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Germany is another country I have visited in the past but mainly by car, however this year I was determined to realize a long held ambition - namely to ride the old Nurburgrin g Nordschleife circuit now that it is open to the public. As we were staying at Simpleveld just on the Dutch side of the Dutch/German border, near to Aachen, we were only around 90mls from the Nurburgring so now was my chance. I had visited the Nurburgring many years before when the Formula 1 Grand Prix cars last raced there before it was declared too dangerous, (they have obviously never seen Irish road racing or the Isle of Man TT), and I remember the Eiffel Forest area in which the Nurburgring is situated as a beautiful area to ride.
The old Nurburgring is a fantastic circuit that truly is brilliant for bikes. It is just over 14mls long with around 73 bends, and sweeps through mainly woodland. It is not without risk however as the track is open to all, including c ars and buses, (yes there actually was a bus on the circuit as I was circulating), there are virtually no run-off areas and the track is surrounded with Armco barrier. For most however that simply adds to the experience and as long as you follow a few basic rules it has to rate as one of the best rides it is possible to have on a motorbike. You dont’t need to be on a sports bike, I did it on a Pan European, and there were even vintage bikes on the track but as the circuit is around 14mls long it never felt crowded. There are some strict rules to be observed, which in view of the nature of the track and the differing types of vehicles likely to be encountered make good sense. The main one being to keep to the right if likely to be passed so as not to obstruct faster vehicles and to overtake only on the left. There is a large notice board adjacent to the track entrance which lists the rules and you are well advised to take note of them before setting out. Once you have decided to go you simply purchase a ticket from the machine adjacent to the entrance, insert it into the auto matic barrier and you are off. A lap costs 15 Euros, (around £10.50 at the current exchange rate), but booking multiple laps reduces the overall cost. There is a good cafe at the circuit entrance and it is interesting to sit on the verandah and enjoy a coffee whilst observing some of the participants preparing to set off. I saw 2 Lamborghini Murcielago’s, a full-race Dodge Viper, multiple Porsche 911’s and Subaru Imprezza WRX’s and every type of sports bike currently on the market - it was better than the N.E.C. There are a few really tricky corners on the circuit - fortunately I had been tipped off before-hand that you know when you get to them because they will be the ones where the spectators are - and sure enough they were. Apparently all the locals know which are the corners likely to produce the most ‘offs’ and that is where they gather.
One important thing to note before setting out to the circuit, is that it is not open to the public everyday as it is often booked by manufacturers and motoring magazines for testing purposes so check-out the official Nurburgring web site below for an up to date calendar. On the way to the circuit I noticed several decent campsites and the web-sites below list several local hotels and guesthouses which should provide decent accommodation, particularly in Adenau which is literally on the edge of the circuit. So there it is - The Nurburgring - I will definitely be going back.
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