Club Arnage

As the racing season is about to begin "Sebring" for us guys in the US, I thought you folks might like a little warm up with this little "yellar Porch" lapping around the countryside in Germany.  Oh, by the way, if you didn't catch my posting about a GT3R lapping Sebring, go to the Sebring thread and enjoy.

http://www.benhex.com/movies/lap1.wmv
http://www.benhex.com/movies/lap2.wmv

See you guys at the races!!!!

Here is a website with great fast lap videos.  I especially like the Hans Stuck drive of the BMW GT3R around Nurburgring.  Hold on to your hats boys and girls, this guy is driving for sure.
http://www.gofastvideo.com/gallery/album/view/14/free-racing-videos/race-track-videos.html

well thats my pc left on tonight downloading!  ;D

I'm in Frankfurt right now and was going to drop by the Nurburgring on my way back tomorrow. However the web site says it's closed for road works...

Jesus-h-mainlining-Christ!!!
My left leg was knackered after watching that! I just wouldn't have believed that a hire car could go so fast.
Clarkson (famed for his itchy anus), went round in 10 minutes dead in a Diesel Jag, after a bit of coaching. It looked a bit pedestrian I thought. This guy could have given him nearly two minutes start!
Have any guys (or gals) here been around this place? - what in, and what time?
H

i will be in july as a combined 24 hrs at spa and a thrash at mecca - aniversary/christmas/birthday present - better than a shag

or may be not
 

What are you going to drive around in?

The 911 looked great, but I'd imagine it would be a whole different brown pants story in the wet. Great footage though. The Elise chasing the Vette is also worth a look, my money would have been on the little green thing.

Frankfurt ?? Frankfurt ?? What Frankfurt ? I'm bloody speechless... I only see this tonight. Is that Frankfurt/Main (the river) or Frankfurt/Oder (the river) ? If that's Frankfurt/Main (the river) then I need to get serious, young man !!! You foul missed a beer or ten.
I'm afraid, the Ring is closed because of snow at the moment. No, that's not THE ten inches but some proper escimo conditions. The weather makes it impossible to let cars on the track. They planned to resurvace some parts of the Nordschleife by this time before the VLN (the german gt championship, not dtm) get's into pace. That seems to be in danger now due to the very low temperatures. As I understand they already moved the VLN test day to a later date. However, the Ring 24 Hours are in May, 7th-8th... and the LM King of Wang will drive a BMW M3 there.

...You foul missed a beer or ten.
.

HGB, I think Smokie snuck in and out of Germany in order to preserve the state of his liver, he will be giving it a real workout over the next few weeks ;D

Mate of mine is going round in just over 9mins in his 205GTI trackday car.

I went around in the Transam with my mate in his Vette back in September.Amazing circuit,a place that you would need 100 laps to learn.Fantastic experience and one that I hope to do again this september.
check out
http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/
http://www.nurburgring.be/
http://213.239.207.198/nuerburgring.de/index.php?id=186&L=0

But what time did you do PM??

Virtually any in-car footage I've seen of the ring (oi-oi!), has included the passing of at least a car or two, stationary at the side of the track, and usually not seen in enough detail to make a guess at what's happened. Now I doubt that they have stopped for a call of nature (unless of course it was a particulary urgent and uninvited big old number 2), they could be postal workers rolling a corpse filled carpet over the barrier and into the woods I suppose. Or, of course, they've smashed it, in which case the man running the local recovery and scrap business must be very wealthy indeed. Smoking huge cigars and taking holidays in the Caribbean.
I'll bet the safety guys, if there are any, have some stories to tell...

I had one lap and Griff had one lap and we were both shi**ting ourselves.He was cra@@ing cos of my crap driving and I was cra@@ing cos he was driving my car,which had just 1000 miles on a new engine and gearbox and I had finished assembling it a couple of days before we went.
Its impossible to do a fast lap with no experience of the place plus we had 600 miles to drive home.so I didnt want to end up on the back of an RAC truck all the way back.In an ideal world you would tow a quick little car over and trash the nuts off it without worrying about breaking it.

