Nurburgring Trip 2008 - LotusTalk

Bleu Omdurman · 11-07-2008, 12:36 AM

Here is a lap of mine around the ring. The car was a Renault Clio Sport. I highly recommend the trip. I paid for a private trackday vs doing some tourist laps. The track was nearly empty as you can see in the video.

It was a perfect day.

YouTube - Nurburgring Trip 2008

ms355 · 11-07-2008, 01:33 AM

Very good. You picked excellent conditions with the track being dry and (almost) empty. What kind of car was the silver spider that passed you between Hedwigshöhe and Brünnchen?

On busy days, there are a lot of professional photographers taking pics of tourists. If you are lucky you can order those photos from their websites (e.g. Ringbilder or Racepicture). However, busy days are not the ones when you want to be on the track.

Bleu Omdurman · 11-07-2008, 03:17 AM

I never talked to the spyder guys. They kept breaking down on the track. I think I passed them more than they passed me!!

There were photographers there, but I wasn't interested in getting a picture driving a car that was neither mine, nor particularly interesting.

That's why I got the other photos. Notice, nothing with the Renault. It was the right car for me for my first time on that track though. Next time, I'll move up a level or two.

I found that the millions of laps on the pS2 really helped with learning the track. I still got a little lost the first couple of laps but it really cleared up in my head after a few laps. By lap 5 or 6 was refining turns. I'll probably be refining turns the rest of my life on that course!

best,

Kiowapilot · 11-07-2008, 06:42 AM

Very nice. I wanna go!

- Jeremy - · 11-07-2008, 06:50 AM

I'm heading up there tomorrow. Looks like the weather is going to be decent just like Tuesday. Weather in the Eifel region changes quickly, though. It's a local joke at the 'ring.

Good video. Looks like the mount was permanently installed in the car? Kinda surprising they'd do that since you're "not allowed" to record video on the track.

Good driving. Nice 'n smooth

- Jeremy -

Tracktimeplz · 11-07-2008, 06:52 AM

Im glad you enjoyed yourself, but that was so slow I was falling asleep.

Not trying to be a dick....but I get groceries faster than that in my wife's Scion XB

Bleu Omdurman · 11-07-2008, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracktimeplz

Im glad you enjoyed yourself, but that was so slow I was falling asleep.

Not trying to be a dick....but I get groceries faster than that in my wife's Scion XB

I doubt it. There were times on the track that I was over 120 mph. Never lower than 3rd gear. I was in a Renault and I know a guy that rented a GT3 RS a few weeks ago. It took him 9:53 to get around the ring. As you see in the video, I'm not much slower than that with a 3rd of the power. To translate the difference into a typical US 2 mile track: Its like I was 3 seconds a lap slower.

However, the GT3 RS ride that I got at the end of the day, with a very very good driver, very familiar with the ring (700 laps a year) was simply done at ludicrous speed.

No offense taken. I'd rather look slow and be fast, than look fast and be slow.

Bleu Omdurman · 11-07-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by - Jeremy -

I'm heading up there tomorrow. Looks like the weather is going to be decent just like Tuesday. Weather in the Eifel region changes quickly, though. It's a local joke at the 'ring.

Good video. Looks like the mount was permanently installed in the car? Kinda surprising they'd do that since you're "not allowed" to record video on the track.

Good driving. Nice 'n smooth

- Jeremy -

Thanks for the compliment. The mount is a chase cam mount. It suction cups to the window. It was a private track day and video recording was allowed. Lap timing was of course not allowed.

Not much benefit to timing yourself on a new track. However, if I were going to be there several times a year, I'd likely mount my datalogger to review data afterward.

Tracktimeplz · 11-07-2008, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleu Omdurman

I doubt it. There were times on the track that I was over 120 mph. Never lower than 3rd gear. I was in a Renault and I know a guy that rented a GT3 RS a few weeks ago. It took him 9:53 to get around the ring. As you see in the video, I'm not much slower than that with a 3rd of the power. To translate the difference into a typical US 2 mile track: Its like I was 3 seconds a lap slower.

However, the GT3 RS ride that I got at the end of the day, with a very very good driver, very familiar with the ring (700 laps a year) was simply done at ludicrous speed.

No offense taken. I'd rather look slow and be fast, than look fast and be slow.

Man I bet that gt3 ride was a blast!

