| Author |
Message |
Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member
Username: Miami348ts
Post Number: 2435
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 19, 2002 - 9:11 am: | |
not worth it. Just do not try to race with a Porsch on the Autobahn, it may very well be a cop!
Leave the detector home, if they see you with it they will confiscate it anyway.
Better stick to the limits. Mostly the autobahn has radar boxes with photographs in them. Mounted on the side of the road (gray boxes) or on the overhead signs (mainly going down hills with speed limits)
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Richard Nessary (Calis2k)
New member
Username: Calis2k
Post Number: 6
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 19, 2002 - 7:42 am: | |
Brief update....I've been informed that radar detectors are illegal in Germany, Switzerland etc...and that the bands are different anyway.
See you in three weeks. |
Richard Nessary (Calis2k)
New member
Username: Calis2k
Post Number: 5
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 19, 2002 - 4:09 am: | |
Alright everyone, I'm off in another 12 hours, so I'll report back upon my return on August 10.
Ross, thanks for your insights. Jens, I'd like to make my way up north, but it seems unlikely on this trip. Hopefully I'll be back in the not-too-distant future so I'll take a rain check on that Ferrari gathering at Nürburg. In any event, please email me your phone number so that if circumstances change, I can look you up.
By the way, in case anyone can respond by 11 AM PDT, would it be worthwhile (and legal) to bring a US radar detector with me?
Thanks again everyone for the good info and wishes.
- Richard |
Jack (Gilles27)
Member
Username: Gilles27
Post Number: 468
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 7:39 pm: | |
Richard, I travelled a similar route when I was in Europe several years ago. The road maps will give you a great idea of which roads provide the most fun. Lots of twists=lots of fun. Be safe and have a great time! |
Jens Haller (Jh280774)
New member
Username: Jh280774
Post Number: 26
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 4:21 pm: | |
Hi Richard,
Martin is absolutely right again with his notes about the Ring. The route from Nürburg to Stuttgart can be done in roughly 3 hours if you don�t catch any traffic! Would be nice if you go there. If so just call me and we can do a small Ferrari meeting at the track with the cars.
Con saluti cordiali,
Jens Haller |
Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member
Username: Miami348ts
Post Number: 2428
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 11:01 am: | |
Nuerburg Ring is a little off if you plan on going south. Bonn is several hours from Stuttgart, though if you get a good run you can make it quite fast.
You will not need additional insurance there as the Ring is qulified as a private road, not a race course, so your regular insurance covers it.
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ross koller (Ross)
Junior Member
Username: Ross
Post Number: 198
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 18, 2002 - 6:18 am: | |
martin�s advice is great. take note. especially about the traffic which turns the no-speed limit autobahn into a parking lot during daytime in the summer. switzerland and austria are full of speed cameras and hard-ass cops. if you get pulled over in switzerland for a high speed over the limit, and you show them a non-euro license, they will haul you off to jail and give you a big fine. so be careful. france is a little better because most of the cops are lazy and can�t be bothered. italy is the best for the same reason, plus they love cars and speed, and no cameras. but the one thing that you will really appreciate in all of these countries is the respect other drivers show for mean iron. there is a definete horsepower pecking order, so when you show up in their mirrors you don�t need to signal or flash, most of them will simply pull over and wave you on with a smile. |
Richard Nessary (Calis2k)
New member
Username: Calis2k
Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 9:46 pm: | |
Thanks for the additional information everyone. It looks like the Nurburgring is too far north for me to get to with the three short days I have. I'm going to focus on the south of Germany, Switzerland, and maybe Austria. Besides, Ruschenberg's insurance may not cover their cars on a race track. I'll have to ask about that.
But knowing that I can drive on the Nurburgring leads me to believe I'll be back again!
hhmmm....I seem to recall that Ruschenberg has an F40....assuming the insurance issues could be worked out........<grin>
Richard |
Mark Collins (Markcollins)
New member
Username: Markcollins
Post Number: 15
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 4:25 pm: | |
Sorry
costs 12 euros per lap for single lap tickets or I think you can buy multilap tickets for a discount
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Mark Collins (Markcollins)
New member
Username: Markcollins
Post Number: 14
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 4:21 pm: | |
Schedule for the public days for the Nurburgring is at the link below
http://nuerburgring.de/angebote/sf_n_q3.htm
When driving on the unrestricted Autobahns be aware that they often have spped restrictions at each Junction. The Germans have a habit of driving flat out until the limit then braking suddenly and observing the speed limit!
