Hi Guys,

New to ScoobyNet.
Never done a track day before or anything like that. Kart regularly in 2 strokes with Club100 (www.club100.co.uk).

Going to Spa this weekend for a 6 hour kart race and then visiting the Nurburgring for on Monday.

I've had my 98 Turbo for nearly 6 months so I plan to get it serviced when I get back. What's likely to need changing? Tyres are good at the mo but I suspect the brakes may take a hammering.

Any advice and tips most welcome.

Dave

 

Hmm, the Nurburgring isnt really the best place to start your track day career so go easy and I personally would recomend some insurance - the Nurburgring doesnt have much run off.

Your tyres should be OK, your brakes will take a bit of a battering ofcourse - people do claim to destroy full sets of pads on track days. A lot of people would suggest oil changes too. So check your pads are healthy before and after too.

There are other people who know a lot more about the Nurburgring than me(and track days too) - John Felstead I beleive is a regular - have a look by searching scoobynet.

All I would say is drive within your limits and enjoy it, dont get sucked into racing locals in 911s either

 

Dave

You're in for a treat Quite a few of us have been (more than once ). At this time of year you are likely to get very changable weather conditions. I've been on there and in the space of a single lap it has gone from sunshine to rain to snow

Make sure your tyres are in good condition - it is normally recommended that you inflate them a little more than standard - maybe 5 or 6 psi more.

Also check the condition of your brake pads and discs - if you've got spare pads, take them with you just in case.

Do all the normal engine fluid level checks as well. Best man to speak to would be John Felstead who does this on quite a regular basis. I'm sure he will reply

Chris

 

See - JF's name has come up twice already

Chris

 

You better bring back my (old) car in good shape!

Edward

 

You don't treat the Nurburgring as a trackday.

It can and does bite.

Insurance is not a worry, as it is a one way public highway. You are just as likely to overtake a 50 seater coach, as you are overtaken by exotica!

The best place for info is www.nurburgring.org.uk

It is also much easier on your car that a normal track day.

It is the best place for pertolheads in the whole world! Have fun.......

 

Be very careful at the Ring!

I went for the first time last year, and was witness to, and involved in a meeting with the armco - once in a mini!

Incredible fun though...

I'm sure John Felstead will reply to this

 

ouch, my ears are burning.

I am heading off to the ring in 10 hours time, i'll be there all day saturday and sunday morning so if you can make it then just look for a blue STi5 TypeRA.

Read the nurburgring website posted already for general information.

Rule number 1. THIS IS NOT A TRACKDAY!!!!

The nurburgring is a 13.5 mile. 170 corner public road, it is not a race track when open to the public. If you havent been before, dont try and keep up with the locals in their punto, you will make a mistake on a corner that tightens and there is no room to recover. The hardest thing about the ring is that most corners are blind, a lot are off camber, a lot tighten late.

If you drive what you can see, keeping an eye on your mirrors and making sure you stay right, letting faster cars pass, you will have a great time. Be extra careful around the bike riders, they take very diferent lines to a car, you may think they have seen you, dont asume they have unless they indicate to you.

You wont put much wear on the car at all, its very much just a fast cross country blast until you start to get to know the circuit well. Dont forget though, there will be places where you are doing 100MPH and thinking you are going quickly when an experienced driver will pass you at 150MPH, use your mirrors and indicate right to let them pass. It's still a public road, with all the laws of german roads efective, if you have a crash because someone hit you from behind because you were on the left, it's your fault!

The ring is a fabulous place, use you head and forget the track day mentality of pushing the car hard and you will love the place. Most of all, dont try and be faster than you can see, lots of corners are very deceptive.

have fun
john

 

Thanks for the advice everyone.

A friend said to treat it like a country road that you don't know and to watch out for the bends and the crests of hills.

I've had a good look around the Nurburgring website (Thanks for the link!). What a good site that is!

We'll have a gentle tour over on Saturday and do our racing in the karts on Sunday and then not go too mad on Monday at the 'Ring.

Sorry John, our paths are not destined to cross this time.

 

no problem, enjoy your time there.

the track is only open 17:15-19:30 on monday!!

http://www.nuerburgring.de/eng/angebote/sf_n_q3.htm

 

Thanks John. You've just saved us piching up at Nurberg at midday and looking a bit foolish as we wait around for 5 hours.