Bleu Omdurman · 11-07-2008, 08:22 AM

it was. heres the link

What a day!

enjoy.

ms355 · 11-07-2008, 08:37 AM

I think that all these Nürburgring track vids make it look slower than it really is. You have to consider how steep some parts of the track are in the second half of it. The missing engine sound adds to the effect. To me it looked pretty fast.

Bleu Omdurman · 11-07-2008, 09:38 AM

My slow laps were my first ones which were in the wet. Some VERY interesting parts on the track when things are wet!

Evil Twin · 11-10-2008, 08:02 AM

You'd have to be an complete fool to try to turn a fast lap without having done at least a few dozen laps on the Ring, so all this talk of Blue being slow misses the point that he did the trip prudently -- which says a heck of a lot more about his judgment than his laptime says about his driving. I've done 99 laps at the Ring, and I'm still deliberately leaving time on the table in the most dangerous of corners. Every time I've made the trip, I have observed more carnage than I have ever witnessed at a trackday in the US. Good for Blue for putting his ego aside in the interests of having a safe and fun trip.

Conan · 11-10-2008, 08:06 AM

Cool video! I hope to make it there one day.

RE: Looking slow in the vid.... I have yet to see an in-car video that looks anywhere near as fast as it does when you are actually IN the car. It always looks about 30% slower on camera.

ms355 · 11-10-2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Twin

You'd have to be an complete fool to try to turn a fast lap without having done at least a few dozen laps on the Ring, so all this talk of Blue being slow misses the point that he did the trip prudently -- which says a heck of a lot more about his judgment than his laptime says about his driving. I've done 99 laps at the Ring, and I'm still deliberately leaving time on the table in the most dangerous of corners. Every time I've made the trip, I have observed more carnage than I have ever witnessed at a trackday in the US. Good for Blue for putting his ego aside in the interests of having a safe and fun trip.

I'm so glad you left enough time on the Eifel table when I was your passeneger, Christopher. It felt like half a second per lap.

Interceptor · 11-10-2008, 09:05 AM

Bleu, let me know when you get back and are available to give me some driver's training.

Bleu Omdurman · 11-10-2008, 11:21 AM

I am always happy to share what I have learned, but there are many here in the NW that are much better drivers and teachers. I have been in the car with Evil Twin, and recommend that anybody with a year or two behind the wheel see if they can ride passenger with him. I know I learned alot in a short 10-15 minute session. Those poor 911 turbos.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words Chris.

The video does look slow, but I posted it as i thought that some might enjoy watching someone you know, living the dream on the "Ring"

As for speed at the ring, its like any track, you need seat time on the track to know all of the little bits about it. The little things make you fast, or a statistic. Those things are only learned with laps. Laps on the 'ring are very very long. And each lap has many more turns than a US track. There are guys there that do 1400 laps a year on that track (Ron Simons at RSR) and still do not know all of it's kinks, dips, and patches.

Evil Twin · 11-10-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleu Omdurman

there are many here in the NW that are much better drivers and teachers. I have been in the car with Evil Twin, and recommend that anybody with a year or two behind the wheel see if they can ride passenger with him. I know I learned alot in a short 10-15 minute session. Those poor 911 turbos.

Thanks for the kind words, Bleu. The nice thing about this sport is that the opportunities for learning never stop. I got asked to "instruct" a 911 GT-3 driver from Alberta, Canada at Infineon last weekend. Turns out that the guy's a former GT2 Class (not the 911 GT-2 car) champion driver in Canada. While I had a few things to suggest to him (because I know the track reasonably well) -- and he seemed to appreciate the help -- from my perspective I learned a lot more from watching him find his line than he probably learned from me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleu Omdurman

As for speed at the ring, its like any track, you need seat time on the track to know all of the little bits about it. The little things make you fast, or a statistic.

Nicely put. And there's a scary-long list of statistics from guys who've intended to turn a 4/10ths "tourist" lap of the Ring only to stuff their rental car into some blind, off-camber downhill piece of Armco.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms355

I'm so glad you left enough time on the Eifel table when I was your passeneger, Christopher. It felt like half a second per lap.

Michael, I'm sure I left at least a full second, maybe even two. But does this mean you won't let me drive your car the next time I'm at the Ring?!??

Interceptor · 11-11-2008, 07:59 AM

I'd jump at the chance to see someone show me what my car could do, as long as I got to ride along.

Bleu Omdurman · 11-11-2008, 08:23 AM

You will be amazed at what that car can do on the track in the hands of a capable driver.

