[nanceman]

As the title says, I will be going for business in a little under a month and one of the benefits of working in auto is an understanding for heading to the ring over the weekend we're there.

I'm planning to purchase the Renault Clio 200 voucher rather than risk a rental car for obvious reasons, but other than that any and all advice from those of you have been would be more than appreciated.

While the trip is still a month away, I wanted to ask around early in the event there was anything I should book or get started looking into well ahead of time.

[woggledog]

Biggest advice, have someone in the car as a spotter. You'll be so focused on the next corner, you won't spot the **** in the Scooby / Porsche coming up your inside

Second advice: get a dash cam so we can all laugh when you plant it into the barriers :-)

Enjoy it :-)

[amullo]

+1 on Woggledog! Some of the cars passing you will blow your mind. Like an old mid 80´s Golf GTi beating the CRAP out of new Porsches.

1. Get on your playstation and do the course. It is very accurate, so you will atleast have some knowledge. Grand Tourismo, any game will do.

2. The ring is hectic and the German "In Ordnüng" mentality requires you to keep two eyes in the rearview, while glancing forward. Use your indicator to indicate what side you will be moving the car over to let someone pass on the other side. (EG: Blinker/indicate right, move car right, person behind passes on your left.)
Having a spotter/co-pilot helps. Alot.

3. Have fun.

If your driving to the ring, remember that the Autobahn is heavily trafficked and that indicating means your changing lanes "RIGHT NOW", not waiting for en opening, but "right f*cking now"! You see someone indicate while your passing them, hit the brakes! The same is true in towns.

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by woggledog

Second advice: get a dash cam so we can all laugh when you plant it into the barriers :-)

+1

[smellthebeans]

You probably already know about this best advice out there for newbies and veterans alike.

http://bridgetogantry.com/

und viel spaß

[nanceman]

Thanks to all of you for the advice. I've driven the ring on various versions of GT more times than I can count and I've raced before as well as having had the opportunity to go to Skip Barber's 3-day racing school (something I HIGHLY recommend, it is 100% worth the money). I had FWD auto-x seat time in my integra way back in the day and plan on taking my is out this year.

Dashcam is a great idea, I've seen the videos and completely appreciate course familiarity and knowing your limits against someone simply in a fast car. Appreciate the tip on the signals as well (especially whether you mean side that's open or side you're pulling to). I'll be sure to bring a spotter with me, as I completely know what that tunnel vision can be like. I'm fortunately experienced enough to respect the first (multiple) laps on a new track.

I just wish I could rent a Clio in the US so I could get the feel for the chassis and balance prior to the lap(s), but it is what it is and I'll have to find a reasonable facsimile.

Thanks for the tip on the autobahn as well, I appreciate the rules they abide by and know many of the rules only through reading.

Anything else?

[amullo]

There is always this option, If you want some options on cars
http://www.rent4ring.de/en

They have everything form a Suzuki Swift and BMW 135´s to full on racecars.

[nanceman]

Originally Posted by amullo

There is always this option, If you want some options on cars
http://www.rent4ring.de/en

They have everything form a Suzuki Swift and BMW 135s to full on racecars.

Thanks for this, I'm definitely going to check out all the options.

[Ninpo1]

You are going to love it! It was one of the highlights of my auto life!

[Osirisman]

Let me know how it goes.
I'm going back to Germany in August to visit some family and planning on going to the ring since I never been.
I was looking to rent a car from there I doubt my mom will let me take her car lol.

[idrift4wd]

never been, but if i were to go, learn the track as much as you can. watch videos of famous crash spots and know where to slow down.

[mump]

Get there as early as possible. I head there a couple times a year and find that if you get there at the time it opens, the track is pretty much empty. Most weekends, it will open at 8, and I find that between 8-10, there is very light traffic. Still, keep your head on a swivel. Cars seem to come out of nowhere at any time.