Should I go to the ring this weekend (24th 25th April?)

[tomvcarter]

Hi, Im thinking of driving out to the ring for this weekend?
Would this be a good weekend to go?
Never been before...
Can i rent a helmet out there or should i borrow/buy one before i go?
Thanks Tom

[Eddie the Ead]

No need for a helmet for the ring but if you really want one then I advise getting one before you go as it should be easier.

Edited by Eddie the Ead on Monday 19th April 13:13

[SimonV8ster]

Don't think you can rent one there. If you are going to just cruise around and enjoy the sights then maybe no need for one. If you are going to do some spirited driving then get one before you go.

[flemke]

Not sure when you would expect to arrive, but on Saturday there will be a 4-hour VLN race. Qualifying starts 8:30, race at midday. Tourist driving should begin at about 18:00.
The VLN is actually very good racing, so you might enjoy watching the race (no tickets necessary from any of the numerous vantage points along the Nordschleife, maybe 12e or something to enter the GP circuit, which also entitles you to walk around the pits).

http://www.vln.de/

[edh]

It's a fantastic place but not one to be taken lightly

I would have a read up on issues like insurance before you go - and check your own policy.

Helmet is a very good idea IMO

[tomvcarter]

flemke said:

Not sure when you would expect to arrive, but on Saturday there will be a 4-hour VLN race. Qualifying starts 8:30, race at midday. Tourist driving should begin at about 18:00.
The VLN is actually very good racing, so you might enjoy watching the race (no tickets necessary from any of the numerous vantage points along the Nordschleife, maybe 12e or something to enter the GP circuit, which also entitles you to walk around the pits).

http://www.vln.de/

Does that mean there is limited Tourist driving on the Sunday too

[chrisr29]

tomvcarter said:

flemke said:

Not sure when you would expect to arrive, but on Saturday there will be a 4-hour VLN race. Qualifying starts 8:30, race at midday. Tourist driving should begin at about 18:00.
The VLN is actually very good racing, so you might enjoy watching the race (no tickets necessary from any of the numerous vantage points along the Nordschleife, maybe 12e or something to enter the GP circuit, which also entitles you to walk around the pits).

http://www.vln.de/

Does that mean there is limited Tourist driving on the Sunday too

Open all day Sun. Hours here:

http://www.nuerburgring.de/en/nuerburgring-race-tr...

[flemke]

tomvcarter said:

flemke said:

Not sure when you would expect to arrive, but on Saturday there will be a 4-hour VLN race. Qualifying starts 8:30, race at midday. Tourist driving should begin at about 18:00.
The VLN is actually very good racing, so you might enjoy watching the race (no tickets necessary from any of the numerous vantage points along the Nordschleife, maybe 12e or something to enter the GP circuit, which also entitles you to walk around the pits).

http://www.vln.de/

Does that mean there is limited Tourist driving on the Sunday too

As Chris says, this does not affect Sunday hours. It has been known, however, to push back the Saturday opening of 18:00, if it takes them an especially long time to clean up the broken cars from the circuit and to do the necessary barrier repairs.
At the moment, you've got a good weather forecast, so this weekend could be a good one.

[tomvcarter]

How severe is the tyre wear?
I have a set of old tyres that i was going to put back on with c 2mm of tread left, with the intention of wearing them to the bone, would you think that was enough?

[flemke]

tomvcarter said:

How severe is the tyre wear?
I have a set of old tyres that i was going to put back on with c 2mm of tread left, with the intention of wearing them to the bone, would you think that was enough?

Put them on for the circuit, or for the entire journey?

Assuming that it is dry, you should be okay at the circuit itself. Remember that normal road driving rules apply during the tourist lapping, so if you're below 1.6 mm, you're illegal.
Unless you are an exceptionally quick study, it is unlikely that you'd be putting high forces through the tyres during your first weekend. You would be unwise to push the car very much at all. There are loads of blind crests and bends, no marshals, there could be a coolant spillage, some grass/mud from an off, or a biker lying on his back around the next bend, so you really need to take it easy anyhow. In that context, and assuming ABS and TC, you shouldn't be taking much tread off the tyres.
If it's wet, I wouldn't even think of using those tyres. There are a lot of places where you can get heavy run-off and localised rivers across the track, thin wet tyres mean cool tyres mean less grip: for your first weekend, you just don't want to go there.

Even if it were dry (as I said, latest forecast is good), I'm not sure that I'd want to chance the 800 mi round trip (more if you're coming from north of London), plus however many 12 mi laps of the circuit, on tyres with 2 mm left.
Depending on your schedule, perhaps you could arrange for the contingency of buying fresh tyres out there?

[tomvcarter]

flemke said:

tomvcarter said:

How severe is the tyre wear?
I have a set of old tyres that i was going to put back on with c 2mm of tread left, with the intention of wearing them to the bone, would you think that was enough?

Put them on for the circuit, or for the entire journey?

