My first Ring Trip 2007 - Newbie Report

[neil]

I did this report when I came back from going to the Ring in 2007. Thought it might be relevent with talk of a CSLRegister weekender in 2009 and may give people who have never been a small insight.

Well just got back from an amazing few days at the Nurburgring. What an amazing place that is. Beautiful, peaceful German valleys tied with carnage, death and destruction.

We arrived at the ring on Thursday and go to 'The Showboat' for some viewing, it was a manufacturers test day and 'secret' disguised cars such as mercedes and lexus's were on the track giving it death, literelly. There was a burnt out grass patch right in front of me that someone had crashed earlier in the day, sadly they lost their life and burnt to death right there.

Friday comes and we buy some tickets. We were in a Focus RS that Fordsportjay had bought only a few days previous, not only did he not know the new car, but he didnt know the 15 mile circuit nor had ever been on track before. We were noobs.

Time to set off, we put the ticket in the barrier and set off through the coned area, once through those it was foot to the floor time. A very scary lap, we saw cars coming up behind us half a mile away and we were giving way for anything and everything just trying to get round. First lap was very ropey and we managed to do a 11:35 bridge to gantry.

Time to go for a run and cool the car off, we had done 15 miles at 'kill your car' type driving style. We came back to the track, it was shut. When its shut you know something not right has happened. The recovery truck comes loaded with a few expensive but trashed Ducatis. 2 bikers dead.

Track opens! we are go again! we must be nuts. Better this time, just over 11 minutes. We are getting better, lol. Loads more left in the car. Time for food beer and euro trash music. We went with a group of around 40 people from Passionford so we take over a small german bar, pump up the music and talk bollocks.

Friday comes, fook me!!! busy busy!!! millions of people everywhere, roads full of every performance car you have ever seen, everything from Ferraris to pimped up mk1 Fiestas. I came to the conclusion that every BMW within 10 miles were M-powered. Got a few more laps in but its mega busy on the track, we learn more from the car. I am amazed at what a Focus RS handles like under stress. Best of the day was a 10:33. We hear that 2 more bikers are dead. (thats 5 now)

Saturday, we got talking to a few people and Jim Banana M3 offered to jump in the back to call out the bends, great idea, we set a blistering (for us!) lap of 9 minutes 36 seconds and this lap was the fastest we went on the weekend and breaking our target of going under the magical 10 mins. Mental note, learn this track on playstation before we go back. Car started to have temperature issues due to a leaking thermostat housing so we bodge it with radweld and off we go again (without the guy in the back) we were shit lol.

Too many people to get a table in a resturant (33 people walking round a sleepy german village) so we split up and go seperate ways. Someone bumps into Mike Rainbird and we book a table in his hotel for 17, excellent meal, steak on a sizzling stone that you cook in front of you (imagine health and safety in the UK?)

Sunday, off to the circuit and the road is blocked in front of us, I get out and speak to a German, he puts his hand under his chin and waves it back and forth. ANOTHER dead biker, this time on the road 300 yards from the entrance. Helicopters, ambulances etc etc, pack him up, ship him out, its lapping time again!!! We go out after adjusting tyre pressures, car handles like crap and because we were timing again we were trying to beat our record, not a chance, we make a right hash of it and on the last bend the car drops to 2 cylinders we think its game over time.

Left the car running for 15 mins to try and get it cooled down, car is banging and farting, we take the piss and say its a new anti lag system. Fan goes off and we switch it off. Fired it up again and off she goes again. We learn its a safety thing and car drops to 2 cylinders to pump air into the engine, clever.

Next its time to go round the car museam, wow, just wow. millions upon millions of pounds worth of cars. Too much to mention here.

Back to track. I get a passenger ride in a tommi makk evo 6 and go under 9 mins, the Focus could easy go under 9 if we knew where we were going. There are many blind crests and with 150+ corners on the track you have no idea where it goes.

More nice steaks on sunday night, this time in Sabines place with a table booked for 30 plus another 12 of Rainbirds lot. It was Fordsportjay's birthday on the weekend and they got him a cake, the whole place sang him happy birthday, class.

Monday, car still has issues, we call it a day and head for the boat a day early.

Definatly going back, this time we need something that keeps going and going and going. The cars that did this were mainly BMW's so I am on the lookout for a cheap M3 for sure.

(and I came back and bought a CSL)

[Andyk]

Great guide in pics....looks like you had a stunning Neil.

[cslbecks]

Have to say as a biker myself (GSXR 1000 K8 & 2008 R1 track bike) all the reports of bikers dying really saddens me. Ive done the Ring 4 times on my bikes, the last trip was this year and will very likely be my very last ever trip on a bike. I then did my first ever Ring trip in my 335i Msport coupe in Aug this year and it all made sense. The Ring is just too dangerous for bikers, esp if you are like me and ride bikes and drive cars flat out pretty much everytime we use them. In the car i quickly realised that the Ring is made for cars and immediately felt more comfortable. When i ride my bikes on the Ring i am always wondering if this will be the lap that ends my life. I nearly always have a "moment" that could be the one or some lunatic in a red Dodge Viper is trying to power slide around the outside of me inches from my knee slider!! I appreciate that a lot of bikers at the Ring give bikers a bad name and they really shouldnt be there. I hope i was never one of those - i always tried to respect everyone car and bike and would never act the hero. You simply cant take the libertys on a bike that you can in a car. There is no margin for error on a bike, most esp at the Ring. It does bring it home to you though just how formidable and dangerous the Ring is when you read accounts like the one above. RIP.

[cslbecks]

..... that said i cant wait to get the CSL down there!!!!!

[RichW]

I was there the same w/e that the biker died 300yrds from the entrance - it was the turning to the left that you pass as you go down towards the petrol station, the one that goes back under itself.

Very sad indeed. RIP

[M3CSLIRL]

Looks like a great Trip! Poor guy on the wrong side of the road! Guy in a Skyline made the same mistake this year car Wrote off

[Mark CSL]

Now all this reading of death and cars in bits is a bit worring m8


I am still up for the ring trip i have got a new set of cups
and cant wait for the summer