the worst car on the 'Ring

[LeonOfTheDead]

hi everyone, this is my first thread, so, be gentle...
i'm preparing me and a friend of mine, my co-driver, to my first trip (from italy) and laps on the green hell, but, of course, i DO NOT possess a supercar, but i also DO believe i don't need a supercar to crash myself at the first bend.
i was just wondering about the faces of the people in the paddock looking at my car (well, let's say, my mom's car......... ).
the car is...well...here we go...a fiat stilo.
diesel
ok, ok, stop laughing at me !
it's not my fault, i was 18 and very stupid when we, no, THEY bought it.
now, what about you, or about what you've seen at your last ring-day, and that you wouldn't like to see again there???

[NSXType-R]

That's not the worst car on the 'Ring at all.

I've seen tour buses on the live webcam that they run there.

Believe me, I doubt that your Fiat will set a record on par with a bus.

Anyway, any track day is not covered by insurance, so you be careful out there.

But, also, remember to have fun.

Talking about track days, I stink which is why I'm thinking about autocrosses to improve my crappy driving.

[kingofthering]

It's not bad. As NSXType-R said, there are cars several times worse than yours there.

Top Gear actually took a Ford Transit around the Nuerburgring once.

[magracer]

If you are planning to go to the ring you should read this (if you haven't):

Ben Lovejoy's Nurburgring Nordschleife website

But particularly this...

Ben Lovejoy

Read carefully the armco replacment prices, the recovery truck fee and the road closure fee. Your insurance (meaning your mom's) will not cover any of it and probably, neither your crash, given it was at a "track". So please, keep the shiny side up, and all the shiny pieces, well, shiny!!!

Once you have considered all the risks, have a blast!

[henk4]

what ever you do, the point is not that you have to look for the worst car on the ring, but you have to pay particular attention to the worst drivers there, and many are competing for that distinction, in particular bike riders.

Be aware that you are NOT insured when covering a lap there.!!!

[drakkie]

Believe me, a Suzuki Alto is waaaay worse Been there, done that. Following a buddy in his Toyota Starlet 1.1. Great fun.

Make sure to really check your mirrors well. Move out of the way for anything really faster and take good care. I's better to brake earlier for a turn and go too slow, than to crash off.

[LeonOfTheDead]

good advices, i've already check my insurance, and, abviously, it doesn't even know what nurburgring is. i'm pretty confidente that the understeer and the brakes of the car will prevent my to do anything too much stupid, but, as an italian tradition, i'm touching my right ball, who knows...
the biggest problem will be as HELK4 said stupid drivers who drive too fast for them , and for my mirrors, but i will pay a lot of attention.
actually, i was thinking about seating my friend looking back, so to scream "fast 911 turbo at 11 o'clock!"

[mamagin]

As far as insurance goes; Nürburgring is not a racetrack but a public road. So unless Nürburgring is actually mentioned in your papers, you should be fine. My brother and I crashed our Golf GTI a few years ago and the insurance payed everything - even a rental car while a local garage fixed our car.

Check your papers or/and contact your insurance company before you do anything, anyways.

In any case, I advise you not to crash there anyway;-)

Good luck and have fun!

[McReis]

Being such a wonderful track in every sense, you don't need to go at ten tenths to have fun. You don't even need to push the engine or the brakes too far. Just rely on the torque and drive at speeds that allow you to draw perfect lines (always with an eye on the mirror). Doing good lines at modest speeds is much less frustrating than going fast and struggling to keep the car on the road.
The Stilo JTD is a fairly decent car. Keep in mind that a common road car is not meant to perform well on track.
Enjoy your time there with a defensive attitude.

[LeonOfTheDead]

in your opinion, should i change my brake pads? the car has been fully check a couple of weeks ago, the tyres has a 10.000 km life, and i have no problems with the engine up to now. i hope it will be ok for some laps, a think no more than 4.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

in your opinion, should i change my brake pads? the car has been fully check a couple of weeks ago, the tyres has a 10.000 km life, and i have no problems with the engine up to now. i hope it will be ok for some laps, a think no more than 4.

if you don't know what your brakepads do under more heavy conditions, you might as well don't try to break the lap record on this notoriously difficult track... Just enjoy the drive and don't try to be .....(your favourite racing driver)

[LeonOfTheDead]

i had have some "racing expercience" with the car and its breaks, something called "understeer" and "fadding", but nothing special, it seems the stilo is actually a very good car... let me explain.

the target for this car is, well, my mom and nothing more, maybe some white collar boy whitout a big taste for as regards car...
so, you are right thinking that their driving ability are the same of their taste...
so, a car which understeer if you are too fast but which not oversteer even releasing the accelerator in a bend and breaking at the same time is safer, and a car with breaks not so strong, but with a gradual loss of performance is again safer, at least for my mom.

another "active security system" are the tyres, dunlop i guess: they scream, all the time, but at least 20 kmh before the grip starts to leave the company.

[drakkie]

Good to see you know the limits of your car. When I bought mine, I drove it to an abandoned parking lot and tested them out as well. In general my courage runs out even before the tires make a noise (too much roll, unsafe feeling). I'm happy to know the mechanical limits are further than those of myself. Make sure not to break the limits in your enthusiasm. It is easy to get carried away.

[LeonOfTheDead]

i can remember one time.... me too in a parking lot near home.

too enthusiast with the handbreack, and for a tenth i thought:

i am going to roll over my mom's car

but the stilo was safe, me too.

in italy roundabout are very popular in the last years, one in particular near my house is so big i used it (here i say and here i deny) to learn something about understeer, at late night, when only me and my mind are out there, obviously in a SAFETY way, especially when they water the flower bed in the middle, and the road too.

[Fiorano]

great thread- any other stories
i am in California and will ikely not drive the nurby in my own car from here