Useful info for Ring Trip go'ers

[devonutopia]

I have started this thread (as opposed to PMs) to also gather other people's ideas for the thread. I'm just going to bullet point the times, etc - Not strict, but general.

• Destination: "Gunderath" in Germany. No need for anything more specific as it's a tiny place, with a massive center parcs!
• A minority are on the 4am ferry (i.e me and Will I think) We will be waiting on the other side (just outside the port) until 10am when the majority on the 8am one lands. (add one hour for european times of course)
• Leaving Dunkerque at 11am. Aim to stop for lunch at 1 where we will hopefully be around Liege
• Liege to Gunderath should only be 2 to 2.5 hours.
• Arrive Center Parcs and unpack / settle in.
• Track opens at 6 until 7.30. I'm happy enough to not go, but if the weather is good then I think we could all go and see what the track is about. Otherwise it's time to grab some food on site, and get in the bar!
• Track opens 8am, until 7.30pm over the next two days. Itinerary is flexible but usual plan is to go right there, park in overflow carpark, grab some brekkers in the cafe, then as and when - can go out, drive around. Lunch is the same, although the sausage snack place down the road is good for lunch!
• Evening meals and drinks in the center parcs on both nights.
• Return leg, I believe most are booked on the 4pm (I'm on 6pm but aiming for same ferry) - Fairly leisurely start as journey is only around 5 hours tops - should be no rush hour, so aim is to leave at 9am ish and allow some good time for a lunchbreak, and possibly stocking up on fags/booze where applicable
• Arrive UK and disperse.

Some points of note:

• I have the Nurburgring "favourite viewing points" on my PC which I shall be uploading to my satnav. Useful for those who fancy going around to watch (I know I will as 15 laps only takes so long!) MSN me if you would like this file (very small - for TOMTOM only to my knowledge)
• Take your E111 card - If you've not got one I advise applying right now.
• FOR DRIVERS: Bring your V5, insurance and drivers license.
• Obviously everyone bring your PASSPORT!
• Ensure car has a warning triangle and first aid kit in it. Every person in each car needs a hi-viz jacket too.
• Please everyone bring walkie talkies! So useful!

People can add points below - especially those coming who fancy putting in ideas not mentioned above. This trip isn't a massive organised "we WILL be HERE at THIS time" and is aimed at flexibility for all involved.

I will be providing everyone with a list of all people going with mobile numbers. This is mainly so people can contact one another when separated. It will have the car details as well. This could be important as only 2 keys are issued for each cabin, yet 8 people in each one.

[Babs]

It's my birthday on the Sunday

[devonutopia]

Originally Posted by Babs

It's my birthday on the Sunday

Something to add in then:-

• Beers on Sunday night are on Babs!

[Babs]

Pfft

[Blade404]

Sounds good... I've booked the ferry from Hull to Rotterdam on the Friday night so I'll either meet up with you enroute to Gunderath or at centre parcs it's self

[devonutopia]

Is Liege en-route from Rotterdam to Gunderath?

I think if we says meet at Gunderath at 4pm, that will be reasonable.

[Blade404]

Looking on Google maps Liege a bit of a detour... Aachen would be a easier.

4pm is easily achievable from Rotterdam, Google's estimate is 3 and a half hours and should be getting off the ferry at about 8am.

[devonutopia]

Originally Posted by Blade404

Looking on Google maps Liege a bit of a detour... Aachen would be a easier.

4pm is easily achievable from Rotterdam, Google's estimate is 3 and a half hours and should be getting off the ferry at about 8am.

We'll only be leaving Dunkerque at 11am EU time, so you'll have a fair headstart. We won't be touching Aachen. The idea is to cut south after Liege down the E42, and then the sat-nav will be needed to find the best way to Gunderath as it's a little cross country - no decent autobahn going that way unless we go way south. Scenic route.

