IMOC Nürburgring Trip, Germany : 8-11th July 2005

[BenF]

Right, now that dates that the Nürburgring is open to the public to drive on for 2005 are published, here's an outline sketch following up on the earlier discussions.

If you're interested in coming, please reply here to this thread.

Friday 8th July : Get 8am ish Ferry/ Seacat/ Eurotunnel, Arrive France 10am local time. Drive to Nurburgring (5-6 hours) arriving 4pm in Nurburg. Drop stuff off at the hotel, and get to the track for a couple of hours 5.15 - 7.30pm before beers and food in the evening.

Saturday, Sunday :Track is open 8am through to 7.30pm. You're best off getting there early in the day, and doing laps first thing in the morning and then late in the afternoon when it is quiet. It will get busy from 10am through to 4 or 5pm with traffic, when you're best just doing leisurely laps. We might get time to do some Karting on Saturday or Sunday at the kart circuit just alongside the Grand Prix grandstands ..

Monday 11th July : Depart Nurburg 10am, Arrive Calais ~4.30pm. Quick trip to supermarkets, then grab a ~8pm crossing back to the UK, arriving 8pm.

For general info on the Nurburgring, see http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/

Very Rough cost estimates are (thanks to Paul):

• 
• Ferry from Dover to Calais = approx 100 GBP (BenF : Note prices now for the above range 100-130 from www.ferrysavers.com )
  
• Calais to the Nürburgring = 280 Miles ( 11 Gallons @ 25mpg )
  
• Lap of the Ring = 1 Gallon @ 13mpg
  
• Lap ticket = 10GBP
  
• Hotel ~ 50GBP / night

So, lets for arguments sake say petrol costs 4GBP per gallon (Cheaper in Europe) You travel out Friday and back Monday and do 12 laps.

Hotel = 150
Petrol = 11x4 + 12x4 + 11x4 = 136
Laps = 120
Ferry = 100

Total = 506 GBP

Plus money for beer/food in the evening and anything else , so rounding it up to £650ish (e.g. fuel in the UK )

I'll post more info here (e.g. Suggested crossings, hotel details for you to book directly etc) in the next few days.

In the meanwhile, to get an idea of what the circuit is like, here's a clip of some footage from a trip I did with the SE Region of the 'DC a few yeas back - I'll add some more next week

Those confirmed so far as being there that weekend:

Ben F (Probably Roadster, may be Mk1)
Si Cook - Mk1 or RX7
Toni G - Mk1 TC or Skyline
Paul Port - MK2T
Lauren / Mark Mk1 (x2?)
Stuart E - Roadster
DoM - Mk1 SC or Honda ..?
Alan Wheeldon (+ friends already going then)
Michael Sherry Mk2T

Nurburgring footage: [click me] Parade lap - NB 9MB download - This was from a trip I did with the folks from the SE Region of the DC, hence the title ..

[Lauren]

Hi Ben,

Mark and I are very interested in the Ring trip.

just something we noticed, with speedferries dot co dot uk you can get a return for £70 as long as you don't mind going to boulougne. its slightly in the wrong direction, but not by much.

Mark noticed hoverspeed dover/calais for £98.

[BenF]

Hi Ben,

Mark and I are very interested in the Ring trip.

Would be great to have you along - I think I've twisted Toni's arm to bring the Ballistic Bananna and Si Cook in either his Rex or Mk1 too ..

There's always the option of making it into part of a longer holiday, but I'd arrange it so you do the 'ring at the end of a break away.

just something we noticed, with speedferries dot co dot uk you can get a return for £70 as long as you don't mind going to boulougne. its slightly in the wrong direction, but not by much.

Hmm, that's good to know. Boulougne is only about 30 minutes down the motorway from Calais - if you wanted to cross that way and drive up, no problem.

I'll probably be booking a £100 crossing with Hoverspeed on their Seacat tho


best place to meetup is proabably the 1st services over the border into Belgium (near Juntion 3 of the E40?) - they're only 40 minutes drive from Calais.

[mishadbull]

Hmm,

Seems like Ill be there a few days earler with the Loughborough University Motorclub and the Bike club. We are planning a trip for the first weekend in July where I might take my bike down, or the tubby, or both! Wish I could go with you guys too!

Well, we'll see.

Mike

[StuartE]

I'd be very interested in coming along too.

[Lauren]

Ben if you are going on the seacat we'll probably do the same. We'll be staying down at my Mum's as she handily lives just off the A20/M20 so its only an hour to Dover. We could meet up on M20 or at the Ferry no probs.

Are you definately just going for the three days? We are thinking of going to Spa in August with BaT (yearly pilgrimage), so 3 days away for us in July would be fine.

