rec.autos.simulators

OT: Directions To Nurburgring?

Ian

OT: Directions To Nurburgring?

by Ian » Tue, 13 Aug 2002 02:01:06

Hi:

I get to indulge a fantasy next month when I travel to Brussels on
business.  I have a free day on the front end and plan to use it to
travel to the 'Ring.  I've checked the website and the track is open
to the public that day from 1715 to 1930 (yippee!).  Questions for
those who know the area well (since I've never been there before!):
what is the easiest route to the 'Ring from Brussels Airport and how
long does it take to get there?  Also, I've heard that Spa is in the
general area; can I incorporate a side trip there without going too
far out of my way and off the beaten path?

Thanks,

Ian

Jan Verschuere

OT: Directions To Nurburgring?

by Jan Verschuere » Tue, 13 Aug 2002 02:34:11

Brussels E40 to Liege. Then onto Aachen (Aix) and then direction Cologne
(Koln), which I think is the A1. At intersection Kerpen (Michael Schumacher
kart center to your left) take A4 direction Koblenz. I don't know which is
the more direct route, but I took exit 29 (Ahrweiler??) and the B257 to the
track (nice road). As you arrive, the Grand Prix track is to your left.
Continue passed it and you will find a sign "zufart Nordschleife" on your
right. Follow the little lane to a roundabout. Parking, ticket sale and
actual entry to the track is on the left.

Count on about 4 hours driving time. Good Luck. Report back on your
experience.

Side trip to Spa: at Liege, take E42 direction Verviers. For the old track
_DON'T_ exit at Spa, continue to Malmedy. The motorway exit dumps you at the
beginning of the Masta straight. Beware though... it'll take you a good two
hours.

Jan.
=---

Uwe Schuerkam

OT: Directions To Nurburgring?

by Uwe Schuerkam » Tue, 13 Aug 2002 02:42:20


> long does it take to get there?  Also, I've heard that Spa is in the
> general area; can I incorporate a side trip there without going too
> far out of my way and off the beaten path?

> Thanks,

> Ian

Hi Ian,

checking one of the available map & guide route planners whould
be your best bet; try http://www.racesimcentral.net/
give you a general idea how long the trip is.

Cheers & enjoy the ring (yep, ex-Muehle entering Bergwerk is a
***ing wall of tarmac when you approach it ;-),

uwe

--
mail replies to Uwe at schuerkamp dot de ( yahoo address is spambox)
Uwe Schuerkamp //////////////////////////// http://www.racesimcentral.net/
Herford, Germany \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ (52.0N/8.5E)
GPG Fingerprint:  2E 13 20 22 9A 3F 63 7F  67 6F E9 B1 A8 36 A4 61

Magnus Svensso

OT: Directions To Nurburgring?

by Magnus Svensso » Tue, 13 Aug 2002 04:37:08


> Also, I've heard that Spa is in the
>general area; can I incorporate a side trip there without going too
>far out of my way and off the beaten path?

I was at Spa-Francorchamps a month ago or so, in connection with GP at
Nrburgring. After the qualifying we set out to visit Spa, It's only
80 km or so between the Ring and Spa(in a straight line), but the
drive is an hour and half.

Tip 1: Get a good roadmap, the roadsigns in Belgium are atrocious. In
Germany, on the other hand they are really good. You weren't going too
far in Germany but I can really recommend the German ADAC roadbook,
best I've ever seen.

Tip 2: The Spa-Francorchamp GP track is a b*tch to find. You can stand
right next to it and not even notice it. Even there are some roadsigns
pointing towards it, we drove right past it three times before we
finally found it. The forest surrounding it is really thick and
because of the terrain you only see a tiny part of it. Go into the
Francorchamps town and find the a Hotel that's called 'Racetrack
Hotel' or something like that and drive down the downhill road and you
get to the La Source hairpin.

Driving what was left of the old track was sort of interesting, but
also pointed out just how off GPL's version of it is. If you weren't
paying attention you wouldn't know you were driving on it...

