help on planning a trip to the "ring"

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

RodneyWright wrote:

I plan on going home absolutely spent.

sounds like you'll be leaving home that way

good luck and have fun, one of my bigger regrets in life is that i didn't take advantage of my time in europe to do neat stuff like this.

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:31 pm

I rented from rent a race car where I got the 328 and Kevin had the Swift. He's is 6'4" and he fit in the Swift just fine. Granted he didn't have a helmet on. We had a very good experience with them, but yeah, it added up fast. I was originally going to do the track day but chose to be a little more frugal.

The only time I was really comfortable with driving hard was when I stayed up with a similarly powered car that obviously knew what was coming around the next hill or corner. Breaking zones and knowing left or right comes next is easier when you are following. Traffic management wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but keep an eye on the mirror, there are some fast cars out there. One day will not be enough.

We stayed at the Ringhaus. Very friendly group, a nice pub downstairs where they also do breakfast and decent rooms.

Leave time to spend a day in Heidelberg (about an hour from the ring). We enjoyed the day we spent there poking around town and touring the castle. The river area of Frankfurt was a blast last July with multiple live bands and food and beer vendors. I don't know if that was a special weekend or not, but it was fun.

We hope the weather is good for your trip. We had one wet lap when we went and while it was fun, I was really uncomfortable.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:58 pm

ColinOConnell wrote:

I rented from rent a race car where I got the 328 and Kevin had the Swift. He's is 6'4" and he fit in the Swift just fine. Granted he didn't have a helmet on. We had a very good experience with them, but yeah, it added up fast. I was originally going to do the track day but chose to be a little more frugal.

In retrospect, do you think this was the best choice? If you have the ability to go back, I'm sure this was the wise choice. I have no idea when I'll get to go again, so I have to dive into the deep end of the pool and hope for the best.

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:46 am

If it was just me I would have done a tourist day and then the track day, but I was covering two drivers and spending two weeks running around Europe blowing euros on other once in a lifetime things like a balloon ride near Paris and a sailboat charter in Italy. Add to that a race at VIR the day after I got home and something just had to give. I also expect to be able to go back.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 10:12 am

Damn Colin, that was a heck of a trip! I have no future plans to return, so this is my one chance to do the ring.

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 10:33 am

Rodney

Over the year's I have been at the ring 8 times. All on tourist day. When I go to Germany its for business so I usually got only the weekend free. Sometime, some vacation day added to the trip. I never had the possibility to do a track day yet, but if I will have the choice between tourist day and track day I will definitively go for the track day. I will probably not rent a Porsche again to go on the ring ($$$$) but that was the year I was 50 so I wanted to do something special. Rent4ring has a Miata and Rent a Racecar will get the Toyota GT 86 later this year, that will be 2 cars I will be interested to drive on the Ring.
No matter what you choose you will have fun. If you stay at the Pension I suggested when you go for dinner there is a good Italian restaurant in Adenau
http://www.pinocchio-adenau.de/index.html We had dinner there the last 3 times I was there.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:20 am

Patrice Bousquet wrote:

Rodney

Over the year's I have been at the ring 8 times. All on tourist day. When I go to Germany its for business so I usually got only the weekend free. Sometime, some vacation day added to the trip. I never had the possibility to do a track day yet, but if I will have the choice between tourist day and track day I will definitively go for the track day. I will probably not rent a Porsche again to go on the ring ($$$$) but that was the year I was 50 so I wanted to do something special. Rent4ring has a Miata and Rent a Racecar will get the Toyota GT 86 later this year, that will be 2 cars I will be interested to drive on the Ring.
No matter what you choose you will have fun. If you stay at the Pension I suggested when you go for dinner there is a good Italian restaurant in Adenau
http://www.pinocchio-adenau.de/index.html We had dinner there the last 3 times I was there.

Good info Patrice, much appreciated. Right now I've been emailing Dale at rent4ring and Heide at rent race car. Right now I have to say Dale's replies have been more detailed than Heide and Dale has offered 2 additional laps in the swift for a total of 14 laps. They also offered a pace car I could follow, so I think I'm going w/ Dale and rent 4 ring's offer. Also rent 4 rings swift has race seats which are lowered and rent race car only has the factory seats in the car. Think I'd feel better in a seat that hugs me and not have to hang onto the steering wheel.

June can't get here fast enough!

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Sat Feb 11, 2012 10:11 am

I was watching Fast Lane Daily - my favorite internet car show. If you haven't seen it check it out. Anyway, they were talking about the "Save the Ring" movement. Apparently, it is near bankruptcy as they've built an amusement park, condos and retail around the ring trying to create a "Destination" and it hasn't panned out. The park isn't done and the condos are empty. Apparently there is a search for a new owner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BE_KyS3k_Y&feature=g-all-u&context=G29ebdcbFAAAAAAAAAAA

The financial troubles have been ongoing for quite some time.

http://savethering.org/

Get there while you still can.

JimFowler · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:58 pm

I ran across this recent blog post of a DIY Ring Travel Guide that looked pretty informative.

http://imclumzy.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/diy-nurburgring-travel-planning-for-canadians/

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:37 pm

So I've made my choice. I'm going to rent a Suzuki swift from Rent4Ring. Dale has been very good in providing information and answering all my questions and concerns in regard to this rental. I've given a deposit to lock in my spot.

Now all I need to do is find a hotel room for the evening and plan the return trip around visiting the Porsche and Merc museums. Thanks for the room suggestions, will book this week.

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Mon May 07, 2012 2:59 pm

Hey Rodney, see if you can beat my time when you drive the 'Ring! :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w85Q1gkpgxE

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon May 07, 2012 3:09 pm

Zach Hill wrote:

Hey Rodney, see if you can beat my time when you drive the 'Ring! :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w85Q1gkpgxE

Ha, I'm hoping to beat 10 min a lap once I get over there since I'll be piloting the big bad swift! BTW, funny to watch your head go back and forth in the turns. How did you setup the invisible g-force option? :mrgreen:

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Mon May 07, 2012 3:26 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

Ha, I'm hoping to beat 10 min a lap once I get over there since I'll be piloting the big bad swift! BTW, funny to watch your head go back and forth in the turns. How did you setup the invisible g-force option? :mrgreen:

Gotta pay extra for the Invisible G-Force addon. ;-)

Oh, did I mention I'm JEALOUS JEALOUS JEALOUS JEALOUS JEALOUS JEALOUS JEALOUS of your trip? ;-)

I'll have to get a full debrief after you return so I may one day reenact the experience myself! :thumbsup:

Have fun, man!

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Mon May 07, 2012 4:21 pm

dude. porsche carrera gt2 rs. all there is too it. 600 hp 911 turbo. 2wd

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon May 07, 2012 5:37 pm

Pete Guthrie wrote:

dude. porsche carrera gt2 rs. all there is too it. 600 hp 911 turbo. 2wd

So Pete, have an extra 2-1/2 grand I can have? That's how much I'll need to make the Porsche work. If not, I'll just stay w/ the swift...

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