Tell you what's amazing about the Ring, Chris Amon has always claimed they ruined it when they did the multi-million dollar facelift in 1970.  Prior to that the hedges and trees came right out to the edge of the tarmac with no barriers and run-off at all.  They also took out many of the jumps.  They spent a hell of alot of money for the GP to only stay there another six years.  Super Rat's shunt pretty much put the kabosh on it as a GP venue.  Never quite understood why it was deemed too dangerous as an F1 venue but hosted F2, F3 and Group C until the mid-eighties.
Fax

Exactly, matey with the 205 has a garage where he keeps his and pops over for a quick blast when the circuits open to the pupblic.

HGB - I was in Frankfurt Main but I just got back. Clocked 150 mph (240kph) in the Omega on a downhill bit of autobahn today. (Clock probably over-reads mind you). Was a bit scary as the temperature was way below freezing.

If I go again I will let you know, and you can show me the worst parts of the town...or should I show you?  ;)

But what time did you do PM??  ;)

I know if it was me at the Ring, tootling along in the black beast, I would go pretty easy.  She's good in a straight line, but the corners worry me.  There's 300+ bhp and no real warning as to when the back wants to step out.
I know how long it took me to build it and how much it cost (and I guess it's a bit unique).

However, if I was there in a renter or high power bland wagon, I would go for it.................and probably end up in the armco    :o

bit of a delay in responding as i've been working in cyprus

a 2.2 dci laguna - needs must as it is used for a multitude of sins  

not an aston martin but it does share one think in common - push button start thats where the similarity ends

I finally got to the Ring on Monday. COuld I find it? Nah...so I asked a guy. I mentioned the Ring Taxi, he sent me to Zakspeed. They were prepared to take me round in a Viper, they said it was ideal conditions (it had been raining earlier so the track was still damp). Call me a cheapskate, but at €260 this was a bit out of reach for me...

As I arrived the track was closed - someone had had an "off" in a BMW, taken the front off.

I booked my ticket and when the track opened again I was on within minutes. It's brilliant...

I was probably MUCH too cautious (my own tyres and too much loose stuff in the car - my mobile took off from it's cradle half way round and was on the floor between my feet). I was also very conscious of the rule (keep to the right) and spent a lot of time watching my mirror as there were some seriously well equipped & fast people there.

Anyway, I did a time of 13m 41s which I was happy with...

I would do it again, and would still like to do the taxi...

Join the gang then Smokers.What a place eh.If you want to find out a whole lot more about it,go to

http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/

Cant wait for next time

PM

Just been reading that site and WOW, I'm glad I kept it on track...see this!

Optional extras available at additional cost include armco repairs, safety car attendance, vehicle recovery, track closure, hospital stays and helicopter rides. I recommend avoiding these. If you can't, then the following price-list may help:

    * Removing damaged armco: €10/metre (x2 or x3 or x4 for multiple-height sections)
    * Replacement armco: €31/metre (x2 or x3 for double/triple height)
    * Removing damaged armco posts: €5.10 each
    * Replacing armco post: €39 each
    * Safety car attendance: €82 per 30 mins (car + 2 people)
    * Circuit closure: €1,350 per hour
    * Recovery truck: €175 (inc VAT)
    * Hospital stay & air ambulance: Let's just say, do NOT go there without travel insurance! (Though an E111 may cover the hospital bit.)

Everything except the recovery truck is then subject to 16% VAT.

The record armco bill I'm aware of is €15,000. That was a car that managed to flatten a very impressive length of armco between the Quiddlebacher Hohe bridge and the crest on the approach to Flugplatz. But even a minor bump can turn into a surprisingly expensive day out.

The track was closed for at least 15 mins due to an accident when I got there. Their bent car was recovered to near where I'd parked. No wonder the guys looked a little disconsolate...

Ouch!! that could be a very costly accident & that's before you get the car fixed!!

Coincidentally, last months copy of Evo had a big section on the Nordschleife. They had a passenger ride round in one of the M5 ring taxis with Nick Heidfeld amongst other things.

Once I get myself another car I'll be making a visit!!

Okidoky, yes please  :)

Duh...I forgot again!!! Sorry hgb, I was too busy enjoying myself...  ;)

The ring is on my list of places to visit - "unrestricted toll road" got to be the best value worldwide.

.... and it's only a one way road  ;D

(http://acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_SM/0001-0406-0915-5632_SM.jpg)