Driver training at Nordschleife - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Frits · 17th April 2007, 11:28

Last weekend, I did a driver training (http://www.fahrer-training.de) at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. I have been to the Ring a couple of times in the past (I think I did about 30 laps before I did the training). These few times, were the only track experience I had so far.

The training was mainly focused on the lines of the track, where to turn in, where is the apex, on which parts one should try not to be steering too much (bumps etc), where to brake, where not to brake... The instructor also told which turns were dangerous/slippery in the wet (not important while we were driving, because it was very hot, but interesting for the future. I almost totalled my car in one of these slippery turns in the past, never knew what I did wrong. Now I know I turned in too late.)

During the training, I felt I was gradually improving, and trying to remember what to do in each turn. After the training, I timed a few laps. I managed to do about 30 seconds better than my previous best time (still not very good, but one has to start at some point...).

During the training, we were wearing a helmet. It was the first time I was driving with a helmet. During the first lap, it felt like I wasn't even in the car, and I was behind the wheel

Now I'm used to it, and I'll be wearing the helmet on the track always from now on. I will get an open helmet however, I borrowed a motorcycle helmet from a friend, and that's way too hot!

I did have some serious heating problems with my car. The oil temperature was not too high (max 125°C), but the coolant temp gauge got into the red area once (I got the warning on the dash). In fact, I could not drive one complete lap without the temp going up too high. Sometimes I managed to complete a lap without needing to slow down/cruise. Usually, I put the car in a higher gear on the long straight about halfway of the track, and let the car cool down a bit, so I could go for it again in the next section of corners.
I had this problem before, and the dealer cleaned the dirt between the radiator and the airco condenser. They told me if it wouldn't be solved, I'd probably need a new radiator. New radiator is on order now. Will be installed at the next oil service (soon). I ordered a thermostat at the same time.

For the UK guys that might be interested in the training, the instructor speaks very good English (I don't understand German either, so the training was in English for me)

I didn't find much pictures of me driving, anyway, here's one. The other picture is from left to right: member Tomwac, me, Oliver (instructor). We received a certificate that we followed the training.
Member RussRamz took the picture. He was supposed to do the training too, but he got kicked off, because his car was too loud (check here: Kicked off Nordschleife!).

AndrewBailey · 17th April 2007, 12:00

I wanted to do the summer school at the Nurburgring but can't get insurance for the three days at anything like a reasonable cost. My UK insurance specifically excludes the Nurburgring.

Your note has prompted me to action and I will have a hunt. I wonder if there is a European insurance company that would give me cover? Any ideas anyone?

Frits · 17th April 2007, 12:02

I have no idea if I have insurance at the Ring... My car itself won't be covered, that's for sure, but I don't know if my insurance will pay for the damage on the track, or on other cars etc. I have to call my insurance company to find out...

ograms · 18th April 2007, 23:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewBailey

I wanted to do the summer school at the Nurburgring but can't get insurance for the three days at anything like a reasonable cost. My UK insurance specifically excludes the Nurburgring.

Your note has prompted me to action and I will have a hunt. I wonder if there is a European insurance company that would give me cover? Any ideas anyone?

I'm Oliver the instructor of Frits. I know insurance is always a hot theme concerning Nordschleife. On the Nordschleife there are the same rules and regulations valid as on other public roads in Germany. So cars with German registration are insurance covered by German law. In the UK law might be different. I can not judge.

Our training is subscribed as a safety training. You should ask your UK insurance if safety trainings are covered.

I know there is a UK forum http://www.northloop.co.uk/ only covering themes concerning Nordschleife. I'm shure that insurance matters are discussed there. Every weekend at least hundered cars with UK licence plates drive on the Nordschleife. So UK drivers are the biggest foreign comunity using the track. If you are right and UK insurance does not cover Nordschleife all these people drive there on their own risk without insurance. I can not really imagine this.

Regards Oliver ;-)

Kin Mak · 18th April 2007, 23:44

A large number od U.K insurance companies now exclude the ring by name. Others exclude derestricted roads.

The worse exclusion if when they have some weird one that mentions that anything outside of "regular" use will not be covered.

That is for public days, nearly all insurance excludes closed circuit driving and driver training.

ograms · 19th April 2007, 00:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kin Mak

A large number od U.K insurance companies now exclude the ring by name. Others exclude derestricted roads.

The worse exclusion if when they have some weird one that mentions that anything outside of "regular" use will not be covered.

That is for public days, nearly all insurance excludes closed circuit driving and driver training.

So all people from the UK driving there have actually no insurance?? That means if anything happens they have to pay the damage out of their own pocket?

ograms · 19th April 2007, 00:19

I posted a question concerning UK insurance at the Nordschleife on the http://www.northloop.co.uk/ Forum. Lets see what the answer will be.

Kin Mak · 19th April 2007, 00:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by ograms

So all people from the UK driving there have actually no insurance?? That means if anything happens they have to pay the damage out of their own pocket?

Unfortunately that is the case most of the time. There are loads of stories where people crash and they cannot claim.

ograms · 19th April 2007, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kin Mak

Unfortunately that is the case most of the time. There are loads of stories where people crash and they cannot claim.

Please read, what they have written about the UK insurance at the Northloop Forum:

http://z8.invisionfree.com/Northloop...showtopic=3977

mottati · 19th April 2007, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frits

I did have some serious heating problems with my car. The oil temperature was not too high (max 125°C), but the coolant temp gauge got into the red area once (I got the warning on the dash). In fact, I could not drive one complete lap without the temp going up too high. Sometimes I managed to complete a lap without needing to slow down/cruise. Usually, I put the car in a higher gear on the long straight about halfway of the track, and let the car cool down a bit, so I could go for it again in the next section of corners.
I had this problem before, and the dealer cleaned the dirt between the radiator and the airco condenser. They told me if it wouldn't be solved, I'd probably need a new radiator. New radiator is on order now. Will be installed at the next oil service (soon). I ordered a thermostat at the same time.

Please keep us posted about the temp issues. I've had this occur on warm weather track days, for me, it's usually a steady increase in oil temp, with coolant temps following. Makes me wonder how the 'Ring taxi' did it day in day out. I know of many other M5 owners who take their cars to the track with this issue. Dinan claims their oil cooler will solve the problem, at a price.