I've noticed a lot of people going to the ring and was wondering what some of they're times were. Also, what is considered a good time at the ring for a novice?

 

9 mins 25 seconds with 3 holdups - which were 1 crash, traffic and a coach

without them, knocking on the door of 9 mins, possibly a shade under, as you loose so much time in traffic


got some stupidly quick laps on video aswell of myself banging on the 9 minute door

 

good time for a novice is about 11-12 mins

 

Holy crap looks like your flying then.

 

a novice should not think about times, just about learning the lines, staying out of the way, and getting around safely.

bloody clarkson has ruined the place

 

Absolutely agree


Its taken me a good 30-40 laps over 2 trips to even think about getting anywhere good times.

and all the boys and girls who came out with me thought it was MASSIVE

 

Why has he? Does he excercise Vulcan mind control over everyone that goes to make them drive like twats? Is he the only person on tv to have ever driven quickly round the nurburgring?

 

I gotta try one day just to say I've been. I'll practice on GT-4 in the mean time

 

Can you host them Gracie?

 

I'll be publishing a VCD or a DVD later this month

 

TBH I dont understand why anyone worries about times. How were they measured, on your stop watch? Where did you start timing, once you'd filtered out of the cones? Not very accurate is it.

There must be so many differences, surely you should be more interested on having a good time? If you want to be competitive, enter a race series, where it's far safer to do so

I'll be getting off my high horse now

 

he's not the only one that has driven 'quickly' on tv, but he is the one that made such a big deal about the timing which has encouraged people to try and better him / better a time

not only that, but he's encouraged more and more people to go that makes it too busy.

for me, those things have spoilt it a little compared to years ago, although i had the best 'ring trip ever this time around.

 

Times are usually measure from the bridge to gantry 'BTG times'. The best way of seeing how fast you are is to record it on video and then watch it when you get home. Timing whilst you are there and trying to better it, is asking fro trouble. Each lap will be different due to hold ups so from a stats perspective you'll never get a true idea of how fast you really can do it

Anyway, the ring is alot more than times. The first thing you should concentrate on is learning the corners and then the lines. 10years later, unless you are a local with year round access, you'll probably be experienced enough to start timing yourself

Looking at the vid from my one and only trip I was just under 10 minutes after 3 laps.

Paul.

 

You use a video camera...

and you time from the 1st bridge (bilstein bridge) to the last gantery on the final stright.

I was about 9 mins too

also did an scary 11m 7s in the pissing rain


Theres nothing wrong with timing yourself... so long as you have self-control and don't start racing yourself!!

Alex

 

Or Sib

 

So basically it's ok for you guys to go out and enjoy it, have a few crashes and breakdowns but no-one else should be allowed because it stops you enjoying it too much......lol........I prefer Alton Towers when it's less busy myself but hey ho good things usually are popular

As for Top Gear - they have featured it and they have timed themselves, but they also make you very aware of the rules of timing and the dangers of trying to 'push on' round the ring, it's up to individuals to take responsibility not blame a TV show.....

Top Gear has certainly awoken my deire to go there, as it probably has for a lot of users on this BB but i'd always treat it with repect if i went.

 

too right....

 

feel the love tho


or hear the "FUCK"

 

I didn't time myself, but i have got my first ever lap from last weekend on video so i can have a look later.

I bet it's something like 15 mins. or so
Doesn't bother me, i had a great time

 

Thats what its all about - the crack, its all good

 

MattRS1600i you seem to have a better attitude towards it than a lot of people that were there this weekend

 

I did a 10 minute 26 seconds. I timed my lap beause i paid alot of money to go to the ring and was curious as to how my time compared to other people

 

it's slower than some, and faster than some others.

 

9mins 30seconds for me - 205 mi16 with 160-170bhp.

10mins 35 seconds for Louise.

