danja

Wow, just got back from my first trip to the Ring, was feckin amazing!

We got the Tunnel Saturday afternoon following some hefty roadworks on the M25 and a couple of crashes, but we got there eventually and boarded the train. This was my first time on the tunnel too so that was interesting

We were going for my Dads birthday and also because we just knew it was somewhere that had to be done at some point in our lives lol.

Once we hit France we had the satnav take us to Brugges in Belgium...we hadn't been before to here so thought we'd stop by and see what it was like. We had no hotels booked at all, we were doing them all on spec as it left our options open more. Brugges turned out to be a really nice place, beer was top notch, our fav being Brugges 'Zot' and of course Leffe.

Second day we headed to Cologne. Didn't really enjoy this too much, couldn't seem to find a comfy area to drink in or eat, nothing like Belgium, and so we ate at somewhere half decent and had an earlish nite ready for the ride to the Ring the following day.

We set-off for the Ring, only took us just over an hour to get there from Cologne, but it took and hour to get out of Cologne city centre lol, roadworks were a nightmare from the start and of course Serena on the satnav kept trying to detour us, only to lead us down more roadworks and roads that had been closed for works, no not fully her fault. A bit of clever work by ourselves managed to get us out in the end lol.

We had booked one hotel, and that was the hotel an der nordschleife - http://www.hotel-an-der-nordschleife.de/ - we arrived and found our rooms to be very clean, comfortable and at a good rate per night, 75 euros incl breakfast. From our room you could see the Ring:



We had a mooch around and found the start of the ring where you buy tickets and enter the Ring, and the cars on display were very nice indeed. Plenty of British bikers were floating around and some hefty German Porsche GT2 & GT3's.

My Dad got his nerves together and got us 1 lap to say he'd been on and we set-off for the entrance. We were in his Audi A4 1.8T Sport, next year I'm taking my S3, and the lap we had was very good fun if a little slow...16 minutes lol. But, in saying that it was our first time and just wanted to get round in one piece and not suffer any damages to the car or track.

His Nurburgring sticker sits firmly on the boot now and he drives with much pride, awwww

We hit Adenau on the night for some much enjoyable Bitburger and a pasta in the first resturant as you enter the town, I forget the name but it was spot on!

For the last night we headed back up to Brugges as we enjoyed it that much, and this day was my Dad's birthday, so we wanted somewhere we knew was good for eating and sleeping, so Brugges it was. I had far too much beer in the bar that hosts 300 Belgium beers at a time, right across the road from the Hobbit pub which serves what was one of my best steaks ever lol, and so the next day for travelling home my head was firmly up the window as I tried to rest my eyes and stop my stomach from doing somersaults lol.

All-in all, it was an awesome trip, and one I would very much recommend. As said, I will be heading back next year think in the S3 tohave some more fun.

Below are some of my pics from the Ring, hope you enjoy . All images can be viewed on my website: http://www.djaphoto.co.uk/

Our Ring pic


British Bikers


Yummy




Red, White and Blue












My Dads proud sticker lol


My artistic side coming out, x3 image stitch


Possibly my favourite image

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Cool picture, looks very moody.

Cant quite work out where that is, I assume thats just as the track drops down a short distance before you get to the second entrance?

danja

Thanks Chip

I have it down as Brunchen, which is top right above Dottingen, we found it using a high quality map from the Nurburgring Fans Shop down the 258

danneth

what a great picture the last one is

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Ah, you are looking back up the track not down it, makes perfect sense now, that was taken from the gravel carpark bit yeah?

Thats why it didnt look familiar, Ive yet to drive round that one backwards, although me and Ian did Brunchen2 backwards in his focosworth

danja

Thanks Danneth, I thought as soon as the sun was gently gleaming through the elft of the image that it would make for a great desktop lol

Chip, yes mate that's the one, is a good sweeping bend in front of the spectators actually isn't it lol - and you obviously found it a little too good by the sounds of it haha

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Awesome pics mate

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Ian lost it on the way up the hill the other side, we then had a tank slapper along the straight where he did the right thing and kept his foot in, but we hit the barrier backwards halfway along the straight.

He seemed to be doing everything right and I was surprised when he lost it but it since looks like it was a mechanical failure not driver error, as there was a problem with the rear beam, basically a bolt had come loose, funnily enough I was saying to him only the day before that I thought the backend felt like it was moving, but when we had a quick look we couldnt find anything.

Harsh place to have any sort of problem with your car, very unforgiving, I bent my E30 like a banana there about 5 years ago, lol

Fil

nice little review there

sounds like you had a great time, and quality photos!

Allyc85

Cool write up and top quality pics as always

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

I'm almost certain I saw you out there!

