Nurburgring 2006

[Couerdelion]

after last years succesful trip I'm looking to organise another trip this year.

So.... (shamelessly ripped from last years message....)

Fancy a 3 day trip to Europe (5 countries!) including riding the Nurburgring?
(France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Luxemburg)

The trip will be...

Thursday afternoon meet up.
Crossing from Dover to Calais
Ride to the Ardennes in Belgium and the village of Moulin du Ruy, Stoumont. Check into the B&B See here (http://aeaventures.com/index.html)
Few sociable beers :-)

Friday lunch, accompanied by an English Nurburgring instructor, make our way to Germany (~90 mins) for 5 laps of the world famous course and hopefully back to Belgium for a few beers and conversation about what a thrill it was and how crap the Porsche/Ferrari/Lamborghini drivers were and how the humble SV gives you more bang for your buck :-)


Saturday - visit Luxemburg, Charleroi and Brussels and finish at the Bikers loft in Ostend for a variety of Belgium beers and good entertainment. see here (http://www.grd.be/motorhotel/eng/frame.htm)

Sunday ride back to Calais for an afternoon ferry back to Dover.

Cost to be... (approx)

~£50 Return Ferry
~£40 5 laps Nurburgring (€60)
~£15 Escorting at/to Nurburgring (€20)
~£20 Bike loft in Ostend (€30)

So that's a total of about £125 for a great weekend :-)

Prices include breakfasts in accomodation but exclude petrol and other meals and are based on people sharing accomodation..

I reckon for the milage we are doing in the continent it wont be more than £60 (based on english fuel prices).

Call it £10 a day for meals and you would be looking at about £200 all in plus your fuel to and from Dover (plus beer money). Bargain? I think so!


Anyone else interested? please PM me if you are.
All I need is £20 to cover the deposit for accomadation.

Weekend will be Thu 20th July -Sun23rd July.

Report from last year http://forums.sv650.org/viewtopic.php?t=27166&highlight=nurburgring

[Jelster]

Stickied it for ya.........

.

[Couerdelion]

Thanks :)

[mac608]

You are aware there may be a truck GP the weekend of the 22/23?

http://nurburgring.org.uk/calendar.html

[Couerdelion]

You are aware there may be a truck GP the weekend of the 22/23?

http://nurburgring.org.uk/calendar.html

Is that not just using the GP track though?
(and it's the saturday :-) )

[Couerdelion]

The accommodation is booked for the Nurburgring.

Can't book the Biker Hotel till a month before but shouldn't be a problem.

3 of us so far and all deposits received thanks.

Me
Lurcher
K

Any one else fancy it?

[Couerdelion]

So now it's getting warmer.. any more takers?

It's a trip you will definitely remember for a long time
:-)

[Couerdelion]

Up to four people now.

Me
K
Lurcher
Mart

No problem if anyone else wants to come along. I can keep adding people till around a month before.

[Couerdelion]

Just a quick message in case you thought you had sent your cheque and I was out drinking Guinness on the money :)

Just thought I’d mail before I head off to watch the North West 200.

Like I mentioned before, the accommodation and guiding is booked.

I still need to confirm what time ferry we are going to be catching. But I think we got one about 4 o’clock last year, although it seemed to be the world’s longest journey to get there!

The four o’clock should get us off the boat for 5:30 ish and as long as I remember to bring directions this year we should be hitting the Ardennes at around 8-8.30. Plenty of time to have a few bottles of the nice Jupiter beer then Neil and Anne usually have in.

I can’t book the biker loft till a month before but there shouldn’t be a problem it only usually gets busy the week before.

Things you might want to start thinking about…

Servicing your bike before we go.
Ensuring you have plenty of wear on your tyres.
European breakdown cover.
Ensure you have adequate insurance cover for Europe.
Mobile phone in case of emergency.
Credit card for petrol as some stations don’t take cash.


Clothes wise, you’ll only probably need underwear and a pair of jeans, plus a couple of tops to wear on a night. Shoes? You could wear your biker boots if you wanted.

