A Young Enthusiast's Trip To Europe Part Two; The Nürburgring (Touristenfahrten)

"Aaron Brown" (ambrown) 11/09/2013 at 15:21 • Filed to: AYET2E

12

40

After a night of not much sleep, we were greeted by the blinding light of an early German sunrise. It was 5AM or so when I decided we should get an early start toward Nürburg from Offenbach. We shoved all of our two bags of luggage back in the 118 and began our first roadtrip on the autobahn. Soon enough, we were traveling through the beautiful Eifel Region of Germany, at speeds of nearly 140MPH. More on that later.

If you're just joining us, well, me... This is the much delayed Part Two of my short series, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Where I attempt to describe what it's like to accomplish several automotive dreams and explain the best methods to do so.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

When we first arrived in Nürburg it was just about 7:30AM. It was fairly quiet and there was not much happening. It was also surprisingly filthy in some areas, but I suppose the Rock am Ring festival that had just ended was to blame. I parked the 118 at the Tiefgarage and we darted off on foot into the Ring Werk center.

Ring Werk seemed to be a smallish mall mixed with an automotive amusement park kind of thing. It had karting, a Nürburgring gift shop, a Subway (restaurant), a Nissan/Nismo showroom, and some sort of roller coaster type thing. It also appeared that someone had abandoned a CLA and an M6 inside.

We soon remembered that it was only about 8AM, nothing was open, and the track wouldn't be open to the public until 5:30PM. After promising the CLA and M6 we would come back for them, we left Ring Werk and drove toward Adenau. Another small town that the Nürburgring passes through. On our way, we found a small dirt pull off area, right next to the 'Ring, where we stopped to admire the pure beauty of the track.

To burn time, we drove to Bonne, got some cash, lunch, and I was able to actually make my in-car GoPro charging setup decent. We also attempted to get a factory tour of the Haribo gummy factory. We were denied. In a fit of rage, we bought a tub of gummy cola, stomped back to the 118, and returned to Nürburg.

We went back to the Ring Werk center and purchased a few 'Ring goodies at the 'Ring gift shop. Things weren't totally overpriced there, and they had a pretty decent selection of 'Ring merchandise. Including a toaster that could apparently burn the Nürburgring onto your toast. I completely regret not buying this.

We checked in at the Dorint Am Nürburgring, dropped the bags to add lightness , and drove to the track. The rented track day was coming to an end, and people began to pile up for the Touristenfahrten time slot. As it began to drizzle, I did get a little paranoid and decided to try and take a quick nap in the 118, but this didn't work. I walked around the Nürburgring parking lot and admired all the cars that turned out for this session, bought my €26 lap pass, and returned to the 118 to mentally prepared myself for my first lap of the green hell.

Notes/Recommendations:

-If you haven't seen it already, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

-The Dorint Am Nürburgring is a sweet hotel for the modern day automotive enthusiast. They're trackside to the Nürburgring GP track, have motorsports artwork, and have some sick things hanging from the ceiling in their lobby. Also, the breakfast is probably the best hotel breakfast I have had. I should also mention it was by far the most expensive hotel we stayed at in Germany.

-It seemed as if there was very little traffic during the my session. I did go on a wednesday afternoon, so this may be why. So I'm thinking this may be the best choice for driving the 'Ring.

-On our laps of the 'Ring, we only saw two disabled vehicles. One I think may have had an accident, and the other was an E92 M3 with a flat tire.

-I didn't experience any trouble with my camera setup and the Nürburgring. I am well aware the rules say you're not allowed to record on the 'Ring, but no one stopped me, and I'm fairly certain that the track marshals saw my cameras. I had two GoPro's hooked up next to each other under my rear view mirror.

-Driving on the Nürburgring Nordschleife requires pure concentration, even if you're not at your own or your vehicles limit, or anywhere near it. The people around you (hopefully) know what they're doing as they're flying around you, but if you're not cautious enough, you can easily cause a fatal accident. You must always be completely aware of your surroundings on the Nordschleife, especially if it's your first lap. You more than likely won't know what turn is coming up, or when a motorcyclist is going to shoot in front of you to clip the apex of that blind turn. Do not go on the Nürburgring thinking you're going to achieve a lap time of anywhere near 10 minutes, on your first shot.

I would not recommend driving on the Nordschleife to anyone I don't think could handle it.

The Nürburgring is a beautiful icon in the automotive world we live in today. I sincerely hope it will be able to stick around and thrive for many years to come.

f86sabre > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 15:48

1

Very nice write up. The Ring is a treat to drive. My wife and I did it in 2005 in a Z4. You really do have to be careful. We saw two cars wrecked during our laps. That said, it is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I have not tried it naked, but it might be the most fun makes as well.

Did you make it to Trier? Beautiful town.

