OK, firstly a brief set of details:
This year's run will have us meeting at 7am on Wednesday the 5th September. We will be leaving at 8am to head for Dover.
The outbound ferry is 10:00 on the 5th September Dover-Dunkirk, to be booked by yourself through Norfolkline.
The campsite we use is Camping Am Nurburgring, We will be arriving on the 5th, camping is paid for in DAYS, not nights stayed, so we have to pay for the 5th-11th (7 days total). We will arrange the campsite, but you will need to pay camping fees upon arrival at the campsite's reception.
Return ferry is set as 14:01 (Dunkirk to Dover) on Tuesday the 11th, however, there is the option of staying at the Etap in Charleroi to break up the return journey on the night of the 11th. This obviously means you'll need to change your return ferry to Wednesday the 12th (the 12:01 is ideal). I will add here that I know some people have booked for the 11th already. IF you decide that you want to stay at the Etap on the way back, then it shouldn't be a problem to amend your return fare in advance to accomodate this extra stay. This isn't an official part of the run, but it certainly makes the return journey more chillaxed!
Links:
www.retrorun.co.uk <-- The official Nurburgring Retro Run Forum
https://www.quidco.com/home/ <--- register on there to get cashback, then search for Norfolkline and you'll get up to 7% back. There is also the option of using http://www.topcashback.co.uk, either way, you can get cashback on the ferry booking.
http://www.camping-am-nuerburgring.de/
http://www.etaphotel...rt/index.shtml#
http://www.travelodg...info?hotelId=69 but that's optional.
UPDATE: http://www.travelodg...info?hotelId=23 is a cheaper Travelodge and is nearer to Dover actually. I'm going to book that one instead.
http://nurburgring.org.uk/ Ben Lovejoy's site is an excellent guide to the details of the 'ring. Please take as much time as possible to read up on the safety sections of that site, plus also the local attractions etc. that are worth seeing.
So, now I've got yer attention, you want to know how to book, yeah?
How do I become a runner?
If you're a driver, you need to pay £30 to book a driver's run pack from us. This will include:
- Pair of magnetic door plaques (let me know if magnetic is no good to you and I'll sort something else out)
- BH2N Retro Run 2012 T-shirt
- Donation of £5 to Macmillan Cancer support
- Contribution of £5 to firewood at the campsite (it's only free on the weekends, so we need to pay for it during the week)
- Front and rear "Nurburgring Retro Run 2012" window stickers for your car
- Side window "retrorun.co.uk" stickers
- Campsite discount (amount TBC, but probably worth 1-2 Euros per day)
- Run pack (a printed guide with a few things to do locally, hints and tips about driving in Europe and also some maps and postcodes)
- Access to the official 2012 runners lounge to organise stuff together
- Retro Run 2012 T-shirt
- £5 donation to Macmillan Cancer Support
- £5 contribution to firewood for the campsite
- Campsite discount (amount TBC, but probably worth 1-2 Euros per day)
- Access to the official 2012 runners lounge to organise stuff together
There is an application form uploaded into this thread, in which you will need to give me the following details:
Username (on here or TMF)
Full name
D.O.B.
Car type/colour
Car reg.
Passenger details
T-shirt sizes
Phone number (mobile and home)
Email address
Contact details for Next Of Kin
Whether you're willing to lead a convoy
Whether you've got a CB radio or not
BOOM
BH2NRR app form 2012.pdf 35.88K
20 downloadsYou will be paying via paypal hopefully, but if you can't do paypal message me and let me know how you would like to pay (postal orders, cheques or cash in hand at a show/event before the run are acceptable).
Once you've signed up to the run, you'll be able to access some hidden sections of this forum which will enable you to exchange locations, phone numbers and other details with other runners to arrange convoys, camping gear sharing, meets before the run etc.
So, what is a retro car?