If anyone else is interested give me a shout, still plenty of time

[K]

Servicing your bike before we go.
Ensuring you have plenty of wear on your tyres.
European breakdown cover.
Ensure you have adequate insurance cover for Europe.
Mobile phone in case of emergency.
Credit card for petrol as some stations don’t take cash.

Service - check (and MOT next week!)
Tyres - nearly new so that's a check.
Not sure - must phone the AA and see if my cover extends to that (I think it does).
Check.
Mobile - oh yeah, that thing I have and never remember to turn on - and when I do I then can never remember where it is! Check. :roll:
Card, hmmm, I don't have a credit card but have been assured by Nat West the by Cirrus/Maestro/Debit card thingy should be fine.

I s'pose I'd better see if I can find/dig out that one piece waterproof cover thingy I've got. I'ts a little on the big side, but I'm hoping that if I actually remember to take it then I won't have to use it. (Cos of course sod's law states that should I forget it it **** it down most of the time - just on me!)

I've also made the grand investment of £3.50 for a set of Teach Yourself German CD's! Well, I did it at school and have since forgotton almost all of it but this is as good as an excuse as any to actually do something with my waking hours. :P

I've also been hard at work putting my leatherworking skills to good use - making a bespoke shoulder rig for my crutches, with quick release snaps and everything! :twisted:

[andyaikido]

Thinking of joining you guys. Think my first trip to the 'ring will less stressful with some experienced riders. Is it SV only? I have a mate on a GXSR who might be interested. When do you need to book by?

[Couerdelion]

I've PM'd you.

Not too late for anyone else to join us.

[Couerdelion]

Up to five people now.

Me
K
Lurcher
Mart
AndyAikido

[Couerdelion]

Ferries now need to be booked by each individual.

We'll be travelling by P&O.
Depart 15:10 Thursday 20th July
Return 13:15 Friday 23rd July.

Use code MCN for a discount (only £2.50!) and it's £42.50
(If you find a chepaer codee let me know :-) )

Let me know when you've booked.

[andyaikido]

Anyone got a phone number for P&O? I'm struggling with the website.
Oh, and do they provide tie-downs for the bikes or should I get some?

Sorted my ticket now, nothing wrong with the website, just my technological ineptitude. :oops:

[K]

I just tried booking mine on line and it's telling me there's no space left on the outtward ferry! :shock:

I'm gonna try giving them a ring.

[K]

Yup - that outward trip is definately full. So, rather than have peeps wait for me and put travelling times out abroard - I've got myself on to the 14:25 - so will be sitting in France for half an hour. :roll:

Um... guess we ought to arrange somewhere REALLY obvious to meet. And I do mean REALLY obvious as I have direction sense of a homing pigeon - in other words I can always find my way home - just never anywhere else! :roll:

I mean, you can't miss me - I'll be the lost little soul on a BLUE FireBlade (OK OK OK so it's such a dark blue that it looks black to the untrained eye of almost everyone else in the universe) with a pair of crutches strapped to my back! :wink:


Knowing my luck it'll be Disabled Bikers week or something and the port will be full of crippos. :roll:

[mart]

same here got the 14.25 after kicking the front door in dam web site

[Abyss]

lol that sound like a brilliant weekend that i would love to do but since i would of only been riding for 6days by that point I dont think its going ot happen. I will definatly keep my eyes open for next time tho :D

[K]

same here got the 14.25 after kicking the front door in dam web site

Yay, got a PM from Lurcher, he's on the 14:25 too - so if we get lost, you two blame me and I'll just look pathetic. :wink:

[Couerdelion]

Ferries now need to be booked by each individual.

We'll be travelling by P&O.
Depart 15:10 Thursday 20th July
Return 13:15 Friday 23rd July.

Use code MCN for a discount (only £2.50!) and it's £42.50
(If you find a chepaer codee let me know :-) )

Let me know when you've booked.


