Nürburgring aka 'Green Hell' (visiting) advice and footage

[Dan B]

Originally Posted by helmet91

Touristenfahrten isn't a track day... it's a public toll road. There's no signing up for anything. Throw some cash on your lap card and off you go!

Understood on how it is run. The point is, read the fine print. Many people don't think about what other costs may come into play. I have seen people participate in a track event and get hit with a large bill due to damage.

Also, at least in the United States, most insurance companies do not cover any track activities. So you crash your car and have zero coverage for the car or track damage.

[G30M]

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

I'm not sure if there is a damage waiver when you use one of the Nordschleif's own vehicles, somehow I'm guessing not.
There seems to be quite a choice if you decide to go for a track rental car as with some shown in the vid, what I was saying about crashes there's one at the end which will cost the driver and its a 3 series.. Ough!

*Did that chap in the Luxembourg registered M2/3 on the vid heading even check over his tyre pressures either that or the tyres or are worn out budget ones.

[M-technik-3]

Uncle Sam was fortunate to station my now ex wife and family at Bitburg Annex which was the old Hospital till they built the new Hospital 15 years after Bitburg closed.

Let's just say in the 5 years I had a car there and I had free time I would go do a few laps. It was cheap when the Mark was still in effect but that was only for a year. Then with the advent of the Euro everything went up 15% to cover the new currency.

[helmet91]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

*Did that chap in the Luxembourg registered M2/3 on the vid heading even check over his tyre pressures either that or the tyres or are worn out budget ones.

That looks to be a rental from RSR Nürburg, probably the most high end provider in town. I doubt they’d let a car leave the lot like that…. I can only imagine what that car was put through by the clueless driver.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by helmet91

That looks to be a rental from RSR Nürburg, probably the most high end provider in town. I doubt they’d let a car leave the lot like that…. I can only imagine what that car was put through by the clueless driver.

Could be, there are many newbies going there but those tyres are crying out for more air.

[kevinm03]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Could be, there are many newbies going there but those tyres are crying out for more air.

No they're not. Lower pressures mean more grip. It's very noticeable. I generally run my tyres at 32-34 psi, but if they shoot up to high 30's or even low 40's the grip falls off badly.

It just looks bad because:

• RSR set the pressures at a level to give good grip.
• The car is inclined because teh driver is up on the kerb
• The camera angle. The video taker is a good bit higher than the track there because there is an embankment

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by kevinm03

No they're not. Lower pressures mean more grip. It's very noticeable. I generally run my tyres at 32-34 psi, but if they shoot up to high 30's or even low 40's the grip falls off badly.

It just looks bad because:

• RSR set the pressures at a level to give good grip.
• The car is inclined because teh driver is up on the kerb
• The camera angle. The video taker is a good bit higher than the track there because there is an embankment

The tyres are clearly rolling on the sidewalls, I don't think that's good for grip.
The police have much higher pressures than recommended by manufacturers on their cars which are needed for high speed chases.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by kevinm03

No they're not. Lower pressures mean more grip. It's very noticeable. I generally run my tyres at 32-34 psi, but if they shoot up to high 30's or even low 40's the grip falls off badly.

It just looks bad because:

• RSR set the pressures at a level to give good grip.
• The car is inclined because teh driver is up on the kerb
• The camera angle. The video taker is a good bit higher than the track there because there is an embankment

he's right.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

The tyres are clearly rolling on the sidewalls, I don't think that's good for grip.
The police have much higher pressures than recommended by manufacturers on their cars which are needed for high speed chases.

tire pressures are set lower than for public roads for Ring cars for more grip

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by g21

tire pressures are set lower than for public roads for Ring cars for more grip

Any more speed and that M3 would be cornering on it's alloy rims and then on it's roof

[kevinm03]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

The tyres are clearly rolling on the sidewalls, I don't think that's good for grip.
The police have much higher pressures than recommended by manufacturers on their cars which are needed for high speed chases.

It is better for grip. Trust me, I drive the 'ring regularly.

Dont know why the police run high pressures (I'd guess for continued high-speed driving to stop the tyre overheating) but grip isnt the reason.

The car in question is an M2 btw...

[G30M]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Any more speed and that M3 would be cornering on it's alloy rims and then on it's roof

i just watch a lot you Ring lap videos

i have no idea why my door placard says 51 psi for my rear tires and 46 front

and i thought they tested my G21 on the Ring too

I'm guessing it's for fuel economy. M3 door placard says 32 psi and that's where i run my G21 (but I have special high volume RPF1 18" rims so even at 32 psi it has more air than other rims)

[kevinm03]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

I'm not sure if there is a damage waiver when you use one of the Nordschleif's own vehicles, somehow I'm guessing not.
There seems to be quite a choice if you decide to go for a track rental car as with some shown in the vid, what I was saying about crashes there's one at the end which will cost the driver and its a 3 series.. Ough!

You are making a lot of wild statements about the Nurburgring, but seem to know very little about it.

Nordschleife is the part of the circuit that is usually used for TF. There is also the GP track. The Nurburgring is the name of the whole company.

The Nurburgring dont do any rentals. The rental companies are separate independent companies, unrelated to the Nurburgring.

