I am trying to plan my Euro delivery trip for a new Bimmer and the Ring might be included in the plan.

But I have to say this honestly, it worries me a little. I am not what I consider to be a bad driver, but I have no track experience. I am somewhat familiar with the layout from lapping it endlessly on Forza but I know that does not do it justice.

My main concern is this, I don't plan on running it all that fast. Just fast enough to be fun, but not balls out. There is a distinct possibility that my 75 year old father might be in the car with me and I don't want to give him a heart attack. Secondly, I am worried that if I am not taking it that fast that I could cause an accident when someone in a supercar is trying to go 180 and slams into me. I don't want to not see a motorcycle rider and cut them off going into a turn. I wish to do no harm, and also not beat the crap out of a spendy new car.

So is it safe on a public day to run that thing the way you would a quick back country road or will that get me smashed into? I would probably get up to over a hundred on a couple of the longer straights, but in all of the corners would not be hustling too fast, and trying to stay well within complete control of the car.

My main goals are to just be able to say I drove the Ring, have a little fun, not hurt anyone or ruin the other drivers day by clogging up the joint.

Thanks for the feedback in advance.

 

Good questions, looking forward to reading some responses. Always wanted to drive the Ring too!

 

Go to the Ring. Take it at your own pace. Faster cars will pass you, so just give them the opening. Only a moron would try to go as fast as they can when they can't afford to shut down the road for lap time settings.

Have fun with your new baby.

 

watched plenty of vidoes where guys are going pretty slow (compared to other drivers). should be no problem. stay to the right and watch your mirrors.

edit: btw i am very jealous...if i had a bucket list then driving on the ring may be the only thing on it.

 

Take it easy and get your insurance straight and you'll be fine. Check your rental agreement very carefully; most European rental companies do not allow you to take them on the ring and they have GPS programmed specifically to alert them if that takes place.

I'd just rent a car the track (determine it in advance). It's not that expensive and everything will be covered.

 

Hey are you on bimmerpost? I'd post this up on there bc there are a couple of members that live in the EU that go often. They can provide you with better tips than most on here. & tons of bimmerpost members have done euro delivery and went to the ring.

 

I have been to the ring.

There are plenty of people in fast cars, plenty of experienced drivers, plenty of cars going flat out, plenty of cars going really really slow, and cars that probably don't even belong on a track. Most people appeared to be aware and kept themselves in check.

Moral is, driving the ring is by far the greatest automotive thing I have ever done and will probably ever do. The track is mesmerizing and unreal!! It was like a dream driving the track. So go do it!! Drive at a slower pace and something that is comfortable and watch your mirrors. Keep your line and the faster cars will get around you.

I drove a RHD S2000 and it had been a few years since driving on track so I took it kind of easy and just tried to enjoy the track.

Practice all you want in a video game, and then throw it all out of your memory when you get on the track in real life. I claimed to know every bump and corner from a video game but it helped very little in real life. When the elevation, speed, bumps, blind curves come at you relentlessly its easy to get over whelmed. The first time you take the fox hole at speed it will leave you speechless as in a video game its flat. In real life its like being on a roller coaster doing 120mph and being pushed down and to the side into your seat. It is a major head rush as you then shoot back up the hill into a braking zone for the left hander. Luckily on a roller coaster your not in control, and on the track you are. its scary!! So yea, a video game may help to know the track goes left or right up ahead, but thats it!!!! My co-driver tried to stress that the video games dont even come close to the real thing, and after he realized I couldnt be persuaded he let me think it would help and I quickly realized it didnt lol.

My first lap on the ring. I had done 2 passenger ride alongs on just the north loop in the rain prior to my first lap on the GP and north loop.

Here is a video. Didnt know the track, the car, or used my left hand to shift before this. Also hadn't tracked in 2 years so I was very rusty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzMVOC95Jto

 

Awesome. That looks like a lot of fun.

Going to drive some 3 series in an hour to pick out what I want and then hopefully put in my order this week. Need flights to come down a bit because they are ridiculous, but we are either going to drop the car in Nice France or Amsterdam. If we choose Amsterdam, then we will stop by the Ring, if we drop in Nice, probably not on the schedule, but I will get to drive through Monaco.

The video made it look more laid back and fun then some of the horror stories. Can't wait.


I did see one of the local rent-a-sports-car outfitters had a Ferrari 458 Italia priced at somewhere near $5,900 Euro's for four or five laps. I wish I had the cash to drop. That would be sublime.

 

If you are shy about driving your new car around the Ring, how about hire one of the Taxi's to give you a ride around? They go much faster than you'll be able to manage, that's for sure.

Are you going to build up a unique color combo? I thought if you buy a Euro delivery car, they are able to paint it in any BMW color offered. I know Mercedes does this. Would be awesome to have a basic "one off" color. If your dealer is playing dumb on the issue, keep pressing him about it.

 

The advice I was given and I will give to you, "Do anything and everything you can to get there." We only live once and if you are going to Europe, make it a top priority to get there, otherwise you may never get the opportunity again. It took so much coordinating and work to make my trip happen, but it was the best thing I have ever done!

It was certainly very intense out there, but I am very comfortable on track so for me it was laid back to a certain degree. I wasnt super tense.