Ermmm just a quick check that no one actually booked to come back on friday. It was a ermm deliberate mistake and should have said Sunday :oops: :oops:

[mart]

http://www.circuit-days.co.uk/cannon.php?page_id=14 great its a car rally

were is handyst for everyone to meet up i take it most will be on the m25

[K]

http://www.circuit-days.co.uk/cannon.php?page_id=14 great its a car rally

were is handyst for everyone to meet up i take it most will be on the m25

It's the Ring - there's likely to be 'something' on most of the time. :roll: That's why I 'm glad we've got a guide and am less fussed about anything else that's going on there.

Hell, it could be a gridlocked circuit full of traffic jam and I'd be happy filtering round! :twisted:


Looks like I'm meeting up with Courdelion n others on the M1 at about 10:30, but I have no idea of route from there. :oops:

[mart]

in im sw london so i could meet up on the m25 somewere or the m20
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8752265579737000204&q=nurburgring

[Jamin]

Hi Guys

I'm a new poster to your great forum but have been reading for quite a while.

Any chance of meeting you en-route?? I'm in Haarlem about 30kms North of Amsterdam but could nip down to meet you in Belgium then break off at Brussels at and head North.

Let me know if this is possible.

Ta

Ben

-----------------

Pointy Copper SV

[Couerdelion]

Hi Guys

I'm a new poster to your great forum but have been reading for quite a while.

Any chance of meeting you en-route?? I'm in Haarlem about 30kms North of Amsterdam but could nip down to meet you in Belgium then break off at Brussels at and head North.

Let me know if this is possible.

Ta

Ben

-----------------

Pointy Copper SV

ahh a copper SV. Is that a K3 then? (Blue, Copper and Silver that year I believe :) )

I'll check the map tonight but it might be easier to meet us on the Saturday night at the bikers loft in Belgium. depend on what the others want to do we might be going to Maastrict and then Bruge before getting there. Otherwise we are staying in deepest Belgium near Luxemburg so quite a trek!

[Couerdelion]

Ok, So were all on the early ferry now :)

So meeting places...

Lurcher... I'll meeet you at Ferrybridge at 8:00am (Early start for you! Sorry!)
(Mappy reckons on 2hrs ish to Newport Pagnell)

We'll then make our way down to meet up with Andy Aikido and K at 10:30 at Newport Pagnell services (Nr Northampton) (Mappy.com reckons 2hrs 15 from here to Dover)

We'll meet up with Mart at the services at junction 8 of the M20 (Maidstone) at 11:45 ish.

We'll all fill up with Petrol in Dover.

Everyone ok with that?

We should be off the boat for 5:00 o'clock

Spa Francorchamps is about 3.5 hours then from here. So hopefully we'll be drinking a great bottle of jupiter beer at 8:30 8)

[K]

Cool n groovy.

16 days, 1 hour and 29 minutes. :wink:

[Jelster]

As you drop into Dover there is a Shell station on your left at a roundabout, I generally use that one before getting on the ferry. It's your last chance to get some "Special Brew" for the bike :lol:

Have a good trip peeps....

.

[Couerdelion]

Cheers Jelster. I remembered there was a petrol station near the Port but couldn't remember what it was.

The idea behind getting the petrol there is so that we aren't looking around and risking running out of fuel when we get into France. :oops:




And for those of you who aren't looking forward to the long trip....

I leave home at 9:00 Wednesday morning. I won't get back (and straight into work :( ) until monday lunch. That's a good 36 hours extra travelling time!
(Ok so I'll be in Leeds for a night but that's not the point :) )

Less than 14 days till I set off :shock: :D

[mart]

As you drop into Dover there is a Shell station on your left at a roundabout, I generally use that one before getting on the ferry. It's your last chance to get some "Special Brew" for the bike :lol:

Have a good trip peeps....

.please dont tell me they dont have 98 oct fuel in germany/france

[andyaikido]

in im sw london so i could meet up on the m25 somewere or the m20
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8752265579737000204&q=nurburgring

Cool link, will be watching it over and over, trying to learn the track. Has anyone tried 'Nurburgring' on Google earth? Also very cool, i'd post the link but have no idea how to. :oops:

[Couerdelion]

Link to google maps here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=N%C3%BCrburgring,+Rheinland-Pfalz,+Germany&ie=UTF8&ll=50.345255,6.968851&spn=0.010078,0.026951&t=h&om=1)

Less than two weeks to go 8)

[K]

Left, left, right, left, right... oh bugger!

