Info needed for a trip to the Nurburgring!
Discussion
As long as it's still going of course, a friend of mine is looking to surprise her boyfriend for his 30th in November with a trip to the Nurburgring. I said I'd help source as much info as possible, to help her, so I was wondering if you guys can point me in the direction of all things Nurburgring...as in; good places to stay, how to do it on a budget, do and don'ts etc. I'm going to do some general Google searching but thought PH was a good place to start!
I'd be more then interested to hear your own experiences too, for example did you use your own car or hire one down there?!
Cheers in advance
I'd be more then interested to hear your own experiences too, for example did you use your own car or hire one down there?!
Cheers in advance
We've been twice and stayed here: Eddy's hotel. For food check out Pinochios in Adenau or Pistenklaus in Nurburg.
Are they taking a car? Do they want to do tourist laps? Where are they travelling from?
Are they taking a car? Do they want to do tourist laps? Where are they travelling from?
Whole load of questions first!
Firstly, Spend a day driving across to Germany or Fly? That all depends on what sort of car he owns/wants to risk it on the 'Ring.
Hire cars from places that are for the 'Ring (Rent4Ring for example), NOT Hertz etc!
How many people, and what sort of accommodation?
Without rental costs, I normally budget 500 for a long weekend, that's driving out and back.
Firstly, Spend a day driving across to Germany or Fly? That all depends on what sort of car he owns/wants to risk it on the 'Ring.
Hire cars from places that are for the 'Ring (Rent4Ring for example), NOT Hertz etc!
How many people, and what sort of accommodation?
Without rental costs, I normally budget 500 for a long weekend, that's driving out and back.
Recommend staying here:
http://www.hotel-wilhelmshoehe.de/
and read/watch these:
http://bridgetogantry.com/2/index.php/nuerburgring...
http://bridgetogantry.com/2/index.php/nuerburgring...
http://www.hotel-wilhelmshoehe.de/
and read/watch these:
http://bridgetogantry.com/2/index.php/nuerburgring...
http://bridgetogantry.com/2/index.php/nuerburgring...
bicycleshorts said:
We've been twice and stayed here: Eddy's hotel. For food check out Pinochios in Adenau or Pistenklaus in Nurburg.
Are they taking a car? Do they want to do tourist laps? Where are they travelling from?
I think the plan is to drive down [E46 M3], from Worcester.Are they taking a car? Do they want to do tourist laps? Where are they travelling from?
BUG4LIFE said:
I think the plan is to drive down [E46 M3], from Worcester.
My mate had a good experience on the Dover->Dunkirk ferry. I'd recommend a couple of nights somewhere in Belgium on the way there/back if they can, I've only been to Antwerp, Liege, Spa Francorchamps (Malmedy) and Zolder.. All were great. The tracks are a lot more relaxed about admittance, check the calendar and you should get some good views of trackdays/races at the track.http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/en/calendar.php
FYI, the Nurburgring tourist days only go up to end of Oct atm, not sure if they'll release more for November? (someone else can probably clarify this)
http://www.nuerburgring.de/en/angebote/driving-exp...
Lazadude said:
Whole load of questions first!
Firstly, Spend a day driving across to Germany or Fly? That all depends on what sort of car he owns/wants to risk it on the 'Ring.
Hire cars from places that are for the 'Ring (Rent4Ring for example), NOT Hertz etc!
How many people, and what sort of accommodation?
Without rental costs, I normally budget 500 for a long weekend, that's driving out and back.
As just mentioned, I think the plan is to drive, as he might want to use his M3...though obviously she's trying to weigh up the risks. Flying in and renting from a place like you suggest seems like a good idea though...Firstly, Spend a day driving across to Germany or Fly? That all depends on what sort of car he owns/wants to risk it on the 'Ring.
Hire cars from places that are for the 'Ring (Rent4Ring for example), NOT Hertz etc!
How many people, and what sort of accommodation?
Without rental costs, I normally budget 500 for a long weekend, that's driving out and back.
2 people, cheap[ish] accommodation
bicycleshorts said:
BUG4LIFE said:
I think the plan is to drive down [E46 M3], from Worcester.
My mate had a good experience on the Dover->Dunkirk ferry. I'd recommend a couple of nights somewhere in Belgium on the way there/back if they can, I've only been to Antwerp, Liege, Spa Francorchamps (Malmedy) and Zolder.. All were great. The tracks are a lot more relaxed about admittance, check the calendar and you should get some good views of trackdays/races at the track.http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/en/calendar.php
FYI, the Nurburgring tourist days only go up to end of Oct atm, not sure if they'll release more for November? (someone else can probably clarify this)
http://www.nuerburgring.de/en/angebote/driving-exp...
OP. All the info you need is out the on the web. You'll find it all at nurburgring.org.uk amongst other places. Read the "beginner's" section.
Alternatively, keep reading this thread, but it's a fairly safe bet that by the end of today it will largely be made of up insurance arguments, BTG time willy-waving, derogatory comments about your mate and statements of sexual intent around his girlfriend.
Alternatively, keep reading this thread, but it's a fairly safe bet that by the end of today it will largely be made of up insurance arguments, BTG time willy-waving, derogatory comments about your mate and statements of sexual intent around his girlfriend.
As mentioned the websites are well worth a look. I posted this a few years ago in response to a similar thread..
"A friend and myself did a couple of laps last year. We got pretty much all of it wrong so here goes; we had planned to be at the Ring early on Sunday morning but due to a lack of planning from Saturday (only apparent as the day wore on) we did not arrive until 11.30 am on the Sunday and as all ready posted by others this is a busy time. The campsite we stayed at was a long way from the Ring, we had had to stop the previous evening a long way short of the circuit and as we were heading further into Germany afterwards we had not been able to leave all of the gear at the site, hence the car was full of camping gear and all the other stuff you need for 10 days away.
