Anyone fancy driving the Nurburgring?

Doeas anyone fancy putting their Mk1 Golf to the test - firstly getting to Germany then  doing a few laps of the full circuit - 13.4 miles in total over 100 bends?

Im  going to go regardless but thought it would be fun to see if theres any interest out there?

Pm me if interested and i'll set out a scedule - time will probably be April 10  due to weather at moment.

Matt

Nurburgring Map

So your looking for a convoy over there?  I might be interested in it mate.  Have you got prices etc and are you doing a long weekend or something?

yeah i maybe interested as well

could be interested in this
depending on price

plus camping of course!!!!!!!!

Group discount maybe?  Worth approaching them…. we could also all stay at one campsite… or hotel…. maybe even try to approach German mk1 clubs/owners.  I don't want this to be hijacked though so I'll say no more… could be a great event mate and cracking idea…. I'll more than likely go to this but can confirm a month or so before.  Brilliant  

it's something i'd love to do and i'd happily jump in my golf and travel that many miles but the track side of it is where i would be let down if you'd got rough price ideas i might be up for it still tho

Having a 1.1L tho you guys would have to be patient with me haha

Sedge said

it's something i'd love to do and i'd happily jump in my golf and travel that many miles but the track side of it is where i would be let down if you'd got rough price ideas i might be up for it still tho

Having a 1.1L tho you guys would have to be patient with me haha

Mate if there are a fair few then it's not just about the track… mine will pootle along too unless I get the engine conversion…. it'll be worth it for the convoy/camp site/long weekend in a foreign country alone   .

Spudfingers said

Sedge said

it's something i'd love to do and i'd happily jump in my golf and travel that many miles but the track side of it is where i would be let down if you'd got rough price ideas i might be up for it still tho

Having a 1.1L tho you guys would have to be patient with me haha

Mate if there are a fair few then it's not just about the track… mine will pootle along too unless I get the engine conversion…. it'll be worth it for the convoy/camp site/long weekend in a foreign country alone   .

That sounds good to me, as long as i wouldnt be the only one people are waiting around for I have been to the Nurburgring and it really is an awesome place! The location of it is amazing too, I went over to Rock am Ring festival in '08 and had a cracking time the germans are so welcoming! Would love to join in so when its all bin worked out prices would be very much appreciated as that will unfortunately be the deciding factor for me.

Its about £700 for a week trip, plus you'd need to sort out your own extra insurance cover for the ring, which would vary but be approx +£50.

I cant see me even getting extra track day insurance, i'm only 19 n pay £1200 as it is! Insurance company will just laugh at me if I ask for track day cover    altho that does include 90 days travel in europe for no extra cost

the nurburgring prices are appx £15 per lap (you wont need more than 2 though i would say and as its a public road, technically no other insurance other than european cover would be needed.

i was thinking going over on a Friday evening, doing the Saturday mid morning/afternoon, then depending on time could convoy back to calais that night or camp until Sunday. I'd say £200 would cover all expenses inc petrol.

I think this would be a great event to do regardless of if you have a 1.1 or a GTI - its a life experience and it'll be a good crack too.

About nurburgring

The Nordschleife has remained a one-way, public toll-road for nearly 80 years except when it is closed off for testing purposes, training lessons or racing events. Since its opening in 1927, the track has been used by the public for the so-called "Touristenfahrten," i.e. to anyone with a road legal car or motorcycle, as well as tour buses, motor homes or cars with trailers. It is opened mainly on Sundays, but also on many Saturdays and weekday evenings. During the winter months, depending on weather conditions and maintenance work, the track may be closed for weeks.

During Touristenfahrten sessions, German road law applies. There is no general speed limit, however speed limits exist in certain areas in order to reduce noise and risks. As on public roads, passing on the right is prohibited, and the police take an extremely dim view of poor driving as they prosecute offenders with the aid of helicopters.

The cost for driving a single lap of the Nordschleife is €22 for each car or motorcycle. Multi-lap tickets can be purchased for a lower per-lap price, such as 4 laps at a cost of €75 (€19 per lap). All prices are current for the 2009 calendar year, and include VAT.

This Nürburgring version is a popular attraction for many driving and riding enthusiasts from all over the world, partly because of its history and the considerable challenge it still provides. The lack of oncoming traffic and intersections sets it apart from regular roads, and the absence of a blanket speed limit makes it an additional attraction.

Normal ticket buyers on these tourist days cannot quite complete a full lap of the 20.8 km (13 mile) Nordschleife, which is bypassing the modern GP-Strecke, as they are required to slow down and pass through a 200-metre (220 yd) "pit lane" section where the toll gates are installed. Since 2006, season ticket holders only can pass mobile toll gates on the track itself, in order to reduce the length of queues at the fixed barriers.

