Nurburgring - Has anyone done it?

[passant]

I've finally decided that this is the year I'm doing the nurburgring. I've booked the ferry ( only £50 Return! ) and I've booked the time off work but I'm looking for some advice on Insurance / Break Down Cover / What to do on the drive down ( any where decent worth stopping ) and basically any advice anyone can offer?

[jv]

http://golfgti.co.uk/viewfeature_content.asp?featureID=43

[Beddie]

9 times for me so far, happy to help with any info etc 

[passant]

9 times for me so far, happy to help with any info etc 

Where did you travel from??? Did you do the Eurotunnel or get a ferry? Is there much to do whilst your there?

[john_cook]

not been to Nordschleife, but I went to Spa Francorchamps when I had my R32, not far away and well worth a trip if you're heading that way.

[passant]

not been to Nordschleife, but I went to Spa Francorchamps when I had my R32, not far away and well worth a trip if you're heading that way.

Is there Open track days there??? We need places to stop on the way there / way back and things to do whilst abroad ... So I need ideas guys!!!! Unfortunatley I'm not doing it in my MK6 either 

[Neil gti]

not been to Nordschleife, but I went to Spa Francorchamps when I had my R32, not far away and well worth a trip if you're heading that way.

Is there Open track days there??? We need places to stop on the way there / way back and things to do whilst abroad ... So I need ideas guys!!!! Unfortunatley I'm not doing it in my MK6 either 

Not sure about places to stop on the way as it's only about a 3-4hr drive for me doing the Hull to Rotterdam party boat,
I go to the Ring at least twice a year for the last 4 years and the next trip is booked for July
We normally do Spa aswell as it's only a few hrs drive away and always TrackDays their the day after the Ring TrackDay
http://www.destination-nurburgring.com
The tourist days are crazy nowadays and just full of closures due to crashes etc, so if your going for tourist days you will need a good few days there to get some laps under your belt,
If I was you I book on an open TrackDay like DN10 to get some quality track time,
We always go for a week and do 2 days TrackDay,  get a few laps in on the tourist days and just generally chill out with all the like minded petrol heads   

[Neil gti]

Bit more info
Dates n times Track is open to tourists, for those that don't know ?
Get a Ring card from the kiosk and buy some laps around €23 each, swipe at the barrier and off you go, approx 14 mile later your back were you started  swipe again and off you go again or come in Grab a burger and let the car cool down and admire all the cool cars in the car park,
Word of warning do not buy too many laps in one go, cos if your only there a short time and the track closes for any reason as it often does, you cannot get a refund on them !

http://www.nuerburgring.de/en/angebote/motor-action/tourist-rides-nordschleife/opening-times-nordschleife.html

[wigit]

last year i went on my lonesome the following route with just so phrase books and a tom tom on the spur of the moment having not played GT since about 2005.

harwich - hook of holland - wolfsburg - ring - spa - calais euro tunnel

the tourist day was absolutely bonkers and three accidents on my lap and then closed, next day i drove to spa instead of getting a few laps but their was a monster 996 off

if i wen t track day with limited cars, you can also build up speed and confidence and also do some slowing down laps as well to cool the car off

Brussels is a bit of a mare traffic wise and a thoroughly recommend cranking a GTI up to 165 on the autobahn if you get a chance

[Hurdy]

Done the DN a few times with the Nurburgring and Spa as well as tourist days. Both awesome locations and tracks. You will love it. Try getting in some laps on Forza or Gran Turismo. The bends are accurate, but the grip in reality is different and you don't feel the dips, camber etc on a video game, neither can you press reset on a real track, so take it steady for the first few laps.
The Pistenklause is a great place to eat whilst there.