Everytime I think I am at the limit with the car, that its time for a supercharger, I sit with someone like Scott Adare and I am amazed at how much the car has. it is simply a phenomenal level of performance.

When I look back at my data, take sept 07 Spokane compared to Sept 08 Spokane, and i look at the improvement, it is just nuts.

There are places that I was CONVINCED i was at the limits of the car, and now I am 5 mph faster in that corner. I remember thinking I'd never get below 1:58 at spokane. Now, I'm under 1:48 on nearly every lap, no mods except brake pads.

Enjoy in good health.

I am trying to find a parking lot that I can rent and turn into a skid pad for a few hours. If I find a place, folks are welcome to join me.

11-07-2008, 01:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
ms355 Alfa User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 2,146	Very good. You picked excellent conditions with the track being dry and (almost) empty. What kind of car was the silver spider that passed you between Hedwigshöhe and Brünnchen? On busy days, there are a lot of professional photographers taking pics of tourists. If you are lucky you can order those photos from their websites (e.g. Ringbilder or Racepicture). However, busy days are not the ones when you want to be on the track. __________________ Michael Elisetalk Trip to UK 2007

11-07-2008, 03:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bleu Omdurman More track time please. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,692	I never talked to the spyder guys. They kept breaking down on the track. I think I passed them more than they passed me!! There were photographers there, but I wasn't interested in getting a picture driving a car that was neither mine, nor particularly interesting. That's why I got the other photos. Notice, nothing with the Renault. It was the right car for me for my first time on that track though. Next time, I'll move up a level or two. I found that the millions of laps on the pS2 really helped with learning the track. I still got a little lost the first couple of laps but it really cleared up in my head after a few laps. By lap 5 or 6 was refining turns. I'll probably be refining turns the rest of my life on that course! best, __________________ Take my track day survey: here You should enjoy it. 10 questions. Now take survey #2 here Mods: TurboXS Intake, Ultra Disc Rotors, Adare Motorsports Racing Pads.

11-07-2008, 06:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
Kiowapilot Mesh grill guy Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ft. Lewis, Washington. Posts: 140	Very nice. I wanna go! __________________ 2005 Elise "magnetic Blue" Bone stock..... Not for long. "Fun in the sun..... Lotus Elise." "fun in the sand.....OH-58D Kiowa Warrior." If the line for most people is right here, I will be hanging out over there--->

11-07-2008, 06:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tracktimeplz Race lines on the mind Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Northwest Florida Posts: 1,085	Im glad you enjoyed yourself, but that was so slow I was falling asleep. Not trying to be a dick....but I get groceries faster than that in my wife's Scion XB __________________ 2003 Honda S2000 - Suzuka Blue 2005 Magnetic Blue Elise Forcefed 275 turbo - Sold 05/20/09

11-07-2008, 08:22 AM	#10 (permalink)
Bleu Omdurman More track time please. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,692	it was. heres the link What a day! enjoy. __________________ Take my track day survey: here You should enjoy it. 10 questions. Now take survey #2 here Mods: TurboXS Intake, Ultra Disc Rotors, Adare Motorsports Racing Pads.

11-07-2008, 06:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
- Jeremy - Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Stuttgart, Germany Posts: 15	I'm heading up there tomorrow. Looks like the weather is going to be decent just like Tuesday. Weather in the Eifel region changes quickly, though. It's a local joke at the 'ring. Good video. Looks like the mount was permanently installed in the car? Kinda surprising they'd do that since you're "not allowed" to record video on the track. Good driving. Nice 'n smooth - Jeremy -

11-07-2008, 08:37 AM	#11 (permalink)
ms355 Alfa User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 2,146	I think that all these Nürburgring track vids make it look slower than it really is. You have to consider how steep some parts of the track are in the second half of it. The missing engine sound adds to the effect. To me it looked pretty fast. __________________ Michael Elisetalk Trip to UK 2007

11-07-2008, 09:38 AM	#12 (permalink)
Bleu Omdurman More track time please. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,692	My slow laps were my first ones which were in the wet. Some VERY interesting parts on the track when things are wet! __________________ Take my track day survey: here You should enjoy it. 10 questions. Now take survey #2 here Mods: TurboXS Intake, Ultra Disc Rotors, Adare Motorsports Racing Pads.

