The Green Hell - Nurburgring, Germany

Motorcycle Route Author

By MCR Contributor (1039 McR Points) on Jan 22, 2012

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Written Directions

Note: The above map is only a close representation of this route. This particular route is a VERY unique route in that it is basically a public race track and Google maps does not handle this anomaly well. Visit some of the informative website references below for more detailed map/directions.

This route/track surrounds Nrburg, Germany and is basically a race track that the public can pay to access. The map shown here is a off because Google maps doesn't handle what is a one of a kind, one-way public toll road.

Scenery

Germany's Nrburgring, nicknamed the Green Hell, is one of the longest and most challenging race tracks in the world. It's made up of two racetracks - the Nordschleife (Northern Loop), and the Grand Prix Circuit which combined cover over 26km. This makes it the worlds longest permanent racetrack, that is until the Gotland Ring is completed later this year. The old "North Loop" section of the track was built way back in 1920 around Nrburg town and it's castle and the course meanders through the Eifel mountains. It earned its name "The Green Hell" from the famous driver Jackie Stewart and is considered by many to be the one of the most demanding and dangerous race circuits in the entire world. The route has a fascinating race history as described at - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nrburgring. Since its opening in 1927 the course has been open to anyone in the public with a street legal car or motorcycle as well as even tour buses, motor-homes, etc. There are special "Touristenfahrten" sessions which allow travelers to travel the course with "no general speed limit". The cost to take a lap around the course is about ?24 for each vehicle. The course is also used by car manufacturers to test out their vehicle's performance attributes.

Drive Enjoyment

It's a race track, a testing center for new cars, and a is open to public speed junkies for just ?26/lap. The Nrburgring is an insanely twisty track with 40 left-hand bends, 50 right-hand bends and a 300m height difference. It's been described as seeming "as if a reeling, drunken giant had been sent out to determine the route". Crashes occur daily and there are endless rumors about the number of public fatalities per year. Deciding on who holds the lap record for a production car is a very debatable subject, determining what counts as a street-legal production car is open to a lot of interpretation. We've gone for what generally seem to be the most accepted records, though do take 'production car' with a pinch of salt. The ring is under danger though, with threats of closing, to support it visit Save the Ring (https://savethering.org/). We think it's a monster of a track and are seriously impressed by those who can master it!

Tourism Opportunities

Since while you're on this route you're basically on a race track, you won't be pulling over to enjoy any amenities so I gave it a 1. However, when you're done and off the track there are many places/towns to meet your needs - Adenau, Meuspath, and Nrburg, Germany.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

CarBuzz.co.uk tipped us off on this one-of-a-kind in the world route. Check out Alex Margolis nice infographic at https://www.carbuzz.co.uk/blog/Nurburgring-Infographic-119 !! Wikipedia also has a very detailed rundown of "The Green Hell" at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nrburgring .