The recovery truck costs ~€150. Hardly breaking the bank.

It does get expensive is with track damage, but still usually in the low single thousands. This website gives the prices for track repairs:
http://nurburgring.org.uk/prices.php

The 2 series (not 3 series) that crashed at Brunchen at the end of the video only lightly tapped the barrier, he likely did minor, if any damage to the barrier. The youtubers are banned from showing crashes as per the media licence they get from the Nurburgring. That is why you dont see crashes on youtube anymore.

Where you can get massive bills if you damage another car, most non-german insurance policies have clauses specifically banning the Nurburgring. The insurance companies are still obliged to pay out (because it is a public road during TF) but they will come after you. That is why I have a german-registered car left at the nurburgring, so I have insurance for such a situation.

[kevinm03]

Originally Posted by g21

i just watch a lot you Ring lap videos

i have no idea why my door placard says 51 psi for my rear tires and 46 front

and i thought they tested my G21 on the Ring too

I'm guessing it's for fuel economy. M3 door placard says 32 psi and that's where i run my G21 (but I have special high volume RPF1 18" rims so even at 32 psi it has more air than other rims)

Those are crazy high pressures, lower them and you will get better grip and a more comfortable ride. There will be a fuel economy penalty.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by kevinm03

Those are crazy high pressures, lower them and you will get better grip and a more comfortable ride. There will be a fuel economy penalty.

i almost died when i received my car and it was jumping around like a pogo stick and then i discovered why (it came with 19" RFT, now on 18" non RF)

and then i died a second time when i discovered the recommended pressure for the M3

[kevinm03]

This is me in my old 340, you can see the front tyre is well rolled over, nothing unusual and the car is in no danger of ending up on its roof.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by g21

i just watch a lot you Ring lap videos

i have no idea why my door placard says 51 psi for my rear tires and 46 front

and i thought they tested my G21 on the Ring too

I'm guessing it's for fuel economy. M3 door placard says 32 psi and that's where i run my G21 (but I have special high volume RPF1 18" rims so even at 32 psi it has more air than other rims)

At least your tyres won't fold up like on that M2 with those 46/51 pressures..I run 35/36 on my M5.
I watch too many Ring vids and would love to try out the track, perhaps on my next trip to Poland I'll stop off by and check out the green hell for myself

[kevinm03]

Originally Posted by g21

i almost died when i received my car and it was jumping around like a pogo stick and then i discovered why (it came with 19" RFT, now on 18" non RF)

and then i died a second time when i discovered the recommended pressure for the M3

I had 20's on my M340 (non-rft) and the ride was excellent. Far better than a friend's G20 320i on passive suspension and 18's.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by kevinm03

You are making a lot of wild statements about the Nurburgring, but seem to know very little about it.

Nordschleife is the part of the circuit that is usually used for TF. There is also the GP track. The Nurburgring is the name of the whole company.

The Nurburgring dont do any rentals. The rental companies are separate independent companies, unrelated to the Nurburgring.

The recovery truck costs ~€150. Hardly breaking the bank.

It does get expensive is with track damage, but still usually in the low single thousands. This website gives the prices for track repairs:
http://nurburgring.org.uk/prices.php

The 2 series (not 3 series) that crashed at Brunchen at the end of the video only lightly tapped the barrier, he likely did minor, if any damage to the barrier. The youtubers are banned from showing crashes as per the media licence they get from the Nurburgring. That is why you dont see crashes on youtube anymore.

Where you can get massive bills if you damage another car, most non-german insurance policies have clauses specifically banning the Nurburgring. The insurance companies are still obliged to pay out (because it is a public road during TF) but they will come after you. That is why I have a german-registered car left at the nurburgring, so I have insurance for such a situation.

Naturally as you have driven there on more than one occasion you would know more of the ins and outs than someone who has not.

[kevinm03]

Originally Posted by helmet91

Touristenfahrten isn't a track day... it's a public toll road. There's no signing up for anything. Throw some cash on your lap card and off you go!


For newbies, I highly recommend NOT GOING anywhere near the 'Ring on a weekend during the summer. Your best bet is early in the season during the week or late in the season during the week and/or early on the weekend.

Tourist Drive sessions have gotten insane over the last decade... hell, from what I hear, actual organized track days (cost upwards of 1000 EUR or more) are almost just as bad as far as the clientele goes.

YouTube and videogames have really done a number on that place...



As for the German GP, as well as the European GP - they ran them a handful of times on the GP course. The only reason they don't have it now is that the current ownership doesn't want to pay the exorbitant fees. I guess the same goes for Hockenheim. Honestly, F1 can pound sand. The VLN/NLS/N24 are so much better in the fact that tickets are affordable and you pretty much have full access to everything. I'll take SP3 cars all day long... not to mention all the random classes/series and one-off cars (Opel Manta!).

This is true on trackdays, some can be a sh1tshow. Stay away from the cheaper ones with high numbers. A good trackday is in the €700-900 range

[M5Rick]

Some newbies overdriving their cars well beyond their means.
These are scary so don't watch if you're easily shocked.

Welcome to play your own chosen vids.