13 days, 14 hours and 52 minutes :twisted:

[Couerdelion]

This is my short review of last years trip (http://forums.sv650.org/viewtopic.php?t=27166)

Just reread it and it's got me all excited again :)
(Not like that! :oops: )

[lurcher]

hi rich,just re-read your report of last years trip brought back some great memories :D ,not long now for some great fun,cant wait :D

[andyaikido]

Here's where i'm up to:

New rear tyre and 14500 mile service done
New front tyre going on on the 18th
Got AA euro breakdown (as long as i don't breakdown on the circuit)
Bike insurance is OK
Got my NHS healthcard thingy that replaced the E111
Got credit and debit cards (do i need euros for anything and how much?)
Ferries booked

feel like i've forgotten to do something...

[K]

Here's where i'm up to:

New rear tyre and 14500 mile service done
New front tyre going on on the 18th
Got AA euro breakdown (as long as i don't breakdown on the circuit)
Bike insurance is OK
Got my NHS healthcard thingy that replaced the E111
Got credit and debit cards (do i need euros for anything and how much?)
Ferries booked

feel like i've forgotten to do something...

See if your mobile can be used abroad.
Maybe look into additional health insurance (though watch out on exclusions as many consider riding a bike over 125cc as a 'Hazerdous Sport' regardless of full licence held. I get mine free with my NatWest Account who are fine as long as you've held your licence for over three years and are conviction free.)
Do a dry run on packing to make sure everything fits and is OK on the bike.
I'm going to be taking 100 euros on CdeL's advice from last year.
Write a short list of relevant phone/reference numbers (AA, Insurance, Next of Kin etc) and put it in your wallet.
Make sure you have all the documentation you need all in one place (not scattered over the house in that last destarate packing hunt 10 minutes before the off!) :wink:

Um, anything else or have I forgotton summat too! :roll: :wink:

[Couerdelion]

Here's where i'm up to:

New rear tyre and 14500 mile service done
New front tyre going on on the 18th
Got AA euro breakdown (as long as i don't breakdown on the circuit)
Bike insurance is OK
Got my NHS healthcard thingy that replaced the E111
Got credit and debit cards (do i need euros for anything and how much?)
Ferries booked

feel like i've forgotten to do something...

See if your mobile can be used abroad.
Maybe look into additional health insurance (though watch out on exclusions as many consider riding a bike over 125cc as a 'Hazerdous Sport' regardless of full licence held. I get mine free with my NatWest Account who are fine as long as you've held your licence for over three years and are conviction free.)
Do a dry run on packing to make sure everything fits and is OK on the bike.
I'm going to be taking 100 euros on CdeL's advice from last year.
Write a short list of relevant phone/reference numbers (AA, Insurance, Next of Kin etc) and put it in your wallet.
Make sure you have all the documentation you need all in one place (not scattered over the house in that last destarate packing hunt 10 minutes before the off!) :wink:

Um, anything else or have I forgotton summat too! :roll: :wink:

If your phone can be used abroad make sure you have credit.
Make a list of what clothes you think you need then tick them off when you pack.
If you can't fit in a pair of spare gloves pack a pair of latex glothes then if you do get them wet, just slip the latex one on underneath.
Ear plugs. We'll be doing a lot of miles so bring a few pairs. I rarely wear them but for these distances I need to otherwise it tires me out much quicker.

Money wise... You'll need money for at least 4-5 lots of petrol, laps of nurburg ring and accomodation and beer. Probably best to bring a small bit of cash to cover getting to Belgium then we'll hit the cash machine on the way to Nurburgring. (I think it's maestro)

[Couerdelion]

One week to go :D

[mart]

Got my NHS healthcard thingy that replaced the E111
... were do you get this

[K]

The quickest way to get one is online at THIS LINK (www.dh.gov.uk/travellers)

It say it takes about a week to come through, but I applied for mine on a Friday and got it through in the post the following Tuesday! :shock:

About halfway down the page on the right is the link to actually apply for the card - buried in amongst all the information about it. :roll:

[mart]

thanks k
i may have left this too late though

[andyaikido]

Was in Hein-Gericke yesterday buying, among other things, a rain suit (not that i'll need it cos its gonna be glorious sunshine) and a puncture repair kit (hope i won't need it) and the assistant told me you need to have a first aid kit, spare bulbs and a warning triangle to ride in Germany. Is this right or will we get away with it by nipping to the 'ring and then back into Belgium?

