Sunday 26.06.2011 - The day before we left Stadskanaal we decided to head 375 km south, deep into Germany to ride the Nurburgring. As we were discussing it while eating in a restaurant, we spoke to an English biker couple with their 17 year old & 10 year old sons who had been to the Dutch TT at Assen. When we mentioned we had been to the Isle of Man TT, the 10 year old suddenly blurted out to Kerrie; "You're the lady I saw on TV about the Isle of Man!" Fame has followed her to Holland!

We had heard about the Nurburgring because it is the only race track in the world where you front up, pay your money and ride/drive the same track as the professionals. Amazing!


The Nurburgring is a race track complex built around the village of Nurburg in Germany. The modern race track was built in 1984, and the much longer old northern loop track was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg. It is located about 70 km (43 mile) south of Cologne. The original track was 28.2 km long and the revised version is 22.8 km long that is available for testing, racing and for the public to use today.


The modern version post 1984 also has a GP standard shorter track used for all international racing, especially Formula 1 and World Superbikes. The old track was nicknamed The Green Hell by former World Champion driver Jackie STEWART and is widely considered the toughest, most dangerous, and most demanding purpose-built racing circuit in the world.


The cost of driving a single lap of the Nurburgring is €24 (about $35AUD) for each car or motorcycle. Multi-lap tickets can be purchased for a lower per-lap price and an annual ticket with unlimited laps can be purchased for €1350.


Deaths during sanctioned racing is rare however there are around 3 or more deaths each year of private individuals who have paid there money and driven beyong either or both their limits or the limits of their vehicle. There is no speed limit on the Nurburgring.


And we were planning to ride it! Are we crazy or what?

Before leaving we checked the Nurburgring webpage to see if the track was open and found that Sunday 26.06.11 was the final day of the Nurburgring 24 hour Race which normally has around 300,000 spectators! This was great as we planned to ride the "Ring" the next day on Monday the 27.06.11 so all things being equal we should have no problems. Famous last words!

Dangerous Darren and Fabulous Phil were up for it so we booked our accommodation and headed off southbound agreeing to meet at our hotel.


Darren & Phil arrived several hours before we did, not unexpected when they cruise LEGALLY at around 180 kph (yes 180 kph and top 200 kph when they can!) on the German Autobahn. They then told us the bad news, the track was closed until Tuesday 5.30 pm for track maintenance! b*****! We all decided we couldn't hang around for an extra two days because we have to have our bikes back in the UK for return shipment home. Double b*****!

Darren & Phil then retired to the bar to drown their sorrows (poor Phil is a teetoteller and only drinks orange juice!). We decided to walk the 10 minute walk from our hotel up to the "Ring" and check it out. It is much more than just a race track having many large display halls, a major hotel and even a casino as part of the entire complex. Car manufacturers BMW, Audi, Porsche, VW, Opel and tyre companies such as Bridgestone, Dunlop and Pirelli all use the Nurburgring for testing and all permanent facilities on site. It's a huge concern with a capital H.


As it was a very warm evening we found a pub, had a good meal and washed it down with great German beer. Very small compensation for not riding the "Ring".