Nurburgring Track Rentals

[Maengelito]

G, it's not quite the 'Ring but lets pretend like we're BTCC drivers and drive Brands Hatch in February while I'm over there for work.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.trackdays.co.uk/calendar/cars/">https://www.trackdays.co.uk/calendar/cars/</a><!-- m -->

[G.Irish]

What days in February are you gonna be there?

[Maengelito]

I've got meetings from the 20-22 of Feb, but I'm not sure if I'm going to extend my trip on the front end or the back end (or both.)

[G.Irish]

It's gonna be full on cold at that time so a track day might be kinda iffy in terms of weather and grip will be extremely low. Might wanna look into a hop to Southern Spain where it's in the 50's and 60's in February. You can get a cheap nonstop for about $150 roundtrip.

[G.Irish]

Ok, I'm pretty sure I want to do the August 28-29 date. Frequent flier tickets are available for those dates so I should be able to get there for free with a decent itinerary. Probably will book the track day and airfare fairly soon. Then I'll need to nail down hotel. I'll get a double room either way, so if anyone else wants to come there'll be room for at least one more.

Don't think I'll have time to do a factory tour on this trip unless I leave the track early, but I guess we'll see. My tentative flight plan is to leave on Saturday evening, arrive Sunday around noon, then leave Wednesday morning.

[G.Irish]

It's on!

I've got a flight leaving on Aug 26 (Saturday) and returning Aug 30 (Wednesday). Paid for the 2-day track event with Destination Nurburgring. Now I just need to secure a hotel, street rental car, and choose what car(s) to drive.

Anyone who is interested, here is the deal. I can add additional drivers to my track day registration for $62 each. If we split the registration 2 ways, that's $750 each, 3 ways = $500. You'd have to get your track car hooked up. Hotel can be split.

My car plan was initially to just do a GT86 with R-Garage but it looks like they had some sort of business shake up and I have no idea what their deal is now. Other companies have the GT86 for a bit more money, but if I'm gonna pay more it opens up some other possibilities. In no particular order:

Fiesta ST
VW Scirocco
Megane RS
GT86

Kinda leaning towards the Megane RS. The Fiesta ST would be the cheapest by a good margin but I think the Megane would be closer to what I would enjoy. GT86 was original front runner but if it costs more than the Megane I don't think that's worth it. Other thing is, a FWD car is gonna be a lot less tricky if there's any rain.

[ScottyB]

NIIIIICE

i've seen a few videos of the ring and the Meganes can move. i would think they'd be equally as thrilling as an 86 at full chat on a track that challenging. i think on a track that fast and open you'll find plenty of ways to keep your hands full with anything regardless of driveline, although of course you've gotta go with RWD first if you can call yourself an enthusiast :lol:

not to be Debbie Downer but please make sure you don't get blinded by the Red Mist™ carrying too much speed through the Flugplatz - Shwedenkruez complex (2 minutes and onward here). of the all the 'ring crash videos i've seen, like half of them are camera guys setting up outside of Shwedenkruez and just waiting for people to lift-oversteer into oblivion.

Exhibit A, rental Megane in that corner:
[youtube]tW3vOTB_gCg[/youtube]
that video is the immediate thing i thought of when you mentioned Megane

Exhibit B, another FWD, same corner, with bonus Megane. notice all the previous ruts in the grass.....
[youtube]qhmIQbkXVuw[/youtube]

in any car that's a terrifying set of corners but in a FWD its positively diabolical if you come in too hot.

[D_Eclipse9916]

This will be an awesome experience, jealous! I will be unfortunately at the beach that week otherwise I might have considered jumping in.

[G.Irish]

NIIIIICE

i've seen a few videos of the ring and the Meganes can move. i would think they'd be equally as thrilling as an 86 at full chat on a track that challenging. i think on a track that fast and open you'll find plenty of ways to keep your hands full with anything regardless of driveline, although of course you've gotta go with RWD first if you can call yourself an enthusiast :lol:

Yeah I figure the Megane RS is close to basically a Civic Type-R and is properly quick in the right hands. I'd love to sling a M2 or something around on day 2 after I've got about 30 laps under the belt, but the Megane is plenty.

not to be Debbie Downer but please make sure you don't get blinded by the Red Mist™ carrying too much speed through the Flugplatz - Shwedenkruez complex (2 minutes and onward here). of the all the 'ring crash videos i've seen, like half of them are camera guys setting up outside of Shwedenkruez and just waiting for people to lift-oversteer into oblivion.

Man, in that first crash I was thinking, 'that guy is approaching the rise at a reasonable pace', then I saw the Megane come into view... hock:

My plan is to drive more like I'm on a mountain road than a racetrack to get acclimated. There's also free instruction available so I'm going to have someone ride along to give some guidance. It might also be time for me to finally break down and get iRacing so I can get at least 100 virtual laps in.

This will be an awesome experience, jealous! I will be unfortunately at the beach that week otherwise I might have considered jumping in.

Maybe next time. I don't think I'll do this every year, but maybe once every 2 years would be cool. If other people wanna go next year, then I might be willing to jump in for a day again.

[JohnC]

Sadly, I'm likely out. Bootstrapping a new business, which is its own kind of thrilling ride :-)

[G.Irish]

Leggo! Boarding a plane now for an overnight flight to Geneva, then a hop to Frankfurt. Picking up a 1 series for the driver to Nuerburg, then I'll be driving a track prepped Scirocco at the Ring. I'm fucking pumped!

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[WRXtranceformed]

Dude epic!! Have fun and obviously take tons of pics!!

[JPolen01]

Have a blast man! Cant wait for the write up!

[davej]

Subscribed.
Living vicariously through someone else is still technically living, right?

I hope you have safe travels on an undoubtedly amazing adventure.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Soooo jealous. have a ton of fun man!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[G.Irish]

Landed in Frankfurt this morning and was greeted by this M4 in the terminal. Picked up my rental car (manual A4 Avant) and got a free beer at the rental counter! I was pretty confused until the agent explained it was non alcoholic.

2 hour drive later and I arrived at the Ring. If I could describe it briefly, it's motorsport Disneyland. E90 M3's everywhere. Every business has racing paraphernalia. The roads inside the track are badass (but narrow).

Waiting for the all hands meeting now. They're having their meeting the night before at 6, then another one tomorrow morning for anyone who didn't make it tonight.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[*insertusernamehere*]

Yoooooo this is awesome!!

Sent from my FRD-L04 using Tapatalk

[G.Irish]

Just a quick update, had a blast today, lots of fucking cool cars and Nico Rosberg actually showed up in purple GT3RS. I was slow and nervous at first but got going decently in my last two sessions. Didn't get all my track time in today because they closed the track a bit early to prep for touristenfahrten but I'll prob catch up tomorrow.

Got some decent video with my phone and Harry's lap timer, might upload some before I leave.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[BLINGMW]

[.RJ]

Picked up my rental car (manual A4 Avant)

Damn you, Europe.