Nurburgring

[chris.t]

Frankly monty looking at the map you'd be better off coming down to Dover. Ferry only takes about 1.5 hours and costs for short breaks are around £65 return. It also means that i (we) can meet down at dover so we can start the convoy thru to Germany there. This should be a good adventure if you haven't driven abroad at all - albeit i expect a lot of it will be on motorways/autobahns

What we need to decide though is how we want to play this. Obviously you driving all the way down to Dover jumping on the ferry and driving all the way to the ring in one go is going to be a tall order. If you can spare the time off the best wy to do it is to break the journey in some way. Alternatively you're more than welcome to drive down on Wednesday evening to my Gaff, stay over and have an early start for Dover on Thursday morning (the ferry is cheaper the earlier you go as well). Dico if you want to do this - no problem. What catches me out everytime i go over the channel is that we lose an hour. Conversely we gain it on the way back which has its advantages.

So Monty your question has raised the point of how long this trip is going to be which will influence your decision on coming. The whole trip will be 5 days at least if we are to stay for the whole event but it maybe better to stretch it to 6 days. Anyway that is an open question at the moment for discussion.

My initial post was really about driving round the ring - what is considered the motoring enthusiasts 'Holy Grail' and must do. The Old Timers Grand Prix just sounded a good thing to mix in to the weekend. i'm sure that the campsite would be able to accomodate us at any other time so that we could be more flexible on the other considerations.

Anyway keep the questions and comments coming and gradually we'll get a general concensus.

[Monty]

Alot to think about, Dico and I are thinking of going in one car so we can split fuel costs etc. But i don`t know if Paul can get 6 days away from his misses as he`s still under a very large thumb

[chris.t]

He's a big lad - it must be a sizeable thumb

[Monty]

Found this site which shows ferry routes

http://www.directferries.co.uk/routes.htm

there`s one from Harwick to Esbjerg or Cuxhaven in germany, wonder how close this is to the Ring

Harwick to Cuxhaven isn`t running

Esbjerg
3 crossings weekly, 16 hr sailing, well i`m getting over £600 for that one lol

the other route is Harwick to Hook of Holland which is still expensive £240 for one car and 2 people

Hull to Rotterdam only travels at 21.00 and is £300

Think it might be easyer just to meet up at Dover LOL

[chris.t]

16 hours that'll do your head in. Did Portsmouth/Le havre last w/e - 6 hours and that was bad enough.

just done manchester to dover on autoroute, all motorway 4 hours. Autoroute always overestimates so early morning should be able to do it 3.5 -3.75 hours if no stops. With the ferries they like you to be there no later than 40 mins before sailing. once on the ferry we normally make a beeline for Langhams restaurant for a slapup grill. By the time we've done that and flicked through the paper we're ready to disembark in Calais.

From Calais to the ring Autoroute estimates about 4.5 hours - make that 4 but with stops we'll be on the road for about 6 hours. So depending on what ferry we catch we should in a german bar downing a Stien by about 6pm (after erecting the tent of course )

[Stef]

Ray is in!

Add him as also confirmed.

Cheers!

Can't wait to see him up against the Sh4rk!

[Dico]

Dico- semi commited

Well, i've booked time off work now so i suppose that means i'm slightly more commited

So how many elans have we possibly got going? 3?

[chris.t]

Nics one paul - are you going to be in your car???????

[Costas]

I could meet you all at Calais! and drive with ya to Germany in convoy.

Costas

[Dico]

Nics one paul - are you going to be in your car???????

Absolutely

Need to compare our BBR set ups Chris, i.e. the way they're plumbed in. Mine completely bypasses the boost solenoid valve, so apparently theres nothing to control the boost
A little off topic, its just i know you have the BBR.

I have permission off mrs Dico, its now just a matter of me getting out of this guilt feeling of leaving Sam (and mrs Dico ), and raising a few hundred quid. Project Dico has bled me dry
Hopefully should be there, with my lepricorn co pilot.

[chris.t]

I'm sure you know more about BBR conversions than i do - i just know they make you go faster. You're more than welcome to have a poke around under me bonnet m8

Costas - if that works out with you thats fine, i definitely think that calais will be where most of us will be hitting europe. The only thing is timing cos we'll probably be getting a relatively early ferry but these are just details.

[Costas]

Will most probably spend the night at a city near Calais so I shall be waiting there... no worries

[Stef]

Nice one Costas. We'll clue up where you are nearer the day and hook up with you!

Good to hear yo can make it too Dico!

I'm really looking forward to this! Hope to borrow an X Box (or whatever TF it is) to try learn the track a bit.

[Doug]

Stef, nothing would ever come close to being there, but there's a plenty of full track circuit videos on the internet and you could download one and watch a bunch and get an idea of the layout, turns, and speeds involved . . .

[chris.t]

Nice one Costas. We'll clue up where you are nearer the day and hook up with you!

Good to hear yo can make it too Dico!

I'm really looking forward to this! Hope to borrow an X Box (or whatever TF it is) to try learn the track a bit.

Stef, 14 miles, 80 corners are going to take some learning on an Xbox. Remember that hing that Top Gear did trying to compare the Xbox game thingy to the real thing - conclusion - no comparison!!

[Michael]

Hi guys,

Due to he move to our new house and the construction work needed I missed on this topic all together

Do I understand all right that a couple of you plan to go to The Ring during the oldtimer grand prix and plan to go camping a couple of days in august?

I guess it will very, very, busy at the time the oldtimer grand prix is taking place.
Because of that the risks of driving The Ring yourself will be quite a lot higher then when one does a couple of laps that on some regular weekday. At least in my view that is.
I am sorry but because of these extra risks involved I choose not to join you guys there at this occasion.

I hope for another time when there is less traffic and the chance to run more laps in the Elan.

Greetz and have (safe) FUN.

Michael

[chris.t]

Hi Michael,

I for one will not be wanting to go on the ring during the time the OTGP is on. I shall try on the monday afterwards before we make our way home. Hopefully the ring will be a lot quieter then especially if it is early in the morning. Also my drive around the ring will be more like a sight seeing tour than a track blat!!! However i appreciate that i will still have to keep a good look out in my mirrors and be ready to indicae my intentions.

[Stef]

Yeah I know it's a big track to learn and you can't re-create it fully. However to learn a few turns and have a small understanding of the track layout may help.

I too don't plan to really thrash round as Blipi is too precious to risk losing, but to be able to drive the hallowed tarmac woul be amazing!

Can't wait! The whole trip is going to be amazing!

[Monty]

Just thinking since the thread is Nurburgring and the whole point is to be on the ring maybe we should pick another date when there are no events on? Or is the whole point about the old timers?

[chris.t]

Just thought it was a long way to go without making it something a little more and of course it will enable us to meet up with some of our European members and other Loti enthusiasts. Just got to work out if the campsite will allow fires but i doubt it