Jan Verschuere

OT: Directions To Nurburgring?

by Jan Verschuere » Tue, 13 Aug 2002 04:47:37

I think it's fairly recognisable, I think the Burnenville and Stavelot
section match pretty good. The Masta straigth is also fairly well
represented with the railway line and the telephone poles. Masta itself is,
obviously more built up than it used to be. Have to admit the trackside in
the La Carriere / Blanchimont section is way off and the Malmedy and La
Source track section are dodgy to say the least.

Good point about the track being hard to find... that's why I said don't
exit at Spa, but at Malmedy instead. The GP track section will be cordoned
off now, so there's fairly little point trying to find the La Source section
/ Eau Rouge.

Jan.
=---

adsale

OT: Directions To Nurburgring?

by adsale » Tue, 13 Aug 2002 05:04:46


> Hi:

> I get to indulge a fantasy next month when I travel to Brussels on
> business.  I have a free day on the front end and plan to use it to
> travel to the 'Ring.  I've checked the website and the track is open
> to the public that day from 1715 to 1930 (yippee!).  Questions for
> those who know the area well (since I've never been there before!):
> what is the easiest route to the 'Ring from Brussels Airport and how
> long does it take to get there?  Also, I've heard that Spa is in the
> general area; can I incorporate a side trip there without going too
> far out of my way and off the beaten path?

In addition to Jan's rather excellent directions, I just want to point
you here

http://www.europe.opel.com/vicinity/waydrive/uk/en/waydrive_input.jhtml

A printout of the direction and the map can be very helpful, I've used
it on a couple of occasions, it even worked well in Wales back in June
:-)

Beers and cheers
(uncle) Goy

http://www.theuspits.com

"A man is only as old as the woman he feels........"
--Groucho Marx--

Robin Lor

OT: Directions To Nurburgring?

by Robin Lor » Tue, 13 Aug 2002 08:36:34

I sugesst if you're going to the ring you read all the excellent information
on Ben Lovejoy's site http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/
In particular the beginners and saftey stuff.

Have fun (I know you will) watch out for the fast stuff coming up behind &
let them by on the left (when overtaking others do so on the left also) and
dont get charged for any armco!

You might also look out for some of the turn in points/apexes marked by dots
on the track. As a general rule apex late though.

--
Cheers,

Robin ................... `o^=o-

http://www.oppositelock.freeserve.co.uk - Nrburgring/GPL

PS Spa is about 50 km (or is it miles?) away but I think its now a closed
track - still worth a look though

Magnus Svensso

OT: Directions To Nurburgring?

by Magnus Svensso » Tue, 13 Aug 2002 12:09:31

On Sun, 11 Aug 2002 19:47:37 GMT, "Jan Verschueren"


>"Magnus Svensson" wrote...
>> Driving what was left of the old track was sort of interesting,
>> but also pointed out just how off GPL's version of it is. If
>> you weren't paying attention you wouldn't know you were driving
>> on it...

>I think it's fairly recognisable, I think the Burnenville and Stavelot
>section match pretty good. The Masta straigth is also fairly well
>represented with the railway line and the telephone poles. Masta itself is,
>obviously more built up than it used to be.

I dunno, we were driving stavelot-masta-malmedy backwards and I went
umm... WTH? Am I ON it already?  In GPL it feels like blasting down an
Arizona desert highway, whereas IRL it's much narrower and stuff all
around me. All IMHO, of course. And the height differences doesn't
show either, but that's something all tracks lack(the _perception_ of
altitude that is). I remember standing on top of Les Combes and seeing
the Masta straight waaayyy down in the valley. It certainly doesn't
feel like that in GPL.

La Source in GPL feels like you're on a mountain peak, ...not so much
IRL. :-)

It was closed off by some gates when I was there aswell. Some burly
guards wouldn't let me in for a quick lap either. ;-) But they were
repaving the track anyway, so... But you can get into the grandstand
area and wander around a bit and get a close look at eau rouge and
stuff...


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