The Ring and Mad bikers
Discussion
I went to the ring last week for the first time and by the end of the day was going pretty well. On the last lap of the day a ring marshal rider on a superbike followed me through the barriers and a fantastic dice ensued. I could see him in my mirrors with his lights on at all angles fighting the bike through the corners. Through one of the fast sections, I let him through to follow him and the two of us stayed about 5 feet appart for the remainer of the lap. It was incredible watching his driving skills so closely, an amazing experience. I had no idea how much bikes slid around on the limit. Through some of the off camber corners his head seemed almost to touch the curbs.. I was sure he was going to stack it but he diddn't. Every time we exited a particularly difficult section he turned his head to me and game me the thumb up!
As we exited the final corner, I indicated right and slowed to cool down the long straight prior to comming in. He screamed off into the distance then braked hard and went behind me. Next thing I hear is a tapping on my drivers window. I turned to see him looking at me guestureing frantically to open it. As I did, he leaned toward me, no mare than 6 inches from the car and at about 100mph with as huge smile shouted DAS IS GOOD DAS IS GOOD??!!!. Then he pulled a huge wheelie and raced off in the distance with his thumb in the air!!
Absolutely mad..
Steve R
steve rance said:
I had no idea how much bikes slid around on the limit. Through some of the off camber corners his head seemed almost to touch the curbs..
Good isnt it
I can assure you even the most minute slide on a bike feels like like its massive and goes on forever. There is no other feeling like doing 120mph+ and all you can see out of your periferal vision is tarmac wizzing past.
good fun bikes are. even for muppets like me who can't ride em properly.
softinthehead said:
paul Y said:
So Steve, you enjoyed being lapped around the 'Ring by a German man in Leather then?
very very very very funny. and it got past the moderators too
A fair amount of ribbing is permitted on forums until it gets nasty or breaks site rules. This moderator thought it would be funny to read Steve's retort to the play on words, so left it. DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Saturday 28th May 17:30
I was at the Ring on Thursday with the Scots fellas. The track opened at 2.30 pm, so we all piled on.
It was my first time at the Ring. I had only gone round 3 bends when I saw a totally mangled Golf nose first into the Armco. The driver was walking back up the track towards me!!
2 or 3 bends later, I arrived at the second crash of the lap. It involved 2 bikers, both bikes looked pretty knackered, I couldn't tell what the riders were like.
About a minute further down the track I found 2 911s smashed into the Armco.......German registered cars, a 964 RS and a 996 Turbo. A 3rd Porsche had stopped to help. (This is something you do not do on British track days).
I saw 2 further crashes before finishing my first ever lap of the Ring. It was a surreal experience.
Someone told me that 17 car/bikes had crashed in the first 1/2 hour of the track being open. One car was a race prepared Viper. Utter madness.
Obviously the track was shut for 1.5 hours. The helicopter ambulance arrived to take away the knackered bikers. The pick-up trucks took the fooked cars away.
Later on I did my second and final lap. I saw only 1 crash on that lap. But it involved a Vauxhall Corsa (like your sister would drive) that had clearly been arse over tit several times. The car was on its wheels, but the roof was pretty flat. The driver had got out of the car and his head was pouring with blood. His mate had a white towel pressed against his wounded head.
At that point, I just cruised back. This public day at the Ring was far far too dangerous. Some of our lads stayed and had a good evening. They saw Nick Heidfeld joing the fun (carnage) in a brand new V10 M5 and Fernando Alonso took folks round (4 up) in a black Megane (he wupped a bloke in our gang in a Ferrari!!).
I couldn't relax on this open day. Every wally in Germany was there (cos it was 3 days before the GP at the new GP circuit). I reckon you need to go the old Ring on a really quiet open day or go on an RMA track day.
The main bother I had was the many many bikes screaming up behind me and then flying past. I could have knocked many of them off their bikes. Luckily I didn't. The track was way too busy.
I know Steve Rance thought the Ring was daunting on the Sunday, he said as much at Spa on the Tuesday. But the place was just silly on the Thursday. I really can't see the place staying open for much longer.
Once all the GT4 players on their PS2s learn the Ring, they will turn up in Mum's Fiesta and kill themselves. Then the Ring will close forever.
>> Edited by johnny senna on Sunday 29th May 04:06
It was my first time at the Ring. I had only gone round 3 bends when I saw a totally mangled Golf nose first into the Armco. The driver was walking back up the track towards me!!
2 or 3 bends later, I arrived at the second crash of the lap. It involved 2 bikers, both bikes looked pretty knackered, I couldn't tell what the riders were like.