Aaron Brown > f86sabre 11/09/2013 at 15:50

0

Thanks! It really is the most fun.

I don't think I went through Trier unfortunately.

TheSmokingTire > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 15:50

11

Good piece. I also completely regret not buying that toaster.

Also, a good tip for ring first timers. There is a place called Rent4Ring that rents track-ready cars if you don't have your own car. It's a super-pro operation and the cars are top notch, everything from a Suzuki Swift (which JF said was the most fun he's ever had), to BRZ's, Scirocco's, and M3 GTS's. But even if you don't need a car, stop in there anyway before you go out for your first laps. They have a 10-minute "so this is your first time here" instructional video that was seriously the most helpful thing anyone could have shown me. For certain legal reasons they can't post it online, but they are right next to the track so go take a look at it.

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 16:20

3

I enjoyed the read. I thought maybe you could by the toaster online, but alas, out of stock. 'ring toaster

Ninetales > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 16:45

1

More importantly..

How much did it cost for the journey?

Aaron Brown > Ninetales 11/09/2013 at 16:46

0

I was there for two weeks and went to Le Mans as well.

It cost roughly $2800 excluding airfare.

Duckferd > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 18:23

1

"-I didn't experience any trouble with my camera setup and the Nürburgring. I am well aware the rules say you're not allowed to record on the 'Ring, but no one stopped me, and I'm fairly certain that the track marshals saw my cameras. I had two GoPro's hooked up next to each other under my rear view mirror."

This is no longer a rule at the Nurburgring as of this year. In fact, if you grab a car from Rent4Ring, they also have GoPros available for you.

gabdere > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 18:35

0

Wow you guys are lucky and I want to go now! Not meant to be rude, but how old are you?

MentalJuggernot > TheSmokingTire 11/09/2013 at 18:56

0

Agree completely. When I went to the ring I took out one of their swifts and it was awesome. And they are absolutely clutch people.

zzoldan > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 19:16

0

Nice piece. Just double checking here: You took a rental car to the 'Ring? Isn't that in violation of your rental contract? I'm planning on visiting the 'Ring next year, and I was thinking of bringing a rental car but their insurance won't cover any damages that happen on the Nurburgring.

BevelGearhead > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 20:51

1

I do fancy going to the 'Ring someday as a pilgrimage every auto enthusiast wants to do. Given the dangers the 'Ring traffic poses i would prefer driving a car with a full body roll cage and a 6 point harness to ensure safety in the event of a crash. However i am not sure where i can get such a car and how much will it cost. Does anyone has any suggestions please?

Biostar01 > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 21:35

0

Hey, you're not that young of an enthusiast. You're five years older than me.

caddyak > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 21:47

1

I got the pleasure of doing the ring this past summer. The first time Sixt gave me a 2013 Opel Astra Turbo, which was a fun car, but after a few laps of pushing it as hard as I safely could, it was apparent that car was out of its element.

We went back a few days later (we were staying at a friend's in Dusseldorf that week) and did it in a 118i we got from Sixt. 4 km on the clock and it's first big task is the 'Ring. I know it's a federal offense in Germany to race a car before the engine is broken in, but that was a risk I was willing to take (on a rental).

I got to cross the top item of my bucket list off the week before I turned 20 :)

McSchmalex > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 22:02

1

One of these days, I am going to make the pilgrimmage to Europe and hit up as many automotive museums and tracks as I can.

Short list are:
- Porsche museum
- The 'Ring
- Ferrari Factory in Maranello
- Le Mans (even if the race isn't going on)
- Spa track... maybe

drift240 > TheSmokingTire 11/09/2013 at 22:44

0

I'm going to throw in a pitch for rent-racecar.de. Same deal with the track prepped cars at all levels. My buddy and I rented a 318 since the 328 was spoken for, and it was the next closest thing to what we're used to driving. I was a little skeptical at first since the car reservation and all was just done via emails, but no problems at all. The owner, Theo, met us at ring werk since his shop would have been impossible to find otherwise. No instructional video, but since it was our first time there he took us on a narrated hot lap in his car....he did not go easy. The 318 we rented was well-prepped and nicely sorted...there was a little bit of driving an unfamiliar car moment, but it was setup to be very stable and predictable.

drift240 > zzoldan 11/09/2013 at 22:51

1

Yeah...bringing an airport rental car to the ring is not really a great idea. You can get blacklisted from the rental company or charged an extra 500 euros or so for "extra wear and tear". That said, I've driven an airport rental on the ring, and so has my friend I usually meet up with in Germany. I don't think either one of us is blacklisted, and we didn't get hit with any extra fees. We also rented the cars from places not very close to the track/other countries, so they wouldn't necessarily look for ring abuse.