It would be cool if Toni can make it, though she'll need to twist hubby's arm a little. Cool that Si is coming too. Sounds like its coming together.

[paul port]

Count me in for this one as well.

Paul

PS, I'll be there at easter (only a couple of weeks away) should anyone else be there.
b

[DoM]

Count me in

[BenF]

I'd be very interested in coming along too.

Great -

You been there before or done any trackdays ?

[BenF]

Count me in

Nice one

[BenF]

Ben if you are going on the seacat we'll probably do the same. We'll be staying down at my Mum's as she handily lives just off the A20/M20 so its only an hour to Dover. We could meet up on M20 or at the Ferry no probs.

Are you definately just going for the three days? We are thinking of going to Spa in August with BaT (yearly pilgrimage), so 3 days away for us in July would be fine.

It would be cool if Toni can make it, though she'll need to twist hubby's arm a little. Cool that Si is coming too. Sounds like its coming together.

Yeah, its going to be a good one. I'm actually going to be heading there on the end of a trip over to Europe so I won't actually be grabbing the Seacat over on Friday, but plan to meetup with you all at Nurburg itself.

I'll make some calls this week and see what availibility is like in the hotels in Nurburg itself for that weekend - there aren't any big events on at the Grand Prix circuit that weekend so I don't expect any problems ...

[StuartE]

I'd be very interested in coming along too.

Great -

You been there before or done any trackdays ?

No i've never done either.

Might have to get some practice in first I think, Croft Circuit's only down the road from me.

[BenF]

I'd be very interested in coming along too.

Great -

You been there before or done any trackdays ?

No i've never done either.

Might have to get some practice in first I think, Croft Circuit's only down the road from me.

Its not a problem - basically just treat it like a normal road, only do a speed that allows you to stop in the distance you can see ahead of you.

I'm sure you'll be able to get some passenger laps with others that know the circuit well, as well as get people to sit in with you as you do some laps learning parts of the circuit.

If you've not done any trackdays and you fancy learning some car control skills it would be worth finding a skidpan and getting some tuition there - followed by a airfield trackday, and then a 'proper' circuit like Croft ...

[DoM]

I have just sinned and purchased a front wheel drive car with 4 seats, an Integra! I guess I'll be taking that now..

[Dave Couzens]

I have just sinned and purchased a front wheel drive car with 4 seats, an Integra! I guess I'll be taking that now..

Nice Dom - but what about the sc? What year/model is the integra?

[DoM]

It's a 98 UK car, DC2(? - One with round lights!) - I wasn't really looking seriously for one, this one was so cheap - I couldn't resist!!

Not sure what I'll do with the SC, I'd like to keep it but I cant afford to run it as well as the teg and I have no where to put it! So I'll probably have to sell it, you rarely see SC's for sale so putting a price on it will be a bit of a stab in the dark!

[alan wheeldon]

I'll make some calls this week and see what availibility is like in the hotels in Nurburg itself for that weekend - there aren't any big events on at the Grand Prix circuit that weekend so I don't expect any problems ...

There is a Truck GP on that weekend so the hotels will be busy. Have you managed to sort out any where to stay yet

[BenF]

Not sure what I'll do with the SC, I'd like to keep it but I cant afford to run it as well as the teg and I have no where to put it! So I'll probably have to sell it, you rarely see SC's for sale so putting a price on it will be a bit of a stab in the dark!

DoM, sorry to hear the Mk1 may be going - There have been a few SCs up for sale recently though - prices have varied depending on mileage and bodywork condition anwhere from £500 through to £2k+ ...

Eitehr way, hope you're still planning on coming along

[BenF]

I'll make some calls this week and see what availibility is like in the hotels in Nurburg itself for that weekend - there aren't any big events on at the Grand Prix circuit that weekend so I don't expect any problems ...

There is a Truck GP on that weekend so the hotels will be busy. Have you managed to sort out any where to stay yet

Yep, there is an event on at the GP circuit, so the section around the grandstands at T13 will be closed off. The weekend before (24-26th June) is the Oldtimers Grand Prix too. There isn't much chance of finding a weekend in the mid-summer that doesn't clash with an event at the circuit.

I've just done a quick check and it does look like the usual haunts in Nurburg itself are full that weekend - we may need to book up a little way out of town - there's a place I know in Hole Acht which is basic but has been used by the Caterham racers in the past....

[DoM]

http://www.gasthaus-weber.de

Ben, we stayed the first time. The rooms are good and theres loads of parking with garages if anyone wants one. It was cheap too, about €15 a night or something stupid and their Schnitzels are great!

It's in the village with the Toyota garage in. Very quiet, but not too far away from Adenau/Nurburg. From what I remember, one of the guys working there spoke pretty good English.

I'm surprised the main hotels are booked up already, looks like it'll be really busy this year then!