Nürburgring Nordschleife -- what a track!

[Expressivedrives]

We booked a track day via https://www.trackdays.de/ and enjoyed the company of skillful people and 72 unforgiving turns in the Green Hell.







There are basically three types of variants, one can participate: competitions, track days and tourist days. Easiest way is to pay per lap during the tourist days, but then you meet different drivers with vastly different skills and sometimes interesting ambitions.

Thack days cost about 800 - 1000 € per day. There are limited number of pretty skillful drivers. This is the way, I prefer to drive there.

If you are really into motor sports, it is possible to acquire the license and participate in different endurance races.

[Redd]

Nice. Is that your own M3 or a ring rental?

[dogbone]

So how many laps did you do? And if there were a bunch of laps, how do you drive them? Do you do one lap at a time and come into the pits and then go back out in a later session? Or do you do 2 or 3 laps all at once? The event you did, were there sessions or run groups?

Curious how they do it at a venue like that.

EDIT: Basically, if you're willing to write about it, I'm asking you to walk us through your day at the Ring.

[Expressivedrives]

Originally Posted by Redd

Nice. Is that your own M3 or a ring rental?

This is my personal car.

2010 M3 ZCP

Mods:
BMW M4 F82 front & rear brake conversion, Pagid RSL29 pads
Rear seat delete
Wiechers-Sport CrMo4 Clubsport roll bar
Schroth 4-point harnesses
Recaro Profi SPG seats
KW Height Adjustable Spring Kit
H&R sway bar F and R
Powerflex kit for differential, rear sub frame and front radius arms
Upgraded coolant hoses

[Expressivedrives]

Originally Posted by dogbone

So how many laps did you do? And if there were a bunch of laps, how do you drive them? Do you do one lap at a time and come into the pits and then go back out in a later session? Or do you do 2 or 3 laps all at once? The event you did, were there sessions or run groups?

Curious how they do it at a venue like that.

EDIT: Basically, if you're willing to write about it, I'm asking you to walk us through your day at the Ring.

I did 20 laps this time (400 km or 250 miles).

For the start I drive one lap and set tire pressures. Then I drive 3-4 lap stints and re-check pressures.

I have been to two track days and in these cases all cars are road legal and in one single group. Track day is one single session from 9:00 to 16:00 and theoretically you can drive as long you like. Indeed they close the track if someone crashes to evacuate the car and to clean the track. During track days the crashes are rare. Track is more often closed during tourist days, where some drivers are less experienced.

Indeed, you have to fill gas, rest and eat during the day. I get quite tired after 4 laps and start to lose focus. So, I have lots of rest between stints.

[beats]

I did a trackdays.de event there a few years ago. They seem like well run events, and worth the extra money over tourist days. It was the only event I went to where they actually talked about (multiple) track day fatalities during the morning brief. Good reality check, and scared the hell out of my wife!

[Redd]

Originally Posted by dogbone

So how many laps did you do? And if there were a bunch of laps, how do you drive them? Do you do one lap at a time and come into the pits and then go back out in a later session? Or do you do 2 or 3 laps all at once? The event you did, were there sessions or run groups?

Curious how they do it at a venue like that.

EDIT: Basically, if you're willing to write about it, I'm asking you to walk us through your day at the Ring.

I haven't been to a track day but did do a few laps during a Tourist Day. For tourist day, they close the front straight. So after your lap you need to go into the pit area (after Gantry) and if you want to go out again immediately you get back in line, touch your pass to the toll gate and re-enter the track (before Bridge). That's why they differentiate between full lap or BTG (Bridge To Gantry) laptimes. You can't get a full lap on a Tourist Day.

I was in Germany on a work trip and did only 4 laps in a rental VW Scirocco Cup during a tourist day. I've been tracking for 10 years but my first lap on the 'Ring was a white knuckle affair. I doubt you'll be doing consecutive laps your first time out - you'll want to come back in, rest and digest the lap. The carpark area is also a fun walk, lots of interesting cars there. It's great fun and definitely a pilgrimage worth taking for a car nut.

[Expressivedrives]

Originally Posted by Redd

....I've been tracking for 10 years but my first lap on the 'Ring was a white knuckle affair. I doubt you'll be doing consecutive laps your first time out - you'll want to come back in, rest and digest the lap. ...

I had the Nordschleife in my bucket list like 20 years. I had zero track experienced, but I am a petrolhead. Then 5 years ago I bought not only E92 M3, but also Playstation, PlaySeat + Thrustmaster steering wheel and Gran Turismo game. I also hired a personal coach. So, I started training in parallel, on the real car on the real track, to achieve basic track skills -- and to learn all 72 turns on the NS.

I would say that it was a great help also from Playstation training. Of cause you are very scared during the first lap, but then you will pick up pace...

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by Expressivedrives

I had the Nordschleife in my bucket list like 20 years. I had zero track experienced, but I am a petrolhead. Then 5 years ago I bought not only E92 M3, but also Playstation, PlaySeat + Thrustmaster steering wheel and Gran Turismo game. I also hired a personal coach. So, I started training in parallel, on the real car on the real track, to achieve basic track skills -- and to learn all 72 turns on the NS.

I would say that it was a great help also from Playstation training. Of cause you are very scared during the first lap, but then you will pick up pace...

I have found the sims to be VERY valuable for learning a track. I’m terrible at being fast in a sim, but for learning where you’re going, it’s an incredible tool. I just went to Watkins Glen and VIR for the first time a few weeks ago. I was supposed to go to both in 2020, but covid stopped that. Last year I spent a lot of time on the sim learning both WGI and VIR. My trip this year originally was only supposed to go to WGI, I practiced it one day this year to get ready. But VIR was a last minute addition, so I had not touched the sim at all in a year for that track. Over a year later, I still had both tracks in my head. Knew exactly where I was going. So helpful.

20 laps was quite a bit more than I thought you’d get in a day there. That’s pretty cool.

Your pictures show that it was a bit wet. Was it wet the whole day?

[Expressivedrives]

Originally Posted by dogbone

....

Your pictures show that it was a bit wet. Was it wet the whole day?

Weather is changing there in minutes. Often one half of the track is dry and fast -- but another wet and super slippery (because of the rubber on the track) and you HAVE to pick wet line. Otherwise, it becomes terrible experience for sure...

Nightmare, if you have two sets of tires (in my case Michelin cup2 and 4s) and have to make a choice So, I had Michelin Pilot Sport 4S on, all day long.

I had full dry and full wet and all in between. Typical Eifel mountains weather...

[roastbeef]

i've done thousands of laps around the 'ring in gran tursimo over the years. i know every turn.
i've never been, but i know what is coming next. where the grip is, and realistic speed is a different story. lol

[admranger]

I've done a few laps at the ring, but it has been nearly 20 years since I did. Euro delivery M3 and 330i zhp in 2002 and 2003. Both years we did the BMW Club Europa ring school. 3 full days at the ring learning section by section. Open laps during lunch and a graded lap at the end of the event. Came in 2nd to a GT3 that was in my group...<sigh>

[Mr_Reeves]

I go twice a year usually and absolutely love it. There's really nothing like the Nordschleife in the world. Each lap is different and bring its own challenges.

It's absolutely worth making the journey to visit.

As a track, I found my first five laps or so quite harrowing. It's an intimidating track and its reputation precedes it but I've found that after those laps you do get into a grove with it and your confidence starts to grow. Doing sim laps definitely helps but nothing prepares you for the full experience really.

I was out there at pretty much the same time as Expressivedrives and enjoyed it just as much as all the times before.

Here's a lap of my last visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMQQhA3AiHM