Try the web for "Grex" helmets. Good quality from the same factory as Nolan. Don't buy one of those Motorcross helmets - a full faced one (no flip) would be perfect. Many people use an openface one if the car is equiped with an airbag but it doesn't protect your chin / face as well. Full faced helmets will also be okay on a bike or when you go carting.

I'll be there chasing down whatever gets in the way

eat my dust flea...

Ahh an on site technician for the red car lovely!

Lol quite a lot of excitement already for an event that takes place in june next year! If I still have the coupe by then it will definately go out on the track. I suppose we probably won't have a coupe only session again next year? Must have taken a bit of effort by the French to get that sorted.

And not sure if we should use the same hotel again. Definately didn't feel like a 4 star hotel! I've never seen a smaller hotel room and the staff were a bit odd

I'll be coming along to this, anybody fancy a day or two at the Ring afterwards?

Mark, i tried to organise a ring visit this year however i came across a couple of problems.
The week before spa, the nurburgring had the rock am festival on so there was no tourist time available and the week after spa, the nurburgring only had 2 hour sessions in the evenings.
Germany is pretty dam boring really apart from the ring so we didn't fancy hanging round all day waiting for a 2 hour slot. Also, they do all the road works on the ring in the evening sessions so it wouldn't be a clean lap.
And it would be a hell of a toll on the car!
And the ring dates aren't officially released until april or something like that.
Last year it worked out easier to do it as a seperate trip

Thanks for that Matt! I guess its 2 road trips for me next year then!

You are spot on Jurgen,and as you know we never even stayed at the hotel. It was the barmaids face when sparco was rolling round the floor,dead straight.
And she would not sing along to our great singing.

You never know though mark, they may have full days at the ring around those dates but we'll have to wait and see. I'll deffo go if there is

The evening sessions are pretty nice though, it's nice and quiet then. Not like on a normal weekend when it's near impossible to park and very busy on the track. The roads around the ring (and in general in the Eiffel area) are nice as well though!

I am in to visit the ring next year as well

I like it when it's busy at the ring, more people to overtake!

It does sound like the place for my car to visit so lets hope it's free.

I was talking to the wife about this the other night. Depending on a few things, we may be up for this. Sounds like a great trip was had last year

Jonny if you're coming you have to bring the 75 mate.

I'd love to but the 75 will be in someone elses hands very soon Tough decision but it's just too expensive to justify running as a track car plus I'll be losing one of my garages where I keep the 'spare' 75. It'll have morphed into a bike-engined kit car by then...

How soon? I've still not managed to go out in it yet!

What's its replacement?

Can we keep this thread vaguely on topic please? SpaItalia 2010.

Apologies for dragging things OT, Pete

(I guess I could stretch things by saying that I was wondering what Jonny might be taking to Spa next year, if it wasn't the 75 ... )

So back on topic ... SpaItalia 2010

PM sent.

I would like to bring whatever it may be along (if I can make it) as I fancy fitting in the Ring afterwards as suggested by some. We'll see...

Spa plus The Ring... what's the lap record?

Note: today there was a court ruling that the Spa-Francorchamps track can, until further notice, not be used. And that means: not be used - period. No F1, no track days, no car-events, no car tests by magazines, nothing - nada.

This is because two years ago there has been a complaint about noise levels by some 'neighbours'. During the last two years however, there have been no complaints whatsoever, possible because of the extensive work done by the owners to keep noise levels down. Officially, the permit that has been given to the circuit to be commercialised until 2026 and to allow the changes that were made since two years ago, has been ruled as seriously lacking depth and having a lot of lacunas. Because it cannot garantee no irrepairable damage is done to the environment, the permit has been suspended.

Time will tell how this will be going forward - but knowing court proceedings in Belgium... this might mean a disaster for the events planned there and possibly the track going bust.

That is a bombshell Klaas, do you have any link to the court case please?

Edit, I have found this link which looks rather more hopeful.

Always some busy body with nothing else to do but upset people. Does look a bit more promising.

May we have some feedback please from those interested in going to Spa?

Spa weekend accomodation single choice
	Camping
	Basic Hostel
	2* Hotel
	3* or better Hotel
Votes accepted starting: 24/09/2009 10:20
View Results

Nights required single choice
	Friday & Saturday nights
	Saturday night only
Votes accepted starting: 24/09/2009 10:23
View Results

Coupe only track time single choice
	None thanks
	1 session Saturday
	1 session Sunday
	Saturday & Sunday
Votes accepted starting: 24/09/2009 10:27
View Results

i've voted in all three categories, but with regard to accomodation i'm happy to go to whichever hotel the vast majority chooses - cost dependant of course!

some clarification for a track newbie, if you will - what is involved in the coupe only sessions, ie limited laps/limited speeds/a degree of choice? how long are the sessions? what costs per session are we looking at, do we know yet?

whilst i want to fully enjoy this weekend i have to bear in mind that the following weekend i go away for a week with the lads playing golf, and so costs around that time are fairly important as the golf will cost me in excess of £1k!

Yups - hotel doesn't matter really. But camping: preferably not. Needs to have a nice bar. And whiskey.

About the track case:
Yes, in fact I have released my news before the result of the meeting last night was made public. In which is stated that there is currently a very positive communication between the owners of the track and the people that originally opposed to it, stating there are no problems at this time. However, currently the permit has been withdrawn and there needs to be a new one made up.