As for meeting, I would say first services on the E42 after heading south off the E40 (I guess we'll be coming from opposite directions )

[Blade404]

That route would involve me going Netherlands, Belgium, Germany... think I stick with Netherlands - Germany

There looks like some interesting roads off the E31

EDIT: Seen a road that takes me right across the Ring

[devonutopia]

Originally Posted by Blade404

EDIT: Seen a road that takes me right across the Ring

We go south of the Ring first.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by devonutopia

We'll only be leaving Dunkerque at 11am EU time, so you'll have a fair headstart. We won't be touching Aachen. The idea is to cut south after Liege down the E42, and then the sat-nav will be needed to find the best way to Gunderath as it's a little cross country - no decent autobahn going that way unless we go way south. Scenic route.

As for meeting, I would say first services on the E42 after heading south off the E40 (I guess we'll be coming from opposite directions )

I'm pretty sure that there are no services on the E42, well not from where you pick it up from the E40 anyway. The E42 takes you straight onto the B410 which takes you direct to Kelberg, which is quite near to Centre Parks. Gerolstein is the first place on the B410 where there is somewhere obvious to stop and meet....fuel station on the right and a McDonalds on the left.

Lance

[devonutopia]

Originally Posted by Lance

I'm pretty sure that there are no services on the E42, well not from where you pick it up from the E40 anyway. The E42 takes you straight onto the B410 which takes you direct to Kelberg, which is quite near to Centre Parks. Gerolstein is the first place on the B410 where there is somewhere obvious to stop and meet....fuel station on the right and a McDonalds on the left.

Lance

Thanks for the info. I think in the end we will just agree to get there for 4(ish) and the contingent leaving Dunkerque will get something to eat around Liege. On a Saturday morning/lunchtime, I would hope the roads to the Ring would be relatively quiet compared to a weekday.

[VeeKar]

Dont know the route but we'll have sat nav in time for trip (just waiting for an sd card to be delivered) so I'm thinking 'can we borrow a walkie talkie off of someone' seen as they seem to come in packs of 2 (guess its easier that way )
Or does everybody have sat nav these days?
Be useful to know the percentage of 'navvers' vs 'walkies' in't convoy.

P.S. cant wait for this

[devonutopia]

I'm a navver and a walkie.

Walkie is useful to let everyone know when we plan to get off the motorway to eat / stop for fuel etc.

I have two so have one spare, but it would be ideal if at least half can bring two, therefore we have loads. Spare batteries too.

[VeeKar]

Originally Posted by devonutopia

I'm a navver and a walkie.

Walkie is useful to let everyone know when we plan to get off the motorway to eat / stop for fuel etc.

I have two so have one spare, but it would be ideal if at least half can bring two, therefore we have loads. Spare batteries too.

OK see what can do, hopefully bring Walkies aswell

[Lance]

Originally Posted by devonutopia

Thanks for the info. I think in the end we will just agree to get there for 4(ish) and the contingent leaving Dunkerque will get something to eat around Liege. On a Saturday morning/lunchtime, I would hope the roads to the Ring would be relatively quiet compared to a weekday.

Yep, traffic should be a lot lighter.

The place things usually go wrong is Brussels........as long as your group stick to the E40 all should be well....note though that in Belgium they call Liege-Luik and there is a point where only that spelling is used and from brussels you'll be looking for 'E40 to Luik' signs.

Cheers
Lance

[oilburninnut]

i'll be using the force to get there if i lose the convoyits never failed me yet

[Tigger_1979]

WARNING anyone insured with PRIVILEGE is not insured to drive on German Roads with no speed limit.

I have just come off a long phone call with Privilege and the women on the phone has told me I am not insured to drive any unrestriced roads in Germany, This means that last year driving too and from Prague I was not insured on those roads
She then went on to tell me that everyone who uses Euro cover in Germany is not covered on those roads because Privilege only cover Roads with speed limits.

[Blade404]

Surely she must mean not insured for unrestricted toll roads?

[Tigger_1979]

Nope she specifically said that all Motorways in Germany with no speed limit on them is not insured and she also told me that all customers would find out with an Atlas which roads they can't drive.