but I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for weeks after my first trip.
Have fun.
powelly said:
,,just out of interest, any PS2 games cover the full circut?
And to answer my own question, looks like Gran Turismo 4 will be the one! Oh I see many sleepless nights ahead when it is released
Oh bu**er - and I'd only kicked my GT3 habit last year!
I did recently dust the PS2 off, so I could put my GT3 "virtual" Griff into the wheel shop (results of which can now be seen on my profile pic) and couldn't resist a few races.
For me, the two 'big' tracks that I dream of getting to are the 'ring and Spa.
I can quite imagine the advice about local talent being faster - you only have to look at sprint/hillclimb times where on tighter circuits well driven, well prepared minis and hot-hatches can beat TVRs.
Dave - get out there mate, and tell me all about it when you're back!
Thanks for the feedback especially re the noise regs.
My cerbie puts out 119Db at 3500 rpm which is similar to the Griff so I wouldn't think I'd draw too much attention driving on to the circuit at around 2000 rpm.
I'm going with a very good mate in his RX7 so even if they didn't let me on he's offered to let me drive the RX for a lap provided I promise not to give it the 100% beans.
Having read a bit about it I reckeon the key would be not to go 10/10ths at it anyway first time around.
Anyway to cut a long story short we've scheduled a trip over in the spring (me and mrs DC are off to New York for hols so can't do it this year)
Cheers
DC
My cerbie puts out 119Db at 3500 rpm which is similar to the Griff so I wouldn't think I'd draw too much attention driving on to the circuit at around 2000 rpm.
I'm going with a very good mate in his RX7 so even if they didn't let me on he's offered to let me drive the RX for a lap provided I promise not to give it the 100% beans.
Having read a bit about it I reckeon the key would be not to go 10/10ths at it anyway first time around.
Anyway to cut a long story short we've scheduled a trip over in the spring (me and mrs DC are off to New York for hols so can't do it this year)
Cheers
DC
dai capp said:
I'm going with a very good mate in his RX7 so even if they didn't let me on he's offered to let me drive the RX for a lap provided I promise not to give it the 100% beans.
Having read a bit about it I reckeon the key would be not to go 10/10ths at it anyway first time around.
DC, it is not really the sort of place to give it the berries at any time (even when you've done more than 100 laps, as you never know if there's oil or a biker lying around the next corner!). If you are capable of giving it 10/10ths first time out, you should probably be a pro touring car driver, as you'll need those sort of reactions & car control if you're going to take that approach!!
fergus said:
I'm going with a very good mate in his RX7 so even if they didn't let me on he's offered to let me drive the RX for a lap provided I promise not to give it the 100% beans.
Having read a bit about it I reckeon the key would be not to go 10/10ths at it anyway first time around.
DC, it is not really the sort of place to give it the berries at any time (even when you've done more than 100 laps, as you never know if there's oil or a biker lying around the next corner!). If you are capable of giving it 10/10ths first time out, you should probably be a pro touring car driver, as you'll need those sort of reactions & car control if you're going to take that approach!!
Oh yes - I know my limits thats for sure and I'm no Sterling Moss!
DC
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff