Anybody driven Nordscheife?

[eddiehotrod]

I was there last month, and still have some laps left on my ticket. I'm going back in October. If I had to give one piece of advice about visiting The Ring, I'd say don't go at the weekend. It's packed with locals in lethal looking VW Golfs who know the track inside out - it's like a 120mph traffic jam......nice. Also watch out for the local taxi cab that takes you on a flying lap for the price of the ticket - M5 BMWs going sideways at top speed while packed with tourists are an intimidating sight. True death tolls are kept secret....many people campaign to have the circuit closed, but it's such a huge source of local income that the region couldn't do without it.

[Thorsten S.]

Yes thats right, last 3or 4 years some people died during "toursit driving", but most or all of them were bikers. If you have an accident with your bike there its really dangerous, because you have 2 or 3 meters gras each side next to the track, some banking and then trees. And the track is really difficult to learn and dangerous. And when its wet, the problems get much bigger.
There were also 2 or 3 racedrivers (Car racing (Alfa, Porsche,) in the so called "Langstreckenpokal" and "24 hours") that died.
But before 2000 there were a lot of years when nobody died.
The biggest problem is on sunday (with good weather) when to much people are there (fast cars/ drivers, slow cars/ drivers, fast bikers, slow bikers and yes!!! busses!!). This is a mixture where you can smell the next accident.
And since 1999 the traffic and popularity has increased very much in tourist driving.
The best times in my opinion were before 1999. I have been there 10 times a year for driving but since then I only go to the Nordschleife 2 or 3 times a year. But never on sunday!!

Grüße

Thorsten

[eddiehotrod]

"Never on a Sunday" is a great catchphrase for the Nurburgring, nice one Thorsten. I contemplated taking my bike there, but have since changed my mind....
BTW, I didn't use my 911 when I went, I think that would be suicide considering my lack of knowledge of the track. God bless the Lancia Integrale....

[Thorsten S.]

Eddie: The best way to learn there is with a car that is foregiving an not to fast. And with someone who knows the track very well next to you on the seat.
When you know the track exactly perhaps after 50 or 100 laps or more in the car you can try it with you bike.
But: Better not on sunday :-)

Grüße

Thorsten

[k9handler]

I know it's only a simulation...but the Project Gotham II game on the XBOX has the ring on it, and it's pretty good for learning the basic layout and turns. When I went last summer it was a Sat and not too busy...but I did take it pretty easy for three laps and then turned it up a notch on the 4th lap! I can say I made MANY MISTAKES on that lap and was lucky to keep it on the pavement...even have video to remind me of them mistakes. Some of the mistakes was learning what turns you can maintain speed on and what turns require more braking and finess...hard to remember that's for sure! XBOX has helped and I do know the ring better now because of it and many hours watching Stippler doing laps.

[emcon5]

Originally posted by k9handler
I know it's only a simulation...but the Project Gotham II game on the XBOX has the ring on

Gran Prix legends also has it, and you can download it for the F12002/F1 challenge series (and mods) for the PC, but it is the old Grand Prix layout.

The free beta sim "Racer " has a more current version available for download (details here). You start on the front straight, and the timing is "Bridge to Gantry" Racer is not as polished as others, but it is fun.

Tom

[Thorsten S.]

These games are good for learning if the track goes left or right after the next hill, but you wont get a feeling of the speed and the forces and do not feel to sure when you drive in reality.
You can not learn to drive the Nürburgring perfectly on your personal computer!

Grüße

Thorsten

[emcon5]

Originally posted by Thorsten S.
These games are good for learning if the track goes left or right after the next hill, but you wont get a feeling of the speed and the forces and do not feel to sure when you drive in reality.

But virtual Armoco is much more forgiving.

You can not learn to drive the Nürburgring perfectly on your personal computer!

I wasn't suggesting that, and I don't believe k9handler was either. You can learn the track layout though, and (unfortunately) for most of us the only way we will get the chance to drive the Nordschleif is sitting at our computers.

Tom

[Thorsten S.]

Look at me in the famous "Karussel" corner of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in spring 2003

Grüße

Thorsten

[eddiehotrod]

I think computer games are a great way of learning a track before a track day. Unfortunately, I hate computer games, so I like to download an mpeg of some in-car/on-bike footage of the next track I'm going to. Although I do think that nothing can prepare you for the Nurburgring, it has to be seen to be believed.

[k9handler]

I was not saying that you could learn the complete aspect of the ring on a PC...but you can learn the layout. I take that, and video for a learning tool (during the winter) and then in the summer I can take the hour drive north and drive the real thing...and still make big mistakes! The Ring is not easy at all!

[Marankie]

Yes, but the hospital admittees are mainly motorcycle riders riding above there head. There are a lot of blind turns there, and also "jumps" in the road around the turns (hard to steer when the front wheel(s) is/are off the ground or light). No passing on the right. The track open times are very limited. Be sure to check the website for times, as they vary from day to day. I found the longest available opentime is on Friday.