[Couerdelion]

To be honest, you probably need all of them but I think they're more car requirements than bike. Where you meant to fit a first aid kit and bulb kit next to your lock and rain suit under your seat? Oh, your pillion seat?.... but you did put the bulbs their and first aid kit!!!! but they've slippped and fallen. Oh no!!!!!!

And we'll be guided in germany so we'll have the equipment between us anyways.

I carry spare bulbs anyways.

Drinking leffe beer tonight as practice. Yum!!!!

[mart]

3 more days cant wait to get out of this cr@p shack

[mac608]

We should be off the boat for 5:00 o'clock

Spa Francorchamps is about 3.5 hours then from here. So hopefully we'll be drinking a great bottle of jupiter beer at 8:30

Think you'll be lucky, there's an hour time difference isn't there?

[Couerdelion]

We should be off the boat for 5:00 o'clock

Spa Francorchamps is about 3.5 hours then from here. So hopefully we'll be drinking a great bottle of jupiter beer at 8:30

Think you'll be lucky, there's an hour time difference isn't there?

Yeah, we land at 4ish GMT which I reckoned to be 5 ish CET.

[Couerdelion]

Well not long to go now.


Has everyone managed to get everything sorted on their bikes. services done etc?

I've got some new brakes pads to fit tonight then I'm sorted.
I fitted some last year and wore them out just as I got back to Dublin, just 1800 miles later 8)

Gonna get my packing finalised tonight then one more day at work, rugby training to organise tomorrow and then that's it. I'll be in work Wednesday for an hour or so then I'm off for the 11:10 ferry from Dun Laghoire. Should make Squires tomorrow night!

I'll email out my phone numbers to people tomorrow so people can get in touch if there are any problems.

I'll be on a k3 GSXR600. And I haven't got an Irish accent even though I live in Dublin. It's broad Leeds.


Me -->
http://images.fotopic.net/yi3oor.jpg

[K]

Heh heh, I'm packed already (apart from my pjs that are currently drying on the line (well, sleeping with strangers n all that) :oops: !), just need to attack said tailpack to the bike. :wink:

Pick up my Euro numberplate tomorrow morning that it'll be tucked away in the garage until the off.

Only about 2 days 11 hours and 21 minutes to go. :wink:

[lurcher]

ive just been gaffer taping up parts of the bike,cleaning leathers and boots,cleaning helmet and visors,being a pain in the ass for our lass :D double checking stuff and behaving like a kid at chrimbo,see yers all thursday :D

[andyaikido]

Heh heh, I'm packed already (apart from my pjs that are currently drying on the line (well, sleeping with strangers n all that) :oops: !), just need to attack said tailpack to the bike. :wink:

Pick up my Euro numberplate tomorrow morning that it'll be tucked away in the garage until the off.
Only about 2 days 11 hours and 21 minutes to go. :wink:

Errr... how important is a Euro reg plate/GB sticker?

[Couerdelion]

Ok, just double checked on what we need abroad.

I looked here (http://www.aaireland.ie/infodesk/motoring_europe/compulsory_equi.asp)

So, according to that spare bulbs/fire extinguishers aren't required. Headlight adjustment is, but we shouldn't be driving in the dark...

By law you need to display country identification.
If you have a GB marked reg plate then that should be fine.

Else you can buy a sticker on the boat or from the Halfords.

I've ridden a number of times abroad (In fact, I guess I live abroad!) and have been stopped by the police. They've never mentioned the lack of country identification on my bike but i guess for the cost ofa couple of quid it probably isn't worth the risk of a fine.

