Discussion
Anyone here have more news on this story, Evo are saying there are financial problem with a 330 million euros loan of government tax money, an investment that's allegedly been based on false visitor numbers, the result being that the 'Ring owners are deep in debt.
Edited by BBS-LM on Thursday 13th January 12:45
Surely it's only the company operating the ring who are possibly at risk. Same with Hockenheim, no ?
The Ring itself ? Well is it in a prime development location ? Is it a source of complaint from the neighbours ? Are there any assets which can be stripped and sold ?
If anything I could imagine the assets being bought by a company at a knock-down price and then running the place with rather less debt hanging over it.
I've no doubt over-simplified the situation, but I guess my point is that I don't think the track and basic infrastructure is at risk as much as the people running the joint.
Nick M said:
Surely it's only the company operating the ring who are possibly at risk. Same with Hockenheim, no ?
The Ring itself ? Well is it in a prime development location ? Is it a source of complaint from the neighbours ? Are there any assets which can be stripped and sold ?
If anything I could imagine the assets being bought by a company at a knock-down price and then running the place with rather less debt hanging over it.
I've no doubt over-simplified the situation, but I guess my point is that I don't think the track and basic infrastructure is at risk as much as the people running the joint.
Try telling that to the Sudschlieffe!The Ring itself ? Well is it in a prime development location ? Is it a source of complaint from the neighbours ? Are there any assets which can be stripped and sold ?
If anything I could imagine the assets being bought by a company at a knock-down price and then running the place with rather less debt hanging over it.
I've no doubt over-simplified the situation, but I guess my point is that I don't think the track and basic infrastructure is at risk as much as the people running the joint.
nsmith1180 said:
Nick M said:
Surely it's only the company operating the ring who are possibly at risk. Same with Hockenheim, no ?
The Ring itself ? Well is it in a prime development location ? Is it a source of complaint from the neighbours ? Are there any assets which can be stripped and sold ?
If anything I could imagine the assets being bought by a company at a knock-down price and then running the place with rather less debt hanging over it.
I've no doubt over-simplified the situation, but I guess my point is that I don't think the track and basic infrastructure is at risk as much as the people running the joint.
Try telling that to the Sudschlieffe!The Ring itself ? Well is it in a prime development location ? Is it a source of complaint from the neighbours ? Are there any assets which can be stripped and sold ?
If anything I could imagine the assets being bought by a company at a knock-down price and then running the place with rather less debt hanging over it.
I've no doubt over-simplified the situation, but I guess my point is that I don't think the track and basic infrastructure is at risk as much as the people running the joint.
Nick M said:
nsmith1180 said:
Nick M said:
Surely it's only the company operating the ring who are possibly at risk. Same with Hockenheim, no ?
The Ring itself ? Well is it in a prime development location ? Is it a source of complaint from the neighbours ? Are there any assets which can be stripped and sold ?
If anything I could imagine the assets being bought by a company at a knock-down price and then running the place with rather less debt hanging over it.
I've no doubt over-simplified the situation, but I guess my point is that I don't think the track and basic infrastructure is at risk as much as the people running the joint.
Try telling that to the Sudschlieffe!The Ring itself ? Well is it in a prime development location ? Is it a source of complaint from the neighbours ? Are there any assets which can be stripped and sold ?
If anything I could imagine the assets being bought by a company at a knock-down price and then running the place with rather less debt hanging over it.
I've no doubt over-simplified the situation, but I guess my point is that I don't think the track and basic infrastructure is at risk as much as the people running the joint.
nsmith1180 said:
Nick M said:
nsmith1180 said:
Try telling that to the Sudschlieffe!
Didn't that disappear decades ago, long before the rise in popularity of the Norschlieffe with car enthusiasts and car manufacturers as a measure of performance of both driver and car ?
tty reply. But I thought the Sudschlieffe lapsed into disuse years ago, but can't remember why. I think the current GP circuit is about where it was, although I recall a magazine article from a few years back showing the few remaining bits.Nick M said:
nsmith1180 said:
Nick M said:
nsmith1180 said:
Try telling that to the Sudschlieffe!
Didn't that disappear decades ago, long before the rise in popularity of the Norschlieffe with car enthusiasts and car manufacturers as a measure of performance of both driver and car ?tty reply. But I thought the Sudschlieffe lapsed into disuse years ago, but can't remember why. I think the current GP circuit is about where it was, although I recall a magazine article from a few years back showing the few remaining bits.k I meant to give you one of these 
not one of theseWasn't a s
tty reply. I have been educated, I thought the sudschliffe only stopped being used when the GP-Streke was built.The ethos of the place has changed massively in the last few years with the development of the new commercial complex, hotel, rollercoaster (which I'm told will never actually work due to a design fault), etc.
Essentially the two main guys running the "project":
- massively underestimated the budget
- massively overestimated the visitor numbers when pitching to the Government for the grant
- have tried to rationalise all the small aspects of the surrounding businesses into a centrally controlled enterprise
This is resulting in:
- Chronic debt
- No chance of repaying that debt
- Very angry local businesses (B&Bs, cafes, race tuition companies, etc) wanting answers, because they are being squeezed out
Think of those two guys as Simon Gillett, and it starts to make sense.
The Nordschleife should always survive, as it's really the only profitable part of the area, with big income primarily from Manufacturer testing and Touristenfahrt. Saying that, the owners are trying to milk the cash cow still further by increasing the Manufacturer's fees extortionately, and this might actually make them walk, which could be seriously damaging.
Whilst many are saying that the complaints are based on the unsubstantive "we don't like change", there is a lot of genuine concern.
Essentially the two main guys running the "project":
- massively underestimated the budget
- massively overestimated the visitor numbers when pitching to the Government for the grant
- have tried to rationalise all the small aspects of the surrounding businesses into a centrally controlled enterprise
This is resulting in:
- Chronic debt
- No chance of repaying that debt
- Very angry local businesses (B&Bs, cafes, race tuition companies, etc) wanting answers, because they are being squeezed out
Think of those two guys as Simon Gillett, and it starts to make sense.
The Nordschleife should always survive, as it's really the only profitable part of the area, with big income primarily from Manufacturer testing and Touristenfahrt. Saying that, the owners are trying to milk the cash cow still further by increasing the Manufacturer's fees extortionately, and this might actually make them walk, which could be seriously damaging.
Whilst many are saying that the complaints are based on the unsubstantive "we don't like change", there is a lot of genuine concern.
Nick M said:
nsmith1180 said:
Nick M said:
nsmith1180 said:
Try telling that to the Sudschlieffe!
Didn't that disappear decades ago, long before the rise in popularity of the Norschlieffe with car enthusiasts and car manufacturers as a measure of performance of both driver and car ?tty reply. But I thought the Sudschlieffe lapsed into disuse years ago, but can't remember why. I think the current GP circuit is about where it was, although I recall a magazine article from a few years back showing the few remaining bits.Southern loop
GP circuit
Forums | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff