....riding the Nurburgring on an exclusive-use basis. Monday 1st november - overnight rain and a cold and misty start to the day. The track was wet everywhere, but we had exclusive use and the expertise of superb 'ring guides. The weather remained dry, the skies cleared and the majority of the day was sunny and at times warm enough for t-shirts - not bad for November. Dry lines gradually emerged and most of the track was dry by the start of the afternoon sessions. The way it operated was that each group (and there were around 18 I think) had a 'ring guide and up to 8 punters. The groups were divided by self-selected ability (I was in the middle of the novices group) and were let onto the track by the "pit controllers" who set the gaps between each group so that there would in theory be expectation of one group catching up with annother (especially as each group would in theory be a little slower than the previous one). This worked superbly with (for us slow guys) 2 laps at a time followed by a 30 minute break, repeated very hour for 6 hours, with the final session being 3 laps. Taking it in turns to follow directly behind the guide, this was the top spot - allowing you to ride as fluidly as experts (though at a fraction of the pace they could manage if they were given free rein!). Only one or two lapses of concentration on my part resulting in wrong lines and 1 slightly "concerning" moment - not bad for 169 miles. This was all organised through the IAM group of which I am member - one the best benefits of membership (that and learning how to ride safely yet progressively). Think I might go up a few groups next year.