[K]

I think I phoned everywhere in the Yellow Pages to get hold of a GB sticker - but only seemed to be able to source a large car bumper one. A bit too big to fit anywhere on the back of my bike!

So I opted for a Euro plate mainly as MAL Plates is just down the road from me so it's easy to pick up.

[Tim in Belgium]

Have great fun guys and gitrls, jealous of you all having the bottle to do the ring on your bikes, going to get a few track days in before I venture there. Bet you all get round quicker than I did in my old Leon diesel!

Watch out for the other cars and bikes, lack of run off and stay safe. Also if you are going the country way from Eupen watch out for the road to hell, the biggest potholes ever and I think the worst bit of road in Belgium, and that's saying something. But the rest of that route is great.

[andyaikido]

Taking the following documents with me:

Insurance certificate
AA euro breakdown paperwork
Driving license (both parts)
Ferry booking confirmation

Do I need to take the vehicle's V5 and if so where's a good place to keep it? Same question for the spare key and alarm fob.

All excited now... hence why i'm on here at this time.

[Couerdelion]

V5 is handy to have. Keep all your docs in the tankbag. Well that's where I've put mine.

Disaster number 1 for me.

Booked on 11:10 ferry. Nipped into work to give some work to a junior whilst I was away. In between parking my bike up and entering the door I lost my bike key.
When I bought the bike it was the only key and didn't have the key number on it, so I never got round to getting another. Rang Suzuki UK and the original garage the bike was bought from. No key id. Borrowed a bike and went back home just in case it had been wrote down in the servie manual. Phew luckily it had. 4 keys just been cut and a rearranged 18:30 ferry.

Ah well. No squires for me tonight, and no meeting old mates in the pub.

[andyaikido]

Right!

Bit short on space so i'm gonna have to make a choice between taking a set of waterproofs or my lock.

Forecast looks good but would I be tempting fate by not taking any? ( i'm not bothered by a shower, just if torrential rain sets in)
How secure is the parking at the accomodation?

[lurcher]

andy,the bikes are garaged on all 3 nites,see you tomorrow :D

[andyaikido]

andy,the bikes are garaged on all 3 nites,see you tomorrow :D

Excellent. See you tomorrow guys (and gal).

[mart]

top bombing
what about phone no

[andyaikido]

I've got Rich's and he's got mine. Rich is the man with the plan, no?

[mart]

yep no probs i think rich has my number

[Couerdelion]

Just emailed you all.

See you tomorrow. (well actually today now!)

Damn it's a real chore having to go to the Nurburgring... :lol:

[K]

OK, can't sleep & been to the loo 3 times already. Just for a bit of me time y'know, quiet contemplation, read the odd copy of Private Eye, nervous churning of stomach, flick through the Fight Club Script - usual stuff! :roll:

0 days, 2 hours and 30 minutes to go...

... are we there yet?! :wink:

[mart]

hope everyone got back ok

[andyaikido]

I'm back in one piece. 1400 miles in total.
Big thankyou to Rich for organizing everything, hope there's another one next year.

[Couerdelion]

Well I'm half way home.

In Leeds. About to go to bed, up for 5 to go get ferry to Dublin. :cry:

[K]

Back, slept, posting, will sleep some more then put up photos.

Till then - HUGE THANK YOU to Rich (CDL) for the organisation, navigation and leading. Top bloke, well done and ta very much. :kiss:

Everyone else, a great group to ride with and watch get drunk! :wink:

What can I say, it was such an experience that I'm virtually speechless (or is it the tiredness?) except for:

THAT WAS F*£$%&G AWESOME. 8)

[lurcher]

i"d like to thank richie for organising another great trip :D ,and everyone who went for their great company and safe riding over the 4 days it was a laugh a minute and a pleasure :D .quote of the trip had to be marts on meeting ghostrider"that blokes a fooking ******"classic :D ,just over 1500 miles :D

[Couerdelion]

Thanks to everyone for making it a great trip.

Safe and fast riding by everyone. (Even if I was riding like a granny!)

Hope to see you all next year on a slightly longer trip.