"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
06/01/2018 at 15:55 • Filed to: Europpomeet, oppo meet, Nurburgring, Switzerland, Alps
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"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
06/01/2018 at 15:55 • Filed to: Europpomeet, oppo meet, Nurburgring, Switzerland, Alps | 7
| 31 |
It’s time to start planning the second annual Oppo Ringmeet! Now with extra road trip.
Ringmeet?
Yes! Last year we held the first ever !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! at the Nürburgring. A huge turnout and lots of fun led to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! alike. However, even in the middle of Welsh nowhere, everyone kept pining for another go at the Green Hell, so here it is.
It’s self-explanatory, really: we gather somewhere near the Nürburgring and enjoy the track and its surroundings. When there isn’t a race on, the ‘Ring is considered a one-way toll road (€30/lap), without speed limit. This allows anyone to take their own car on a “tourist drive”.
DutchieDC2R in the Integra, Rustholes Are Weight Reduction in the 208 GTi and yours truly in the MR2 in the Karussell last year.
Other activities can include attending a VLN race, visiting one or more museums and even a Swiss roadtrip (more on that below).
Who’s this for?
Everyone! As long as you can handle (a lot of) car talk in the evenings and speak a little English. There’s usually at least 5 nationalities present, from all over Europe. We even had an American fly over for the Wales meet!
Part of the group fuelling up at the Wales Meet
You’ll have noticed that owning a car is not mandatory: ride-alongs are certainly possible, and some people might be so generous as to offer you the driver’s seat.
When is all this taking place?
The current date proposal for the Ringmeet is Sunday 23 September . The Nordschleife will be open from 8.00 until 19.00, so plenty of time to get a (couple of) lap(s) in.
You mentioned other activities?
I did.
On Saturday 22 September, there’s a VLN race taking place. VLN is pretty much the 24h of the ‘Ring in a shorter format (4 hours on the 22nd). After the race, the track is open for tourist drives again, from 18.00 till 19.00.
Stuttgart, home to the Porsche and Mercedes museums is a 3 hour drive from the Nürburgring.
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Provided there are no major complaints about the proposed date, I’ll be doing a road trip through Switzerland following the meet, taking in most of the
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
(preliminary route above). Taking Stuttgart as the start and end point and assuming a museum visit on Monday morning, this should take approximately five days (Monday-Friday). If you’re interested in joining, let me know!
There’s no way I’m able to afford all this fun...
Sure there is, costs are quite reasonable! As for previous meets, we’ll organise group accommodation (twin or triple rooms) for €15-30 per person per night, depending on fanciness. If you prefer individual lodging, that’s no problem either, though probably a bit more expensive.
Food can be as cheap or expensive as you want, but the group is generally inclined to cheap & cheerful.
The Swiss road trip will be a bit more expensive, it being Switzerland and all that, but we should be able to keep it reasonable.
For the US Oppos: Frankfurt is the closest airport with plenty of connections to the US, though Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Düsseldorf are doable as well. Returns currently cost $400-800 from the main East Coast airports.
Sounds awesome!
It does, doesn’t it? You can register your interest (or confirm your attendance) !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! *. Let’s put the initial deadline to fill out the form on 6 June.
Oh, and drop a comment when you’ve filled it out, have got more ideas or are interested in the Swiss Expedition!
*The form responses will only be accessed by Duurtlang and me for organisational purposes. #GDPR
duurtlang
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/23/2018 at 02:15 |
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Looking forward to this! I will certainly be there at the ‘ring and I will probably (depends on work situation) join in the Alps as well.
BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/23/2018 at 02:49 |
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This sounds like a great plan! And as it nicely fits in my planned post-graduation holiday, I’ll most likely join the Swiss Expedition part as well. (Although I’m not too sure about the suitability of the Twingo to that kind of roads, but I’m sure I can find a solution for that )
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Out, but with a W - has found the answer
> BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/23/2018 at 02:56 |
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“Never lift” should do the trick.
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BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/23/2018 at 03:28 |
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Yeah, that combined with the route having a net des cent of 122 might do the trick. (or it gives me a reason to buy/borrow/rent another car)
Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/23/2018 at 03:38 |
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Cant wait to get the Twingo out on the ring again. I likely won’t be joining for the Swiss trip since I don’t have many days off left, but almost certainly coming for the nurburgring.
Hoccy
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/23/2018 at 03:50 |
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Filled out the form. It depends on my work/holiday situation.
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duurtlang
> BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/23/2018 at 03:58 |
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If I come along to the Swiss part it’ll be in a 205. Your Twingo won’t be the smallest car there!
edit: while lower and narrower, the 205 seems to be 10 cm longer than the Twingo. It weighs about the same. With twice the power and torque. Still though, equal match?
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BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
> Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/23/2018 at 04:04 |
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We should go in the ‘Ring together this time, to see if I can keep up with you. ;P I have a feeling my extra hp and torque might be less of a benefit than your wider tyres.
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BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
> duurtlang
05/23/2018 at 04:12 |
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Sure it won’t be the smallest, might be the slowest though.
I’m sure the low-end torque of your CTi Turbo (CTi T8 ?) will be very suitable for the Alps, more suitable than the Twingo at least :P
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duurtlang
> BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/23/2018 at 04:35 |
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Don’t underestimate relatively underpowered cars though. In Wales I could keep up with almost everyone in the 70 hp NA diesel Citroën BX and its narrow tires. 120 Nm torque versus your 107, but with a bit more weight and marginally less hp and a significantly worse 0-100 rating. It’s about the driver mostly.
