A visit to the Nordschleife

[bjmullan]

As part of a road trip to the Dolomites I'm hoping to visit Nurburgring in September and was looking for any advice and do's and don't. I'm certainly thinking of taking my car (Boxster) around the track and also a taxi ride. Any advice welcomed.

[Cortina]

Take a lap in Hyundai Taxi ( n type i30 size from memory) was 99 euros last time I went (last year ?) ... I thought at circa 280 hp and std brakes and tyres etc etc ... I would not be impressed.
How WRONG could I be - equivalent of an 8.00 / 8.10 lap we did ..... passed a shed load of Porsches , overtaken by nothing. I'll go back for another lap anytime ...... could not believe how well driver knew circuit (300- 400 laps done) , how the tryes held on (40 laps out of a new set) and how well the brakes worked ... not that they were used much (relatively) - he was accelerating while others were braking.
More recently I took myself round - 2 wheels , NOT a great idea relatively ... too much time spent looking out for idiots who thought they could drive ! Enjoy.

[sladey]

Get a PlayStation (in you don’t already have one) and do the circuit on gran turismo. Over and over again.

By the time I went round I knew probably the first 50 corners quite well - the last 20 were a bit more sketchy.

Still didn’t prepare me for the massive rise and fall of the real world track, but it meant I knew which way the next corner was going and how sharp it was etc.

I’d say it’s also useful to have someone with you as a spotter - looking out for fast stuff coming up on you from behind

It’s brilliant fun and scary at the same time

[Gary71]

My son did a couple of laps in his S2000 last year before it rained… he’s done lots of laps on an Xbox, but he said it meant zero to him when he got there


Managed not to bin it which surprised us all

[sladey]

Xbox, though.

[KS]

My only experience of the 'Ring...

https://youtu.be/b-zbn6FmDDU?feature=shared

[Ralph]

I went for a few days in 2007 and 2008 and had a great time.

Spend as much time as you can going out with others before you venture out and as Sladey said a good spotter/co-driver is essential. I managed to blag my way out in some serious machinery with guys who new what they were doing and it was terrifying and brilliant at the same time.

First time out I got a bit carried away and spun out on Adenauer Forst but luckily didn't hit anything. The remainder of that lap was at a very relaxed pace.

Every day there was accidents and unfortunately one day there was a fatality which calmed everyone down - for about half hour!

A few pics:







Just don't get too carried away.

You'll have a good time.

[bjmullan]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I've been around the 'ring thousands of time on Playstation so I do know the corners (which might be a bad thing!), also watched loads of YouTube footage. I'll be on my own, so I may see if there is someone that wants to take a ride. I just hope that the weather is OK, September and the Ardennes!