Nurburgring
Mon, 25/04/2011 - 07:49
Anyone been and anyone done a half decent time?
I didn't go until i was welll north of 40 years old so alas my best time there is 8 minutes and 22 seconds. This was done on my Ducati 999R.
I was quicker, in fact a year later in my 1830 kgs BMW M5 V10!
Mon, 02/05/2011 - 00:51
#2
Re: Nurburgring
I've been twice. Once on the spur of the moment (I was riding back from a Eurodemo in Bonne about a decade ago and saw a sign) and once as 'somewhere to go' a couple of years back. Both times I did one lap, and on neither occasion was I going for a time! The first time I was on a T595 and it scared me stupid - I'd done no readin in advance, new nothing about the place and was somewhat... surprised to be doing 120mph down the track and be passed on either side at what seemed like +60mph by a pair of duelling Porsche GT cars. I also very nearly lobbed it at Adenau Forst.
The second time, a decade later, I was on an R1200GS. At least I knew enough to know what I was getting myself into. I did a lap because, having gone all that way, well... you have to, don't you... At least this time a bit of Helmutt Dahne watching and some GT4 playing meant I knew where the track went and how not to become a bonnet mascot for somebody else. Both my trips were characterised by circuit closures, medical helicopters and various cars and bikes sticking out of the scenery in bits.
If you think a mixed open-pitlane car/bike trackday with hardly any marshals and occasional tourist coaches operating as mobile chicanes sounds like a good idea, especially round a track with no runoff except very solid looking armco,then have at it!
Personally I found the roads round the Eiffel mountains much better value, given 'Ring ticket prices. And much less likely to result in my coming home minus an important limb or in a box...
Mon, 02/05/2011 - 10:36
#3
Re: Nurburgring
Been twice-to be honest I think it's somewhere every petrolhead needs to go at least once just for the atmosphere of the place-and to be able to say you have done a lap.
I went in 2002 with a group of Ducati mates, we met up with a 888 mounted local who showed is the way round-did 12 laps I think-one of them in a 928 Porsche since the track was wet.
Went again in 2003 on my way back from Mugello MotoGP (first time the Ducati ran in Italy)-took my partner Jo round for a lap on the back then did a couple more on my own. I didn't go too nuts since the back tyre was shot..........
KWH-don't feel bad about Adenau Forest-that one catches most people out until you know to look for it.
The general conscensus is that it takes at least 50 laps to learn the place well enough to go fast-which at todays prices is too rich for me-1 lap €24,4 laps €89-when we went in 2002 it was 9€ a lap and 80€ for 12 laps I think.
To be honest until you have watched Sabine Schmitz (Ring Taxi) drift a V10 M5 BMW sideways round a corner whilst driving one handed and chatting on her mobile you haven't lived-she can REALLY drive round there. A lap costs €195, but can take three passengers so it's pretty good value split three ways.
In fact, it's excellent value as it is reputed that it costs BMW €480 per lap. (Following an accident years ago in which either a wheel or suspension component failed, BMW changes the tyres every 10 laps, the brake-pads every 20 laps and the suspension every 50 laps. The cars are replaced annually.)
Go there at least once in your life-it really is unique in this overprotected, controlled, health and safety conscious world.
John
Sun, 19/06/2011 - 20:55
#4
Re: Nurburgring
Yes done it twice.Set a record the first time on my Blackbird possibly the ..............................................................................................slowest ever lap.Boy was it an experience but one lap was enough for me.
I returned the next year with some mates and one of them had literally spent hours and days on the Ring site and managed to book a Ring Taxi.And as if that was not good enough Sabine was driving.It was an unbelievable experience and trying not to express any expletives as she went into a bend was really difficult.Definitely a good enough experience to tell the grand kids when they are old enough.
Thu, 23/06/2011 - 16:53
#5
Re: Nurburgring
Sabine is indeed very quick. She'd be a lot faster still if she was in something lighter and faster than the E90 M5 'ring taxi. The new M5 would be way quicker, as would, possibly, the current M3 V8.
It's top fun there though.
Mon, 04/07/2011 - 14:21
#6
Re: Nurburgring
Yes done the Ring ticked that box on my Blackbird several years ago.Probably set a lap record as well.............. for the slowest lap ever that is.Boy was it some experience riding around keeping to the right with indicator flashing I could not believe the speed that vehicles were passing me at. It left me with a big grin on my face but one lap was enough.
However the following year I went back with some mates the majority of whom bottled out of going round but one of them,and it is not easy to obtain had booked a ticket for the Ring Taxi and guess who was driving.
Yes it was Sabine and was that some experience.As she was going into bends I was expecting her to brake and of cause she didn't.Its questionable whether anyone could have took me around quicker but it doesn't matter as she was as fast as I would want to go anyway.
Mon, 04/07/2011 - 15:39
#7
Re: Nurburgring
Can you imagine going round in a 2 seater F1-style car? OMG!
Mon, 04/07/2011 - 21:25
#8
Re: Nurburgring
Interesting how no one has picked up on the point I made about the Nurburgring claiming more lives than the TT yet no one shouts shouts about it being banned but they do about about the IoM.
Personally I think both are fine, you make the choice of your own free will and you participate. I don't think you can bleat about one being unsafe and should be banned and praise the other.
Mon, 04/07/2011 - 21:37
#9
Re: Nurburgring
shuggiemac totally agree. Do you think the mountain should be shout off on Mad Sunday and anyone wanting to have a bit of fun can pay a fee,sign a disclaimer and set off.I mean that is virtually what you do at the Ring and having ridden both I only went as fast as my skills would allow and I kept out of the way of those that were quicker.
Reasonable or stupid idea !
Tue, 05/07/2011 - 20:22
#10
Re: Nurburgring
Hondated, I would say to just leave The Ring, Mad Sunday and the the TT in general as they are. They are all experiences that those who choose to indulge should be free to do so and if at least one is left free of charge then all the better.
Tue, 05/07/2011 - 07:54
#11
Re: Nurburgring
I disagree completely shuggiemac. You cannot compare how many lives are lost in a very short time at one place to how many are lost somewhere where an activity is going on year round.
Your logic is badly flawed, in any case.
Defending the deaths at the TT by saying more people die cycling to work at 15 mph in the UK would be just as silly.
The TT course is not suitable for the speeds of the bikes today.
Much better riders than me who are world champions and not far off world champions have told me over the decades that they would never ride there for the exact reasons i wouldn't race there, even though i have raced at very many tracks around the world.
For the record, Nurburgring is dangerous, as every track is and as the A6 on a Saturday afternoon is.
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It's one of those places that for no particular reason has simply passed me by, I've never been, though it seems like most people I know have.