Nürburgring Retro Run

[mike174]

Hi all, Happy New Year! The Nürburgring retro run is an amazing chance to take your classic or retro car on a run to the legendary Nürburgring for a week with fellow retro and classic car owners. The run starts on 5th September we travel to Dover in convoy and get the ferry to Dunkirk, and then drive down in several small convoys to our campsite next to the Nürburgring where we stay for the week and split our time between spectating and lapping, visiting the local area and drinks and campfire stories. At the end of the week we then convoy back to Dunkirk for our ferry home after an amazing week. For more information check out the dedicated forum www.retrorun.co.uk

Mike

[Kam]

I've been a few times but went in 2010 with Mike and the 'crew' and would wholeheartedly recommend it, I actually go more for the banter than the track itself but that just goes to show what the crowd is like.......

If you got a classic mini you already qualify, if you got a 'retro' car then check the webby to see if your car is good enough :p

[InstantCustard]

I quite fancy it, me and my friend were planning a trip to the Nurburgring when the Mini's finished, can't guarentee I'll be ready though.
When is the cut-off for entry's?

[mike174]

at the moment there isnt a cut off as we havent 100% decided the date but ill keep this thread updated with more info sign up to the forum and say hello and vote on the polls on there to have your say on dates :)

Mike

[benh]

Providing dates dont clash with my shift pattern im in, was planning to take it up in the first week of September but the idea of a bunch of people going takes the pressure/worries of going solo!

[mike174]

Yeah its a great run and people help if you have an issue and lend you tools etc etc

Dates now up on retrorun.co.uk

[benh]

Cheers Mike all booked :)
cannnnnnnnnnnnnnt wait!!!!

[mike174]

me neither! just need to get the car on the road now

[ad53ggz]

YEY! another 16v mini going, i plan to take my mini if not my reserve is my eunos... and she is definitely making a bid for it recently as im having more and more enjoyment driving her. Difficult decisions to be made!

[Kam]

You'll get more respect turning up in a mini, not just from me but everyone on the run, everyone whos out there, everyone in europe and everyone from the whole wide world and even beyond

You do the maths :p

[charlie_t]

last time i did this, i spent half the trip fixing peaching mini's!
tempted to again but i'm hiding my tool kit if i do

[ad53ggz]

You'll get more respect turning up in a mini, not just from me but everyone on the run, everyone whos out there, everyone in europe and everyone from the whole wide world and even beyond

You do the maths :p

Ha ha ha i like this! :p

Will drive the mini about a bit and see how she is hopefully get a change to iron out some of the quirks in it. Mini is preference... just the eunos has some creature comforts!

[Kam]

Creature comforts? :shock:

You don't need heated seats or retractable mirrors or a heads up display on your windscreen to enjoy driving a car, not sure if you have been out there but classic cars get more kudos whichever way you turn

There will probably be another mx-5 on the run but these will just get you a free haircut somewhere and no kudos :lol:

[ad53ggz]

ha ha no by creature comforts i meant, a heater, carpet sound deading! Been adding all these into the mini but yet to see if they have paid off. If i took the mini in its old state i would have been deaf long before i even go to brands! oh does the ring have a noise limit?

[Kam]

Believe it or not yeah they got noise limits, the locals had been complaining so they got some detectors dotted around couple of years back, mainly by the residential areas like breidscheid/adenau half way round where you can turn off the circuit for a breather........or exchange insurance details :rolleyes:

Don't worry though, unless yours sticks out and sounds like a daytona car while your waiting amongst all the cars at the barriers then you'll be fine

They mainly go on looks, if your car looks like sh!t and immensely unsafe and also looks like sh!t then you'll get pulled to one side, which basically means you can't play

[benh]

I think Weve got good numbers already for this.
Im going to head back a day early because iv got a crappy nightshift to do but wanted to swing by into bruges aswell so looks like my return trips going to be a lonely one! Im with the g/f but thats why i have a stripped racer so we cant talk to each other !

I was saying to Matt that i only have a 19ltr fuel tank and im on bike carbs so do they have a few petrol stations on the ring! Im gonna sell that one and fit a newun, Otherwise il spend the trip plugged into a petrol station.

[ad53ggz]

I think Weve got good numbers already for this.
Im going to head back a day early because iv got a crappy nightshift to do but wanted to swing by into bruges aswell so looks like my return trips going to be a lonely one! Im with the g/f but thats why i have a stripped racer so we cant talk to each other !

I was saying to Matt that i only have a 19ltr fuel tank and im on bike carbs so do they have a few petrol stations on the ring! Im gonna sell that one and fit a newun, Otherwise il spend the trip plugged into a petrol station.


I like this!

[Kam]

I was saying to Matt that i only have a 19ltr fuel tank and im on bike carbs so do they have a few petrol stations on the ring! Im gonna sell that one and fit a newun, Otherwise il spend the trip plugged into a petrol station.

With a 1275 and a stage three kit and a standard mini tank (7.5 gallons??) I brimmed it at dover and that got me to belgium, brimmed it again and that got me to the 'ring

This was a solo trip I done so no convoy, nailed it pretty much all the way doing 80 to three figures constant between stops (think it was kmh officer honestly ;) ) watching petrol needle moving kinda stuff driving......

