Bikers on the Ring

[rcarr]

Hello,

I am a non-biker, although saying that my Dad is on his 3rd Harley, this time a Road King and he has owned a Hayabusa in the past.

I have visited the Ring a number of times now as a car driver, to use my road car as well as a hire car last time, but what is the bikers mentality of passing a car just before taking the apex of a corner? This has hampered my laps on most of my laps.

The 1st time I was there, a memorable incident was just as I was about to take to the Karussell, I was past by a british registered bike. The rider promptly slowed up to a safe biking speed around the corner, but me with my 4 wheeled car went into it at around 40-50 mph and almost tapped his/her rear wheel because he/she was so much slower than I was going through the corner. It has happened a number of times to me going into other tight corners or even worse, passing me on the left hand side as I was on the apex of a corner.

Why does this happen? Why can't the bikers realise that cars corner so much quicker than bikes do, unless you are called Valentino Rossi? I thought all bikers knew that!

Please enlighten me...

Thank you.

[rcarr]

No, it isn't the same!

This is about the Nurburgring and the Nurburg only, not bike vs car in general!

No, probably a Suzuki or a Honda, it was a fairly sporty bike! Obviously not an R1 or Hayabusa.

Edited by rcarr on Thursday 22 February 00:18

[rcarr]

Its not a wind up!

I am generally interested why bikers think they can go into a corner just after they passed a car which undoubtedly corners quicker! I am sure that is how most of the accients happen on the Ring.

I don't go for a "trackday," I am a racing driver and I care more about the heritage of the place more than most people!

[rcarr]

When I was there, I was happy tp let faster vehicles pass me when it is safe to do so.

In my experience, it was the bikers that were more gung-ho than the car drivers.

[rcarr]

doogalman said:

RCAR; you neglected to say what happened after the corner. Did he clear of into the distance? Or did you pass him to never see him again. I've done very many laps on 2 & 4 wheels. Theye are very different ways of getting around the ring. Also Karousel has to be the most evil corner on a bike.
Anyway does it really matter. You were obviously on a tourist day. NOT A RACE.

I was there on a tourist day, I don't treat it as a race day when I go the the Ring. I am in awe of the place, I don't go out to set a laptime like I would racing either of my racing cars. I go out to enjoy myself, I was staying out the way of everyone. According to my brother the 1st time we went, I didn't shut up for all of the laps that I did.

After the corner it took the guy a while to straighten out then he was off into the distance, but what if he slid on the entry into the Karrussel? He gave himself no leaway for error, the faster cars that have passed me while on the Ring have given me a wide berth and taken the next apex safely.

My main gripe is the safety aspect, they should have specific times for bikers and 4 wheeled vehicles to use the circuit. From my experience, the bikers take it alot more seriously and take more risks than the car drivers.