I'm the perfect person to introduce you.
I've attended it from 2003 on.
First big big plus is the old mighty Ring. You can camp whereever you want. No need to preorder anything. Choose your favourite track section (Wippermann for me) and look for a nice spot in the woods. This gives you shelter from sun or rain and not everybody walks through your camp. I don't want to camp right at the track. I rather walk half a minute.
Of course some places get crowded early (Brünnchen, Hatzenbach, Adenauer Forst, Schwalbenschwanz), others you can squeeze a car and a tent in even on friday evening (Wippermann up to Hohe Acht).
In 2004 with the Works-BMW and Opels and Audis there was a record attendance of 230.000 people. So we needed as long to get from Wippermann to the road as from the road home (1:15h)
Be aware that everything is improvised. You camp in a nature preservation area that is only opened for the race week. Campsites open Monday 0800am and the first come there or illegaly on sunday night.
Even though you're in the Eifel forests the toilets are ok. Long lines of Dixi huts cleaned regulary and 1000 litres fresh water tank. But no pumps etc, you have to carry it in cans.
The sticker says "no drinking water" but we made coffee from it for 3 years and I'm still healthy.
But don't expect any showers. Improvise, like a garden shower or sth. like that or drive to a swimming pool
Track action begins on wednesday with a corso of the competitors (volunatry basis) around the whole track. At Wippermann you have a "Scrutineering" organized by some fans
Of course the top-stars don't take their car along there, but Dirk and Jörg Müller made the end of the corso last year in a road going M3 and burnt some rubber, talked to the fans.
It's a cool atmosphere and some crazy people around. Imagine a 2 litre Vauxhall mounted on a little trailer with no exhaust system at all
Or a go-kart powered by a GSX-R engine. Wheelspin in 5th gear
On thursday then the real track action begins with practice of the supporting races. Only minor stuff, but watch out for the youngtimer trophy. Some sweet RSR's and Muscle cars.
On friday you'll have 6 hours of qualifying for the 24hrs. From 1000-1200 and from 1900-2300
Saturday some supports and traditionally the Nurby 24 starts at
1500Depending where you are take earplugs with you if you want to catch some sleep. Some guys come with a 7.5t truck just for the music
Also lots of lighting and fireworks through the whole week.
The maximum allowed vehicle size is 7.5 tons truck!
The reason I don't go this year and made the decision for LM with 30 days to go is the pricing.
Now paddock is included no matter if you want or not - imagine getting from the very far side into the paddock. There is a bus transfer for free, but it's a long queue always and takes ages as they drive around the whole circuit.
And this years field is weak. So 56€ for the entry is just too much.
Camping cost depend on your day of arrival. From 55€ on monday it gets cheaper during the week. Wednesday (when you should arrive) is 35€ I think
You also have to pay a 5€ deposit for garbage bags. Take them to the exit when you leave and you'll get it back. And please be tidy. The way we behave up there in the woods is the decider whether the special permitment is given or not as it is a nature preservation area!
Shopping can be done in the town of Adenau. Don't expect fair prices for beer but at least they have everything you need in stock - which means beer, meat, coal and uuum - BEER
There are 2 or 3 supermarkets at one place as well as a refuelling station. Another one is at the long straight (döttinger Höhe). Euro 95 is between 1.30 and 1.35 € atm
But you better bring an enduro bike or a quad with you as it can get quite difficult to get your car out and especially in again
But they have to be road legal. Police checks! Always wear a helmet on motorbikes and Quads also!!! Lots of police patrolling!!!
But for sure you can show off your Enduro skills as long as the bike is legal and you wear a helmet!
Pikeys is not much a problem there. I only heard from a lost cool-box. At us there was never ever anything nicked even though the coffeemachine was in our pavillon all the time.
But there's always a hunt for flags. We've lost one Koni and a BMW
But no real values were nicked
And please don't expect too many racefans there. Most visitors are locals having a week of party there. Getting to the track for the start should be 1,5hrs before
And the cars are very quiet as the tracks leads through and past towns and people who moved there complained.
102dB(A) is the limit for the EX-1 class (ex-Works cars up to 2004)
A Porsche GT3 RSR - remember the Le Mans sound of them - trompets the wonderful flat-6 sound with 98dB(A) out which is basically the sound of a good road going one.
I won't go there anymore - may be one more time when it does not collide with Le Mans so that I make 4 24hrs races in a year
3 was my record last year (Ring, Spa, Zolder)
Still missing on my list: Daytona, Sebring and PLM - but hey, I'm just 21
