Ring and Spa report

[gambler]

Not long back from a wee jaunt to the nurburg ring and spa. Trip was organised by Crossroads Subaru Garage from darrn sarrf

Met on the sunday morning at warwick services and drove to the channel tunnel and then to Spa in Belgium. Drive there was a great laugh. 23 cars in total, including 19 subaru's 2porkers a 6 series bmw and an evo.  The drive there could be described for legal reasons as 'spirited' and we certainly made good progress on the mainly quiet and smooth european roads; a godsend with coilover suspension.

1st night the plan was to 'paint the town red' as we did not have to drive till 11am the next morning. Well, you could have painted it any colour you liked as there was no one else there but us. Highlight of the night was looking at all the amazing cars at the hotel.How sad! Seemed like it was full of guys at the track day at spa. And as usuall, when you go on holiday, you always see someone you recognise. Parked in the hotel car park and straight in front of me were the white GT3RS, black 911Turbo and the silver RTS 2 often seen at knockers.

Next morning we headed off to the Nurburgring. Another 'spirited' drive of about 100 miles or so through the mountains. Just amazing roads and plenty of vision with there being no hedges,  just wee nice wire fences to help you see round corners etc. Excelent for making safe progress

We were well warned about the ring. 3 deaths already that week and everyman and his dog on track as it was a public day. Grand Turismo was also not to be relied on as a coulple of corners are completely wrong as are all the gradients and bumps in the road. A good guide though. We were also told to look for the crowds of germans at the side of the track, often up trees with cameras. They hang out and the accident spots and watch the brits crash.

Decided to take my 1st spotting lap pretty carefully. Luckilly so. Found everyman and his dog; a passat with mum and dad in the front, 3 kids in the back and the dog in the boot. As i passed them at about 120 some nut job on a bike passed me at what must have been about 180 and nearly did not make the next corner. Passed 3 smashed cars and met a recovery wagon parked just behind a blind crest and a marshal standing at the side of it chatting to the driver.

Plenty more laps and i began to get a bit more familiar with the track. 1st lap was just overwhealming with all the blind crests, smashed cars and stuff appearing from everywhere. Few more laps and you can get a bit more comfortable and really enjoy the track. There is nothing like it on earth and with the death rate i doubt there ever will be. Its the experience of a lifetime though. A track day enthusisasts Mecca (could not find the bingo anywhere though). Its like having a great big one way favourite back road with no police. What more could you ask for.

Cue; another spirited drive home. And another exciting night in Spa. Who would have thought the country wich is home to Stella i.e. wifebeater or european fighting juce could be so dull. It is much better over there. And does not have the same side effects.

Next day we had a full day at the GP circuit at Spa, the grand prix drivers favourite circuit, so we were told.Amazing. Its the only way to desribe it. 4 miles of taramac heaven. 1st thing that strikes you is the gradients. Especially Eu Rouge and the start finnish straight. Eu Rouge is like driving striaght up a mountain. I saw it and thought,' hope my car gets up there.' No problem though. Its the most amazing corner i have ever driven. Turning in pretty much blind at over 100 is a real test of bottle. Such a buzz when you get it right. There is also a big double apex left hander which is taken at over 100 and just seems to go on forever. Its such a feeling to have the car at maximum g for such a long time and having to really balance the car. The whole circuit is just so fast with several other corners in the 120- 130 region. More real tests of bottle. Bus stop is pretty pants. Suppose it is there for a reason though and maybe just kept me out of the barriers. Unfortunately a few guys did make a trip into the barriers. One of our guys in an impreza. An M3CSL decided to go right through the barriers. Expensive as they charge you 180euros a section and they are all 3 sections high. A GT3 also arrived back at the pits on the back of a flatbed, and the rest in a pickup. I believe no one was injured though which is the main thing. Pannels can be replaced.

All in all it was a fantastic trip. Well worth £400 in fuel in 4 days and all the tyres breaks etc.  Garage did bring along some mechanics which was very handy. As well as their own impreza. The CR363; stripped out Ra with roll cage and a similar spec to a type 25. That thing could really shift.

Looking forward to knockers at the weekend. Think it will not be quite the same. Sure ill enjoy it all the same. At lest i dont have to drive 680 miles to get there though

 

Scott

 

[steve_nairn_sti]

Great post Scott.

Sounds like you had an amazin time.  Maybe if I win the Euromillions on Friday I'll use some of the £100000000 to get me over there! Until then, it's going to be the good ol' Scottish B roads for me.....[]

[~ ~ Cal ~~]

Green with envy dude - any piccies from the event. A convoy of 19 Scoobies must have been immense fun

Must get there one day !

CGS

[craig mac]

FANTASTIC REPORT[Y]

Scott, Looks and sounds like you hasd a ball, can not wait to get this sorted out for next year.

Plans are slightly different though, We are looking at getting a car transporter to carry 8 cars over, we jump on a flight in to the hotel and your car turns up the following day after a night on the sauce[]

It is a lot cheaper than you would think to do it this way[], So if G forbid, you are to go pop the transporter is there to carry your car home, so no worries there[]

One question though, Do they check your noise level of your car? I have heard they check this? Is that correct?

Great right up, and i hope they are going to feature this in True Grip?

Good stuff and glad you got there and back without issue[Y] And yes i agree that Knockers will never feel the same again for you[]

 

[RA Dunk]

really nice write up m8, looking forward to our excursion next year as well like craig says, fast cars, fast driving and a night on the lash as well, sounds good dont it []

[st3ph3n]

One day......

Sounds like a fantastic thing to do. I'm green with envy.

See you on Saturday too Scott, not seen your "new" classic on track at KH yet.

[thewelsho]

Great read. The Ring sounded like downtown Bagdad with all the deaths and wrecks! Must have taken a bit of bottle.

J

[dynamix]

great write up - was tempted to do Spa next time i go to the ring []

[gambler]

Thanks guys, glad you enjoyed the write up. My advice to anyone thinking of going to the ring or spa is just go for it. You have the same doubts as you have in yourself and your car before your 1st track day. Its good to push yourself out of your comfort zone and see what happens. I guarentee you wont regret it. Unless something bad happens

Steve: If you win. Can i come along and ill show you the way round spa

Cal: The convoy everywhere was amazing.All the locals seemed pretty impressed and all stoped what they were doing to look and wave. Some guy even offered us a cocktail, i think. He made that shaking wrist action. Though he did not look to impressed. Strange man!

Craig: Crossroads trailered their 2 cars across and im sure the transporter would give you peace of mind. It was a long drive back to dumfries. They did drive everywhere when they did get to spa though. We were not checked for noise levels. I have heard it does happen. The only thing they were strict on the ring was no recording. Too many snuf crashes on youtube i think

Ac!d: Sure you will love it. Will be  a trip of a lifetime

st3ph3n : See you on sat mate . You can meet the new steed

Welsho : Your right, it was a big bit intimidating. Not like any other track day. Its like having a stack of F1 Cars (the guys on the ring that know where they are going) and some sunday drivers all loose at a track day at knockers, times 12. The lead guy did say that if you were not scared on your 1st lap you were driving like a pussy or there was something well wrong with you. He was right!

Duncan: Do spa. I could not reccomend it enough. Its just such a brilliant circuit. The vote from the F1 drivers seems to go a long way