One of the dedicated ring rental companies is a much better idea. The cars are race prepped, so you're not going to get brake fade after one lap. The airport rentals weren't awful, but they smelled pretty foul after a couple laps.

toyotasupraman > McSchmalex 11/09/2013 at 22:57

1

If you're in Germany, may as well visit the Audi, Mercedes and BMW museums.

fintail > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 23:37

1

Fun read. I was there under a year ago, also stayed at the Dorint, and had a great time just taking it all in. That's a cool hotel too, and the bar is pretty amazing with all of the memorabilia and signatures, many racers have been there, and the manager/director Josef More was a fun chat. My rate included half board, the food was very good. I also ventured into Adenau, which has some motorsports themes, too, and was a pleasant small town.

A few pics:

View from room:

Sign in Adenau:

The bar:

This was relatively new at the time:

Fame:

427zeo6 > Aaron Brown 11/09/2013 at 23:38

1

Definitely one for the bucket list! I lapped around 13.8 minutes in a Volvo V50 1.6TD wagon with a carload of fellow Corvette club members in 2007. No! Your not supposed to lap the Ring in a rental but, I claim ignorance...I bought a jacket, reserved for special occasions and a Ring decal still stuck on my MKIV R32 Golf. Car in front of you looks to be a SEAT Leone Cuppra R one badaz VW!

Aaron Brown > McSchmalex 11/10/2013 at 01:00

0

I've completed three of those! Find out how they went in the future posts.

McSchmalex > toyotasupraman 11/10/2013 at 01:19

0

Things I would also visit in Germany:
- Audi museum
- Mercedes museum
- BMW museum

Aaron Brown > 427zeo6 11/10/2013 at 01:50

0

I bought a few Nürburgring stickers as well, gave most of them to friends but kept on for myself. Haven't put it on my car yet. So far I only have an Oppo sticker on my car.

Aaron Brown > caddyak 11/10/2013 at 01:50

0

We have some things in common!

Aaron Brown > BevelGearhead 11/10/2013 at 01:51

0

RSRnurburg and Rent4Ring offer track car rentals specifically for the Nürburgring. Definitely look into them.

Aaron Brown > fintail 11/10/2013 at 01:51

0

Sweet pics!

Farz > Aaron Brown 11/10/2013 at 06:28

0

Hope you also completed the Napoleon Route in the south of France, which is basically one of the best pieces of road in Europe!

Farz > Duckferd 11/10/2013 at 06:31

0

It used to be some kind of rule because they officially rented GoPros at the ring for you to record the lap, but since the explosion of little cameras it was almost never enforced.

Barbarian772 > John Norris (AngryDrifter) 11/10/2013 at 09:48

1

This is pretty cool too:

http://www.nuerburgring-shop.de/169101101999-s…

ajpbradley > Aaron Brown 11/10/2013 at 10:08

1

This is an excellent series of posts. I've been to the 'Ring twice. The first time was with a mate on a week-long tour of Europe in his Smart Roadster Coupe but the circuit was closed (we'd changed the dates of our holiday without checking that there were tourist laps at the same time the next week - d'oh!). The second time was with a group from Toyota Owner's Club at Easter a couple of years later and I did a few laps. I learned some things on that second visit:-

1. NEVER do 2 laps back-to-back. When some mates and I came round after our first lap, there was a long queue to exit, so we decided we'd just go around again. I'm big on mechanical sympathy and I've never, ever, before or since had a car smelling of brakes and clutch like mine did in the last third of that second lap. By the end of it I was a horrible sweaty mess.

2. Never go on Easter weekend. The world turns up and the track is mobbed with both cars and bikes. The cars are fine - you can see them coming, you indicate right, they pass you. Saint Sabine of Schmidt pitches her M5 'Ring Taxi into a drift on her way past and disappears into the distance. The bikes are another matter. They're on you so quickly - before you even hear them or have time to react. They also smear themselves across the scenery with alarming regularity. Most of Easter Weekend is spent waiting for bikers to be squeegee'd off the track.

3. A mildly tuned Toyota Yaris diesel is actually quite a good car to drive the 'Ring in. Seriously. Lowered on decent springs and wheels/tyres, with strut braces, T-Sport seats, a tuning chip and improved breathing it has enough torque to forgive you being in the wrong gear without the outright speed to get you in trouble. Mine was tuned for the Scottish Highlands and that seemed to work just fine in the Eiffels too.

4. Spend some time in the car park - particularly if it's busier. You see all sorts of automotive porn and some quite spectacularly tweaked cars built specifically for "making progress" around the track.

Lastly it was, quite simply, the scariest thing I've ever done in a car. The "oh my god where is the next bike coming from" coupled to the sure and certain knowledge that crashing is going to be very expensive (€100/metre of Armco when I was there multiplied by the number of runs high - and when did you ever see a car crash damage a single metre of barrier?) but whilst not wanting to be a mobile roadblock all raises the blood pressure. And I was there in my only car. That said, it was awesome and I'm so glad I've done it.

