PilotPaul, diary says yes we are all good for that. Have you looked at the thread with pics of the accomodation? Will pm you What it's like here today
I may jump in as a late interloper if ok. I’ll know by then if I’m looking for the next role or staying out for a few months @Shoboshi glad you made it there this year, sounds like the surgery did it’s job
Hi Bradders. Yep. I got there though stayed near Spa. It was great. Roads are amazing. People friendly. Riding all day. Can’t get better really.
I much prefer the ride to the Ring, rather than on it (too much of a sense of my own mortality now). Used to catch the overnight Harwich Hoek ferry, stop at Malmedy near Spa for lunch and then cross country on the backroads to Adenau - mostly German "L" roads through the forest and hills - very little traffic - sublime
Agree 100% - wouldn't mix with the 4 wheel traffic on the 'Ring anymore. Some wonderful roads in the vicinity, if the weather is fair it's a most enjoyable part of the world.
For those that don't want to mix it with cars. How about this, it is called Anlassen. Every year towards the start of the season they hold a bike only eventwhich dates back to when the track opened in 1927. Technically it is a religous thing where the two bishops (one catholic and the other christian) bless all the bikers in the hope that god will look after them on their travels. It is held on a sunday (april 22 this year) and the morning is usual tourist driving with the track open for all. BUT up at the GP circuit thousands of bikes are gathering and the streets are rammed with bike, sidecars, trikes, quads. There is Trade stands, demo rides and bands playing thruout the morning. I normally rock up with some mates and join the mass exodus waiting for Tourist driving to be suspended late lunchtime. Then the track is opened for the massed bikes quads etc to do a parade lap. Normally there is upto 20,000 bikes on the track doing the lap. Previously we have blatted thru the traffic to finish the lap then hurry on back to the GP track to knock out another lap. All this is free. It is an absolute, as you'd expect there are sportsbikes, customs, many of the Enduro bikes and quads are doing most of the lap on the back wheel. The pic is the queue to get off the track. Normally it takes an hour or more for everyone to clear the track as it's each to there own so many just park up on the stright taking in the sights and sounds of the whole thing. The only time on the calender when all the cars have to shut the f%&k up and wait for the bikers to have their moment. It looks crazy and it is, We have 8 mates coming over to do this for the first time so the house is well and full and I'm sure it will get messy in the evening.
I said that to my missus and she wasn’t impressed. Then went on for a short eternity about sun, beaches, America etc etc etc there was a lot of emotion
From me. I’m going again this year. Have a few spaces free (secured accommodation at the TG). Friday - Monday. Let me know.
Hi DM - I've seen that advertised on the events calendar. The other one that worth looking out for is at the WSB round - "Motorrad" magazine used to block book the circuit early on either Sat or Sun morning and run top and tailed laps for whoever turned up on a bike...for free. I've been on one of these (about 5 years ago) but don't know if they still run them. Its a very safe option as speeds don't get much above 80'ish.
I used to love WSB here, friday wandering around the track snapping. There was talk here last year of Nurburgring trying to make a bid for MotoGP
I’ve pondered the idea of doing a motorrad day but I can honestly say that after my last visit I have no real want to ride around it again. Well actually that’s a lie, I’d love to but for me the risk is just too high. I’ve been involved in motorsport all my life, I’ve heard the stories about the ring and seen myself the dangers, not just physical but financial.. they can be outrageous ! It was shut I’d guess every 30/40 minutes last year when I was there due to shunts! I’d love to gun it round there but the risk of fluids terrifies me, and it’s common too. For me it’s simply too much risk much of which is out of my hands as well (fluids and some bell end drivers) I’d come out just for the atmosphere alone though, such a great place and great people, there’s nowhere else like it on earth it’s amazing! If they ran bike only days where the track was spotless and you didn’t have to foot the bill If you come off like in the uk, I’d be all over it!
Every so often the subject crops up about true bike trackdays here. Last year one of the companies I work for made tentative enquiries about the feasability of staging one. Sadly that didn't happen as all there knowledge and experience was car trackdays. I know of another company that has also teased themselves with the idea. Needless to say if anything ever comes to fruition then I will spread the word. The other option used to be a german company called DSK, they ran mixed days whereby you had likenovice, intermediate, and fast groups for cars. Then they also ran a group for bike. One year the polizei decided to use it to train and hone there fast pursuit bike cops. Needless to say a fair number crashed. DSK still have their days but not sure if they still run a bike group. Many times the talk of bike trackdays comes up out here. I still say that it could work but the organisers would have to split it into groups with novices having to follow an instructor in their first groups to show them the way say for the morning. An intermediate group and also a fast group but you would have to have roving marshall/instructors out there to keep order. Dunlop years ago had bike trackdays there but that fizzled out despite reports it wasn't the crashfest that the Motorrad run one was when they decided to give it a go.
