I'm in Germany for a business trip for the next 4 weeks, and I'd like to see one of these tracks. They're both about the same distance from me (~100 km). Has anyone visited either, and which one would you rather see? I'd just like to go walk around on a Sunday and take some pictures, I don't have any hopes of seeing a race, but a track day would be cool to see. Any thoughts?
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March 4, 2009 6:12 a.m. Stargazer HalfDork
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March 4, 2009 6:50 a.m. John Brown SuperDork
There is not really any "Walking Around" the Nurburgring, It is kind of like a giant parking lot with some maintenance buildings an office building and a toll gate... and miles of track. You can rent cars and DRIVE the 'ring and I believe there are tours at Hockenheim.
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March 4, 2009 8:07 a.m. 16vCorey SuperDork
I remember hearing somewhere that during certain times part of the Nurburgring is open to the public to drive on. That might be worth checking out.
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March 4, 2009 8:16 a.m. ignorant SuperDork
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March 4, 2009 8:24 a.m. Stargazer HalfDork
16vCorey wrote:
I remember hearing somewhere that during certain times part of the Nurburgring is open to the public to drive on. That might be worth checking out.
I'm pretty sure it's open on some Sundays as a public road, but my rental MB B150 wouldn't be much fun there.
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March 4, 2009 8:45 a.m. rob_lewis Dork
Stargazer wrote:
but my rental MB B150 wouldn't be much fun there.
I don't know, I've seen Sabine Schmitz hustle a van around that track and it looks like she had quite a bit of fun!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1pklvKKnd0
-Rob
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March 4, 2009 9:09 a.m. Adrian_Thompson New Reader
It's open most days. Go to the track site http://www.nuerburgring.de/ click on the events page and look at what's there. "Touristenfahrten" means tourist lapping, open to the public. Tip, avoid it at the weekends, there are so many people that accidents and track closures are frequent. It's absolutely not to be missed. You lucky, with the exchange rate as it is now 4 laps will probably cost you $60-70, It cost me $112 last summer. Don't miss it, it's an absolute must do.
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March 4, 2009 10:01 a.m. ignorant SuperDork
Adrian_Thompson wrote:
"Touristenfahrten" means tourist lapping, open to the public.
I thought that meant, "stupid americans ate too much sauerkraut at lunch"
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March 4, 2009 10:05 a.m. nickel_dime HalfDork
Stargazer wrote:
I'm pretty sure it's open on some Sundays as a public road, but my rental MB B150 wouldn't be much fun there.
Hell I'd do it on a riding lawnmower just to get a chance to drive the Ring.
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March 4, 2009 10:16 a.m. maroon92 SuperDork
yup...N'Ring is open to the public most days. Germany built it as a public works project after the second world war decimated thier economy.
technically it is a highway, and there are busses that run around it for about 15 euro....
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March 4, 2009 10:36 a.m. z31maniac HalfDork
So I guess you are talking about the Nordschliefe, not the F1 portion?
That's an important distinction. In that case the Nurburgring, otherwish Hockenheim.
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March 4, 2009 11:15 a.m. NYG95GA Dork
nickel_dime wrote:
Hell I'd do it on a riding lawnmower just to get a chance to drive the Ring.
X2
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March 4, 2009 11:24 a.m. 93celicaGT2 HalfDork
This might be worth reading for some of you. I know i enjoyed it immensley. And not just because there's a Celica involved, i promise.
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March 4, 2009 6:01 p.m. Appleseed Reader
No one gets to go on Erstshliefe, unless your name is Ferrari. When else are you going to be able to say "I've lapped the Ring?"
+1 for the ring taxi. Watch out though, its something like 190+ Euros.
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March 4, 2009 7:08 p.m. jpod999 Reader
93celicaGT2 wrote:
This might be worth reading for some of you. I know i enjoyed it immensley. And not just because there's a Celica involved, i promise.
That seriously is a great page. Makes me want to go to Europe even more.
I say go to the Nordeschleife.
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March 4, 2009 8:27 p.m. Keith SuperDork
maroon92 wrote:
yup...N'Ring is open to the public most days. Germany built it as a public works project after the second world war decimated thier economy.
Wrong war :) It was built in the 20's.
The parking lot for the 'Ring isn't that exciting, but you can go to one of the spectator areas even if you're not going to drive it. If it's open to tourist driving, great. If not, then that means it's been rented by someone and you can watch for cool cars :)
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March 4, 2009 8:41 p.m. JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
If you people subscribed to Classic Motorsports you could have read my definitive guide to the Nurburgring a couple of months ago. But, you know, whatever.
Check out these sites: Nürburgring www.nuerburgring.de
Ben Lovejoy’s ’Ring site www.nurburgring.org.uk
If you take a rental car, be prepared to be turned away if you try to take it on track. If you do make it on track, be ready for a rude surprise when you turn it back in. Many rental companies have specific 'ring exclusions and many monitor the course in various ways and hand out fines and penalties to renters.
There are folks who will rent you track cars, though, and the price can be pretty reasonable. There's sources at those links.
Seriously, it's worth it. Place is the shiznit.
jg
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March 5, 2009 7:06 a.m. 93celicaGT2 HalfDork
jpod999 wrote:
93celicaGT2 wrote:
This might be worth reading for some of you. I know i enjoyed it immensley. And not just because there's a Celica involved, i promise.
That seriously is a great page. Makes me want to go to Europe even more.
I say go to the Nordeschleife.
There's a video that goes with that if you're remotely interested, i wouldn't mind tracking it down.
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March 5, 2009 7:43 a.m. Jay HalfDork
Dangit. I HAVE to get my stoopid car back on the road and go down there for a day. I hope they let you run without a rollbar...
J
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March 5, 2009 8:59 a.m. P71 Dork
JG,
Which issue and can we order it?
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March 5, 2009 9:25 a.m. fiat22turbo SuperDork
JG Pasterjak wrote:
If you people subscribed to Classic Motorsports you could have read my definitive guide to the Nurburgring a couple of months ago. But, you know, whatever.
Check out these sites: Nürburgring www.nuerburgring.de
Ben Lovejoy’s ’Ring site www.nurburgring.org.uk
If you take a rental car, be prepared to be turned away if you try to take it on track. If you do make it on track, be ready for a rude surprise when you turn it back in. Many rental companies have specific 'ring exclusions and many monitor the course in various ways and hand out fines and penalties to renters.
There are folks who will rent you track cars, though, and the price can be pretty reasonable. There's sources at those links.
Seriously, it's worth it. Place is the shiznit.
jg
What do you mean by "you people" ??
I tried to subscribe to CMS, but your online shopping cart system was having hiccups at the time. By the time it was sorted out, I could only afford a sub to GRM. Now that I'm working again, I might just try to get a sub to CMS again.
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March 5, 2009 9:25 a.m. Keith SuperDork
Jay wrote:
Dangit. I HAVE to get my stoopid car back on the road and go down there for a day. I hope they let you run without a rollbar...
J
No rollbar, no helmet. Car has to be street legal though, because it's basically a toll road.
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March 5, 2009 9:35 a.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor
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March 5, 2009 9:36 a.m. JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
P71 wrote:
JG,
Which issue and can we order it?
11-08 CMS. And I think Baxter is probably posting this at the same time.
jg
EDIT: I was right.