I overtook you in a RSR Alfa on sunday morning if you remember? properly shonky looking thing... but AWESOME fun!

Brian

iTrader: (2)

Excellent write up and pictures mate


Brian

Less.

as people have said nice write up and great pics

Rick

Nice pics, it's a proper special place

danja

Thanks everyone, much appreciate the commnets

Yes it's a real good place, something I don't think you can really understand until you've been there lol, cheesey but true I think you will agree

Porkie, where abouts were you on the Sunday morning? On the Ring? I would have been travelling from Belgium to Cologne then...we didn't hit the Ring until Monday night

Maria.

Some pretty pictures there!

Its definitely an amazing place!

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

Thinking about it. Was a Silver 4 door BMW and was newer... I am a plank!

The driver looked just like your dad though! and there was a young bloke as well... so I put 2+2 together and got 9!

I used to hate the Ring.... I just thought it was a long way to go to have a crash! and the drive over was ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

but I have my new 'Ring Regime' now and have been few times in last month alone and will probably get out there once a month from now on.

I'm REALLY enjoying learning the track and getting faster and faster.... and the secret is....

SHONKY OLD ALFA SHITBOXES!!!!!

My friend suggested trying one from RSR... and I am soooooooooo glad I did!!!!

I will never drive anything else at the ring. and it takes all the hassle out of the ring for me.

I drive to Stansted with is just 30mins for me. Quick hours flight to Frankfurt. Hire a new 911... do 170mph down the Autobhan to the Ring... get there in about 45 mins Leave 911 at RSR... change into shitbox 'stage 3' Alfa 75 and drive all day long!!!!!!

Eat... Get pissed... go to bed. Get up early. Drive ring in morning in Alfa... leave at 3pm... pick up 911... blast back to Frankfurt and fly and be back home for 6.30 for roast dinner at ya mums!

PERFECT!

Next trip in few weeks... and the early october I am going out with Martoon, Stu, Renton and Sean...


So.... we will need 3 x 911's for race down.... and 3 x Alfas at the Ring. This is GOING to end in tears

BUT thats the best thing about the Alfas... they are SOOOOOOOOO cheap if you crash em compared with anything else! I've also hired a R26R and GT3RS from RSR... but the Alfa was EASILY the most fun!!!!

and the cheapest!!! AND it was like 600euros for unlimited laps! the R26R was 900e for 6 laps and like 25,000euros if you total it.... you dont even wanna know what the 911 was!

SO.... shitbox Alfa racing at the Ring ROCKS!!!! cheap fun at the Ring....

and you are totally covered if anything goes wrong. THIS was the big thing for me... I almost had a big accident in my 911 there a few weeks ago and I KNOW I am not insured at all. I don't think people realise how serious it is driving at the ring uninsured... I'm not worried about wrapping my own car up... its killing some Biker because he falls off in front of me and then I get a bill for Ł1000000000000000 for compensation or for paying for his care as he is a vegetable. That scares me ALOT!

I REALLY reccomend RSR and the Alfas. They are great guys and the cars are great fun. Roll cages, proper suspension, R888 tyres and sooooo well set up. They look crap but they are ALL you need at the Ring!

You need to leave your ego at home as they aren't the coolest things to be seen in and you will get posers in hot 911's looking down their noses at you but I dont care as I was having GREAT FUN!

First one I had 3 weeks ago.


last weekends one... that had NO brakes

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Whats the maximum you can end up paying out if you total an RSR Alfa then porkie?

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

I asked Dale what the bill would be if I crashed in big ball of flames and took out every barrier at the Ring and killed 21 bikers and 9 grannies and a squirrel.... He said 6000euros....

I asked if I can pay up front.

Chip. its the ONLY way to do the Ring mate.....

Fly... 170mph LEGALLY in brand new 911 on way down there (nice car to trundle about whilst you are there as well) then Alfas around the ring.

I reckon its ALOT cheaper than driving your own car there as well personally.... and SOOOOOOOO much less risky and less hassle!

AlexF

http://www.rsrnurburg.com/

AlexF

You might be right!

My skyline was Ł33 a lap for JUST the lap and fuel

Chip

iTrader: (3)

By the time you take into account the cost of tyres etc I agree, that sounds like it probably is cheaper, 911 higher was only a few hundred quid for the weekend from avis last time I checked too.

What do you reckon it costs you in total, 1500 quid ish?

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

Like I add stuff up!!!!

911 is only 497euros!!!!!! BARGAIN!!!!!!

flights are like Ł50!!!

its a no brainer!

dave cos4x4

iTrader: (5)

some nice pics.

Lee, you have some life mate,well done.

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Not really worth hiring a poverty spec car for the sake of a couple of hundred euros difference then, may as well do it in something you can cover the ground quickly and get more time at the ring.

