General 100HP at the Nürburgring?

[princeprawn]

HI,

has anyone taken there 100hp round the Nurburgring? how did you find it? I have been toying with the idea but a couple of things put me off, 1. The danger of it 2. the 100hp not being fast enough compared to other cars on the ring 3. making it all the way there and its closed. any advice gladly taken :worship:

 

[Schwenck]

You could perhaps have a word with Victor as in this thread:

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/166405-another-trip-nordschleife.html

Try not to bin it!

 

[Jai]

join us:
https://www.fiatforum.com/general-event-discussion/201097-spaitalia-nurburgring-june-2010-a.html


and no speed is not what it's all about, other wise i would have bought something faster than the uno....as fr binning it? well whilst i was there in june saw allsorts stacked, it happens, risk that you assess and take, you can go silly in time attack mode and increase your chances of making a serious mistake, that would cost a bit or just go round in a manner that is well within your comfort zone, as for being closed, well hopefully the forward planning will get us 2-3 days out there.

 

[pdtrewern]

I personally usually take my mazda, but i did take the 100 back in July and it was thunder and lightning! They will only close the track if there is a big acccident (then re open when cleared) or absolutely extreme weather conditions. The panda coped well, the speed isn't that bad as you can carry so much momentum through the bends.

I personally dont find it too dangerous. I have come off once, but luckily kept it in a straight line, so was able to continue on the grass and re join. This was only because i was trying to crack my lap record (no you shouldn't time!).

If you build your speed up slowing, you will be ok, just watch for motorcylcists! You can get track insurance, I bought it the first year i went for my peugeot, it ended up around £100 for the day, but personally i would risk it. There will always be something quicker than you, even if you have a porsche GT3 RS, as one year i went there was a gumpert apollo!! So just keep an eye on those mirrors too, and let them by.

Most importantly have fun, its only 4 hours from calais and the surroundings are nice too. Heres the apollo there last year, and a picture of my tyres showing how abrasive some parts of the track can be. (You can go round the top of the concrete carrasel if you want to avoid it!)

 

[Kerrzinho]

Me and my 100hp went in August this year... a fantastic way to run it in after picking it up in June!

Anyway, don't be worried about not being fast enough or posting a good time. You can limit the risk by not driving like a nonce and keeping your wits about you.

A few things to remember -

When taking corners, pick your line and stick to it.
If something is much faster than you on the straights, keep right and let it by.
Don't dive across the track or make sudden moves without knowing what's around you - bikers can practically come out of nowhere.
It's not a qualifying lap. Build up your confidence slowly.
As soon as you think you know it all, remember that you probably know less than 1%.
Don't forget to give yourself and your car a rest. It's a punishing place to punt your car around.

And because everyone loves a picture...

If you do make it across, I hope you enjoy yourself!

-Kerr.

 

[trackdayqueen]

HI,

has anyone taken there 100hp round the Nurburgring? how did you find it? I have been toying with the idea but a couple of things put me off, 1. The danger of it 2. the 100hp not being fast enough compared to other cars on the ring 3. making it all the way there and its closed. any advice gladly taken :worship:

I took my old BMW and my MR2 there on two consecutive years. Obviously both of those cars are a bit faster than the 100hp, though in saying that there will always be something faster.

Watch out for bikes as they are bonkers fast on the straight but absolute rubbish on the corners. That can get annoying as they fly past you on the straight and you right up their behind on the corners.

Might be a sensible option to venture out on a UK track before you go if you are not familiar with higher speed driving. You can always duffer your way around there of course, it doesn't matter if you just pootle round providing you keep out of people's way.

Don't time yourself (I never have) as that's asking for trouble.

I heard a suggestion of driving around the top of the Karussel, but that is just blasphemy you have to go through it, it's kind of fun.

Just remember if you do hit something that causes a stoppage you will pay for it dearly in terms of track time lost, cost of services, recovery etc. That is enough IMO to make sure you don't hit anything.

It's an amazing place though, a real motorsport mecca. Make sure you book somewhere close to the circuit, don't book somewhere 20 miles away as it'll be a total PITA. Enjoy.

 

[Trefor]

I think apart from 2-3 bends you'll be mostly foot to the floor in a Panda! Not much fun compared with our own mini-ring in Linconshire.

 

[Jai]

I think apart from 2-3 bends you'll be mostly foot to the floor in a Panda! Not much fun compared with our own mini-ring in Linconshire.

cadwell? considering an alldayer in march/april there, worth it? heard it's quality but very unforgiving on errors......

 

[trackdayqueen]

cadwell? considering an alldayer in march/april there, worth it? heard it's quality but very unforgiving on errors......

Cadwell is my favourite circuit in the UK. I've trained on it, raced on it a number of times and done lots of trackdays there. Sure it's unforgiving and narrow but that just adds to it IMO. What is so great about Cadwell is that every section of the circuit is just brilliant, it really just flows. It's got a good deal of gradient which sets it apart from the more boring airfield type circuits.

From Coppice to the brilliant Charlies section, then down to Park and through the Chris Curves in a gentle slide. Then there's the gooseneck which takes something to keep your foot in through fear of falling off on the exit.

