Stoney, glad you got back OK and sorry to hear you only got a couple of laps in.
We arrived at the carpark late Sunday and while the track was fully dry, there were constant closures and as you say, the place was heaving. Our confidence was not boosted by the constant stream of mangled cars being removed from the circuit
. Thankfully no bikes though
As we were virgins, had been on our bikes most of the day, were cold, track was busy etc, etc we decided to hang fire and wait till Monday, when the track was open from 1.00pm till 7.30pm.
Monday dawned cloudy but dry. With a few hours to kill we went for a look around various parts of the circuit, sorry, public toll road
which only stretched the nerves even further. While Granturismo 4 can show you which way the track goes, what it does not tell you is massive slopes involved, usually just before or during the corners!!
Anyway, after watching a few cars and bikes go around Brunchen (let the loonies go first) we finally plucked up the courage to do a lap. Straight into the ticket office, "Four laps please", helmets on and joint the queue.
What an absolute hoot
. Got back to the carpark 8.5 minutes latter (only kidding
), having only been overtaken by about 5 cars (3 porches, 1 M3 and Seat Leon
) and a Gixxer (mad bastard) during the whole lap. Helmet off, 10 minutes later its bloody raining. While not constant, the track never dried out enough to risk going out again.
Loads of bikes turned up and never even got a run. A few brave/foolish soles (delete as approriate) did go out but I can't believe it was an enjoyable experience. Certainly not worth the risk as the mad b*stards in cars continued to go round at unabated pace, although ever half hour or so a recover truck would come back in with someones pride and joy on the back and a big bill for Armco repairs.
I did manage to get a lap as a passenger with a British chap in a 309 Gti, which was great fun and is a really great way to see the circuit. It really is one big rollercoaster.
Got to feel for an Aussie and his wife we got chatting too in the cafe. He'd travelled over from Italy and had hired a race prepped M3 for the day, at a cost of 1000euro. He got to do three dry laps and 1 wet lap, afterwhich he decided the excess was not worth the risk. He left with 4 laps still on his ticket.
All-in-all, very disapponting not to get more laps but there is something about the place that just makes you want, no, need to go back. However, we did get to ride on some very noce French and German roads, did a couple of laps of the old Reims Grand Prix circuit and did a lap of the Ring and brought the bike back in one piece. Forget trying to beat Clarkson's 10 minutes and just enjoy probably the best 13 miles of tarmac you will ever get to ride.
We did about 1100 miles in total and did 1 lap of the Ring. Would I do it all again? You betcha.
