Visiting my brother in Germany...

[DarrelSPowers]

So, my brother is studying in Bonn, Germany for a few semesters and I'm planning on a little trip to visit him. Recently I noticed that where he's living is just 45 KM north of the famous nurburgring (pretty sure I spelled that right). Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has gone for a few laps around their track, or knows anything about renting a nice german car (read: Porsche 911) to whip around the track. I sent my brother the track's website since I cant find an english version, but any advice from the AT folks would be helpful. Thanks!

Edit: I'm 24, so I've been finding that I can't rent cars most places. Teh suck.

 

[PricklyPete]

I have not been around, but renting a nice car to take around is certainly possible, but will take $$$$. Not sure how much.

Another option is to take the Nurburgring Taxi. Relatively inexpensive and you will truly get the experience of the track:

http://www.insideline.com/bmw/m5/2008/bmw-m5-ring-taxi.html

I really need to get my ass over there for a run. I've been working for a German company for years with plenty of trips over there and still haven't managed to find the time...which is a shame...especially when I love cars as much as I do.

 

[scott916]

LOL @ the bus in the photos. Man, that looks awesome. Driving the ring is on my bucket list for sure.

 

[Demo24]

Ok, first of all you can rent a car easy. All you need is a US drivers license and most everywhere in Germany will accept that. Europcar is what I use and it has always been a good experience. Now you won't be renting a 911 there, nor will you be able to take one of these cars on the Nurburgring. However, the drive is easy should you choose to go via autobahn or secondary roads. I made the trip from Bonn and it took around an hour or so.

Secondly, renting a car for the nurburgring is possible. It is also incredibly expensive and you won't get many laps for what you pay for. The cars also won't be 'that' nice. Ring taxi would probably be the most fun, and safest considering first timers on the ring are not going to be very good at it.

Here is the english site. There's little flags on the top left to change language

http://www.nuerburgring.de/en.html

 

[StageLeft]

I bet there is a driving school you can do, I thnk you can do that at most tracks. You pay for the day and it covers lessons and some laps and you pay more or less depending on which car you want to do it in. It's more expensive than a trip to the movies, though.

 

[Lotheron]

LOL @ the bus in the photos. Man, that looks awesome. Driving the ring is on my bucket list for sure.

Ditto, but man do I have a long ass bucket list lol.

 

[Viperoni]

I went on the ring last year. As a guy who's never been on a road course (drag strip only), it was a handful and a half, but an awesome experience. I was in a Renault Clio Cup Sport, and it was PLENTY to have fun. Slicks and 250hp (as opposed to summers and 200hp) would have made it KILLER.

I rented from Eurocar to get to the track, but at the track (nearby, technically) I rented the Renault from RSR: http://www.rsrnurburg.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=96

Another ring car rental company: http://www.rent-racecar.de/english/index.htm
I'm sure theres many more.

YOu don't want to drive a rental from a normal rental car place on the ring. Google as to why.
Each lap costs 25e, but in larger packages that drops down to ~20e.

Highly, HIGHLY recommend going.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Shit, that's like $800 just for the car.

I guess since it really would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience....

Damn I'd be sure to have a lot of seat time at road courses first though. Not sure I'd want to pop my cherry at the 'Ring.

 

[ayabe]

Shit, that's like $800 just for the car.

I guess since it really would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience....

Damn I'd be sure to have a lot of seat time at road courses first though. Not sure I'd want to pop my cherry at the 'Ring.

Yeah, given my not so stellar track record on video game versions of the 'Ring, I'm not sure I would survive on my own the first time, even if I was piloting my own car.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I should start saving for the rental and laps around the Ring now, since my wife and I will visit Germany eventually

 

[vshah]

i plan to get my feet wet at autox first, then some track days before i go to the ring. that way i at least kinda sorta know wtf i am doing...

 

[fbrdphreak]

Auto-x will teach you very little about handling a car at the 'Ring. Tight, low speed turns that are 50 feet from each other is very different from getting up to speed, judging entry angles & speed, knowing when & how hard to break, where to to turn in and when, when to get back on the throttle and how to keep the fastest line through the turn.

I'd suggest looking for a local HPDE (High Performance Driving Event). Can't say I know what goes up on north there.

It's not to say you still won't have a blast at the Ring. Or any other track. But I think you would enjoy it and benefit more from it by a huge margin if you got some HPDE training before you went. Or maybe do a lap in the Ring Taxi first?

 

[vshah]

Auto-x will teach you very little about handling a car at the 'Ring. Tight, low speed turns that are 50 feet from each other is very different from getting up to speed, judging entry angles & speed, knowing when & how hard to break, where to to turn in and when, when to get back on the throttle and how to keep the fastest line through the turn.

I'd suggest looking for a local HPDE (High Performance Driving Event). Can't say I know what goes up on north there.

It's not to say you still won't have a blast at the Ring. Or any other track. But I think you would enjoy it and benefit more from it by a huge margin if you got some HPDE training before you went. Or maybe do a lap in the Ring Taxi first?

hpde is what i meant by track days...beaver run in west PA is where i might end up going.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Sorry, I saw auto-x and went into D: mode Sounds like a plan. Make sure you document the whole thing when you go!!

And in honor of The Ring, I present you a couple Irish lads cursing their way around the famed track:

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

NSFW Audio