Clive

I think everyones comments in this thread all are pretty much spot on.

My take on it is:

The Ring is a totally unique place and no amount of track day experience in this country can truly make you ready for the ring experience. It is without doubt an extremely dangerous place to be, but in truth so is the road outside your front door. It's all about the right place at the right time or the opposite.

The amount of accidents on the ring each year is quite staggering, but also blown out of proportion. Having listened to Mark 83 in the build up to last years trip and then digging around for information, it's not the complete hell that it's made out to be.

Yes there are lots of smashes, but most of the time they are fairly minor due to the twisty nature of the Ring. Bikers are a problem and I agree with the comment that bikes and cars really should not go out together. I don't what the ratio of cars to bikes is on the ring but I feel they should have bike only weekends and car only weekends. The two just simply don't mix. Both have completely different lines, entry and exit speeds into corners. And with 149 corners (from memory) there is always going to be trouble at some point.

I personally want to do 3-4 laps of the Ring this year, 1 will be with Laura in the car and I will use as an ease in lap, with the right indicator permanently on and sticking to the right of the track all the way round. After that I will have a few spirited laps and give it a damned good caning on certain sections. There is no way you can compete with the Ring regulars and locals, they have 100's & 1000's of laps under their belts and know every camber, rise, fall, dip etc. Don't even attempt it, it really isn't worth it.

I think the important thing is to go with your own agenda and stick to it, **** what anyone else may think. If anyone thinks that you have wimped out they are without doubt someone who isn't a friend and more importantly someone who has never been there. I know you'd never drive around there like Miss Daisy and also know that you are a good enough driver to know the limits and stay within them. You will have an absolute scream over there Clive and I'm sure you will put in some very impressive laps, the same as someone like James & Nige will.

The one thing I can 100% guarantee you is you will have a fantastic time down there if you come with us. I kissed goodbye to my car without taking out of the hotel (or Worzels Palace as it's now known ) car park. But I had one of the most fantastic weekends of my life. With a great bunch of blokes in a fantastic country. Virtually everyone agreed last year that the driving they had around the Ring, in the villages and country roads were better than the time they had on the Ring itself, the roads are fantastic. The drive down there, the ferry journey, the whole kit and kaboodle was just fantastic. This year, with a few extra cars and likeminded people, it should be even better.

Mate, it is a fantastic experience. I hope that you want to come down with us. And there is a room already put by just in case.

Roll on May/June