Assuming that it is dry, you should be okay at the circuit itself. Remember that normal road driving rules apply during the tourist lapping, so if you're below 1.6 mm, you're illegal.
Unless you are an exceptionally quick study, it is unlikely that you'd be putting high forces through the tyres during your first weekend. You would be unwise to push the car very much at all. There are loads of blind crests and bends, no marshals, there could be a coolant spillage, some grass/mud from an off, or a biker lying on his back around the next bend, so you really need to take it easy anyhow. In that context, and assuming ABS and TC, you shouldn't be taking much tread off the tyres.
If it's wet, I wouldn't even think of using those tyres. There are a lot of places where you can get heavy run-off and localised rivers across the track, thin wet tyres mean cool tyres mean less grip: for your first weekend, you just don't want to go there.

Even if it were dry (as I said, latest forecast is good), I'm not sure that I'd want to chance the 800 mi round trip (more if you're coming from north of London), plus however many 12 mi laps of the circuit, on tyres with 2 mm left.
Depending on your schedule, perhaps you could arrange for the contingency of buying fresh tyres out there?

Thanks for the advicew, i may just stick with my current new tyres then, and keen the old ones for a UK track day.
Last thing, how busy does it get on these full tourist weekends?

[flemke]

tomvcarter said:

Last thing, how busy does it get on these full tourist weekends?

TBH, I've not done TF for a couple of years, because it seems a lot more dangerous than racing or track days there. Between the bikers doing unwise things and the risk of foreign material on the track, it doesn't make a lot of sense to drive anywhere near the limit during TF (obviously, that's IMO).
Having said that, I and pretty much everybody (except the occasional works driver) have learned the circuit in TF, so it can be done.
Sorry that I cannot give you a clear idea of current popularity.
Best times to go in the past (on weekends) were always first thing in morning (but watch out for overnight dampness lingering on the asphalt, esp in the shady areas) and at the end of the day.

[tertius]

I was there this weekend, and the calendar was on a very similar schedule.

Saturday opening was very delayed following the RCN race - only about 45 minutes opening in all and obviously chaotic.

Sunday was busy, no single even clear-ish lap, though this was probably significantly affected by the motorcycle event that closed the circuit for about 3 hours in the afternoon. However, I still managed 11 laps on Sunday which is a decent day in my view.

Weather was brilliant.

So, in short, if the weather is good it will be busy.

However, the track day on Monday was completely brilliant - definitely the way forward.

[iguana]

tertius said:

I was there this weekend, and the calendar was on a very similar schedule.

Saturday opening was very delayed following the RCN race - only about 45 minutes opening in all and obviously chaotic.

Sunday was busy, no single even clear-ish lap, though this was probably significantly affected by the motorcycle event that closed the circuit for about 3 hours in the afternoon. However, I still managed 11 laps on Sunday which is a decent day in my view.

Weather was brilliant.

So, in short, if the weather is good it will be busy.

However, the track day on Monday was completely brilliant - definitely the way forward.

Trackday obviously the way forward, esp ones as good as Mondays was, but unless you have racked up a good few 'ring a ding ding laps on tf you will be slow as old boots with lines as bad as yr average Italian, so really still have to do it.

Can get amazingly empty laps even in the midst of sunny summer sunday carnage & you can find an Oasis, 2pm ish on sun car park rammed, yet over a lap pass 3 got passed by 2, not bad going.

[rossm]

Ended up being really quiet on Sunday

[VTECMatt]

tertius said:

I was there this weekend, and the calendar was on a very similar schedule.

Saturday opening was very delayed following the RCN race - only about 45 minutes opening in all and obviously chaotic.

Sunday was busy, no single even clear-ish lap, though this was probably significantly affected by the motorcycle event that closed the circuit for about 3 hours in the afternoon. However, I still managed 11 laps on Sunday which is a decent day in my view.

Weather was brilliant.

So, in short, if the weather is good it will be busy.

However, the track day on Monday was completely brilliant - definitely the way forward.

Hope you are still enjoying your Elise, I wanted to make the day on Monday but events out of my control prevented it. I am going over again shortly will be booking the 2-11 from RSR. Let me know when you next go out it would be good to see the old girl agin.

Trackdays at The Ring are the way forward for me IIRC I completed 16 laps plus 4 follow the leader laps in 6 hours, I won't be doing T/F again.

[tertius]

VTECMatt said:

Hope you are still enjoying your Elise, I wanted to make the day on Monday but events out of my control prevented it. I am going over again shortly will be booking the 2-11 from RSR. Let me know when you next go out it would be good to see the old girl agin.

Trackdays at The Ring are the way forward for me IIRC I completed 16 laps plus 4 follow the leader laps in 6 hours, I won't be doing T/F again.

Yes, very much so ...

Perhaps a little bit under-powered for the 'ring - esp. on a track day - but definitely huge fun, and I have a lot of speed to find yet.

No fixed plans to be over again this year, but I certainly hope to find one or two dates.

I'm at Goodwood and Brands GP next month.

[tomvcarter]

I was not able to make it on the above dates, but does anyone know if the coming weekend would be a good one to head out for?

[flemke]

tomvcarter said:

I was not able to make it on the above dates, but does anyone know if the coming weekend would be a good one to head out for?

Only 2 hrs each on Sat & Mon. Full day Sunday.
Weather forecast not the best.
http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/cgi-bin/city10day?L...