"The Ring"

The wife has just approved a trip to the Nurburgring, unfortunately since we plan on leaving Europe soon my budget for the trip is a bit smaller than it could/should be. That being said I can rent a Toy-Baru for 139 euro for one lap. Linkey

I'm just having a hard time parting with that much money (shoot, I could buy goodies for a project!), but it's something I'm sure I'll never do again once we're back on the "other" side of the pond. Driving the wife's A4 wagon isn't an option (I wouldn't really want to anyways), the Alfa is torn half apart, and I'm sure my Impala would be a hoot, but lets be realistic: a '66 land yacht on the Nurburgring miiiiiiight not be the best idea in the world.

So, if it were you would you spend almost $200 to run one lap of the Nurburgring?

I absolutely would spend your $200 to take a trip round the ring.

uhm?????????????

yeah, when are you gonna get a chance to do it again?

I'd be all over that

In my irresponsible youth, i've spent $200 bucks on a night at Hooters.. (I love wings). So to me that's a no-brainer.

In all fairness, I HAVE spent $200 on less worthwhile pursuits

for one lap??? no. spend the money on more laps (and a cheaper rental). i did the trip in 2007, would love to go again, but just one lap (in a fun car) - i'd rather do 5 laps in a slower car. (and if i had only done 1 lap when i went years ago, damn, i think it woulda been infuriating haha)

Do it or I will kick your butt when you come back to SA.

I would sell every single thing I own in this world for one lap of the ring. Unfortunately that amount wouldn't even get me to Germany

You're killing me...

$200 isn't a tiny sum; that said, if you're going to drive one lap, it pretty much doesn't matter what it's in. There's too much to take in to be really enjoying the driving on the first go-round; you'd just be sightseeing.

If there's any way you can scrape the funds together, I strongly urge you to look into one of the packages which will get you several laps.

When I went, it was a little over $600 for six laps in a caged Swift on R-comps, and it was awesome. My babbling about the trip is in this thread.

Okay, sorry, that wasn't the question you asked. To answer your question, "yes". It's beautiful and unique, and if you don't, you will wish you had. Once you have, I earnestly believe you'll think it was the right call.

How much is one of the Rent4Ring Swifts in comparison?

If you get several more laps with that, that would be my choice.

If I'm limited to one lap, I'm not doing it in anything less special than a Caterham.

In reply to 06HHR:

I'm hoping a large portion of that bill at Hooter's was alcohol, because I think I might as well make funeral preparations if I'm eating 200 bucks worth of wings.

Cheapest Swift I could find was www.rentracecar.de at about 99-euro a lap. In comparison I could probably squeeze 2-laps in the Swift versus one in the Toy-Baru. I think I'd like my trip around the ring to be RWD versus FWD (just preference) Although, what Ransom said about "no matter what you drive" does make a lot of sense.

If I hear back from a job in India I applied for before the ring trip, I may be able to squeeze out a "half day" in the Toy-Baru (because more relocation benefits) and that would make me giggle like a giddy school girl. But till then...

While we're on the subject: Is there another "bucket list" item near by that I am missing because I have my "Nurburgring blinders" on?

Estimated date of run is mid October.

You going to end up back in the States vs India?

Either or. 9 applications in the states, one in India. I'm the type of fish that'll bite on the first bit of bait dangling in front of his face.

Re: other neat stuff... Not sure if these are exactly "bucket list", but it's stuff I'm glad I saw while I was there... There are some remarkable historic items in Trier, where we were staying when I sidetracked to the Nurburgring.

The "Roman bridge" whose footings actually date back to 2nd century A.D. (roadbed's been updated, and it's still in use), a couple of neat old human-powered riverside cranes, and a bunch of Roman baths and attendant corridors and tunnels you can wander around in... A remarkable cathedral, a lot of Really Neat, Very Old Stuff...

EDIT: Oh yeah, it was also neat to take one afternoon/evening and drive through Luxembourg and have dinner in Belgium... But since you've been living in Europe, the novelty of country-hopping may not be there for you

Bucket List items?!

Go a few weeks earlier:

bgkast wrote: Bucket List items?! Go a few weeks earlier:

Munich is on the totally opposite side of Germany. Outside of Bavaria they don't care much, and most Germans agree it's overrated. If you want a really good time, you go to Carnival in Cologne (which is nearby the Ring). It's like German Mardi-Gras... and when a country wound that tight cuts loose, they cut loose BIG!

Hungary Bill wrote: Cheapest Swift I could find was www.rentracecar.de at about 99-euro a lap. In comparison I could probably squeeze 2-laps in the Swift versus one in the Toy-Baru. I think I'd like my trip around the ring to be RWD versus FWD (just preference) Although, what Ransom said about "no matter what you drive" does make a lot of sense.

I am a RWD guy too. I did it in a FWD Swift from Rent4Ring.de. This was the right choice. Real tires and brakes > RWD. This is not like a regular race track where you will be pushing to the absolute limit. It is more like having the most awesome back road closed to being one-way without any speed limits.

You need more than one lap. If you have a choice of one lap in a high performance car or 2-3 laps in a slow land-barge, do more laps in the land barge. Just get in more than one lap. I would have a hard time deciding between 2 laps in the Swift vs. 4 in a land barge (if it really is a wallowy dog). 2 laps in the swift will definitely beat 1 in the ToyoBaru.

In reply to Racer1ab: TBH, I can't remember. I don't even think I had wings that night Yes, it was alcohol and a sizeable tip for the young ladies who were our hostesses..

Hungary Bill wrote: it's something I'm sure I'll never do again once we're back on the "other" side of the pond.

Exactly. And you'll regret not doing it for the rest of your life if you don't. This is one of "those" opportunities, seize it!

In reply to Beer Baron:

It's a short train ride, I've done it.

Ok, I may have the wife talked into a half-dayer. Wish me luck

Ninja edit: Found a BMW 318 449euro for 1/2 day:

I rented the same Swift Stage I, I believe. ~$84 a lap it worked out for me just last year. Did it 3 times for total of 12 laps.

You definitely don't want a car that will bite you...the track is the fun...13 miles of where do I go next!

I had an absolute blast in the Swift...topped out in 5th into redline on the Foxhole in a slide...it was plenty thrilling...this coming from a 485HP OLOA winner Corvette.

Interesting. They have the "Swift Stage 1" listed for 199 euro/hr now...

The Wife hath approved up to $600 for the trip (if I work some overtime so she can go away on a spa weekend). It looks like the track is open for 2-hours on the 10th of October so I sent an e-mail to the folks with the BMW 318 (329euro for 2-hours verus the Swift Stage 1 @ 300 euro for 2-hours).

Good times.

It looks like the Stage 1 Swift's been upgraded since I went; when I went the Stage 2 was needed for the sticky tires, big brakes, etc...