Nurburgring Trip

[admin]

I received this email from Kevin Smith of Wheeltrax. A forum board seemd the best way for readers to discuss the options of this trip and give Kevin some feedback. It will also allow Kevin to respond to questions.
John

Hi John,
I hope you don't mind me contacting you but I have an idea that I would like to run past you. As you know I am a big fan of your site and I run a ´99 SV on my bike tours.

One of the highlights for many of my customers is riding the Nürburgring. Irrespective of the type of machines people are riding - anything from hypersports to full-on tourers - I always seem to be having more fun on the SV (some of your clan may remember reading about my Porsche 911 tussle).

I would love to put together a tailor-made package for you guys to come over and sample the ´ring for yourselves. What do you think? Do you think there would be sufficient interest in such a trip?

Basically, I can arrange anything from a couple of days duration to a one or two week stay depending on preferences. Obviously the Nürburgring would feature heavily in the line-up but there is certainly a wealth of fantastic roads over here to include tours to other locations as well.

Prices etc can certainly be made very attractive for fellow SVers and a group of SVs at the ´ring would surely be a recipe for huge fun! Maybe someone would like to pick up the baton and get a group together.

For any individuals wanting more info I can be contacted using the following details...

Kevin Smith
Tours Director
Wheeltrax Motorcycle Tours
HauptSraße 46a
57627 Astert
Germany
kevinsmith@wheeltrax.com

[Amanda M]

That is something I would definately love to do :D probably next year for me though now :(

Amanda

[Iansv]

Would depend on time of year for me...

[rubberduckofdeath]

I'm interested, I've always been a bit concerned that the SV wasn't quick enough for there though?

[Moo]

Could be interested. :lol:

[Sudoxe]

Yep, intrested :)

Dan

[Moo]

Link for Wheeltrax web-site.

www.wheeltrax.com

[wheelnut]

I will be doing it one way or the other :P

My Brother does it quite often on his Ducati and Aprillia but suggested we should go and try it with mine.

Im interested for next year, I need some notice though! Can we go tomorrow? :lol:

[northwind]

Obviously the idea terrifies me :) But depending on timing and finances, yes.

[rictus01]

I've done the "ring" a couple of times, but not in a few years now.

Would recommend it, I'm also up for a return visit, maybe next april time?

Cheers Mark.

[wigan650s]

bugger that just reading about the ring scares the life out of me :shock:







count me in :twisted:

[mysteryjimbo]

I'm in! :twisted:

[Anonymous]

id love to do that, my mates would be so jelous, maby when i hhave a better bike

[northwind]

Mystery Guest, get yourself a set of Ohlin springs, and you've got a better bike :) No excuses!

[wheelnut]

A couple more good links to the Ring.

http://home.egge.net/~savory/nurburgring.htm


http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/index.html

Dont frighten yourself too much :?

[sexysi]

Yep pleasssssssse
sexysi

[Wheeltrax]

So, am I right in thinking that next year would be the best bet?
April may be a bit early in the year as far as the weather is concerned.
How about early in May?
Let me know what time suits you all and then we can arrange something to suit the majority.
For anyone with any doubts I would say, whatever you ride and whatever your abilities, you can ride the ring and have a great time. In my opinion if you can ride safely on the road then you can definately ride safely at the Nürburgring (no on-coming vehicles, no junctions etc). We always recommend trying just one lap first, especially if you have never been before, and riding at a pace that you feel 100% comfortable with. After the initial trial lap then decide how you want to proceed.

Kev Smith
Wheeltrax

[Amanda M]

Early in may sounds good to me. Plenty of time to save up!

Amanda

[Iansv]

May should be good with me

[Anonymous]

i'd be very interested - and May sounds good, probs only for a 4-5 day trip tho...

Wheeltrax : would it be the 'full' 20-odd mile course or a watered-down shorter variant?

