'Ring Trip

**Rusty** · 31 July 2008, 20:38

I learnt it on GT4, must have done well over 500 laps now. It helps you learn which way the corners go but actually driving and increasing speed is down to your nerve. A mate of mine is utterly clinical and was well under 10 minutes after 4 laps, he has no fear and I don't think that's necessarily a good thing. Have a lot of respect for the place and you'll do well, I'm sure you'll meet loads of people with various levels of experience and knowledge and try to learn off them.

I've used a bullet cam on the roll cage of cars and on the sun visor with all the wiring hidden, works a treat

What most people do is get a passenger with a hand held camera to film it. Keep it hidden when you leave and enter the car park. They're pretty hot on it all now though.

Advice is only do what you're happyu with, you'll impress no one if you press on and crash, watch you mirrors, build up the speed gently over a few laps and enjoy yourself! Oh, and wear a helmet just in case

Here's the first part of the lap from Nordkurve to Adenau Bridge. You'll have to excuse the music as it was funny at the time

Here's Wehrseifen to the end a bit faster, I was in the passenger seat for this one!

And here's a hero's wet lap! I've been out with this guy a few times and he and his car are mighty!

**s2driveruk** · 31 July 2008, 20:40

I went last Oct as a total newbie...apart from reading up on the place and looking at a circuit guide i stayed away from videos and in car footage really. Seems odd but there was a genuine reason, I actually thought it would ensure i didn't over-try and get into trouble within a couple of hours of getting there and ding the car and also because i thought it would be better to do a few sighting laps with others first to build up my own mental picture of the place.

Was also lucky to have a couple of laps with MidnightS2 on here.....not sure if David is down that weekend, might be worth a PM. He knows the place like the back of his hand and can literally talk you round the place and make u point the car at the sun and nail it over a blind crest knowing there really IS a road in that direction

The danger is that you start to piece parts of the circuit together but they arrive in not quite the right order to begin with so it can suprise you at times!!!!!

My tips......?

Make sure the car is in excellent shape (NO leaks)
Check tyres and bolts after each session...just ask Mr Casey

we avoided a potentially ugly ending to a lap by luck alone!
Get as many passenger laps in as you can, really helps to bed the flow of the track into your mind
take a break......its that last lap which could get you
don't go for a time, learn the place and the speed will come
watch out for bike as they take a very different line...wider
be prepared to stop or avoid something/anything including cars, bikes.....coaches, people as accidents can be pretty frequent and messy with little run off
Make sure you have the emergency number in your mobile and its setup for international roaming a few days before you go
Enjoy it......it is a truely amazing place.

If you really want to watch a lap, would suggest the zonda on supercarmovies.com - that gives a real feel for undulation of the circuit

HTH
David (deadly jealous........)

**stiglet** · 31 July 2008, 21:22

I played plenty of gran turismo before by first trip and i thought i knew the place, but when i got there i knew nothing. I am a bit of a **** though when it comes to sense of direction in general but i think the only way you can learn it is by driving it. Slowly at first.

I strongly recommend you don't time your laps on your first trip. It's just a bad idea. Some guys probably will, and they will brag about 9 mins this and that but don't get suckered in.

See if you can blag a passenger ride first. Find an experienced driver in the car park (they are usually the ones not bullsh*tting about lap times) and offer to pay for a lap in return for a ride. It helps.

Have fun

**re2500** · 31 July 2008, 21:44

I learned the basics from forza on te xbox, not to bad representation. Its still nothin g like the real thing though. Gives you an idea of whether its a left or a right next and how sharp....ish.
Defo blag a ride with someone, it helps reinforce what you may have gathered from a computer game. And then go for it.....but take it easy till your confident in yourself, and your car. My missus, for example, had only had pasenger laps till last year (loads of them) then she went out in my mk2 in the wet and did pretty damn well for her first.
I wouldnt recommend going out in the wet/damp for your first go (or until your confident) but i understand you may have no choice if the weather is cr4p.

Ive done over 40 laps now and im fairly confident. You can really build up some speed after about 10. If you methodical and a good learner and know our car, like andy said, you can prob be pretty quick after 5 laps.

What dates are you going? stiglet and i are there till about the 23rd.

***Sonic*** · 31 July 2008, 22:32

As others have said a passenger lap is invaluable to give you a good idea of the track before you let yourself loose on it.

I tried to avoid various games as they are all different and inaccurate in different areas and the last thing you want is to have pre-conceived ideas.

David made some exceptionally good points.

Also bear in mind that if you do have some kind of accident the first thing they will look for is recording and timing devices, which will count against you.

**stiglet** · 31 July 2008, 22:55

And also check up on the german road laws and the new french road laws involving first aid kits and high-vis jackets.

High-vis jackets useful on the ring sometimes

**Tomquattro** · 1 August 2008, 00:24

Another good tip is to follow one of the Alfa 75s from the 75 excperince as they drive under tuition and wont be going stupid, above all enjoy yourself and remember the huge cost invovled if it goes wrong!

**S2TORNADO** · 1 August 2008, 07:12

nurburgring

as a few others have said already there's a few things i would do for certain.
definately try and get a couple of passenger laps in first- you'll get to know the protocol of going just round. even little things like going thru the barriers, then along thru the cones can be a little daunting the first time-bearing in mind there'll be things right on your tail from the start!! its good to see it all from the passenger seat first cos things seem a LOT different with a steering wheel in your hand!!
although videos/games are ok for a general run through of a lap they will NEVER replace the real thing. the difference between sitting in your favorite armchair with a cup of coffee and games controller against having all of your fillings knocked out is VAST. when you go round you'll feel like you've had 10 minutes in a tumble dryer on fast spin!!
don't even bother timing your laps at first. its been said a thousand times before but its true- get to know the track first, drive it smoothly and you'll go round faster and faster.
if you get too cocky too soon the 'ring WILL bite you on the A**E. its just too easy to get confused- think your coming up to a slow left and it turns out to be a sharp right!!

stating the obvious but make sure our car is generally ok before you set off cos half the job is getting there and BACK in one piece. watch out for speed cameras in holland. get european breakdown cover cos if the worst does happen on the way there/back you'll regret not spending that £60 for a LONG LONG time.
read all the comments on this thread and you'll be fine.
most of all - ENJOY IT!!!
andy, newcastle.

