Nurburgring 17/18th March

[andoverben]

To set the scene a mate is over from New Zealand. He has always wanted to do a few laps of the Nurburgring (runs an S15 with 300+BHP back home) but not in the Golf Hire Car they have been using. I have Sourced a Mitsubishi FTO (Manual GPX) which Mechanically is in Mint Condition (and worth Far more than I Paid for it) So far we have changed the Clutch Fluid, The Engine Oil for Castrol Edge, Fitted a Cone Air Filter (of unknown Source - but it sounds great) and Cold Air Ducting and his Job while I am at work this week is to change the Brake Fluid and fit RedStuff Pads

Having Gone Halfs on the Car (and it is now devoid of Rear Seats, Carpets, Sound Deadening and Rear Speakers - which was a shock when I came home from work) the intention is to catch the 5am Euro Tunnel Saturday Morning, drive to the Ring for the Evening Tourist Session that starts at 5pm - 7pm do a few laps stay overnight somewhere do a couple more laps the following morning and then drive back for the 9pm Crossing Sunday Evening.

I also got Eurospec to fit new Powersteering Belts and give it the once over and it is having 4 Wheel Laser Allignement done on Friday (after the Brakes have been done at a local place down the road)

Never having driven the Ring, is there any tips or advice people can give? is anyone else going this weekend? Any Advice over the best route to get there (otherwise it will just be sat nav)

[chrisr29]

Usually go motorway to Eupen then cross country from there. 100km of scenic, Eifel region delights. The roads are fantastic in places and generally lightly trafficked.

As for tips; take it easy, weather can be iffy this time of year.

Off there end of April myself - can't wait.

[Martian O]

I'm there on the Tuesday 20th March for the trackday, maybe see you if you're still there.

[Martian O]

chrisr29 said:

Off there end of April myself - can't wait.

I'm there 20-23 April, is that the weekend you are there?

[chrisr29]

Martian O said:

I'm there 20-23 April, is that the weekend you are there?

Yup, 21st to 23rd.

Be interesting to see how the price increases have affected numbers. The two trips I had last year were a lot quieter than previous years.

[iguana]

andoverben said:

Never having driven the Ring, is there any tips or advice people can give? is anyone else going this weekend? Any Advice over the best route to get there (otherwise it will just be sat nav)

I do this route a lot & if you have tons of time are some nice routes via Belgium & France, via Givet is a nice stop, & then cross country via Ardennes, bike tours often do this but normally most do 1-via Brussels E40 or 2-via Lille & Namur E42, or 3- via Antwerp. Lille is longest by 10 miles but generally least traffic issues & best roads, Brussels ring can be nightmere in rush hr & often at othertimes, Antwerp agin can congest but usually fine out side rush hr.

From then, aim for Prum on E42 & then 410 to kelburg & ring cross country is my truck route fave & is a great sweeping road, but can also go via Malmedy route for some twisties, not done that way in years, Eupen Monchau is ok is shortest way, 258 bit is good, is 5 odd miles of truly woeful road tho just outside Eupen, & I do mean truly woeful, but the rest is great, or take A1 down from Cologne if you want to Autobhan flat out it a bit, also is A61 from Cologne then take the 257 or the 412.


Go carefull, it takes a long while to learn, 99.9% chance that you will have no insurance cover, if you spank it or blow it up call me, I'm delivering 2 in Essen just up the road a tad on 19th/20th, empty back at mo & could get you back for far far less than normally posible.

http://www.lizardlogistics.com/page2.htm



However in the light of the above, in that car easy sub 9 within 5 laps & 8.30s after then into 8.20s after 10 laps or you are a right bender

Edited by iguana on Wednesday 14th March 00:56

[Martian O]

Stopover at Spa, then up early for the amazing drive across the Eifel to Nurburg, epic!

[andoverben]

iguana said:

However in the light of the above, in that car easy sub 9 within 5 laps & 8.30s after then into 8.20s after 10 laps or you are a right bender

Edited by iguana on Wednesday 14th March 00:56

That Reads Suspiciously like you are trying to tempt me into becoming a customer! ;-) Certainly your contact details look very useful to keep

Thanks for the route advice

[chrisr29]

[quote=iguana]

Eupen Monchau is ok is shortest way, 258 bit is good, is 5 odd miles of truly woeful road tho just outside Eupen, & I do mean truly woeful, but the rest is great,


You aint kidding, that bit just outside Eupen is shocking and if your in something with low, stiff suspension it's purgatory! Though worth it once you get over it

[ForzaGilles]

chrisr29 said:

iguana said:

Eupen Monchau is ok is shortest way, 258 bit is good, is 5 odd miles of truly woeful road tho just outside Eupen, & I do mean truly woeful, but the rest is great,


You aint kidding, that bit just outside Eupen is shocking and if your in something with low, stiff suspension it's purgatory! Though worth it once you get over it

I did that stretch of road several times in my Caterham, truly awful! It seemed to drag on forever as well!

[Porkie]

My advice is hire a car from Rent4Ring....

I am 99.99999% positive you wont be covered properly by insurance..and I don't mean your car. Thats NOT your worry at all.. its the third party liability that is the problem.

If your newly fettled old car dumps some oil on the track and causes a big crash you could be liable for 10000000000000000000000's.........

Come around a corner and splat a biker thats already fallen off? again... 10000000000000000000000000s

Hire a swift from Dale at Rent4Ring. Its a no-brainer.

If you wanna use your own car... stay a few more days. There is a proper track day on the Tuesday and Weds. Its incredible value as well!

http://www.destination-nurburgring.com/event-dates

[Martian O]

Porkie - So are you the guy with the mental Westfield who is letting Dale drive it next week? I'll be there on Tuesday for the trackday, the weather forecast is looking good.

[Martian O]

Porkie said:

My advice is hire a car from Rent4Ring....

Dale/Fredy/Ralph/Thorsty et all are good guys.

[Adenauer]

iguana said:

However in the light of the above, in that car easy sub 9 within 5 laps & 8.30s after then into 8.20s after 10 laps or you are a right bender

Edited by iguana on Wednesday 14th March 00:56

You fekkin plum

[Porkie]

Martian O said:

Porkie - So are you the guy with the mental Westfield who is letting Dale drive it next week? I'll be there on Tuesday for the trackday, the weather forecast is looking good.

Yes mate. I'm taking my ExigeS as well... In all honesty I will probably use that for most of the time!

But as the weather looks so good...

Just gotta get someone to fix the Water Injection for me!

[Martian O]

Porkie said:

Martian O said:

Porkie - So are you the guy with the mental Westfield who is letting Dale drive it next week? I'll be there on Tuesday for the trackday, the weather forecast is looking good.

Yes mate. I'm taking my ExigeS as well... In all honesty I will probably use that for most of the time!

But as the weather looks so good...

Just gotta get someone to fix the Water Injection for me!

Nice one, catch up with you next week.

[andoverben]

We got back Safe and Sound with nothing Broken and Credit Cards intact. an Absolutely fantastic 2 days.

The Few Laps we got to do on Saturday evening in the dry were worth driving all that way for. The Laps on Sunday in the Wet were Fun but pretty scary how little grip there was. My Mate did Spin in the Wet fortunatly without hitting anything although there was people with Cameras at the corner (he wasn't showing off for them) so it may end up on Youtube for much ribbing.

Thoroughly recomended.