Point is there was more than enough pit stops available along the way and out there to get you out of trouble, so my science theory is if you nail it you use more fuel :p

But, as I found out last time with the 1.6, science albeit expensive can be fun aswell on the motorways, especially when your mini has a roof rack and your making range rovers move over! pmsl

[benh]

But, as I found out last time with the 1.6, science albeit expensive can be fun aswell on the motorways, especially when your mini has a roof rack and your making range rovers move over! pmsl

Haha yeh, i bet they had to take a double take to see you whizzing past! Solo trip all that distance, im worried that iv gotta do the same in sept :(

Iv followed the route on google maps and it looks alright, alot of straight long roads i noticed!

[Kam]

Take a nice comfy cushion, roads in belgium near the spa track are utter diabolical, france and germini are as smooth as ice

It was a lonely trip, bit scary and errrm quiet :lol: but still huge fun, people on european roads love the mini :cool: even when you fly past them :D

[racingmason]

Hi guys
Has the date been set for the trip yet
Cheers Lee

[mike174]

yep cant remember off the top of my head but its early september details are on retrorun.co.uk

Mike

[mike174]

1. How much does it cost?

The cost is a hard thing to say as it is different for everyone depending on their car. In a mini leaving with a full tank if fuel you will probably need to stop twice for fuel on the way there but depends on your car and your driving. The camping will cost 12 euros per day (not per night) and a drivers run pack is £30, a passenger run pack is £20. Depending on when you book your ferry it will be approximately £70 then the rest is spending money for food drink and laps.

2. What do I get in my run pack?

In an official runner drivers pack you get:
A T-shirt,
Run stickers,
2 magnetic (or if you require different please let us know) door plaques,
A contribution to the fire wood for the camp site and a donation to Macmillan cancer support.

A passenger run pack gets:
A T-shirt,
A contribution to the fire wood and a donation to Macmillan cancer support.

3. When is it?

The official run starts on Wednesday 5th September 2012 and returns Tuesday 11th September 2012.
However, a few runners (including some of the staff) are opting to stay in the hotel Etap in Charleroi on the night of the 11th and will be returning on the 12th. You need to decide whether you want to do this, or whether you want to drive all the way back from the campsite-Dunkirk-Ferry-home in one day. Decide this before you book your ferries if you can.

4. Am I retro?

Your car is classed as retro if it is any model of classic mini or "any mark of car, which was first released pre-1990". So this means that if your model of car was first made pre 1990, then your car is in. We can make exceptions for certain marks of cars.

5. I Like Cheese!

6. Will my car make it to Germany?

Most people agree that if your car is well maintained and in good order and used regularly then you shouldnt have any issues but most people take tools and you can get most spares you need there including mini parts from the local mini garage.

7. How do I book?
Firstly you need to fill out the application form found here: http://www.forums.retrorun.co.uk/Blah.pl?v-download/f-bh2nretro2012_application_form_1957_3558.pdf/ then you need to send your payment of £30 for the drivers run pack and £20 per passenger run pack to payments@retrorun.co.uk

8. How do I book my ferry?

You need to book your ferry with Norfolkline for 10:00 on 5th September from Dover to Dunkirk and depending on if you are staying an extra day and splitting the journey back either 14:01 on 11th September or 12:01 on 12th September. Also if you book through http://www.quidco.com you can get 7% cashback.
Retrorun FAQ

9. What do I need to drive through Europe?

You will need a high-vis for every one in the car (kept inside the car not in the boot at all times), Beam deflectors, a first aid kit, all of the documents for you and your car (passport, driving licence, MOT, insurance valid until you get home), a warning triangle. You also need to take out European Breakdown cover for the trip.

[the matt]

Hiya, I didn't know this was up on here, so sorry for not responding. >_<

Email me on matt@retrorun.co.uk if you're interested. I'd love a load of 16v Minis on the run this year guys. We're looking like we are going to get a good few Minis this year TBH. All good!

Just need to get myself a second "eco-map" for the journey over there and add a switch for the ECU and I'm all good....apart from my new found oil leak and my brake overhaul that need sorting! :D

[mike174]

Hi Just a bump to say get signed up for the run now! looks like we will be having a lot of minis this year although obviously we still want more!

So far the runners are :
Kam (2.0 Honda VTEC Mini)
Mike174 (1.4 Rover K-series Clubby) with passenger
The Matt ™ (1.6 Vauxhall 16V Mini) with passenger
Lemmingzappa (Pug 205 GTi)
B-Shaw
Ben H (205 Rallye)
Rickmercs (1970 Cooper S)
Tahiti Joe (1993 Mini 1275)
Stocky (Mini)
Ben S (Mini Cooper)
MinikidX14© (Nova)



"Tag-alongs" (that I know of so far)
Lise
Mike's mate with a Mondeo
Val (Clio 182)
Sam H (205)
Sam S (205)
AaronD (Mini or Eunos)

Plus several more runners yet to sign up....

So now is the time to sign up ready to join us in September! Any questions just ask us.

