This weekend's trip to the Nurburgring, featuring a knackered old SV and an '08 Blade.

Well still buzzng after a stonking weekend, but it started out rather differently.

I extracted my self from an all day catalyst meeting to return home, load up the last things, change into my leathers and jump on the bike. Met my mate from work JC at Stokesley swimming baths (quite apt as it was just starting to rain). We then did a damp helmsley TT with multi[ple showers, and carried on in the direction of Malton, only to find the road flooded, the water was licking the back axle of a transit pick up that went through ahead of us, but JC on his 7 day old '08 Blade (yes, he'd managed to get it run in and through the first service in less than a week ) decided we'd take the long way round via Pickering. Soft Hond@ riders

On to the ferry, stopping for a **** 2 miles south of Malton we're it then royally ****ed on us, so on with the baby grows and the rain came down, the Rennports on the SV did remarkably well considering I could hardly see where I was going.

We arrived at Hull to a ferry overrun by bikers as Assen GP was on and we were of to Rotterdam. P&O had run out of straps and gave us blue nylon ropes to lash our bikes down with, no worries for me and the worthless SV, but a bit more of a concern with a 7 day old Blade ! It was soon 2 am after a few too many beers and falling for the band's female singer in stilleto boots, the ship tipping about in a force 7 gale. We were awoken at 6 am by the ship tannoy to get us up. We felt ruff.

Getting 300 bikes through passport control took a while, but we were soon on our way.

After motorway trudging through Holland we soon hit Deutschland and the fabulous N258, arriving at the 'Ringhaus (start the innuendoes...).



We soon regrouped and headed out for an evening session on the 'Ring, getting in a nice 5 laps to warm up for the weekend.

Heading back to the hotel we discovered all manner of vehicles ready for a great weekend.







A 3 series having a final fettle:





And the night time view from the bedroom window:



We were soon out on the 'Ring, in between accidents, closures and water/coffee breaks:

The SV:





Get that SV turning:







And the 'Blade:









Knee Sliders scorched:



After many Schnitzels, beers, cups of coffee and trips to ED's petrol station we had racked up 59 laps between us (the SV winning 30 v 29 ). Spent too much, overtook many a Porsche and Exige, got mullered by loads of late eighties/early nineties M3s, had a blast, a smooth ride home and a coffee stop in Helmsley. My mate's 13 day old Blade now has 1800 miles under its belt, now that's how to run in a bike

Stoked again.

THE END

[chris8886]

sounds like you had a quality weekend!! (how long exactly were you away?). you make the trip there and back sound sooooo easy, despite the rain. was it? and how long was it?

looks good, not long to go now

where did you get the photos? and how much were they?

Originally Posted by chris8886

sounds like you had a quality weekend!! (how long exactly were you away?). you make the trip there and back sound sooooo easy, despite the rain. was it? and how long was it?

Left home at 3:30pm Thursday afternoon, got back at 11am Tuesday morning after 2 1/2 days going round the 'Ring. The journey wasn't that bad, about 330 miles each way from home, and I'd driven most of the roads before so navigation was pretty easy. The rain got to us a little, but a few beers and sun coming off the ferry soon perkedus up. On any big trip there are low points as well, just flow with them and you'll enjoy the highs too. We were lucky with the weather at the 'Ring, and the number of laps we got in, be under no illusions it can rain for days up in those hills.

[Stu]

great photos! glad you had a good dry time.

Originally Posted by hovis

looks good, not long to go now

where did you get the photos? and how much were they?

Found some links on http://www.northloop.co.uk/ and the forum there.

I'd advise anyone going to the 'Ring for a first time have a read of:

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

and the site http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/ as a whole is a mine of information.

[Luckypants]

Great write up Tim, might have to give it a go!!

Knee sliders? Pah, flash young puppy!

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Great write up Tim, might have to give it a go!!

might be able to fit you in?

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=102493

Sounds really good Tim, excellent pics too - my appetite is wetted

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Great write up Tim, might have to give it a go!!

Knee sliders? Pah, flash young puppy!

Give it a go Mike, come along in August?

EDIT: Must try to be faster - Damn you Hovis

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Great write up Tim, might have to give it a go!!

Knee sliders? Pah, flash young puppy!

What I want to know is if they smelt like steak!