11-10-2008, 08:02 AM	#13 (permalink)
Evil Twin No Livestock on Track! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 858 Images: 14	You'd have to be an complete fool to try to turn a fast lap without having done at least a few dozen laps on the Ring, so all this talk of Blue being slow misses the point that he did the trip prudently -- which says a heck of a lot more about his judgment than his laptime says about his driving. I've done 99 laps at the Ring, and I'm still deliberately leaving time on the table in the most dangerous of corners. Every time I've made the trip, I have observed more carnage than I have ever witnessed at a trackday in the US. Good for Blue for putting his ego aside in the interests of having a safe and fun trip. __________________ 2005 Graphite Gray with Black Interior, Sports Package, Touring Package, Hard Top, Starshield, 6-point Schroth Harness, Fire Extinguisher, and Wiring Loom for DL-1. Otherwise bone stock -- and staying that way -- okay, okay, that's true if you ignore the Braille battery, Micro mirror, Multivex mirrors, ROTA slipstreams, RA-1s, two-piece rotors, springs, polyurethane ASB bushings, RTD brace, Sparco seat, and all the stuff I've taken out of the car...

11-10-2008, 08:06 AM	#14 (permalink)
Conan with future lotus driver Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,074 Images: 24	Cool video! I hope to make it there one day. RE: Looking slow in the vid.... I have yet to see an in-car video that looks anywhere near as fast as it does when you are actually IN the car. It always looks about 30% slower on camera. __________________ Yes, it IS my real name. No, I don't look like him. I'm Polish. Polish barbarians are skinny nerds. 2006 BRG Lotus Elise (broken), 2009 Honda Fit (gas miser), 2007 Honda Odyssey (the wife's)

11-10-2008, 09:05 AM	#16 (permalink)
Interceptor Chicks dig it.. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ft Lewis, WA Posts: 608	Bleu, let me know when you get back and are available to give me some driver's training. __________________ 2005 Lotus Elise <Halloween 2008> 2007 Honda VFR800A 2004 Mitsubishi Sportback 1993 Ford Ranger 2000 Husqvarna (British Lawn Mower Racing)

11-10-2008, 11:21 AM	#17 (permalink)
Bleu Omdurman More track time please. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,692	I am always happy to share what I have learned, but there are many here in the NW that are much better drivers and teachers. I have been in the car with Evil Twin, and recommend that anybody with a year or two behind the wheel see if they can ride passenger with him. I know I learned alot in a short 10-15 minute session. Those poor 911 turbos. Anyway, thanks for the kind words Chris. The video does look slow, but I posted it as i thought that some might enjoy watching someone you know, living the dream on the "Ring" As for speed at the ring, its like any track, you need seat time on the track to know all of the little bits about it. The little things make you fast, or a statistic. Those things are only learned with laps. Laps on the 'ring are very very long. And each lap has many more turns than a US track. There are guys there that do 1400 laps a year on that track (Ron Simons at RSR) and still do not know all of it's kinks, dips, and patches. __________________ Take my track day survey: here You should enjoy it. 10 questions. Now take survey #2 here Mods: TurboXS Intake, Ultra Disc Rotors, Adare Motorsports Racing Pads.

11-11-2008, 07:59 AM	#19 (permalink)
Interceptor Chicks dig it.. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ft Lewis, WA Posts: 608	I'd jump at the chance to see someone show me what my car could do, as long as I got to ride along. __________________ 2005 Lotus Elise <Halloween 2008> 2007 Honda VFR800A 2004 Mitsubishi Sportback 1993 Ford Ranger 2000 Husqvarna (British Lawn Mower Racing)

11-11-2008, 08:23 AM	#20 (permalink)
Bleu Omdurman More track time please. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,692	You will be amazed at what that car can do on the track in the hands of a capable driver. Everytime I think I am at the limit with the car, that its time for a supercharger, I sit with someone like Scott Adare and I am amazed at how much the car has. it is simply a phenomenal level of performance. When I look back at my data, take sept 07 Spokane compared to Sept 08 Spokane, and i look at the improvement, it is just nuts. There are places that I was CONVINCED i was at the limits of the car, and now I am 5 mph faster in that corner. I remember thinking I'd never get below 1:58 at spokane. Now, I'm under 1:48 on nearly every lap, no mods except brake pads. Enjoy in good health. I am trying to find a parking lot that I can rent and turn into a skid pad for a few hours. If I find a place, folks are welcome to join me. __________________ Take my track day survey: here You should enjoy it. 10 questions. Now take survey #2 here Mods: TurboXS Intake, Ultra Disc Rotors, Adare Motorsports Racing Pads.

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