When you say unlimited laps in the alfa for 600, I assume you dont mean that you get the laps paid for too, ie you sitll have to buy your 15 lap ticket or whatever?

If you started sharing that expense between two people, it really would get silly cheap, like well under 1K each

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Lee, have you timed yourself in the alfa's out of interest?

Si B

iTrader: (59)

Very interesting reading Porkie, thought provoking actually.

Depending on who you convoy with, I really love the road trip there and back. As long as the speeds are high, and the faffing about is minimal, to me it's a big part of the trip. Myself, my brother and Ginge had a great 3 car mini convoy a couple years back

Pushing my own car hard around there is also a big thing for me.

I'm not sure I could do things your way (partly based on the cost, although sometimes what I spend does make me think!)

How much is it to hire a Porsche 911 for the couple of days? Sounds like a fun option if ever I don't have a car to go over in.

Si

Jim Galbally

chip, are you thinking what i'm thinking for our little late summer visit?

(just without the 911s as i dont think i can afford to hire one of those at 26 )

Si B

iTrader: (59)

Ah, Lee and others replied while I was writing my post.

497 Euros - Ł440

Screw that, I'll deffo continue taking my own car and doing things as I have done every trip so far.

Fair play for doing things in style though, I know I would if the funds allowed it.

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

why dont you and chip join me and the lads in october. I will be a fucking riot!

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

Honestly no.... but they are NOT slow. As Long as you carry the speed... if you get held up and break the rythmn they dont have 500bhp to quickly get back up to speed.

Dont forget they have perfect weight balance... engine art front and gearbox/transaxle doofloopy at the back.... caged for stiffness, very light, proper suspension, tires and geometry....

I'm not a fast driver but I could keep up with all the modern hot hatches around there just through the speed it can carry...

VERY rewarding to drive fast and KNOWING your maximum downside financially is just a bad day at the office rather than a PROPER life changing disaster really improves the whole experience. Yes Ring ticket is included as well.... and fuel if you want.

HONESTLY... even money aside I would choose the Alfa over the Megane R26R and the GT3RS I also hired.

The slower speed meant I learnt the track and concentrated on my driving more.

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

Ł200 each between you and Chip is all they cost.

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

for a brand new 997 Carrera for the weekend?!?!?

MATE THATS A STEAL!!!!

My 911 depreciated that much in the time it took me to type this post!!!!

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

The other problem with the drive over is I dont actually drive that often.... maybe once every 2 weeks... sometimes I can go a month without driving a car... so when I get a long empty motorway in a foreign country in a fast car... I get a bit silly... I HATE doing it and I am going to end up in prison and loosing my job.... I just LOVE speed... and I cant resist it! so flying is safer all round

and it takes fooking ages!!!! even at 190mph mind you I did do Ring to my bed last time in something RIDICULOUS....

Si B

iTrader: (59)

I know it's a good price, especially when shared by someone else, but I'd rather have my own car over there I reckon.

All I have to do now is find some funds then get myself back over there, ideally this year. My last October trip was in 07, and the weather was decent, and the track relatively quiet.

Chip will remember it as the year we jumped the jeep

Hmm, I'm off to garage to find some more Cossie parts to sell

Maria.

I just want to go on the new rollercoaster

Si B

iTrader: (59)

Opens tomorrow I think....

Little road trip for you?

Maria.

Hope so one day Si!

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Sounds like a plan

You up for that Jim?

If we do it though it has to be porkie spec all the way, im not fucking sharing a 1.4 golf hire car with you while they all fuck off in 911 turbos and im not buying crisps from the supermarket when they all go out for a nice meal, if we go with them we do it on their budget!

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Ive done the "drive like an utter cunt as if you are on a trackday at bedford with nothing to lose" thing at the ring before, and Im not interested in doing it again, as its got dearer since so im well up for just going out and banging in loads of piss slow (relative to Si B etc) 9:00 - 9:30 laps in an Alfa driving at 8/10ths and learning the track better and better.

Im WELL up for it mate, I think it sounds like a great weekend, you dont have to sell those alfas to me, I really love cars where its about maintaining momentum and being smooth rather than balls out power, I was overtaking much more powerful cars in my 130bhp clio at combe doing just that.

Although the slight difference to me 6K is enough of a bill that I would have to accept that if I crashed the alfa then realistically the Sierra has to get broken to fund it.
So still fairly life changing for me in that respect as I would miss the car, but then that is no different to if I was driving the sierra there in the first place and binned it, and this way I dont have to take tools with me or any of that nonsense, its totally stress free so long as I dont crash, and as I wouldnt be pushing on hard anyway, I dont see that as likely as I only crashed before cause I was still pushing on at 11/10ths on a set of tyres well past which I wont do this time.