Mike

[the matt]

Another bump, it's looking good for Minis this year. We've got about 15 cars signed up so far (around 10 of them are minis from memory) and there's talk of a few more Minis too.

The more 16v Minis, the better. So far off here we've got:
Kam
AaronD (AD53GGZ)
Mike174
Benh (when he signs up)
The Matt (tm)

Would love it if more of you guys could sign up and show those German cars some British grit (OK, maybe not all with British engines).

[2lrMiniVan]

what about a good old Rover p6 3500 (v8)
would love to go but not sure if the campsite will still be running when i get back seeing as we still very busy that time of year.

[the matt]

P6 would be cool. Yeah. If you can make it, that would be a great addition to the run...kinda like an uncle to all the Minis! :D

[2lrMiniVan]

P6 would be cool. Yeah. If you can make it, that would be a great addition to the run...kinda like an uncle to all the Minis! :D

would be good will have to ask my dad if i can take it and then theres the fuel bill !!!!

[the matt]

Yeah. 20mpg??

Take passengers, split fuel and ferry costs ;)

[jamesfawcett]

ill come along in my mini if all these 16vminis are going :)

[eeae6000]

im thinking about meeting up with you guys, i live in Germany, about 2 hours from the ring

[wilp99]

i reeeaaalllly want to go. ill see if i can get a few peeps together from base.

[mike174]

Do it!

[the matt]

Jimbo....do it! There are loads of Minis this year that are talking of coming.

It would be great for some German Mini owners to meet us there too. You'd be more than welcome to meet us out there :D

[the matt]

Hi guys, quick reminder. We're still taking applications, but only until the end of May. We reeeeeeeeeeeally want more runners. We've got 22 so far, with a good few Minis. Need some tasty valvers coming along though! :D

[ardonfast]

would be good will have to ask my dad if i can take it and then theres the fuel bill !!!!

did your old man say you could? ther was talk of paying pasengers, ile do that once i work out half of 20 m,p,g to germany, i live in your mannor.??

[2lrMiniVan]

not iven thought about it been so busy with work
will give it some more thought.
ps what route do people take so i can try and work out the mpg

cheers
Andy

[the matt]

It's E42 really. Then there's a shortcut through a hilly national park near Vervier/ Eupen. Think it's around 450km from memory.

[2lrMiniVan]

just did a quick check on google maps its going to be £181 each way !!!

[the matt]

The recent trend in Euro exchange rate could help us BIG time this year. It's already 10% better than it was this time last year. :D

[ardonfast]

just did a quick check on google maps its going to be £181 each way !!!

181 each ? whats the date? anyothers on root that wanna spend 4 days together in a classic car? warning i have night mares about Sex and screem,lol:D

[2lrMiniVan]

no all together if u have night mares about sex and scream u can stay behind lol
was talking to my dad about it today and he not sure !! will keep working on him to let me take it.

[ardonfast]

lol tell him wed will give it a service and if he,s lucky it will return with a boot full of gold bars,,o sorry rong film,

[wilp99]

OK im def going. and ill prolly have 1 or 2 more valver's coming with us.

[mike174]

fantastic! hopefully ill have my k series clubman sorted if not i need to sort another car in time lol

[eeae6000]

OK im def going. and ill prolly have 1 or 2 more valver's coming with us.

ill be meeting up also!!

[the matt]

Brilliant news!

Please feel free to PM me or Mike with any questions just in case we miss anything on this thread.

The "closing date" for applications is the end of May, but I can extend that for a short while as we'd love to get a load of 16V Minis come along! :D

[wilp99]

yeah, im still trying to get 2 more from the other base to come. ill def let you know.

[the matt]

I'm confused about who's doing the whole trip and who's meeting us there! lol

If anyone wants a full run pack (to be an official runner) there's an application form on the retrorun.co.uk site. I'll need one of those so I can do sticker packs, door plaques and T-shirts for you.

If anyone's meeting us in Germany, then that's cool too. If you want some T-shirts or whatever then let me know. We'll be getting there at around 7-8pm on the 5th, pitching up and then getting beers.....join in! :D

[eeae6000]

id like some stickers and a shirt, I'm meeting you guys

[the matt]

That's no problem then. If you're meeting us in Germany and intend to stay for the week, I could do you a passenger pack. That way, you'll get a T-shirt, £5 towards firewood at the campsite and £5 for Macmillan cancer support. That's £20 and I'll throw in some window stickers for free. :D

If you want to pay in Euros, that's fine, or paypal, or whatever. We can just organise that closer to the time buddy.

[wilp99]

our group will be joining the run.. prolly from dover.

[eeae6000]

that sounds good, i take it we are camping?

[wilp99]

yep.. roughing it.. well what the airforce calls roughing it.

[the matt]

If you're going to come along, it'd be great if you could join us at Buckmore circuit. We're only doing a parade lap or two, but it's going to be magazine featured so the more Minis the merrier.

[mike174]

what he said ^ its not far from Dover anyway and i believe a lot of people are staying at the Dartford travel lodge the night before... If you havent already sign up on the forum at www.retrorun.co.uk

[the matt]

In fact. Buckmore is on the way to Dover from Lakenheath. Win!