Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

The Ultimate Driving "School"

Search

The Ultimate Driving "School"

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 10th, 2005, 06:02 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,869
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Ultimate Driving "School"

BMW CCA will have seats available for the annual driving school at the famous der Nurburgring Nordschleife for members beginning 21 March. The scheduled events for North Americans are 3-11 August.
The following video of Hans Stuck in a race winning M 3 GTR V8 requires free registration, but is an amazing look at the combined Formula One and Nordschleife race tracks in the beautiful Eifel Mountains just N of the Moseltal (Cochem).
http://www.fastdrive.org/download.php?view.447
M
mikemo is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2005, 06:49 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,356
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mike, you were getting my hopes up with someplace in the US!!!

My husband will be in Dusseldorf next week and is hoping for good weather so the track will be open at Neurburgring. You can have a professional racer take you around the track in an M5. I'm so jealous!
tpatricco is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2005, 07:18 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The various local BMWCCA chapters have lots of driving "schools" at various tracks around the US. No, you don't usually get Hans Stuck at your event, but sometimes a famous driver or two may show up.

Two years ago, I went to an Audi school at Summit Point in WV. Michael Galati showed up and took some students around for a lap or two.
rkkwan is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2005, 07:32 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,356
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sounds like fun...I'm a Volvo girl myself.

Wouldn't mind getting in the driver's seat of one of the S60R's they modified for the SCCA Speed World-Challenge races!
tpatricco is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2005, 09:37 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,869
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My sons and I have logged many, many hours on tracks in Europe and the US, but the Nordschleife (@ der Nurburgring) remains our fav.
Here's another video with heads up displays including position on the track:
http://www.clemson.edu/~jpundt/sauber_sig.wmv
M
mikemo is offline  
Old Aug 3rd, 2008, 03:21 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mikemo:

I really need english help with tickets for the Nurberg Ring.
I've read all about it, and come September, we will be near Aachen and Nurberg is close enough.

How do I book tickets for a specific day?

Thanks a MILLION
RebeccaYouSee is offline  
Old Aug 3rd, 2008, 08:32 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Rebecca:

Do you want tickets to watch an event or to race the track? You can just pick them up at the track - I'm not sure you need them in advance. I went Easter weekend (a very busy weekend), and you could just buy them at the track. You could also call the Ticket Hotline on the website, and I guarantee you someone will speak English.

You have to figure out, however, IF the Ring is open to public use that day and what the hours are. Check the "Events" section of the website for September and look for "Touristenfarhten." But you can buy a ticket from a stand at the entrance or even an automated machine. http://www.nuerburgring.de/events.10.0.html

Please note that most (all?) European rental car companies forbid you from taking their cars on the Ring. They even have people take photos of license plates in the parking lots to make sure. That is a huge no-no. And judging how many people crash, scrape, blow engines, etc., you know why.

You can rent a racecar to take around -- complete with helmet and rollbars, but you should have an appointment in advance. Check Ben Lovejoy's Ring page for selected companies.

If you're doing European Delivery, it will be hit-or-miss as to whether the Ring workers are enforcing the prohibition on red tagged-temp plates from using the Ring. In April 2007, we got all the way to the starting gate in my new 335Ci, when a gate crewman rushed across the barricade and prevented our entry.

I really recommend booking the Ring Taxi from BMW -- a professional driver takes you around the Ring in an M5. About the most fun you'll ever have in 8 minutes. You should book it ASAP if you are interested. The tickets sell out quickly and only limited walk-up tickets are available (if any).
http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/taxi.html

I can't recommend this website enough: http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/

Also, if you're going to drive it, study the track over and over again by playing one of the many video games that feature it. It won't do justice to it, but you'll learn the turns in order. Gran Turismo 4 for PS2 has it.
kgh8m is offline  
Old Nov 15th, 2012, 02:17 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You lucky dogs. Had a Beamer years ago - and loved driving it - and can only dream about taking a fast lap or two around the fabled Nurburgring. Have viwed a lot of tapes of others roaring over/around the track - including a promo for Vettes - who really had a smoking good time over there.

The best handling car I have ever been in - up to that time - was my LA buddy's Pantera - but he later bought a Viper and that thing was a rocket. He raced Motorcross and also around the various tracks in LA - including taking Mini-Coopers around Fontana.
Tomsd is offline  
Old Nov 15th, 2012, 04:57 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Darn, I thought Mikemo was back! This OP was 2005! Topped by someone asking a question that has nothing to do with the thread. LOL
DebitNM is offline  
Old Nov 15th, 2012, 07:35 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LOL. Got me too.
Tomsd is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Suzpessoa
Europe
7
Feb 5th, 2013 01:53 PM
trip2006
Europe
88
Jul 7th, 2007 03:06 PM
treeucla
Africa & the Middle East
1
Feb 12th, 2007 12:06 AM
sardog10
Europe
15
Sep 29th, 2005 03:02 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -