RE: Is the Nurburgring about to go bankrupt?
Discussion
havoc said:
OdramaSwimLaden said:
I have a very good working knowledge of big business; especially funding and finance. (not in your keyboard warrior way....).
Some people, somewhere came up with a plan, submitted it for funding and it was ok'd by the money men. Either the bean counters were plain stupid, the guys who sold the concept were very, very convincing or it was a mixture of the both; I would suggest the latter.
Sorry to dispel any myths you may believe, but that's nearly always the way it is and it looks like the case here too.
Except the money men who OK it aren't accountants (bean counters), they're bankers / venture capitalists - professional gamblers, about as far from your average accountant as you can get!Some people, somewhere came up with a plan, submitted it for funding and it was ok'd by the money men. Either the bean counters were plain stupid, the guys who sold the concept were very, very convincing or it was a mixture of the both; I would suggest the latter.
Sorry to dispel any myths you may believe, but that's nearly always the way it is and it looks like the case here too.
I've a fair idea about this myself, y'know...
End....zzzzz.
They won't stop TF days and testing will continue as normal. The bean counters really will take over if it goes into administration and there is a clear money making machine right there! They might sell off all of the under used guff that they spunked all their money on though and that would not be a bad thing.
Nurburgringworld is dead, long live the Ring!
Nurburgringworld is dead, long live the Ring!
EDLT said:
I haven't followed the ring's financial woes very closely, but from skimming this thread would I be right in thinking it is the fault of some accountants, Top Gear (somehow) and the hippy-illuminati?
Pretty much spot on, but a roller coaster keeps getting involved for some reason.Not sure if it's an actual roller coaster, or a metaphorical one but either way, I don't really like roller coasters. They often look to be operated by sub-normals & the first thought that springs to my mind is "has he tightened all the bolts correctly?" and the second is "he looks like a mouth breather, I'm getting off".
That said though, I did used to like the one at Alton Towers the "Jim'll Fix It" kids went on, but that's now gone which is a shame.
Alex said:
Pugsey said:
Chill. T'was a slow afternoon so just having fun with you.
Great place indeed. And yes I've been there - track days and raced. I will risk saying it's not my fave circuit though although gets into my top five.
In the VLN? Which are your top 4 circuits?Great place indeed. And yes I've been there - track days and raced. I will risk saying it's not my fave circuit though although gets into my top five.
Monaco
Laguna Seca
Spa
Pau.
HeatonNorris said:
I went just over a month ago, on a wet evening (spur of the moment decision to take it in whilst I was in Bonn for a couple of days).
It was pretty dead. A handful of cars, a coach (!) and a few bikers. Only the bikers were sheltering from the weather and largely didn't seem too interested in doing a lap.
I was left a bit 'meh' about the whole experience. I'm glad I've ticked it off the list, but I wouldn't make a special trip just to do it.
Believe me you were lucky, conditions much like the above have encouraged me to do my first and so far only lap. Eight cars in the car park, no bikes - waved two or three cars behind me through right after entering the track, and had the whole 21 kms to myself. Perfect.It was pretty dead. A handful of cars, a coach (!) and a few bikers. Only the bikers were sheltering from the weather and largely didn't seem too interested in doing a lap.
I was left a bit 'meh' about the whole experience. I'm glad I've ticked it off the list, but I wouldn't make a special trip just to do it.
On every other occasion I was there it was like the M25 during rush hour, only with more accidents.
Guvernator said:
You think that the continued interference of the EU on things like crash legislation or emmissions is all made up too?
Are you aware that the current EU occupant protection standards (i.e. crash legislation) have not changed significantly for about 15 years, and that a car designed to just pass those standards would get less than a 2 star EuroNCAP rating? The EU has actually kept its hands well off crash legislation. Pretty much all of the improvements made over the past decade have been made voluntarily by the manufacturers in response to market demands. If you want someone to blame for making consumers demand safer cars, the obvious culprit is EuroNCAP, but the EU isn't involved with that either. The FIA, however, is...
900T-R said:
On every other occasion I was there it was like the M25 during rush hour, only with more accidents.
the vast problem with days like this is the fact that a lot of people turn up at once. So do your homework!
If its a TF weekend, say Saturday/Sunday simply assume its going to be busy as f
k. There's nothing wrong with these weekends as long as you accept it, I actually quite like them as the craic is good & you get to see some awesome cars.You also see some terrible driving & some bonkers accidents.
Same if you go on a bank holiday or at Easter or something, why would you expect it to be quiet?
Blasting past the crowds at brunchen or somewhere, smelling the BBQ as you go past is one of life's experiences I'll never forget.
At these times the place has a unique flavour & I still love it, just cut down on the bittburger & drag your ass out of bed & be there for the 8am opening-bliss! Usually means that by 11am the track is full of nutters & you can retreat for some lunch & a viewing platform.
If you want some quiet track time then go for a few evening/weekday afternoon sessions.
It's still possible you know!
900T-R said:
HeatonNorris said:
I went just over a month ago, on a wet evening (spur of the moment decision to take it in whilst I was in Bonn for a couple of days).
It was pretty dead. A handful of cars, a coach (!) and a few bikers. Only the bikers were sheltering from the weather and largely didn't seem too interested in doing a lap.
I was left a bit 'meh' about the whole experience. I'm glad I've ticked it off the list, but I wouldn't make a special trip just to do it.
Believe me you were lucky, conditions much like the above have encouraged me to do my first and so far only lap. Eight cars in the car park, no bikes - waved two or three cars behind me through right after entering the track, and had the whole 21 kms to myself. Perfect.It was pretty dead. A handful of cars, a coach (!) and a few bikers. Only the bikers were sheltering from the weather and largely didn't seem too interested in doing a lap.
I was left a bit 'meh' about the whole experience. I'm glad I've ticked it off the list, but I wouldn't make a special trip just to do it.
On every other occasion I was there it was like the M25 during rush hour, only with more accidents.
I've always been on weekends, and they get very busy lunchtime and later on in the day. However, we've always arrived at 8am when the track is just about opening and I've always done some empty laps before the crowds arrive.
2 years ago the weather was fantastic and I had some totally empty laps in the morning sun. It was driving paradise! When it gets busy I tend to go to the various viewing points around the track and watch what else is driving. It's all part of the experience for me.
Admittedly, the insurance situation does put me off during TF. I find I'm more comfortable driving the ring as if it were a good B road instead of a track.
2 years ago the weather was fantastic and I had some totally empty laps in the morning sun. It was driving paradise! When it gets busy I tend to go to the various viewing points around the track and watch what else is driving. It's all part of the experience for me.
Admittedly, the insurance situation does put me off during TF. I find I'm more comfortable driving the ring as if it were a good B road instead of a track.
Alex said:
Pugsey said:
And way before VLN.........
Monaco
Laguna Seca
Spa
Pau.
How "way before"? What race series? Monaco
Laguna Seca
Spa
Pau.
Not many opportunities for trackdays at Monaco.
Have you raced there too? Which car? What series?
Details. With Custard. I don't believe a word of it.
Pugsey said:
Raced at all of them. Matter of supreme indifference to me whether you believe me or not.
I might matter to other members of PH. They don't take kindly to fantasists and fraudsters. See the Dokic family and the kid who made up a terminal illness for examples. According to you, you have raced at Monaco, the Nordschleife and Pau. This is interesting stuff. Tell us more.
Your garage is pretty impressive too. According to that, you are on your 3rd Ferrari F430. Your girlfriend has an Aston V12V. You have a Radical SR3 AND a Caterham R400. Plus you have previously owned 3 Porsches including a GT3 and several BMW M cars. Post some pics.
No offence, but the language and tone of your posts does not sound like someone capable of generating the resources to fund a collection like that.
I say you have made most of it up. Prove me wrong. Then I'll look like an idiot, won't I?
Waits for the "I don't need to prove anything, and don't care what you think" reply...
Alex said:
Pugsey said:
Raced at all of them. Matter of supreme indifference to me whether you believe me or not.
I might matter to other members of PH. They don't take kindly to fantasists and fraudsters. See the Dokic family and the kid who made up a terminal illness for examples. According to you, you have raced at Monaco, the Nordschleife and Pau. This is interesting stuff. Tell us more.
Your garage is pretty impressive too. According to that, you are on your 3rd Ferrari F430. Your girlfriend has an Aston V12V. You have a Radical SR3 AND a Caterham R400. Plus you have previously owned 3 Porsches including a GT3 and several BMW M cars. Post some pics.
No offence, but the language and tone of your posts does not sound like someone capable of generating the resources to fund a collection like that.
I say you have made most of it up. Prove me wrong. Then I'll look like an idiot, won't I?
Waits for the "I don't need to prove anything, and don't care what you think" reply...
I know quite a few PHers personally, so obviously a fair few have seen one or other of my cars (although does that matter?). But, as you predict, irrespective of this I really DON'T feel the need to 'prove' anything to you.
A fair few of my cars have been featured in various well known car mags over the years (longterm sections and other) which is a tad hard to fake frankly. If you ferret around I think you'll find pictures of my 1M, GT3, AMV8 and first Fezza have been posted but I'm not a great picture poster for sure.
Resources? I'm an old fart now - old enough anyway to have done ok in various businesses. Again, not that that's anyone else's business.
I'm sure you will try to make me look 'guilty' by refusing to play your game but hey ho it takes all sorts and as I say I'm not really that bothered what you think (you were right on one score then).
For the sake of others on here who would probably be just as bored by keyboard warriors as I am I won't prolong this by responding to any further posts on the subject.
Apologies to all for being somewhat OT!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff