Unfortunately, I won't be dealing with the expense of shipping my GXP over, but I will get to race on the Nurburgring on March 25. I am going thru Rent Race Car Nurburgring to rent an actual race car to drive around the course. They offer everything from a race-prepped Suzuki Swift Sport (130 HP) up to a Porsche 997 GT3 3.8 Clubsport (435 HP). The Porsche was way out of my price-range! I ended up going with a little over a mid-level car. I am renting a BMW Z4 3.0 Si Coupe (265 HP, M Sport Suspension, M Sport Seats, Manual Gear Box, Performance Tires, Improved Brakes). I am getting the package that gives me 4 total laps around this amazing road course. Since the date will be an open Tourist Rides date, I am hoping that other drivers will be somewhat limited, and that weather will be decent, but I will take what I get. This will likely be the only time I ever drive The Ring, and it should be a blast. I hope that this adventure will wet my appetite for taking my GXP to Road America later in the year. I guess the Nurburgring will make an acceptable "warm up track!" LOL!

Have fun! You need to do a write-up on it... this is something I've been considering for a long time.

-Todd...

I was there in '07 and I can honestly say, I still remember every detail. You'll get chills as soon as you turn off the autobahn and it's still a half hour away. And then you see the castle... just incredible. It's the best track in the world, period. There is nothing to fault it. Enjoy the Green Hell and savour every moment.

Awesome! Make sure you get plenty of video... of the pits too!

What time do you think you'll hit?

Not Fair, Not Fair at all! Joe, sir, I am extremely envious of you, please do us proud.

I hope the weather is good for you--Mar is not a good weather month over here on avg. Good luck and enjoy!

Awesome! Be sure to take plenty of pics and have fun!

What time do you think you'll hit?

I'm sure it will be nothing to "write home" about. I will be jumping into a car that I have no familiarity with, and taking it out on a track that professionals refer to as the "Green Hell." I plan to do alot of computer racing on the track in advance to at least gain some familiarity. I may even go to a local BMW Dealer and see if I can test drive a manual trans Z4, just to familiarize myself with controls, clutch engagement, shifter, etc. The first lap will probably be embarrassing. If I can at least drive the car at 80% of it's capability by lap 4 I will be proud of myself. I imagine that after driving the Z4 on The Ring, driving my manual trans. Mercedes C200 rental on the Autobahn will be a real snoozer, LOL!

I hope the weather is good for you--Mar is not a good weather month over here on avg. Good luck and enjoy!

I appreciate the heads-up. I figured that even late March in Bavaria would be a little tricky. Some have told me that weather there would be pretty similar to the same time here in WI, and that means colder with strong potential of snow/rain depending on temp. I hope that Mother Nature is kind to me on the day I am there!

Awesome! Be sure to take plenty of pics and have fun!

I plan to. Based on what I am reading, I should be able to rent a video camera from the track (apparently you can't bring your own in-car video equipment onto the track), and I want to video tape the trip. I will then likely watch it over and over in coming years. I will then find a way to post the good parts online! Funny, I bet any screw-ups, bad shifts, or poor apexes will mysteriously vanish, LOL!

I appreciate the heads-up. I figured that even late March in Bavaria would be a little tricky. Some have told me that weather there would be pretty similar to the same time here in WI, and that means colder with strong potential of snow/rain depending on temp. I hope that Mother Nature is kind to me on the day I am there!

It's been unseasonably warm, but very wet thus far this winter. By late Mar, you may find a day that the weather is good. The weather is probably a little more mild, at least in the winter, here than I think WI. I grew up in OH and it's a little more mild and a little more wet. How long will you be in Germany and where else are visiting? Good luck!

We get to Germany on March 23 by train to get the rental car in Nuremburg. Drive down to Fussen, then Neuschwanstein Castle on Saturday. Back up to Nurburgring on Sunday, then meander around Bavaria up to Heidelberg, and then Frankfurt to fly back on the 28th or 29th. Is your GXP with you there in Germany, or is back here Stateside?

Totally envious, I hope you have great weather and have a blast. I will be looking forward to hearing/seeing the video from the trip!

Cheers,
JJ

Envious as well. Enjoy the laps.

I'd plan a side trip to England to get some VXR8 bits....

I'd plan a side trip to England to get some VXR8 bits....

Second that motion! Plus if you are a Top Gear fan you could possibly see there show.

Actually the trip starts in England, and I hope to find a Vauxhall dealer with a VXR8 in stock while I am there. They will probably get a kick out of me snapping pictures of it if I can find one. I would love to attend a Top Gear taping, but I hear that they are taped on Wednesdays, and I get to London on a Thursday. At least I will get to see the airing of the show while in Canterbury on BBC3 (I believe). We then take the Chunnel over to France, and we take a rental car to the Normandy area (I'm a huge history buff and veteran, so visiting the D-Day beaches will be a bit of a pilgrimage) for a day. Then a long trainride thru France, Luxemburg, and finally Germany. Then the driving fun really begins. The Autobahn AND the Nurburgring. Check that off my bucket list.

The chunnel ride is cool. My wife and I took that from London to Paris on our honeymoon. IIRC the train goes close to 200 MPH on the French side.

Bracket racer:

Totally awesome & excited for you! I REALLY want to take the G8 over to Germany & do that (being in South Wales).....

I have a few friends in the area that do the Ring. Usually VXR Power Events plans a trip with a limited amount of VXR cars there......

I really want to do it because, I think this will be my only chance. We are coming home to the U.S. in May of 2013.....

Good luck to you man! :)


...

Sounds like an awesome trip, definitely on my bucket list as well. Enjoy it.

I think you have just given me an idea!

Ok honey I'll take you on a European vacation........on one condition! lol

Have fun man! I may have to get out the old PS2 and take it for a drive myself!

My G8 is here, but it's hibernating right now covered and under the car port waiting for better weather. I love driving it on the autobahn everyday to and from work, but with rain or snow everyday, it's not as much fun. I have not made it to Nurburg yet, but may at some point. I guy I work with has an S4 and he just went and had a blast. Your trip sounds like it should be great. Normandy is incredible. We visited it for a couple days last summer and loved all of it, plus the French in that area are generally nice. If you're in the Kaiserslautern area, PM me and maybe we can meet up for a beer. Good luck and congrats on the trip and bucket list!

I just looked at the map, and it looks like you are just west of Heidelberg, right? Maybe we will have to meet up for a beer while i am there!

just some FYI. you can take any vehicle on the ring and you can video tape what ever you like. it is a toll road and last time i checked it was 20euro's to do a lap.
i lived outside of bitburg for 4 years and took a few different rides around the ring. i took a 90 525 through the grass after a touch of rain...in front of an audience...it was awesome. i also did a 12:40 lap in a grand cherokee srt8...i had to walk it off when i got back to the parking lot, it was rather nerve racking.

I just looked at the map, and it looks like you are just west of Heidelberg, right? Maybe we will have to meet up for a beer while i am there!

Yep, just west of Heidelberg. PM if you're out this way and safe travels!

just some FYI. you can take any vehicle on the ring and you can video tape what ever you like. it is a toll road and last time i checked it was 20euro's to do a lap.
i lived outside of bitburg for 4 years and took a few different rides around the ring. i took a 90 525 through the grass after a touch of rain...in front of an audience...it was awesome. i also did a 12:40 lap in a grand cherokee srt8...i had to walk it off when i got back to the parking lot, it was rather nerve racking.

Everything that I have read indicates that taking a standard rental car (like the Mercedes C200 that will be our driver around Germany) onto the Nurburgring is a huge "No-No," and that there can be major costly consequences even if you don't hurt the car. I'm not going to take any chances, that's why I am going with RentRaceCar.de. All the current info also indicates that the only video equipment allowed on the track, must be rented from the track (confirmed with the place that is renting me the car). It sounds like the owners are trying to make up for some recent poor business decisions, so they have raised the price for lap tickets, restricted cameras, etc. I was kind of hoping that I might be able to manage a lap time of 10 minutes or so by my fourth lap, but that will depend on weather and traffic, I'm sure. Maybe I need to ease off on that goal, although I have to imagine that a BMW Z4 will be a little easier to handle than a Cherokee SRT8, LOL! Thanks for the input though!

Sweet Joe! That is going to be awesome......!!!!

Just know the Autobahn does have speed limits all over...... I always thought it was no speed limit and the signs were just suggestions..... I got 7 camera tickets over there before I even knew I got one.. :)

Thanks for the heads-up. I have been warned by others that the Autobahn has posted/enforced speed limits. That's why I am going to the Nurburgring to get my "velocity fix" LOL!

Thanks for the heads-up. I have been warned by others that the Autobahn has posted/enforced speed limits. That's why I am going to the Nurburgring to get my "velocity fix" LOL!

There are many stretches of autobahn that are unrestricted speed limit. I have about a 10 mi drive to/from work everyday and about half of it is unrestricted speed--fun on a daily basis. The autobahns are very well marked with speed restrictions or a lack there of. You may want to brush-up on some of the traffic signs before coming over so you are familiar once you start driving. Good luck!

http://m.youtube.com/#/profile?user=xogiox&v=w4pQxJYXuVY&view=videos

I was there last year, rent race car - 335i

Can't really keep track of time, they close off the straight to a limited speed. Have fun and soak it up, you'll never forget it.

I considered the 335i, but I really wanted a RWD manual transmission car, and the additional HP of the Z4 didn't hurt.

I am disappointed to hear that they close off the straight, but I can understand why. I am also a bit disappointed to hear that they don't provide some type of timing to verify lap time. My girlfriend will be riding with me on lap #1, and I will be learning the car & track, so I don't expect much. I hope that by laps 3 & 4, that I will be able to drive the track more "actively." I guess I will need to take a quick peak at my watch to estimate a lap time.

I can't check youtube right now, but did you rent a video cam from the track? I can't seem to find details about that so far.

32 days and counting! My buddy brought down a PS3 with Grand Turismo 5 last weekend, and I ran about 30 laps of practice on the Nurburgring. I feel like I have a good familiarity with the track now. I definitely know where the really "hairy" parts of the track are now, and I will treat them with extra respect. I started out with a lower power ride to get familiar with the track. I wanted a lefthand drive car, and the best we could come up with was a VW Golf GTi. I managed to get a 10:07 lap as my best, but there is no way that I will be running as wide open for real, as I did in the game. It's amazing how fearless you can be when you know you can't die, and you just restart after a crash. At least now I am familiar enough with the layout that I can put more brainpower into driving the Z4 as well as I can (notice I didn't say as fast as I can). I will still be ecstatic if I can run a 12 minute lap from bridge to bridge.

32 days and counting! My buddy brought down a PS3 with Grand Turismo 5 last weekend, and I ran about 30 laps of practice on the Nurburgring. I feel like I have a good familiarity with the track now. I definitely know where the really "hairy" parts of the track are now, and I will treat them with extra respect. I started out with a lower power ride to get familiar with the track. I wanted a lefthand drive car, and the best we could come up with was a VW Golf GTi. I managed to get a 10:07 lap as my best, but there is no way that I will be running as wide open for real, as I did in the game. It's amazing how fearless you can be when you know you can't die, and you just restart after a crash. At least now I am familiar enough with the layout that I can put more brainpower into driving the Z4 as well as I can (notice I didn't say as fast as I can). I will still be ecstatic if I can run a 12 minute lap from bridge to bridge.

Yeah I was going to recommend that you get a racing game so that you can at least learn where the track is going. From what I've seen on Youtube videos of the real Ring, the track layout in those games is reasonably close to what you'll actually encounter in real life. I've raced a "few" laps in all of the Forza games around the Ring so I know it pretty well, and I'd say you need at least a hundred to get a good idea of how it works without flaws. That's how many it took me I'd guess.

Best of luck!

Also, 10:07 is probably not going to translate into the real world. For a bit of retrospect, here is what you probably will expect:
Cstik4fN9g0
6M7WJf9gb-g

I agree, there is no way that I expect a 10 minute lap for real. The Top Gear video mentions a very important factor, roughness of the track surface. I expect this to potentially be even worse in late March when I am there. I tested myself while watching a video of an entire lap at The Ring though, calling out the next turn direction and how to take it (just lift, light brakes before entry, hard brakes before entry, etc), and I had it down pretty well. I'm just a visual person, and the images are sticking well in the grey matter for now. I plan to get the video of my best lap, and I just don't want to be embarrassed.

11 days and counting! I leave for Europe tomorrow, and after enjoyable days in England, France, Luxemburg, and Germany, the fun begins. I did make one big logistical mistake though. I didn't read that fine print and kept thinking that the Nurburgring was near Nuremburg (Nurnburg in German). WRONG! It's near Nurberg which is in a different direction. That means we have a 5 hour drive to get there from visiting Fussen, and we will have to leave Fussen by 4 a.m. OUCH! I should be able to make good time on a Sunday morning on the Autobahn though, at least in the unregulated stretches.

I debated on making little red Pontiac arrowheads to put on front and rear of my BMW Z4, but the Germans might not see the humor in that. At one time some people referred to Pontiac as the "BMW of North America." I prefer to think of it this way, BMW is the "Pontiac of Europe" LOL!

Soak it in, if you have never been to Europe pay close attention to their driving skills on normal roads. Not only do they drive fast but they get out of the way if someone is faster. They have unlimited speed limits in areas it makes sense, and speed cameras where you need to go slow. The u.s needs to take notes and implement some of these things. Nurnberg is a great drive because there is nothing around it and mostly limited speed limits. If you're like me as soon as you see part of the track youre hair will stand on end and you will grin from ear to ear, take the first lap slowly and remember, people only pass on the left on the track so make sure to get the hell out of the wayand put your left turn signal on the indicate you are letting them pass.

Also keep in mind that you can't get a super accurate lap time because the straight has a speed limit and is usual lined up with folks waiting for the next lap.

Thanks again for the advice! Fortunately, I pay attention to my mirrors when driving (unlike many Americans), and I try to get out of the way for the few folks who happen to drive faster than me, so this shouldn't be a challenge. I'll get plenty of Autobahn driving for practice. I plan to follow that speed limits very carefully over there, and have been warned that the speed cameras are often hidden carefully on bridge overpasses. Where there are limits, I'll obey, and where there aren't I'll back off when my girlfriend gets nervous. She will be riding with me on Lap 1 only, which is a good thing. I don't want to scare her, and it will force me to drive carefully to orient myself to the track. I watched YouTube video again last night, and my memory of the track layout surprised me. I feel comfortable that I know how it's layed out, and how I need to take some of the trickier sections. I will have a GoPro in the car for the whole experience, so I will get to relive the experience anytime I want to. I can time from that, not while I'm driving. By the way, everything that I have read about the Ring (including Ben Lovejoy's very informative website) says that you are supposed to get to the right, and signal right, when you are allowing someone to pass. It says that if you don't move right, and there is an accident, that you are responsible. Just thought I'd mention that.

Tomorrows the day! Enjoy! Oh that right its already 25th. Hope you slept well.

Hope you're having fun, Joe!

I'm looking forward to the pictures/videos.

Wow, what an experience! The Ring is amazing! No game or simulation is ever going to give you a true sense of the feeling of the elevation changes on this track though. There is a change of over a 1000' from lowest point to highest point, and believe me, you will feel it!

First, the bad news. I have no video of my laps. I just got my GoPro, and was trying to get it set up correctly. The suction cup wouldn't stick to the dash of the BMW Z4, so I had to attach it to the windshield upside down behind the mirror. I also couldn't enter the track with the camera mounted, or track marshalls would make me remove it. That meant that I had to hide it under my jacket, go thru the entrance, get far enough past that they couldn't see, mount it, and turn it on. As best I can tell, I was turning the camera on, but not getting it into record mode (I knew that I should have set it up in advance for 1 button recording, but didn't). I do have still shots taken by my girlfriend as I entered the track though. I will post some of those shortly.

I would recommend that anyone else who goes there be well rested before they go on the track. I had to drive 5 hours to get there, and was more fatigued than I should have been.

Working with RentRaceCar.de was awesome, and the BMW Z4 that they provided to me with was a great car. Even though they warned me that the tires would need plenty of warmup, they stuck really well. The brakes were awesome, and the power of the car was very good (although nowhere near a G8 GXP). The car handled extremely well.

I took their advice and took it pretty easy on Lap 1, driving the car at probably 50% of what it was capable of. I was happy that I had remembered the track so well from my computer practice. I was also trying to get a feel for the car, since I only had about 6 kms of driving practice in it before I hit the track. I was very careful to watch my mirrors, and get to the right for faster cars (which there were alot of). I did hit 180 kmh (about 110 mph) near the end of my lap just past the last bridge. I may have gone faster at other points, but I was paying attention to the track and not the spedometer at that point so I can't be sure. I actually worked up a bit of a sweat on the lap and pulled into the parking lot afterwards for a short break.

I then headed out for Lap 2, which I was pretty proud of. I got slowed down at 2 different spots, by slower drivers who weren't being as courteous as I was about allowing faster cars to pass. I also got slowed down by an older Porsche 911 that had nosed into the guardrail and was getting picked up by a wrecker (yellow flag on that section of track). Otherwise I drove the car at what I felt was 70-80% of what it's capable of. By the end of the lap, I was getting a bit queezy in my stomach, so I stopped for another break. In hindsight, I should have taken a longer one than I did.

For Lap 3, I wanted to do a bit better. I went out and drove harder, and was pushing myself and the car harder than I had yet. About 1/3 of the way in, my stomach started getting upset again, but I tried to fight it. By the 2/3 mark, I was really feeling "unwell" and backed off quite a bit. It was too late though. I hate to admit it but while driving that last 1/3 of the track, I managed to lose what little I had in my stomach (mostly water and Coca-Cola, since I hadn't eaten breakfast) all over the windshield right in front of me. Not pleasant, and certainly tough to see thru. I had to go into the pits to clean up myself and the car (good thing I didn't have much breakfast in hindsight!).

I had paid for another lap, and I didn't want to waste it, so I went back out 1 last time. I actually stayed in front of a very conservatively driven Lambo for a good bit, but then the stomach monster attacked again. This time I found a "safe" place to stop just off track, and went out to "chat with Ralph" on the other side of the guardrail. I was afraid that they would send out a rescue truck or something, but they didn't. Once I got a bit composed, I went out and finished the lap, but at rather low speed.

So, I fought the Ring, and the Ring won, LOL!

Despite this, it was an awesome experience, and I'd love to do it again. Next time I'd be better rested, I'd use the camera correctly, and I'd hopefully keep whatever light breakfast I'd eaten down!

I can laugh about it now, and hope you can too! I'm sure that my experience in my GXP at Road America in a month will be much more pleasant. Just in case, I'm bringing a barf bag that I snagged off the airplane though, LOL!

Would have been great to see you throwing up into the go pro...lol Just kidding! I'm glad you had a good time, sorry you didn't feel well at the track (to bad). Once in a lifetime!

Track driving is a tough thing... I can only imagine on a track like the Ring! Still, it sounds like you had a good time. Definitely something you will remember forever.

-Todd...

Wow, that would be an amazing experience... minus the puking. What made you sick? Was it the track & elevation changes, or something else?

I'm convinced that it was a combination of fatigue (short night of sleep, and 5 hours of Autobahn driving to get there), not eating any light solid food for breakfast, and then the elevation changes at the track. I have never gotten car sickness while driving, and only occasionally as a passenger. My symptons were very similar to the altitude sickness that I got while up on Pikes Peak for 4 hours a few years ago. Hey it takes a real skill to drive and puke at the same time and not crash!

Inspite of everything that happened, I'm sure you'd do it again in a heartbeat. Going to make the G8 cruise at the annual meet seem like a Sunday afternoon sightseeing tour. Congratulations on doing the "Ring", Joe. Only thing that would be better would be in your GXP and not puking...

I'd do it again in a heartbeat, and would love if there was a cost-effective way to do in in my GXP! I will be driving the GXP at Road America 4 weeks from tomorrow for a track day, and I will use my Nurburgring lessons to make it a more pleasant experience. My GoPro will be working, and I am carrying a Delta Airlines "courtesy bag" in the GXP just in case, LOL!

15173

15174

So jealous! I would love to take some laps around the ring. Might have to offer the wife a "European Vacation"! I just watched a video of the 24 hour race there and it looks like camping is a blast too.

Congrats on running the ring!!! Sucks getting sick, much less getting sick while driving. One of my friends that has club raced with the SCCA for the last 15 years has been getting sick occasionally while he was racing.

Glad to hear that you had a great time overall, running the ring is definitely on my bucket list!

Cheers,
JJ

Well there is a little satisfaction in knowing that I'm not the only one, LOL! I think I may use a non-drowziness motion siction med before racing at Road America in my GXP in 25 days.

My advice to anyone else that tackles The Ring. Go well rested! Make sure that you are well hydrated, and that you have eaten something. Unlike drag racing, this place will take a toll on your body. It is VERY ACTIVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL driving. My upper back and shoulders were even a little sore the next day just from man-handling the Z4 around the track. By making 4 laps, I made nearly 300 turns, many of them under high g-forces. It was a workout! Just be advised. Despite all of this, I would love to go back!

Sorry to hear you got sick. It's understandable as physically and mentally challenging as that day probably was. Congrats on getting the experience that many of us have on our bucket list. Hopefully you get another shot one day.

For me, eating something solid seems to actually prevent getting sick. Like, when I start feeling queasy after riding rollercoasters, the solution is to go eat something, and then continue.

On a different subject, do you think it's worth taking a slower car on the first day, and then a faster car on the next day? Or is the practice with the simulator enough to feel familiar with the track? On a normal-sized track I usually still keep finding time by the 20th lap or so, even if I've been on that track a year before, and then the rhythm kind of settles.

Sounds like you had a great time and it sucks it was slightly spoiled by sickness. Can't wait to see you make some rounds at RA in less than 3 weeks. I don't know if you have anyone coming along with you but I'll do what I can to get some pics of you on the track.

Wow. How did I miss this?! Envy! I would love to drive the Green Hell, though not with my current level of experience. :)

By the end of the lap, I was getting a bit queezy in my stomach, so I stopped for another break.
Dang. I've been to VIR twice, and my stomach has managed to stay stable for those VERY short laps (just over two minutes apiece!). Except when I try a ride-along with an instructor. My stomach just can't handle it. I'm guessing the Green Hell is ... an extra measure of stress.

...not eating any light solid food for breakfast...
Just make sure that whatever you do, avoid greasy foods! Remember that sickness while riding with instructors I mentioned? My first time out, I'd just eaten lunch including a full cup of fries. Bad idea... Managed to keep it all down, but my stomach was MAD and I was stumbling about delirious while my body took its time calming back down.

My advice to anyone else that tackles The Ring. Go well rested! Make sure that you are well hydrated, and that you have eaten something. Unlike drag racing, this place will take a toll on your body. It is VERY ACTIVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL driving. My upper back and shoulders were even a little sore the next day just from man-handling the Z4 around the track. By making 4 laps, I made nearly 300 turns, many of them under high g-forces. It was a workout! Just be advised. Despite all of this, I would love to go back!
Yes, road course driving is exhausting. You don't know it, but as you go around that track, all kinds of muscles are tensing up to keep you in place in your seat, help you drive the car, and just tensing up from stress. You'll experience the same exhaustion at the end of the weekend at Road America. So definitely make sure you're rested up for your next go.

sab123, I can't speak for everyone, but I don't think it would have made a difference if I had rented the Suzuki Swift, or one of the other slower options, from RentRaceCar instead of the Z4. If I was in a slower car, I would have driven it even harder all along, and probably gotten sick sooner. I respected what the Z4 could do, kept my ego in check, and didn't get in trouble. Could I have driven the car harder than I did? Yes. I felt that I only pushed the car as hard as was prudent for a Rookie at the Ring. For me the 40 laps or so that I drove on GT5 was enough. I am a very visual person, and the info stuck in my head. Once I got on the track I knew where I was, I knew what was coming, and I knew what I was supposed to do. With more laps, and more practice in the Z4, I know I would have showed additional improvement if I hadn't gotten sick.

Formula WS6, I do have friends coming along to help take pics, but I will be greatful for any that others take as well. My buddy Josh & I are both bringing GoPros. He is talking about using both at once in the car, one facing forward, and one pointed at the driver. Then he can edit them together into a split screen so you can see what the driver sees, and what they are doing, at the same time. That will be VERY cool!

I have no intention of eating any greasy food the day of Road America, at least until I'm done driving. I plan to be well rested, and I plan to do alot of stretching and activity leading up to the day, and during the day. Once I got over the sickness from the Nurburgring, I noticed that might upper back, shoulders, and arms, were still a bit tender the next day. You're right, when you drive hard, you are using alot of muscles that you don't even realize .................until the next day!

I can't wait!

One thing my instructor said at VIR last year was that your elbows should ideally be at a 90 degree bend. It makes it much easier to steer and the muscle control required to do so is much finer than trying to move your arms up and down when they're extended.

There's plenty of time to grab a smoke at RA in 3 places while on the track. ;)

One thing my instructor said at VIR last year was that your elbows should ideally be at a 90 degree bend. It makes it much easier to steer and the muscle control required to do so is much finer than trying to move your arms up and down when they're extended.

Yup. Reaching for the wheel is bad. Good advice.

A way I heard suggested to get the distance right was to fully extend your arms and try to lay your wrists atop the wheel such that you could bend your hands over the rim. Once you could, the wheel would be adequately within reach.

Thanks for the info guys!

Great story! Looking forward to my first track day in my G8!