**madpugger** · 1 August 2008, 10:05

Cheers for all the helpful comments guys

We leave on the 30th and are going for just over a week I think, my mate has booked the ferry and I am just turning up!

So what is the deal with speeding? I have a set of plasma dials, so unless it is dark no kph! Will I get points or just a fine? A fine I can handle

I will have TomTom with me with latest updates for fixed cameras, but just so I know what to expect!

The car is in pretty good shape right now, although I am hoping to get it homefried before I leave if I can get a reply from Paul and convince him to do it fast! I put a new rad in a month or two ago and all the hoses are good. Tyres will be furked by the end of the trip i recon, what is it like to get tyres by the ring? Will I manage to get F1s ok? I will be taking some tools as there are three cars going (a coupe M3 and a scooby) with 6 of us, so the S2 will have all the cr@p in it no doubt!, but is there anywhere we can leave the stuff securely when we are on the ring?

I am not intending to go too mental whilst there as it just has standard suspension/brakes/wheels etc, but by the same token i dont want to be outdone by my mates supercharged MX5 when he went for the first time

Lastly, do you think there is any chance I will meet Sabine and we will fall in love and live (near the ring) happily ever after??!! Why is she not the new presenter on Top Gear!!

Cheers again folks

**Rusty** · 1 August 2008, 10:10

You'll need to go to the Pistenklause bar at Hotel am Tiergarten to meet Sabine

**ciaranthemurph** · 1 August 2008, 10:18

Originally posted by madpugger

Cheers for all the helpful comments guys

We leave on the 30th and are going for just over a week I think, my mate has booked the ferry and I am just turning up!

So what is the deal with speeding? I have a set of plasma dials, so unless it is dark no kph! Will I get points or just a fine? A fine I can handle

I will have TomTom with me with latest updates for fixed cameras, but just so I know what to expect!

The car is in pretty good shape right now, although I am hoping to get it homefried before I leave if I can get a reply from Paul and convince him to do it fast! I put a new rad in a month or two ago and all the hoses are good. Tyres will be furked by the end of the trip i recon, what is it like to get tyres by the ring? Will I manage to get F1s ok? I will be taking some tools as there are three cars going (a coupe M3 and a scooby) with 6 of us, so the S2 will have all the cr@p in it no doubt!, but is there anywhere we can leave the stuff securely when we are on the ring?

I am not intending to go too mental whilst there as it just has standard suspension/brakes/wheels etc, but by the same token i dont want to be outdone by my mates supercharged MX5 when he went for the first time

Lastly, do you think there is any chance I will meet Sabine and we will fall in love and live (near the ring) happily ever after??!! Why is she not the new presenter on Top Gear!!

Cheers again folks

We just took everything out of the cars and left it in the hotel; tools, laptops, spare wheels and other bits of non-essential trim. We are from the highlands though, and a bit trusting, so the door was never locked and usually just left open and the cars had the keys in them.

By the way, you can't meet Sabine and fall in love with her, I already married her (in my mind).

Where are you staying?

The pints are good at the Burgstube.

Have a great time.

**stiglet** · 1 August 2008, 11:59

Originally posted by madpugger

I am not intending to go too mental whilst there as it just has standard suspension/brakes/wheels etc, but by the same token i dont want to be outdone by my mates supercharged MX5 when he went for the first time

I think you'll be suprised.

***Sonic*** · 1 August 2008, 12:11

Originally posted by madpugger

I am not intending to go too mental whilst there as it just has standard suspension/brakes/wheels etc, but by the same token i dont want to be outdone by my mates supercharged MX5 when he went for the first time

I can assure you you can have plenty of fun on standard suspension

As for standard brakes though

Im sure they will be on fire by the end of a lap - another tip, go hell for leather out of the last right hander but as soon as you go under the gantry drop right off the power and let the car slow down by itself. This will allow air to circulate and cool down the car. You will peal off to the right and head back into the car park - try not to use the brakes, head out of the carpark and take a right at the round about. Just follow the road down to the junction and back at 50mph or whatever the speed limit is.

The last thing you want to do it come straight off a fast lap and park the thing up!

**S2TORNADO** · 1 August 2008, 12:32

nurburgring

you definately want to take a small tool set -or rather several well chosen items!!! you don't need 5,000K worth of snap-on stuff- just the basics. make sure you've got spanners/socket sizes for all the main s2 nuts/bolts. you know the stuff- getting the battery out /wheels off, molegrips, pliers, screwdrivers etc etc. and definately a spare wheel/jack!! (your mates should do the same for their cars too) all these items can be left in your hotel with minimal risk or left in a car at the ring car park if necessary. best to be as self sufficient as possible as even the simplest of jobs are difficult at the side of the road if you don't speak german or have any contacts out there.
maybe over cautious but i'd rather carry a few kilos of extra weight and add 3 seconds to my lap time than add ten hours to my journey home!!!!
one other little thing, make sure your FULLY aware of ALL your mobile phone charges whilst over there. a few of our people weren't and got a nasty little shock a few weeks later when their bills arrived!!! you gotta be real careful cos those phone companies got you "boxed-off" every which way.
best regards,
andy

'Ring Trip

'Ring Trip

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