Spa and Ring....

[mwmackenzie]

Well turns out this year is looking like it's going to be my best ever driving year! Some mates invited me to do the Ring and Spa last year but with family commitments etc I said thanks but no thanks..... Anyway turn out one of the guys can no longer go but had booked up so a space became free last minute and I've decided to take it, I need a break from work if nothing else lol. So in 2 and a half weeks we head off, yippee! Then in June I have 2 walshy days and the rev limits day booked , July is family holiday and in August I hope to do the North Coast 500 with Cannon Baws.

Car is in the bodyshop for the second time in so many weeks, after I got it back from a rear end hit repair and full respray some twat reversed into it when it was parked the second time I used it so front end is now being painted for the second time.... When I get her back she's going to need some prep for the trip, here is the plan, if I've missed anything please let me know...

Going for C Service ( Oil, Gear Oil, Brake Fluid, Coolant change, spark plugs etc)
Belts
Water pump
tensioner
inlet manifold gasket as it's leaking a little
Summer tyres going back on AD08 rear AD07 front all with about 4-5mm, shouldn't be pushing her too hard so hope that will be enough rubber for the trip??
Geo
Brake pads are 1144 I'll check how much meat they have left and replace in needed, anyone got spare RS-42's kicking about?

What should I take with me as essentials for the trip as I've never done a euro trip before, to say I'm excited is an understatement, almost shake with excitement when I think about it

Any tips or advice greatly appreciated!

[robin]

Try to do as many miles as possible post the C-service/water pump/inlet gasket fix - if anything is going to fail it will fail soon after that.

You won't wear those tyres out, I think, but how old are they (years, not miles)?

Spa has got two heavy braking points - the end of the Kemel straight and the bus stop - 1144 might just give up - that said there's a long way between the braking points for the brakes to cool

The ring you could drive on any old brakes because you'll have no clue where you are going and if you've any sense you'll treat it like a B-road not a race track - is it a public day or a track day?

In theory you need all your car paper work (reg, mot, insurance, license) but of course you'll not show it to anyone. You should also I think have a hi vis vest, a warning triangle (maybe two), a complete set of spare bulbs, a first aid kit. Possibly France requires a breath test kit too (surely not?). Anyway, I haven't bothered too much about this sort of stuff. What is handy is a couple of hundred euros cash for paying fines

What route are you taking?

Cheers,
Robin

[mwmackenzie]

Hi Robin

Thanks for the reply, I know nothing about the route other than we leave from Newcastle on an overnighter, the ring I believe is just a public day and I will indeed be going canny on it as I've absolutely no idea where it goes as never even been round it on a video game, I have no time for gaming lol.. I never thought about paperwork or breathaliser etc so thanks for the heads up!

[campbell]

You are going to have a RIOT. Brilliant.

[steve_weegie]

Nice one! Would love to head back out there - it's utterly epic!

I'd highly recommend taking out euro breakdown cover before embarking on a trip like this; it really saved my holiday when the bike broke down in Adenau.

On the ring its self, try to keep to the right, treating it a bit like a really fast B road... There will be some seriously quick cars wanting to get past, and it's best not to get in their way. There are some interesting corners to watch out for on the Nordschleife, and a lot are either with a blind apex, off camber, hideously bumpy, or all of the above. The surface can be very slippy in the wet too.

Personally I studied the track a lot before actually heading out on it & would recommend trying to get some background knowledge before you go, even if it's to get an idea of what sections are really mental and you need to watch out. There's some good info and an excellent video on Dale Lomas's site.

http://www.bridgetogantry.com/2/index.p ... urburgring

[chrisdb]

Double check your insurance covers you at the ring. My ones were extremely anti ring and would not cover under any circumstances.

[Andy G]

No-one has insurance cover for the ring. Biggest risk about driving on there.

Make sure you've got European recovery sorted in case you have a problem with the car.

With the ring I would recommend trying to drive it on one of their driving games if possible as this does actually help certainly for me to have a rough idea about where you are on the track and as I think is been said earlier in this thread treat the rain like you were driving in a rud about where are you are on the track and as I think is been said earlier in this thread treat the ring like an a road till you know where you are going and leave any ego in the paddock. (Not usually a problem for you mate)

Spa is epic much safer and well worth trying to get out with someone who is driven on the circuit a lot after you've gone out and done some laps yourself.

If you need any gear for this just give me a shout

[BigD]

Double check your insurance covers you at the ring. My ones were extremely anti ring and would not cover under any circumstances.

Yeh it won't, it's the risk you take on the Ring, focuses the mind somewhat.

Also worth noting for Euro breakdown if you get ADAC (German AA) they will recover you from the ring if you break down which saves you a fortune in recovery on the ring if you don't have ADAC. The Ring will charge you for the recovery and loss of income if they have to close it.

[BigD]

Double post .....

[C7Steve]

What about hiring a RSR car while at the ring, would that not be a better alternative?


Steve.

[alicrozier]

Personal choice of course but these days I wouldn't (and didn't) take my car on a public day due to the insurance issues. Effectively you have no insurance and are diving illegally in Germany, you have no 3rd party cover to deal with potentially unlimited claims (if for example a bike crashes on your coolant) and your UK insurance may cancel your policy if seen on the 'Ring.

Great place to go though and trackdays thoroughly recommended (I'm happy to take normal trackday no insurance risk).

Renting as Steve says takes care of all the insurance issues on public days and a Twingo RS or Suzuki Swift will be plenty fast enough for first ever laps...
http://www.rsrnurburg.com/product/publi ... g-sessions
http://rent4ring.de/en/


You'll absolutely love Spa! Have an ace time.

[campbell]

I'm grateful to have experienced the Ring before insurance cottoned on. Magical place and doubt I'll ever drive it again

Spa, thankfully, is a decent substitute. Although the food and ambience is still better at the Ring!

Sent from my SGP521 using Tapatalk

[BigD]

I'm grateful to have experienced the Ring before insurance cottoned on. Magical place and doubt I'll ever drive it again

Even when we were doing it 10 years ago insurance didn't cover it, probably didn't realise at the time.......

If I was going I'd still do it as stupid as that may be.

[steve_weegie]

If I was going I'd still do it as stupid as that may be.

So that begs the question, would you do it on the bike, sometime, in the not too distant future?

[mwmackenzie]

If you need any gear for this just give me a shout

That's very kind Andy... Have you taken delivery of your GT4 yet