Lastly try and find some tunnels, loads in Switzerland on the A2 (I think) from Basle to Luzern including one that is 20km's long, drop the windows/ roof down two or three gears and drop back from the car in front then go as hard as you can, you'll have a smile on your face for a week |
Terry Springer (Tspringer)
Junior Member
Username: Tspringer
Post Number: 138
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 3:11 pm: | |
You can indeed just show up and do a few laps of the Nurburgring... IF the track is open to the public on the day you show up. Its not open every day and its not on any set schedule. Very often the track is rented out to a club, manufacturer or is being used for an actual race. Dont count on getting on the track if you just show up. I have a friend who was sorely disappointed... |
David White (Dwhite)
New member
Username: Dwhite
Post Number: 18
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 3:01 pm: | |
Thank you. Sorry, I missed that. |
Richard Nessary (Calis2k)
New member
Username: Calis2k
Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 2:53 pm: | |
Dave, here's a link to the thread, which includes a current price list.
http://server.ferrarichat.com/~ferrari/ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/21/8064.html
Richard |
TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member
Username: Tifosi
Post Number: 1056
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 2:38 pm: | |
dave
These guys have a website - there was a thread on it recently |
David White (Dwhite)
New member
Username: Dwhite
Post Number: 16
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 2:35 pm: | |
I know this question is a little tasteless. How much is it to rent a 355 for 3 days?
I see these CA rental companies renting exotics for $3K for a weekend. |
TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member
Username: Tifosi
Post Number: 1054
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 2:18 pm: | |
I think you can just show up and do just a few laps |
Richard Nessary (Calis2k)
New member
Username: Calis2k
Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 1:22 pm: | |
Martin, thanks very much for the recommendations! I've never driven in Europe and I'll definitely take my time getting comfortable before I start to push it. Also, I think this will be the fastest car I've ever driven for an extended period of time. Hopefully it won't take too long to acclimate, as I suspect that right pedal will be hard to ignore.
William, I'd LOVE to drive on the Nurburgring one of these days, but that may have to wait for another trip as I expect you can't just show up and do a few laps!
I'll certainly post my experiences when I return, but it will be more than a few days as I don't return until August 10. While I only have a few days in Germany/Switzerland, I'll also be in the U.K., Czech Rep, Netherlands, and possibly Portugal :-)
Thanks again for the feedback -- this is a great board.
Cheers.
Richard |
wm hart (Whart)
Member
Username: Whart
Post Number: 403
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 9:09 am: | |
Did i hear the word "Nurburgring"? |
Mitchel DeFrancis (4re308)
Member
Username: 4re308
Post Number: 588
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 8:06 am: | |
That is great information Martin! I remember when I was on my way to Belgium, we were passed SO fast by a red Testarossa, that my parents were afraid to drive any further, I had to drive! |
Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member
Username: Miami348ts
Post Number: 2417
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 7:57 am: | |
Richard,
good deal.
My first recommendation is, get a feel for the Autobahn before you start getting to speeds. People that do not learn how to drive fast have a mis conception of speed and mijudge, which usually ends up fatal. As a German born holding a German drivers license we have to have mandatory Autobahn time before we can even do our tests. especially at night the UAtobahn is tricky. No lights and it is all you and your skills.
With all respect, 99.9% of american drivers are way over their heads when driving in Europe at a high speed.
2. the left lane is a strickt PASSING lane. You go in and out of that lane frequently to pass cars in front of you. No passing on the right!!! EVER! Nobody expects you to do that and nobody looks when pulling back right. When you see a vehicle approaching in your rear view mirrow (use it constantly) pull out of your lane into the next right and give way. twio little dots can become FAST two bright lights forcing the other driver to brake. Not very nice!
There is a stretch of Autobahn between Stuttgart and Munich that does not have a lot of traffic. This is a great FAST run. No speed limits for the most part. You can easily bring your car up to max speed and hold it for a minute or two.
Beware of trucks. They can pull out and will pull out. Bastards.
Beware of yellow license plates, these are the Dutch on their way South. Most of them pulling little traillers with campers that look like turtle shells. These guys have no respect for speed and will pull out as well in their quest to head south.
Your braking distance increases unproportionately when driving faster! Your vision decreases (tunnel vision syndrom)
I am sure the Rauschenbergs can recommend some great routs to take. Maybe hold off on your high speed quest till the last day. Preferably not a weekend or Friday.
The reason I am writing you this is, I want you to post here in a few days how your vacation was and how much fun you had. Stay alive.
I would say be as alert on the UAtobahn as you would be driving 120 Mph on the INterstate, trying to spot the dumb drivers and the HP.
Have fun! |
Richard Nessary (Calis2k)
New member
Username: Calis2k
Post Number: 1
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 16, 2002 - 9:39 pm: | |
Well, I want to thank the board members for your help and informative posts and recommendations. I've lurked here for some time and decided to check the board before I left for a European vacation this week. I'm about a year or two away from buying a Ferrari 355 Spider and I thought it would be great to rent one while in Europe. Based on good reviews in several threads on this board, I contacted the folks at Scuderia von Ruschenberg. They have been very courteous and professional thus far, and I'm finalizing the rental of a 1997 or '98 355 Spider for three days next week in southern Germany (that's all the time I'll have unfortunately). I'm REALLY looking forward to it!
So here's the question, does anyone who has done this before have any suggestions/recommendations (e.g. regarding routes to take, places to stay along the way, things to do or avoid or be cautious of)? I'll be in Tubingen (near Stuttgart) for delivery and will probably be driving in the southern portion of Germany and Switzerland according to the preliminary recommendations of Jay at Ruschenberg. I would like to do some high speed Autobahn, but really prefer the twisties in the hills/mountains. I will be traveling alone and the sole purpose is to bond with one of God's (and Maranello's) finest creations.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
Richard |