[benHallowes]

sorry, the above post was mine! (board didn't register me tho :cry: )

[wigan650s]

anytime after april is good for me,i'm all out of holidays for this year :cry:

[Smidsy]

I've been round the ring (so to speak!!!) a few times, but in a car :? Not a bad one though, 3.2 911 Porker... Much fun was had and would love the oportunity to go round on a bike. Consider me there... What about passengers???
Jason.

[Wheeltrax]

First of all let me answer a couple of your questions.
1.Riding the Nürburgring is actually what the Germans call the "Nordschleife" or northern loop. Although race events are still held (club and 24 Hour/endurance events) the ´Ring is run as a one way public toll road. When you have your ticket you ride up to the barrier (NCP car park style) and insert your ticket.
Once onto the "Circuit" you ride one lap (regardless of how many laps you have purchased). This consists of: 14.17 miles, 73 corners and a height varience of 300 meters! :shock:
At the end of the lap you come back to "pit lane" and either go throught the barrier procedure again or park up and enjoy a coffee at the on-site cafe.
2.Passengers/pillion riders are allowed. However, Full protection is a must. It does not need to be one-piece race leathers but - at least - sensible road gear would be advisable.

Date: I will have to wait untill the ´ring release the official times/dates for 2005 to make any suggestions. Sometime early in May looks to be the favourite at the moment.

Prices: The following prices are approximate and are for one suggested length of stay/package and for roughly 10 (or more) bikes.
Including:
a. 4 Nights half board accommodation in a superb hotel. Linkhttp://www.wheeltrax.com/Accommodation.htm
b. 3 Days guided tours - 2 days visiting the ´ring and one day to the Rhine/Mosel. I am extremely flexible on this one.
c. 2 Laps (one for each day) of the Nordschleife. More laps are easily purchased on the day if required at 14 Euros per lap.
d. Safety briefing on the evening of arrival.
e. Detailed directions from Calais to the hotel.
f. Secure parking.
g. Return ferry crossing - Dover/Calais.
h. BBQ on one of the evenings (Numbers/weather allowing)
Bike and Rider - £259,00
Pillion - £169,00

If individuals would like to organize there own ferry crossing the Rider price would drop to £210,00.

Prices are on a shared room basis. A single room suppliment is available at £6,00 per night.

As I say, these prices are approximate and may change slightly if ferry/hotel costs increase.
There may also be the possibility of split payments
i.e. £50,00 Deposit and then two or three further installments.

Let me know what you think.

Kevin Smith
Wheeltrax

[wigan650s]

i was thinking it would cost a lot more...i'm in :D

couple of questions

can we dump pillions anywhere before doing the ring...shopping,somewhere with pretty flowers etc

have you got a rough idea of total mileage for the trip,just so i can plan for new tyres if needed

cheers
paul

[mysteryjimbo]

Typical, im on hols early in May. Late in May is best.

[Wheeltrax]

Hi,
Thanks to Paul for your comments and welcome on board!
I have really tried to keep the costs as low as possible. Although I am a commercially based operation I wanted to really pull something out of the hat for all the SVers. As I said in my opening e-mail, I do have more fun on the SV than most people, even on full-on sports machines. As well as the SV I also own a tricked up Triumph triple putting out 120 BHP at the rear wheel. Guess which one I choose to go to the ring on?

As to your question about pillions, there is a town right on the edge of the ring called Adenau. Although I have never stopped there I have ridden through it plenty of times. If pillions don’t want to go around the ring with their rider it looks like a fantastic place for them to hang out for a couple of hours. There is plenty to see and do.

Mileages:
Calais to Hotel – 310 Miles (Approx - motorway)
Hotel to Nürburgring to Hotel – 170 Miles (scenic route)
Hotel to Nürburgring to Hotel – 100 (direct route)
Ring (per lap) – 14 Miles

I’m hoping to give people a mix´n match choice to take the scenic and/or direct routes in either direction. Don’t forget to x2 these figures as they apply to two of the days.
Add to that a days tour of the Rhine/Mosel – 150 to 170 miles

If my sums are correct that makes the 4 day trip (Calais-Hotel-Calais) some where between 980 & 1150 miles. (Obviously this will increase for those wishing to do more laps of the Nordschleife). + mileage to/from Dover and home.