Then of course there is the mountain where if you're any good you provoke a pendulum effect to point you the right way up the mountain and over the crest.

Then there's hall bends which again require you to get the car dancing all the way down to the hairpin. The only bend I'm not massively into is Barn, mainly due to the camber making it tricky to get a good exit, but it's the most important corner on the track to get right.

Oh how I love Cadwell. Got a lap record there too in my first race there.

It's a circuit that is utterly brilliant, but definitely one you work up to, once you know it you really can fly round there.

 

[Trefor]

Yes, Cadwell is great. You have to be careful in the wet though - water runs across the start/finish straight. Also Hall Bends and the 90 deg right after them can be very slippy if it has rained.

Only problem is that it is located so far from civilisation! (and I grew up in South Humberside)

 

[Trefor]

By the way - while the 'ring is one of those places you need to try at least once, it is a pretty expensive place to fall off, and it is quite dangerous sometimes. See this for an example:

http://www.gtspirit.com/2009/11/13/car-crashes-bmw-e36-m3-at-nordschleife/

What the video at the bottom of the article to see the aftermath of this coming together of a faster car and a slower car.

 

[babbo umbro]

By the way - while the 'ring is one of those places you need to try at least once, it is a pretty expensive place to fall off, and it is quite dangerous sometimes. See this for an example:

http://www.gtspirit.com/2009/11/13/car-crashes-bmw-e36-m3-at-nordschleife/

What the video at the bottom of the article to see the aftermath of this coming together of a faster car and a slower car.

Sh-t.

 

[pondweed]

thats what I was thinking. I notice the car with the video camera sped off pretty quick after passing it all! "Ah - thats life"...

 

[Victor|100HP]

A couple of tips:
- If possible, try visiting the Ring during the week. There will be less other drivers for you to keep an eye on, so you can focus on your first couple of laps. Weekends can be crazy, with a lot of fast cars and a lot of crashes (causing yellow flags and sometimes the track being closed); Not ideal when getting to know the track.
- Study. Watch clips on Youtube, read the BMW Nürburgring guide, make sure you have the emergency number in your phone (found on the Nürburgring website), do some laps on your Xbox or Playstation, read about it on Wikipedia, whatever. Just get to know the place before you get there. Once you get there, realise that you in fact know nothing about driving there and be very, very careful. After a few laps, you'll start to recognise the corners and some of that info you picked up will become useful.
- Make sure your car is in good shape. Check your brakes, fluids, tires (pressure too!) and get all the junk out of the car that might be thrown around by cornering. In regards to tire pressure: after your first "fast" lap, stop and check if they're heating up (they'll become sticky). If not, chances are you've got too much pressure in them.
- When driving on the track, remember to check your mirrors for cars coming up behind you. Keep right (you're not allowed to overtake on the right) and signal to the right to let them know you saw them. When cornering, stick to your line.
- Stay of the track if it's wet. You'll crash.

Now that you know of all the dangers of driving the Nordschleife, be careful and enjoy yourself. It's petrolhead heaven

 

[trackdayqueen]

- Stay of the track if it's wet. You'll crash.

Actually there are some advantages to going out in the wet. A more or less complete lack of bikes which is a bonus. As long as you have a feel for your car and how it handles there's no reason why you can't get round in the wet and have a bit of fun to boot.

Also you use less fuel and there is less tyre wear.

Also not much you can do about the weather really.

 

[a13wwy]

I'm going 2010 with group of mates and fast cars aren't everything I have heard of lots of smaller engined cars going and giving the larger ones a challenge around the twisty bits.
Plus the company that my 100hp will be sharing is a new 3.5?! z4, clio 182, clio 172, clio 200 (cuo chassis), audi s2 and puma 1.4 - so power definately isn't everything.
Also from the last trip my mates made it's worth going to the old race track (can't remember the name) on route there are some amazing photo ops. Plus don't be cheap if you know your car isn't far off needing a service do it early and limit the wear and tear.

Otherwise have fun and hopefully see you there!

 

[Victor|100HP]

Actually there are some advantages to going out in the wet. A more or less complete lack of bikes which is a bonus. As long as you have a feel for your car and how it handles there's no reason why you can't get round in the wet and have a bit of fun to boot.

Also you use less fuel and there is less tyre wear.

Also not much you can do about the weather really.

Yes, there are some advantages, but trust me when I tell you that the risk of driving the Ring in the wet is not one you want to take on your first time there. I've been there recently (november 11th) with a Carrera 4S and I was glad to have AWD. Throughout the day I've seen approx. 20 cars, of which 5 wouldn't be driven home that night. It's easy to underestimate just how dangerous it gets with a little rain, but I would strongly recommend AGAINST going there in those conditions on your first time. Especially with the Goodyear tires fitted to the Panda, which are useless in the wet.

 

[EvilJaxx]

Especially with the Goodyear tires fitted to the Panda, which are useless in the wet.

I currently have Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 fitted to my Panda 100HP and have had the Continental Sport Contact 2 and its funny because I prefare the grip from the Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 tyres

I tend to find the Michelin seems to spin up alot easier than the Goodyear did in the wet especially when accelerating out of a side road onto a main road! Guess it depends on your driving style... Just my opinion anyway

Cheers