About a minute further down the track I found 2 911s smashed into the Armco.......German registered cars, a 964 RS and a 996 Turbo. A 3rd Porsche had stopped to help. (This is something you do not do on British track days).
I saw 2 further crashes before finishing my first ever lap of the Ring. It was a surreal experience.
Someone told me that 17 car/bikes had crashed in the first 1/2 hour of the track being open. One car was a race prepared Viper. Utter madness.
Obviously the track was shut for 1.5 hours. The helicopter ambulance arrived to take away the knackered bikers. The pick-up trucks took the fooked cars away.
Later on I did my second and final lap. I saw only 1 crash on that lap. But it involved a Vauxhall Corsa (like your sister would drive) that had clearly been arse over tit several times. The car was on its wheels, but the roof was pretty flat. The driver had got out of the car and his head was pouring with blood. His mate had a white towel pressed against his wounded head.
At that point, I just cruised back. This public day at the Ring was far far too dangerous. Some of our lads stayed and had a good evening. They saw Nick Heidfeld joing the fun (carnage) in a brand new V10 M5 and Fernando Alonso took folks round (4 up) in a black Megane (he wupped a bloke in our gang in a Ferrari!!).
I couldn't relax on this open day. Every wally in Germany was there (cos it was 3 days before the GP at the new GP circuit). I reckon you need to go the old Ring on a really quiet open day or go on an RMA track day.
The main bother I had was the many many bikes screaming up behind me and then flying past. I could have knocked many of them off their bikes. Luckily I didn't. The track was way too busy.
I know Steve Rance thought the Ring was daunting on the Sunday, he said as much at Spa on the Tuesday. But the place was just silly on the Thursday. I really can't see the place staying open for much longer.
Once all the GT4 players on their PS2s learn the Ring, they will turn up in Mum's Fiesta and kill themselves. Then the Ring will close forever.
>> Edited by johnny senna on Sunday 29th May 04:06
RMA day on Friday was superb, around 40 cars, no incidents, most laps you saw one or two cars and the track was open from 8.00am till 6.30pm with no stopages.
A well organised track day at the 'ring' is the only way I feel comfortable pushing the car hard for a whole lap without wondering what carnage will be round the next bend.
A well organised track day at the 'ring' is the only way I feel comfortable pushing the car hard for a whole lap without wondering what carnage will be round the next bend.
993rsr said:
RMA day on Friday was superb, around 40 cars, no incidents, most laps you saw one or two cars and the track was open from 8.00am till 6.30pm with no stopages.
A well organised track day at the 'ring' is the only way I feel comfortable pushing the car hard for a whole lap without wondering what carnage will be round the next bend.
I haven't done the ring yet, but couldn't agree with you more. Just too dangerous on a normal open day The only way to do it is with a company like RMA - hopefully I will do it next year!
>> Edited by Mark_H on Sunday 29th May 11:27
993rsr said:
RMA day on Friday was superb, around 40 cars, no incidents, most laps you saw one or two cars and the track was open from 8.00am till 6.30pm with no stopages.
A well organised track day at the 'ring' is the only way I feel comfortable pushing the car hard for a whole lap without wondering what carnage will be round the next bend.
So it was a thumbs up for the Ring on Friday then???
I tried for Friday but failed, had to make do with a bit of a lick, spit and polish.
Don't believe this too dangerous on a public day propaganda. If you choose your times carefully you can enjoy a public day without seeing another car during a lap.
These times are clearly not when the track is open all weekend, or during bank holidays. Try going when the track is open just on a Sunday and use the Monday afternoon.
Dave
These times are clearly not when the track is open all weekend, or during bank holidays. Try going when the track is open just on a Sunday and use the Monday afternoon.
Dave
I don't think it is that bad once you dial yourself into the place. It's just like any other track day.... it just has unusual traffic, is difficult to drive, is poorly marshalled and it rains a lot..
What daunted me was the sheer scale of the place, the big committment fast sections and the constant changes in surface. Once you put a few good laps in your confidence builds. The traffic is relatively easy to deal with once your brain tunes into expecting the unexpected. It was a lot easier than i thought it would be..
It will never close. It is a micro economy in a rural area.
Steve R
What daunted me was the sheer scale of the place, the big committment fast sections and the constant changes in surface. Once you put a few good laps in your confidence builds. The traffic is relatively easy to deal with once your brain tunes into expecting the unexpected. It was a lot easier than i thought it would be..
It will never close. It is a micro economy in a rural area.
Steve R
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