Nurburgring first time outting

[dalealtham1]

Going to the ring for the first time with 8 guys and 4 cars. A 172 cup and a 172, mini copper s. Cant wait. Leave this saturday and the open day is sunday. First real track day so any advise apart from dont crash ;-)

 

[Kelv]

You can't really call it a track day, as it will be pretty busy and varying ranges of cars and competences.
for a first visit, just take your time and do laps exactly as what you are, a learner.
enjoy the few days you are there, have a good few German beers, grab yourself a steak on a stone and come home saying you had an awesome weekend.

do not try and set lap records, don't even think of picking up a stop watch to see what times you can achieve.
there is in the region of 139 corners, a few look the same as others as you approach and its all to easy to be caught out until you really know it, and knowing it well takes far more than 10 laps over the course of a day.

ive been going now for around 9 years, probably clocked up a good few hundred laps and even now I still only class myself as moderately competent, every lap is a learning lap, laps with more experienced people always highlights something I'm still not doing quite right.

as said, take your time, and come back saying its an awesome place and you can't wait to to again

 

[Matt W]

Drive it like a B road that you've never been on before.

 

[ALY]

If you're bored you could have a read of the "report" I did of our last run over there a couple of years ago, the names wont mean much though. Also, I can't recommend this site enough either, read everything you can on here before you head over - http://nurburgring.org.uk/

The report...
http://bbs.rsownersclub.co.uk/showthread.php?t=281826

​

 

[ALY]

This was the 2009 run over too - its no shorter than the one above :s

Part 1 & 2
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=759740&mid=71495

[URL]http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=759745&mid=71495

[/URL]

 

[ALY]

In short, you would do well to familiarise yourself with two key areas before heading over. First the main one, the track layout itself. If you can use a games console great as its more interactive or even just study the many youtube videos that are around of cars heading round.

You wont get a true feel of the gradients or the variable surfaces that you encounter on the way round but knowing if you are on a fast section or a slow one would be very useful and knowing which way the next corner goes is invaluable, as most of them you can't see the exit on approach and so you are running blind as to where the apex sits.

Second on the preparation list would be to research the rules, etiquette and practices of the place. What makes sense here and there aren't the same. For instance if you are taking the racing line on a left hander and a 911 doing twice the speed collects you from behind and shunts the pair of you off the tarmac, that ones your fault for not being on the correct side of the road (the right). Where contact is made with another car the police tend to be called and where contact is made with the barriers, the credit card better be handy.

Ben Lovejoy's site which I've posted a link to is invaluable. Getting over the water gets cheaper the further south you go, the Hull ferry is a reasonable blend of driving hours vs hours on boats and cost. My preference is the Tunnel as its so flexible for crossings, takes no time at all and costs peanuts. It is a long slog home again though bearing in mind you have a 4 to 5 hours drive on the continent side to any of the ports.

Finally, keep a very watchful eye on everything you know about mechanically on your car, having made sure its up to the trip before you go.
We take spare brake pads, exhaust clamps/rubbers, all types of fluids, at least one full size spare wheel if not more, spare plugs & anything else we're aware of being a weak area on the cars concerned. Plus a couple of jacks and as many tools as we can carry & are capable of using. (the spare stuff comes out at the hotel though!)
The cars come off every lap or two usually to have the tyre pressures, fluid levels etc checked and generally left to cool off while the drivers do the same. Its particularly hard on brakes.

p.s. Respect the place and be humble, older slower cars will be faster than you. If something approaches from behind, hang right, indicate right and let them go, particularly if its a white BMW 3 series with another close behind!

 

[dalealtham1]

Thanks for the advise guys

 

[Bobby.]

Some sound advise here chaps, thanks for sharing.

 

[Matt W]

If you're bored you could have a read of the "report" I did of our last run over there a couple of years ago, the names wont mean much though. Also, I can't recommend this site enough either, read everything you can on here before you head over - http://nurburgring.org.uk/

The report...
http://bbs.rsownersclub.co.uk/showthread.php?t=281826

​

Just finished reading that, fantastic write-up.

 

[Fred@BTM]

if it rains - stay in the carpark/go home

 

[172Ben]

if it rains - stay in the carpark/go home

This! I went out as a passenger in robs car and we span 3 times.