Nurburgring - 2009

NickD · 18 November 2008 17:42

Dear All,

As you may know, 2009 is the 20th anniversary of the launch of the MX-5 and various groups and people are looking into ways to enjoy this year in a special way. As such I have been asked by a Hungarian friend in Northampton to look at organising a group trip to the famous Nurburgring in the Eifel Mountains in Germany.

The dates cannot be fully finalised until early in the New Year as open track dates will not be released by the Nurburgring until then. However, the provisional dates will be the end on May, beginning of June, as it is to coincide with a group of Hungarian MX-5 owners, basically coming from the other direction. This of course opens up the possibility of inviting many if not all clubs from around Europe, if not the world to participate also. To some, the Nurburgring is motoring nirvana and many drivers make the annual pilgrimage to Germany once if not lots more times each year.
It is also something that many UK based car groups do as a activity. Just recently I shared a hotel with about 20 young Saxo drivers, the month before the Retro Car Club was there and you wonder how some of the cars made it, but they did and returned.

So I am looking to gauge interest as who would like to make the pilgrimage to the famous Nordschleife next year.

First up the good bits, and I am doing this without reference to books or internet so if there are experts and I go a little astray, the general points are correct.
The original Nurburgring was built in the 1920, allegedly at the order of Hitler, to help bring economy to the depressed Eifel region. It consisted of the Nordschleife (North Loop) Sudschleife, (unsurprisingly the South Loop) a warm up loop and the whole combined course with totalled about 170 corners. Ever increasing safety considerations and finally by Niki Lauda’s crash in 1975 meant this was the last time the German GP was held on the Nordschleife and not long afterwards the Sudschleife was abandoned and adjoining track pulled up to build the new GP circuit. The famous Nordschleife “Green Hell” remains and is without doubt one of, if not the most famous remaining race circuit in the world. Made even more so because frequently the track is open as a public toll road, open to the public to drive all manor of vehicle on including busses, vans, taxi’s trucks and of course cars and motorbikes. It also still serves very much as an active race circuit and a manufacturers test ground where many of the cars we drive to day have been tested. It also features as the definitive sports car test with the crown of the fastest lap time being a sure fire way to ensure cult status of a car. The latest Corvette and the Nissan GTR are hotly contesting the current road going production car lap time record.
I think it is safe to say there is nothing that approaches it in the UK. Cadwell Park is sited as the Mini Nurburg and the part between The Mountain and Barn come closest, but it is the whole place that is so evocative and captivating. From the amazing scenery to the wonderful hospitality, food and history to the way people mix and mingle. Apart from when on the track it is actually hard to get a glimpse of the circuit, so well hidden is it in the surrounding country side, even when driving parallel on the B258 it is only the Audi badged gantry and the odd glimpse of Armco that give it away. There are of course spectacular viewing areas and getting out the car and taking a walk on the wonderful wooded paths can access most places. And again that is part of the charm; it is not locked away behind security fences, banned from people. Cars that have yet to be released are plain to see if they are being tested on that day and even if you don’t ever drive on the track the experience itself is worthwhile.
So to the bad bits. While the Ring is addictive and some of the most fun you can have on tarmac it is not a cheap thing to do. In 2008 a single lap ticket was 21 Euros and if you really want to drive, as I did on my first ever trip when I completed over 30 laps it can add up. However most people are happy on their first trip to stick to 4 or 8 laps spread over the complete weekend depending on how they feel.
The big issue can come if you make a mistake. The track is narrow compared to a modern GP circuit and due to the mountain location there is little space for run off. So leaving the track can be expensive. Unlike UK circuits damage has to be paid for, although is specialist insurance that can be bought to limit any liability. The best and simplest way to avoid this through is to drive within your abilities. There is no requirement to go fast, I have seen a Citroen 2CV going round with 4 adults in and there was no way that went fast anywhere. They just had fun all the way round, which is how it should be.

So, at the end of this Gerry size post, I am going to ask the question of who wants to join in? Mazda on Track will look to book the ferry, and hotels, sort out restaurants and other things. Probably even share passenger laps with you and try and make this a really memorable event. We will also see it we can contact other groups and see just what we can arrange with other clubs to see if we can make this a truly international event. Who knows, if we actually get enough people we could even be able to swing a proper track day out of it.

So
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NickD · 18 November 2008 17:51

Harco
MX-5 Club Member

Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 207
Location: Reading, Berkshire

Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:01 am Post subject:

1. Harco - without a doubt! _________________ His: Copper Red 2.0 Sport RC Finally sorted by WIM Geom! Project Lemans