We all know that classic Minis of all ages are welcome on the run, right? So whether you're in a 1964 Cooper S (I wish), a 1986 Mini City E, or a 2001 Sportpack, you're more than welcome. The more minis the merrier.....as long as they're not BMW ones, sorry, no BMW MINIs will be allowed to sign up.
To classify as a retro car, your car needs to either be 1990 or earlier, or your model and mark of car needs to have been first produced no later than 1990.
Examples of cars that would fall within the ruling:
1991 205 GTi
1992 R32 Skyline
1993 Corrado
1992 MKII Golf GTi
So, confused? If a 1992 MKII Golf GTi is Retro, is a 1992 MKIII? Afraid not. If there's any confusion then we will allow exceptions for cars that we like or can be deemed retro! I know, we're fickle, but it's a privately run site and run, so we can do what we want.
Main things we don't want on the run (sorry if I offend anyone, but it's all to help clarify)
1995 Corsa B with bodykit
1998 Impreza
1999 Evo
MKIII Golf VR6
BMW MINI
You get the idea now, yeah? It's all about old school cool! IF, you have a borderline car, or even one that you know falls outside the guidelines, please contact us, or put a post up in the "Am I Retro" section of the forum and we'll judge your car on its own merit. Sometimes, it's hard to set up a rule that's fair to all and although we want retro cars and Minis along, some cars are still cool and may well be allowed on the run
What do I need to do to be prepared?
- Well, your car obviously needs to be MOT tested and taxed for the duration of the trip, obviously insured.
- We also expect all runners to have European breakdown cover and may ask for proof
- You need both parts of your driver's license with you
- You are advised to take sensible amounts of spares if you're driving something rare/modified
- You need a hi-vis jacket or waistcoat for every occupant in the car
- You need a safety triangle
- You need to have as much paperwork with you as possible (I take logbook, insurance cover note, MOT certificate and also the paper part of my driving license all in an A4 wallet, then keep my plastic driver's license in my normal wallet.
- You'll need Euros, I'd say take around 200-300 with you in cash, then get the rest out of ATMs when you're there (unless your bank charges you a lot for that, mine doesn't).
Once you've applied for the run and paid for the run pack, you need to book the ferries, as I've covered elsewhere, you can make changes to your ferry booking, it's easier to do so in advance over the phone, but you can do it at the gate if you/they have time to do so. There may be an admin fee for changes (either passenger details or car registration). I've not personally tried changing the return date, but I'm told that lots of people have set off a day, or even two days earlier than planned in the past and have had no problems, just got straight on the ferry after changing at the gates. Same applies for going out there, if you turn up to the gate late you can often just drive onto the next ferry (they're at 2 hour intervals).
If you have any question (or indeed additions) regarding the above, please either post here or PM me or another member of staff on the RR forum.
The main idea of the run is to have fun and experience the great German countryside, the track itself and also to meet new friends. I've set up the Retro Run forum so that we can organise the run off TMF. The forum is intended to help potential runners get to know other runners before committing to the run and also to help organise convoys to Brands, camping kit sharing, tool kit sharing, passenger rides and all that kind of thing.
There are a couple of areas on the Retro Run forum that are locked so that only moderators and signed up runners can see them (once given access by me). I'd like to keep the organising of convoys, sharing of phone numbers etc. in those sections please. Other than that, we don't really have any strict rules on here, so enjoy yourselves!
If anybody on here doesn't already have me on Facebook or on MSN, my email address is [email protected], my full name is Matt Howard, so feel free to add me if you want a chat.
Also, I'll be at Bingley, MIke174 will be at Brooklands (should have a stand there all being well), we'll be at Retro Rides Gathering, we'll be at all sorts of shows this year.....look out for people wearing BH2N Retro Run T-shirts, or Retro Run hoodies and come say hi. It truly is an amazing place to go and going as part of a run like this is a good crack. It's not clicky, it's just a chilled week that lots of people enjoy. It's not for everyone, sure, but you can't please all of the people, all of the time. ;)
Edited by The Matt, 03 February 2012 - 02:49 PM.