Car was mint all weekend, 29laps (22 for me and 7 for Lou)

We'll be back in August (or whenever) but with the RS Turbo and 350bhp next time

 

I see your point about clarkson and how it's glorified a trip to the ring but i suppose only the twats that crash have themselves to blame, just a pity that it usually involves someone else. Personally i would try just enjoy the whole driving experience and not worry too much about the times, it's not as if you get anything for it. Also, i have wanted to take my car on knockhill several times but i know i'd either crash it or someone would crash into me, that's one of the things that you have to be aware of and that's why i personally would think more than twice about doing it. Glad you guys had fun, and big up for having the balls to drive over there and have a go!

 

well it let go around 8.36 am and i was all done by 8.44

 

I kinda agree about Clarkeson, the Ring was MUCH quieter when I first started going 3-4 yrs ago, although I haven'y been for a year now it seems its much busier.

 

Disagree with you there mate! I found a video on 1 of the ring photo sites of people going round the ring in the mid 80's in XR3is & 205's etc and the crowds round the edge watching were like a touring car meet! Every big corner was rammed & car after car was going round this weekend there was a few handfuls of people watching & whilst there was a lot of cars there it seemed the same as its always been. Ive been a few times myself now over the last few years and it doesnt seem any different to any other time to me.

 

Bar the bikers... I didn't see two cars hit each other all weekend.

Alex

 

Not too sure about times TBH. With Alex videoing I did a 10.05 and got caught up in a lot of traffic and had to slow right down for a yellow flag.

I was getting quicker and quicker towards the end of the week, I'd like to think somewhere between 9.25 and 9.35.

 

I only had one lap timed correctly with a stopwatch BTG and it was 9:27. Weather conditions were raining start & finish and wet in the middle.

**
Edited to say wet start AND finish, not wet start TO finish.

 

What BTG mean Stu

 

Bridge To Gantry

Nice to meet you and Gill mate

 

You too mate

Hows Sibs car mate no other damage i hope on the way home.

Say hello for me and to Phil

 

BTG = bridge to gantry

I was around 9:30 based on glancing at time at beginning and end, but i dont ever bother timing myself as like most others say im more interested in just enjoying the drive, and too many things influence it anyway.

As for whats a good time, i should think in rainbirds car a 9:30 would be positively useless, but in the BMW i dont think anyone could take *much* off of it, ie maybe 30 seconds at most for a really good driver on a clear track.


I think that you should be able to get under 10 mins in pretty much any car if you practice.



IIRC stephenRW did 8:21 in the evo and andy_r did about 9:30 in the same car, so it shows the difference the driver makes is just as big as the car!

Phrase of the trip:

ITS ALL ABOUT COMMITMENT

 

Turned up in Andy's Evo 8 MR340. Andy did two laps first.

I jumped in and did an 8:37 on my first lap. Was bloody dangerous as the tyres had way too much air in them and the car was extra skittery. Let them down 8 psi, tried again, let them down another 5 psi then tried again then let them down another 4 psi or so. Tyres were then around 32 psi when hot. What a difference.

Fastest lap I managed was an 8:21. I did several 8:21's. Some were half damp and some were in heavy traffic and slowing for accidents. Reckon around an 8:15 is possible in the car as it stands with a perfect lap.

When the track went nice n quiet on Monday evening we had retired Andy's car so we never got a chance to set a lap in a perfectly quiet and dry track.

We did in Rainbirds car. Last lap on Monday night. Only saw TWO CARS the entire lap. It was so perfect. BTG he managed an 8:07. We were FLYING. Top notch driving and top notch car. Everyone with an escort cossie should get theres to handle like Mikes. I was amazed with the current drivability of the car.

PS Thanks for letting me drive it round the ring Mike . Top notch

RW

 

I believe the car made it home safe and sound in the end with no other major issues!

Will say hello to the 2 of them later

 

Incredibly respectable times

 

Just to add to this, Andy took myself and Louise out for a lap in the EVO, what a ride that was!

The car is fantastic, so much grip its unreal! Andy drove it really well, really good lines (that i didnt know ).

I can safely say that the time was faster than Chip has mentioned, and there was a significant period where we completely stopped attacking the track whilst andy and i chatted and slowed right down to allow a couple beemers and GT3s through.

If Andy wasnt in the 8s then i'd be most surprised - top car and excellent quality driving!

 

I think it was on the first day they told me those times, so no doubt he got loads quicker