In Wales we broke the big group into smaller subgroups, with people with more similar driving style/speed.
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BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
> duurtlang
05/23/2018 at 04:41 |
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That’s very true.
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Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
> BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/23/2018 at 08:07 |
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Yeah I’d be interested to see how they do against each other. Will be fun :D
CaptDale - is secretly British
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/23/2018 at 16:35 |
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I wanna go....
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Out, but with a W - has found the answer
> CaptDale - is secretly British
05/23/2018 at 16:55 |
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Seriously though, it’s doable, even from your side of the (big) pond. Gmporschenut joined us in Wales, if you need inspiration or first-hand experience.
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CaptDale - is secretly British
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/23/2018 at 17:28 |
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Oh I will go eventually. That wouldn’t be a financially sound decision at the moment.
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BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/24/2018 at 08:47 |
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Check this list for viewing spots along the ring: http://www.northloop.co.uk/photography.htm Might come in handy during the race.
It’s slightly outdated, but most are still there (ask me how I know some aren’t there anymore...)
Additionally, I know a couple of good, less crowded spots. My favourite one is hidden in the forest along the stretch between Brünnchen and Pflanzgarten, and usually only had 1 or 2 other people, and has quite a low fence, meaning it is great for taking pictures with the cars speeding by. Like this one:
It basically offers a media level spot, while being accessible to everyone.
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/26/2018 at 14:03 |
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I would give anything to go to this. Unfortunately, no $$$.
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Out, but with a W - has found the answer
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
05/27/2018 at 09:46 |
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You could sell a kidney? There’ll be plenty more opportunities, most of the people who attended one of the meets last year would love to make it a tradition.
FSI
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/27/2018 at 09:59 |
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I’m 90% sure I’ll tag along for the Nürburgring but not so sure about driving to Switzerland as I don’t want to take days off in my first month of my apprenticeship. Stuttgart and a little driving in the Alps in Sunday sounds doable though. If there won’t be enough parking space at either the Mercedes or Porsche museum I know a parking garage that’s basically free and just 5 minutes away from Zuffenhausen.
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Out, but with a W - has found the answer
> FSI
05/27/2018 at 10:18 |
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No problem, you won’t be the only one skipping Switzerland. I don’t think we’ll reach the Alps on Sunday though, I was thinking of Stuttgart as the overnight stop.
gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/28/2018 at 23:53 |
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A) can rental cars be taken on the ring? even though it is a toll road, I’m guessing no.
B) For those that want to watch the race, meet up Friday the 21st?
The only thing i would have changed about the wales trip was a bit better planning on my part about the to/from Wales. So Friday the 28 everyone would then split up?
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duurtlang
> gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
05/29/2018 at 04:46 |
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can rental cars be taken on the ring? even though it is a toll road, I’m guessing no.
The rental agency will probably prohibit it. I just looked at a random one with Europe wide presence, and they prohibit use on a ‘circuit’. Does the Nurburgring count as a circuit? There’s no race going on, but I wouldn’t expect you to be insured while on the track. It might pay to shop around. I expect bigger rental companies to have more comprehensive conditions than smaller national/regional ones.
You can however rent a car at one of the companies specifically aimed at the ‘Ring, just for the ‘Ring. Those won’t be nearly as cheap as your generic rental, but you will be able to rent a Fiesta ST, Megane RS, M2, Alfa 4C, GT-R and the like. If you manage to find one that rents out a Suzuki Swift Sport, bookmark that one. They’re absolutely great in a slow car fast kind of way and I also expect them to be among the cheapest ‘Ring rentals out there.
B)
There are 13 people who filled in the questionnaire as of this moment. I expect an actual turnout of 15+ people at the Ring (last year was 19 iirc). From those 13 that filled in the form, 3 hit ‘undecided’, the other 10 picked either ‘probably’ or ‘I confirm’. From those 10 this graph was generated:
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Out, but with a W - has found the answer
> gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
05/29/2018 at 12:56 |
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Duurtlang pretty much answered it. Some of the biggest rental companies actually use spotters at the Ring. If you’re caught, they don’t generally hand out fines, but rather ban you from renting with them again, either temporary or permanently.
Example of a Ring-specific rental company: https://www.rent4ring.de/en/rentals-for-the-nordschleife.html
The current itinerary foresees the possibility to arrive back in Stuttgart on Friday evening, but that’s liable to change.
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gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> duurtlang
05/29/2018 at 18:21 |
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Thank you,
At the nurburgring would it be camping or Airbnb?
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gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
05/29/2018 at 19:50 |
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thanks. Yeah teh a1 had the big sixt sticker on the windshield.
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duurtlang
> gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
05/30/2018 at 03:13 |
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That’s to be determined. What would you prefer?
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gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> duurtlang
05/30/2018 at 20:19 |
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No preference. Just curious
Spanfeller is a twat
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/01/2018 at 16:04 |
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Hmm, I wish I could’ve gone. Maybe next year I could squeeze some time if the schedule were permissive enough .
Can’t wait to break some records with an automatic merc.
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gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/01/2018 at 21:51 |
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Boss said I can get a week off in Sept!
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Out, but with a W - has found the answer
> gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
06/02/2018 at 09:18 |
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That’s a confirmed then?
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gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/02/2018 at 11:07 |
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Yes!