Dont give up hope Mystery Jimbo. Dates are yet to be fixed!

Has Anyone checked out the link I included for the Hotel?

Kev

[mysteryjimbo]

Great! Im away for two weeks in May. Starting on the 5th i think. Its the holiday i should have had this year except my little bundle of joy (baby Holly) meant i had to reschedule!

Accomodation looks great. Can't wait.

[Baldyman]

Kev,
I'm interested in getting over either early or late May with my wife. Just need to find out if anyone else is definitely interested as that could be one boring journey down to the hotel on our own!

[rictus01]

Kev,
I'm interested in getting over either early or late May with my wife. Just need to find out if anyone else is definitely interested as that could be one boring journey down to the hotel on our own!

I'll be going, just need to know when to book the leave for :?:

Someone want to draw a line in the sand (so to speak) on dates

Cheers Mark.

[mysteryjimbo]

Kev,
I'm interested in getting over either early or late May with my wife. Just need to find out if anyone else is definitely interested as that could be one boring journey down to the hotel on our own!

I'll be going, just need to know when to book the leave for :?:

Someone want to draw a line in the sand (so to speak) on dates

Cheers Mark.

As i'm away in the beginning part of May, i'd like to suggest 25th April or 23rd of May.

I don't see the last week of April being so bad in terms of weather and reckon the end of May could be a little hot. We'd just have to go faster.

[Anonymous]

I'm happy with either date.............anyone else?

[Wheeltrax]

I believe that there has been a slight hiccough with the forum. Some of the most recent posts have been lost.
If yours is one of them please re-enter any questions/thoughts you may have needed addressing.
A quick word on dates. Lets not rush into deciding anything until we know what dates the ring has open. If you take a look at this years dates you will be suprised how many days of the year you are not allowed to ride it. Anything worth doing is woth doing right, right?

[mac608]

I've been granted the royal seal of approval for this. Though its going tp cost me. I can go providing I leave the family credit card behind.

So is there a firm date agreed on this? The end of April would be my preferred date but I can do either.

[mysteryjimbo]

Same here. I can do either, however the end of May would suit me better. That way i'm not spending the holiday money, we go 3rd May to 17th!

[wheelnut]

If you watch Top Gear tonight JC is driving the ring, should be quite good fun watching him slate us :P

If James May goes with him there might be some bikes on too :P

[Anonymous]

Hi Wheeltrax.

Thanks for taking the time to suggest & organise this.

I would definitely be interested. Please keep me posted. However, I will probably have a Tuono by then instead of my SV, its still a V twin though! :D

All the best,

Damien

[Damien]

Sorry, I posted without logging on. That's me above :oops:

[Wheeltrax]

Latest update re: dates is now in the "get some dates chosen " section.

[Leigh_Bradbury]

im up for this in a big way!! now if you know me that may well surprise you.

[Baldyman]

Wheeltrax,
I know you have said in earlier posts, but I can't find them...................what is the approx travel time from Calais to the Hotel (wife and I have dicky backs :( )

[Wheeltrax]

The actual riding time from Calais should be no more than 4 to 4 1/2 hours to the hotel.
If anyone wanted to go via Hook of Holland then the journey time to the hotel would be 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

The reason we have opted for offering Dover - Calais in the package is two-fold. To keep the costs down as much as possible and to simplify the organizational side of things.
If anyone wishes to make their own arrangements to get here (for what ever reason) we have no problem with taking the ferry out of the package price.

kevin@wheeltrax.com

[mysteryjimbo]

O.K, The trip will be Fri 13th May - Tue 17th May.


Thats no good to me then. Cant do the middle of May. I was trying to get the end of April or May sorted.

[Damien]

Hi Kev,

Just sent you an e-mail. Look forward to joining you + others at the ring.

Who else is going then???

Cheers,

D. :D