 
Another expensive mistake results in a ride on the recovery truckDrivers interested in lap times (a dangerous thing to worry about, as running stop watches are frequently found in crashed vehicles)[citation needed] often time themselves from the first bridge after the barriers to the last gantry before the exit.[citation needed] In the event of an accident, the local police are known to make note of any timing devices present (stopwatches, etc.) in the police report.[citation needed] Consequently, the driver's insurance coverage may be voided leaving the driver fully liable for any and all damage. Normal, non-racing, non-timed driving accidents should be covered by driver's insurance, but it is increasingly common for UK insurers especially to put in exclusion clauses that mean drivers and riders have third-party cover only. Accidents are common,[citation needed] and those considering taking a motorcycle around the Nordschleife should read the rules that apply. The 'Ring has caught many people out. There is very little run-off and the Armco barrier will be hit at almost any speed, should a vehicle leave the tarmac.

Drivers who do crash have a responsibility of warning following vehicles that there has been an incident. If an accident occurs typical passerby procedure is to stop only if needed.(Needs include stopping to render first aid or to warn incoming traffic) Follow up accidents are frequent, and the less chaos at a scene, the less chance for another "follow-up" accident to occur. The 'Ring, although being to all intents and purposes a race track when used for racing, still remains a public road when opened to the public, and it is policed as such. Anyone caught or reported as driving dangerously can be fined or banned by the authorities. The costs can also be prohibitive with vehicle recovery, track closure penalties and Armco repairs putting some unfortunates up to €15,000 out-of-pocket

Just to add to the above, having been a few times check your individual motor insurance policies, most policies discount racetracks, and although the 'ring is a 'public road' it is specifically named in many insurance policies, insurance is a must in my opinion, if you come off and kiss the barrier you are looking at 3000 Euros simply in track fees, regardless of fault, if it is your paint on the armco you are paying!

What i'll do is put together some prospective dates for 2010, costs of camping, etc and post it on the boards.

Once this is done, its upto you guys to jump on board. Anyone got a sister that looks like Daisy Duke???????

Would i be able to tag along in a newer shape golf or possibly on the bike (ninja 600).  :wink:  

My mk1 is in mid resto atm and struggles to make it to the top of my road let alone to germany and back.  :cry:

yay camping!!!!!!!!

Fantastic reference sites:

Ben Lovejoys: http://nurburgring.org.uk/

and

B2G: http://www.bridgetogantry.com/2/index.php

Ive been to the ring a number of times,going again this year,maybe beginning-mid May on our way to the Stelvio Pass and Worthersee.Theres no way £200 would do a weekend trip to there and back.Each lap is the equivelent to £20,i always do 15-20laps over 2 days,then theres a hotel,the cheapest is 30eu per night,camping at the campsite is only a few euros less,about 22eu from memory of last yr,fuel just so u know nowadays is more expensive over there than in the UK due to the crap exchange rate,so each tank in a mk1 will be easily £50+,u will use probably 3 tanks even if u dont do many laps to get there and back from Calais/Dunkirk!Then theres eating out and drinking each night,allow another £50 for each night!! I would say if there is 2 people per car,each person would need £400 each to have a decent time if both people are paying halves on fuel and ring laps! If there is anyone who wants to join us on our trip then they are welcome,we will be doing the Ring,then down to Stuttgart to see the new Porsche museum and down through the Swiss Alps to the Stelvio Pass then on to catch Worthersee Treffen,then back up through Germany to Wolfsburg for a few looks about!These are very sketchy details just yet,im in the middle of getting a proper plan together!

That does sound an awesome week away gona cost i dare say. Would love to do that in a few years time when hopefully my mk1 is built and got a decent reliable engine fitted lol

Don't know if its to late in the year but Club GTI do a trip to the ring in August each year I'm sure you would be able to tag along with them.
Last year trip report - Club GTI Ring trip 09
also this might be of use - CGTI - Nurburgring safety advice

Would definitely be interested    We're in Germany anyway so could maybe hook up and have a bash.  Either trip would be good for us.  Although the May one might be better timing.  Trying to get my Rivage back on the road at the moment so would love to take it round the Ring.

It doesnt have to be that expensive a trip - there are lovely campsites around Germany and most are very reasonable - the Mosel valley isn't very far from the Nurburgring so that could be an option. The Nurburgring is in a lovely area called the Eiffel which is nice in itself, lots of little fortress towns and things.  And you're in a great area for a drive then down to Switzerland through the Schwarzwald - that was our plan last year til the car rolled over and died at the Mosel  Although all the wine took the pain away! It can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be - we actually found it cheaper holidaying in Germany last year than the week we spent in UK earlier in the year.