So we had arrived at the busiest time with a heavy car. We took it very carefully around the circuit completing only 3 laps before time meant we had to leave.
Lessons learned: We had gone to have a laugh and tick a life box, but it is a serious place where your actions can have a dramatic effect on both you and all the others on the circuit. Arrive early in a car that is as empty as possible.
What we did right; our car was well serviced albeit old, we had installed a large drip tray beneath the engine to avoid any stray splashes of oil hitting the circuit, other cars and bikers do not want to slide off on your fluids. Everybody was faster than us, we looked in the rear mirror more than through the screen, have the guy beside you spot cars coming from behind. Read the websites that others have recommended. If a car hits you from behind it's your fault and all German driving laws apply, overtake on the left only. All this sounds easy, but as we found with a "clear track" behind, once committed to a racing line at say 85 to 90 mph when 20 Porsches appear out of no where and expect you to move out of the way it's not so easy to change your "line" as you run out of grip and brakes really fast in a road car.
Large fines are imposed if you spill any fluids on the track, car or body, get the ring medics and marshalls phone numbers entered into your mobile before you hit the circuit, the numbers are on the websites, so if the worst happens or you simply break down you can call them easily. We had the numbers in both our phones.
As mentioned we were not quick compared to the other stuff, but after 3 laps the tyres were shot to bits, bear this in mind, also fit new pads all round as we did , you do not want to run out of pad approaching a hair pin. We also took our insurance documents, MOT, licences and registration document as I understand that if you are involved in an incident this lot must be provided. The ring is a one way de restricted autobahn, not a race track"
At the time fellow PH's pointed out that is was not a de restricted Autobahn, not to sure now to be honest, at the time we went in 2009 the websites we visited said it was. It is certainly worth going, the comments about documents are important, we were not asked to show or provide anything before going out on the circuit (to be honest it was all a little to easy), however should it all go pear shaped you will be expected to prove that the car is legal etc.
As also mentioned on here spilt fluids / recovery etc will incur staggering fees. Obviously all of my (limited) experience was in 2009 so things may have changed.
All that said we had 3 trouble free laps then toddled off to the Alps.
"A friend and myself did a couple of laps last year. We got pretty much all of it wrong so here goes; we had planned to be at the Ring early on Sunday morning but due to a lack of planning from Saturday (only apparent as the day wore on) we did not arrive until 11.30 am on the Sunday and as all ready posted by others this is a busy time. The campsite we stayed at was a long way from the Ring, we had had to stop the previous evening a long way short of the circuit and as we were heading further into Germany afterwards we had not been able to leave all of the gear at the site, hence the car was full of camping gear and all the other stuff you need for 10 days away.
So we had arrived at the busiest time with a heavy car. We took it very carefully around the circuit completing only 3 laps before time meant we had to leave.
Lessons learned: We had gone to have a laugh and tick a life box, but it is a serious place where your actions can have a dramatic effect on both you and all the others on the circuit. Arrive early in a car that is as empty as possible.
What we did right; our car was well serviced albeit old, we had installed a large drip tray beneath the engine to avoid any stray splashes of oil hitting the circuit, other cars and bikers do not want to slide off on your fluids. Everybody was faster than us, we looked in the rear mirror more than through the screen, have the guy beside you spot cars coming from behind. Read the websites that others have recommended. If a car hits you from behind it's your fault and all German driving laws apply, overtake on the left only. All this sounds easy, but as we found with a "clear track" behind, once committed to a racing line at say 85 to 90 mph when 20 Porsches appear out of no where and expect you to move out of the way it's not so easy to change your "line" as you run out of grip and brakes really fast in a road car.
Large fines are imposed if you spill any fluids on the track, car or body, get the ring medics and marshalls phone numbers entered into your mobile before you hit the circuit, the numbers are on the websites, so if the worst happens or you simply break down you can call them easily. We had the numbers in both our phones.
As mentioned we were not quick compared to the other stuff, but after 3 laps the tyres were shot to bits, bear this in mind, also fit new pads all round as we did , you do not want to run out of pad approaching a hair pin. We also took our insurance documents, MOT, licences and registration document as I understand that if you are involved in an incident this lot must be provided. The ring is a one way de restricted autobahn, not a race track"
At the time fellow PH's pointed out that is was not a de restricted Autobahn, not to sure now to be honest, at the time we went in 2009 the websites we visited said it was. It is certainly worth going, the comments about documents are important, we were not asked to show or provide anything before going out on the circuit (to be honest it was all a little to easy), however should it all go pear shaped you will be expected to prove that the car is legal etc.
As also mentioned on here spilt fluids / recovery etc will incur staggering fees. Obviously all of my (limited) experience was in 2009 so things may have changed.
All that said we had 3 trouble free laps then toddled off to the Alps.
iva cosworth said:
No one has mentioned the weather could be "changeable" in November.
Sure I've read somewhere that the summer is the wettest months... Someone can probably back that up.Anyways I've been in April and mid-September, both times were glorious (though not too hot) sunshine.
bicycleshorts said:
iva cosworth said:
No one has mentioned the weather could be "changeable" in November.
Sure I've read somewhere that the summer is the wettest months... Someone can probably back that up.Anyways I've been in April and mid-September, both times were glorious (though not too hot) sunshine.
conditions.
Always worth checking the webcams onsite as sometimes it just looks white from deep snow.
iva cosworth said:
Always worth checking the webcams onsite as sometimes it just looks white from deep snow.
True!Didn't stop this nut though http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfOEJ-HZ1-Q
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