Nurgurgring - 25-28 Aug - anyone there?

[tertius]

I'm going to the 'Ring for the first time later this month.

Ostensibly this is for a mate's stag do, but really its to drive the 'Ring.

25th I'll be driving over; 26th is an endurance race (so closed); 27th is a tourist day and 28th I'll be heading home.

I realise this isn't likely to be a very popular weekend for Brits/other visitors (though I'm hoping that will make it quieter on the Sunday) however, if anyone were around that weekend I'd love to put a face to a name.

Any advice or recommendations on "must do's" also gladly received.

[flemke]

tertius said:

Any advice or recommendations on "must do's" also gladly received.

Take passenger laps with someone who knows the circuit, so that you can see what is possible.
When you are driving your own laps, assume that no matter how much time you may have spent watching videos or playing GT-whatever, you have absolutely no idea what you are doing.
Whilst driving on circuit, assume that you are responsible for the lives of the bikers around you, rather than their being responsible for themselves.
Check out the endurance race - there will be more than 200 cars starting, with a very festive atmosphere and lots of action.
Do NOT time your laps.
Visit the "Pistenklause" restaurant in Nurburg village.
Go for a spin on some of the local roads, which are fantastic (as well as being camera- and almost always copper-free).
Before you leave the area, stop at the ED fuel station outside the circuit for a 'ring sticker for your car. They have a lot of neat models too.
Begin planning your next trip there. Once is never enough.

[flemke]

Also,

If you're going on Sunday, get there first thing (8:00 am). The first two hours and the last two hours are normally the quietest on circuit. You would be amazed at the number of people who will be out there in the early afternoon.
Also, for your initial lap, especially if it's early, be REALLY careful of areas where the track is damp from dew or the common nightly shower. The surface might be 90% bone dry and still there will be damp sections.

[davyboy]

^^

Good advice!

I might well be there, I should be on a family holiday in France, but I'd doubt anyone would notice in I turned right after the ferry port.

[pikey]

I'm intending to be there. If you see me, you're welcome for a few PAX laps (you'll need a helmet though).

The car's a grey Cayman S with a small ring sticker on the boot. Pic here

Ben
PS. Yes, grey not black... but if you want to call it black, that'll probably work

[johnfm]

flemke said:

Also,

If you're going on Sunday, get there first thing (8:00 am). The first two hours and the last two hours are normally the quietest on circuit. You would be amazed at the number of people who will be out there in the early afternoon.
Also, for your initial lap, especially if it's early, be REALLY careful of areas where the track is damp from dew or the common nightly shower. The surface might be 90% bone dry and still there will be damp sections.

This is VERY good advice. There are many areas which are shaded, so you enter a 'dry' corner and find it is wet on the other side of the apex!! I discovered this while being a passenger in a 1920's Mercededes Benz SSK!! The car had a supercharged 7 litre straight 12 (I think!!) and the tyres looked about 4 inches across!! The owner of this car was a very wealthy gentleman racer who proceeded to scare the sh!t out of me for a television series - you can see the cars on "Coltranes, Planes and Automobiles". It was my first time on the 'ring, and I'll never forget this guy entering a dry corner, finding it went around the bend and drifting this multi million pound car on skinny tyres devilishly close to the brink!! What a day!

[tertius]

Flemke,

Thanks very much for the extremely helpful advice.

A few of the guys I'm going with have been a fair bit, so I fully intend to get some passenger laps - and Pikey has generously offered as well, if I can find him ...

I'm definitely going to watch the endurance race - that is a big draw for me, hoping I can get some decent pics.

I have absolutely NO intention of timing my laps and am fully aware I don't know what I'm doing ...

Given the occasion I'm guessing the restaurant decision may be out of my hands ...


Pikey,

Thanks very much for the offer I will try to find you - I have a midnight blue 993 ... not sure how distinctive that'll be ...

[tertius]

Bump - in the hope that as the date approaches more people will turn out to be there ...

[clubsport]

hopefully your car is now sorted, did you go with lsd or lwf in the end....apologies if I missed your posting on this.

[tertius]

I went with the RS LSD and not the flywheel.

I decided against the flywheel for 2 reasons:

1. you need to buy a lightweight clutch as well, and I have a clutch that's less then 5K miles old; and

2. I didn't want to dilute the "feel" of the rebuild with another change

When the clutch next needs doing I may well go for it then.

Haven't actually got the car back yet - hopefully at the weekend ... :fingerscrossedsmilie:

[barrythompson]

We will be out there, we are traveling down next tuesday, spending tues/wed at the ring for the evening sessions, thursday/friday at Spa with BaT and back to the ring leaving on Monday AM.

Come and say hello, we will be in a blue white RS, Noble m400 and a caterham superlight - the caterham is awesome for drifting around the ring and getting the crouds waving!!!

CFW

Barry

[tertius]

barrythompson said:

We will be out there, we are traveling down next tuesday, spending tues/wed at the ring for the evening sessions, thursday/friday at Spa with BaT and back to the ring leaving on Monday AM.

Come and say hello, we will be in a blue white RS, Noble m400 and a caterham superlight - the caterham is awesome for drifting around the ring and getting the crouds waving!!!

CFW

Barry

Excellent will look out for you.

[tertius]

Thanks all for the excellent advice - a truly awesome experience.

Although I kept my eyes peeled I didn't manage to spot anyone from here.

The weather was, well, pretty crap really - a LOT of rain and a little bit of sun.

Nevertheless, I managed to drive five laps and passengered about 10 mostly with people who really knew the circuit.

I think I understand now:

a) I'm a rubbish driver; and
b) I have to go back ...

PS We did go to the Pistonklause - that was great too