OT - Nurburgring, Anyone driven it? Options

[GeorgeRud]

Though this is somewhat off-topic, I am trying to find out if anyone has had the opportunity to drive (or be driven) around the Nurburgring in Germany. My wife and I may be able to take a trip to Germany in September, and besides doing some car museums, Oktoberfest, and visiting castles, driving or riding around the Nurburgring has always been on my "bucketlist". I know that driving a rental car on the Ring is a very bad idea, but has anyone been there or has any advice they could offer me. Buying a new, European delivery Porsche to drive in Europe is not an option (unless the lottery ticket is the right one - not very likely). The BMW Ring-Taxi doesn't have any tickets or dates available until April, so I can't really count on that as an option.

Thanks for any advice.

[DonTraver]

I drove it a few years ago in a new Porsche 997S. It cost 75 Euros for 5 laps. The 997S was a Avis rental, since then they've put spotters at the track. You can drive to the track, but if you get caught on the track with their car, busted, it gets towed, and you're walking, not sure about the fine or even if there is one from them.

But every time I've gone back to Germany, the Avis guy makes it a point to tell me, No Nurburgring, lol.

There are rentals, BMW's, Renault (ugh), etc. Friend of mine rented a BMW, the tranny blew a couple of miles in, think the hit him with about a $500 fee for the tranny plus towing. Track got shut down shortly after that, some car blew it's oil all over the place by the start/finish. I think the cost then was about 70 Euro's for 4 laps. But since a lap is 14+miles, that's not bad.

It's a run what you brung (sp). You'll be on the track with everything, cars, race cars, motorcycles, etc. THERE ARE "NO" SAFETY CHECKS before going on track, Helmets are NOT required.

On my first lap, a GT3 tried to pass me in the middle of a chicane, idiot. I was going slow and letting everyone pass until I learned the track a bit. IIRC the Ring claims 4-5 deaths per year.

If you get the chance, go for it. It's a real rush

Here's a pic of the tires on the 997S after my last lap, yeeha. Also a pic of the ticket machine. All that's required is cash money and a set of wheels.

Andy's right about the times the track is open and there are parts of the track where the Sun will be dead staight in your eyes, go for it.

Good luck