Keep up the good work with this series, I'm really enjoying it.

caddyak > Aaron Brown 11/10/2013 at 12:40

1

Yep, here's a picture of the Astra I flogged.

This could be a Sixt advertisement!

The most car related fun I had was driving a right hand drive Golf ZipCar to Brighton from London. The thing was gutless but it was such a crazy experience being on the other side of the road. Or maybe cramming 7 people in a Nissan Micra in Dusseldorf... It was a very, very long summer

xc90v8/I4 :( > Aaron Brown 11/10/2013 at 12:55

1

Having laughed my ass off about you driving a manual (no offense) I still wonder how you can't learn to drive with a manual. Here in Europe you drive a manual from the minute ond you learn to drive. And only when your old and lazy get an auto. Anyway... Really Enjoyed reading this. Living in Switzerland I'm certainly going there someday too.

What I can also highly recommend is the bmw Museum in Germany or to be more precise the BMW on demand programm. You can just go there and rent any BMW you want. An M5 or anything for only 225 Euros for 8 Hours I think

https://portal.bmw-on-demand.de/index.do?actio…

Aaron Brown > xc90v8/I4 :( 11/10/2013 at 12:58

0

No offense taken! I've learned since then and am fairly proficient with the manual. But yeah that BMW program is amazing. I wish they offered something like that closer to the 'Ring.

xc90v8/I4 :( > xc90v8/I4 :( 11/10/2013 at 13:30

0

Yeah that would be great. Second problem is that as much as I understood they don't give any M cars to under 25 Year old. I'm just 20 but was lucky enough to get invited by my uncle to drive both an M5 and X5M. Best weekend ever :)

traxnada > Aaron Brown 11/10/2013 at 18:16

1

Nice write up, enjoyed it... I would recommend renting a Rent4Ring car for the first time... Their small Suzuki Swift Sport are definitly fun enough and have semi-slick tires which provide a grip you'll never achieve in a normal rental car...

My first lap was just under 10 minutes with traffic in it, so it can be fast (granted I have "a bit" of trqck experience and knew the ring pretty well before even putting a wheel on the track...

As it was said, be aware of your surrondings... It's the msot important there. Getting passed by a Porsche GT3RS going almost twice your speed is scary when you're not used to it :)

996C2 > Duckferd 11/10/2013 at 20:37

0

The GoPro rule was mainly targeted against people who mount them externally. People do silly things thinking that suction cup's can hold these cams on painted surfaces or windshields at speeds above 200kph. Lots of the cams have flown off cars there and while it isn't much of a hazard to other cars (unless your in a convertible!) it IS a hazard for the bikers. I've never seen them stop anyone with a cam mounted on the inside of a car. I had one mounted on the inside and didn't even think about it being there as I had it in the car all week. I only had one lap as the spouse was a little freaked out at all the bikers and traffic and the fact we came across an accident but it was worth it just the same. The deductible was $5000 (Euro) but that was to be expected as there is a bit of reputation for rental car destruction. I have a friend who got a lap around the ring with Sabine in a Cup car last year - now THAT is a lap I would love to do.

Keiran > Aaron Brown 11/11/2013 at 05:40

1

i drove around it 2 years ago in April, in an MG ZR, it was snowing and only spun out twice i was only doing about 50mph, obviously it was empty for a reason, however it was frightening. it closed after i finished.

gavinski91 > TheSmokingTire 11/11/2013 at 16:39

0

Absolutely. I went there last month (on my birthday) and rented one of their Swift's with a friend of mine. It was super responsive and so much fun. The only time it felt underpowered was through the Kesselchen and Klosterkal, where you're heading uphill the whole way. (Although that's just my opinion; my buddy seemed to think it had plenty of power). I would have loved to rent one of the BRZs, but I was only 22, and you have to be 25 to drive it. Guess I'll just have to go back again sometime!

wizkashifa > McSchmalex 11/11/2013 at 22:43

0

We're planning Le Mans this summer! Maybe we can include some of these other automotive wonders.

marius > Aaron Brown 11/12/2013 at 01:07

1

Nice. I was at the 'ring just a few weeks ago during my euro delivery with my Q5 TDI. Driving the ring was a blast, and I also had no problems with the GoPro filming.. Nurburgring Lap - Unedited (Audi Q5 TDI)

McSchmalex > wizkashifa 11/12/2013 at 01:51

0

I hear Le Mans in and of itself is a real trek. While attenidng Le Mans isn't on my bucket list, I would like to see it some day. That being said, I am quite happy with streaming it on my computer/TV and kickin' back and watching the action.