’Ring trips

What are your Nurburgring experiences?


I've been twice, first in Sept '04 (same weekend as TopGear filmed the diesel Jag) and this Easter. These were in different cars, first in an E46 323 second in my current E39 530.

The '04 trip was a little frantic (3 day sprint over there, go round, sprint back). I think I'd have enjoyed it more if the 323 was properly sorted. The suspension though effective was tired and could have done with some Eibach products, plus the brakes didn't inspire confidence. In fact on my 3rd lap I cooked them slightly and had to limp into the car park and leave it for an hour to cool! They kind of recovered.
5 cars went over in convoy, all of which were faster than me, so I struggled to keep up at times.


The trip this year was a bit more relaxed as we took 4 days over it. Two cars in convoy, we used 2 way radios to keep in contact in case we lost each other. I highly recommend this approach.
The 530 was a much better car for the 'Ring, more stable and better brakes. In fact I was very impressed by the car and would go again in it.

I'm no track hero, far from it, but I enjoyed the experience which is what it's all about. I will not go out in the wet (that I believe is rather foolish unless you are very skilled or have a no value car) and I found my limits before the car found its. Not to say I didn't make the tyres protest at plenty of corners, but when you are braking hard from 90 and the ABS kicks in with a corner looming... mmm.....


Jeff