Trackdays Spa-Francorchamps & Nurburgring, August 2011

[rex]

Hello,

I am opening this topic to find out if somebody wants to join me and maybe others on a trip to Spa-Francorchamp and Nurburgring in August 2011.

Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most famous (if not the most famous) F1 GP track still in today's GP program.
The Belgians have track days for amateur drivers a few times a year: 28th March, 16th April, 21st July, 8th August, 27th September, 29th October, 11th November. After reading the reviews I am thinking on going on the 8th of August.

The track: the track is 7km long with big elevations (~100m). Many pilots consider this circuit as being the most beautiful (M. Schumacher is one of them)
And one important thing: it is only 111 km from Nurburgring.

The prices: One session has 25min (about 6-7 laps). A package of 4 sessions costs 215 EURO. At this price you should add some taxes for each extra driver, helmet, etc (depending  on what you want)...

For more details: http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/en/

Here is a video from Spa:

Nurburgring Nordschleife is the most famous track in the world. Nicknamed Green Hell/ Grune Holle it is a 20km track considered to dangerous for GP competitions but safe enough for amateur drivers. Till now I managed to visit this mind blowing circuit twice (in 2009 and 2010) with some friends. I can tell you that these visits forever marked me and that is why I am trying to visit Nurburgring at least once every year.

Here is one video from one of my trips.

This track is opened a good part of a year and being so close to Spa I thought I could combine these 2 tracks into one road trip.
Around the 8th of August the track is opened:
06.08.2011 (Sat) 08:00–19:00 Uhr
07.08.2011 (Sun) 09:15–19:00 Uhr
08.08.2011 (Mon) 17:00–19:30 Uhr
09.08.2011 (Tue) 17:30–19:30 Uhr

The track: 20km long with great elevations and very little run off space (so that the mistakes are likely to be followed by hitting the rails)

The prices: A lap is 24 EURO but there are packages for more laps:
4 laps: € 89,00, incl. € 10,00 food/drinks voucher for the Eifeldorf Grüne Hölle*, 1 ring°werk ticket
15 laps: € 310,00, incl. € 20,00 food/drinks voucher for the Eifeldorf Grüne Hölle*, 1 ring°werk ticket
25 laps: € 470,00, incl. € 30,00 food/drinks voucher for the Eifeldorf Grüne Hölle*, 1 ring°werk ticket

For more details: http://www.nuerburgring.de/en/angebote/driving-experiences/tourist-rides-nordschleife.html

So, my game plan is the following:
- spend 5 nights near Nurburgring (arrival on the 5th of August, departure on the 10th of August)
- visit the Nring race track on the 6th, 7th and 9th of August (maybe also the 8th because Spa will be opened in the morning and Nring in the evening, but I doubt it).
- visit the Spa race track on the 8th of August and then return to Nring to spend the night (since it is only one and a half hours drive away).

And the million dollar question: anybody interested???

[Top Cat]

You should work for these two circuits Rex.  Great little write-up, makes me want to go and book right now. 

I am at the green hell this upcoming weekend.  and will most definitely be doing Spa next year. 

[Hurdy]

Done both as full closed trackdays and both are brilliant tracks

Did Nurburgring through these as a trackday - Open pitlane 9am till 4.45pm

http://www.destination-nurburgring.com/dates

Did Spa through these as a full trackday - open pitlane 9am till 5pm

http://www.circuit-days.co.uk/spa.asp

Both phenomenal experiences

[tony_danza]

I'm doing Spa on the 4th of Oct with circuit days, will be having a long weekend at the Ring before it.

£250 all day open pit lane, free extra drivers, free passengers, free tuition session.

[rex]

Top Cat have fun, then, next week!
Will you be going with the Golf or the Elise?

hurdy Thanks for the links!

tony_danza nice to hear that you are going to both this year.
It is great that you found a better way of visiting Spa. Too bad it is later on this year and the chances of rain/bad weather are bigger than in August.
If I can't make the August trip and as Spa and Nring have to be visited this year, can I join you guys?

[tony_danza]

Hi, of course you're welcome to come - the more the merrier. There's about 30 of my friends going, so you'll be in good company.

The weather isn't as much of a risk as you'd think, we have something we call Indian Summers which means the UK and Northern France/Belgium stays reasonably warm and dry into October.

[RedRobin]

Both phenomenal experiences

....Especially the time spent sharing a room with RedRobin  

Personally I like Spa more than I do the Nordschleife but my finances this year stop me from joining you guys  

Even in the wet, Spa is a great circuit. But I used GY Asymmetric road tyres! (and have a Quaife diff).

[Hurdy]

Both phenomenal experiences

....Especially the time spent sharing a room with RedRobin  

Personally I like Spa more than I do the Nordschleife but my finances this year stop me from joining you guys  

Even in the wet, Spa is a great circuit. But I used GY Asymmetric road tyres! (and have a Quaife diff).

You want to try Spa in the wet on R888's like me

The last half of the track in the wet is Very slippy, but awesome fun

[Neilgti]

Going to Spa this weekend then on to the Ring, Go Sunday 26th back on Tues 5th 
Let the good times begin 

[Top Cat]

Going to Spa this weekend then on to the Ring, Go Sunday 26th back on Tues 5th 
Let the good times begin 

I iz jelous. 

[MAT ED30]

Me too

[Neilgti]

Going to Spa this weekend then on to the Ring, Go Sunday 26th back on Tues 5th 
Let the good times begin 

I iz jelous. 

Yes really looking forward to this, done a few trackdays but never been across to belguim or germany 

[rex]

Hope you have/had fun!

[rex]

So, I am definitely  going and it appears that none of my Romanian friends is coming with me (at least so far)  .
Is anybody coming?
I am staying at http://www.nuerburgring-hotel.de/. If someone else is coming I can easily change the reservation to include more rooms.

Cheers!

[Neilgti]

Going to Spa this weekend then on to the Ring, Go Sunday 26th back on Tues 5th 
Let the good times begin 

I iz jelous. 

Yes really looking forward to this, done a few trackdays but never been across to belguim or germany 

Well all i can say is ..............................................................wow what a week 
Great Company, Food, Beer, Hotels and tracktime 
Cannot wait to do it again.