Nurburgring Tourist day car rules

[SpeedyDave]

JayK12 said:

As anyone actually been stopped without cage padding and with door bars? Do they actually check cars?

As said i can take the seats out and swap for none winged ones, and padding the cage, but i don't fancy grinding the door bar brackets off.

They aren't doing close inspections, it's more a matter of what the particular marshal standing at the ticket barrier happens to notice and react to. In the past I have seen them occasionally turn cars around for wing seats, door bars (less likely as they're just less obvious) snap-off steering wheels, etc.

That said I've also seen heaps of that stuff sail through without issue. They will be quick to spot exposed bonnet catches or sharp edges on splitters, spoilers, canards, but they will accept them being taped up.

Since you have the other seats it would be wise to swap them in. Door bars harder to say as it depends how high they are but lots of cars with moderate ones don't get trouble.

Edit - realizing they photo in the OP shows the door bars. I would guess those are ok but I'm not the guy on the gate.

Edited by SpeedyDave on Tuesday 10th May 14:26

[JayK12]

Cheers for that.

The door bars are quite low. I will see what i decide to do. But if i swap my seats, pad the cage, and hopefully that should be fine. From the outside this is no sharp edges etc, its pretty much standard.

[nickfrog]

Pdelamare said:

nickfrog said:

Still waiting for details about the post-2014 position please ?

I too would appreciate seeing any information that states the exact position regarding insurance and liabilities. I'd love to do a TF but just can't get past the 3rd party risk element.

I think we might wait for a while - after all the obscure/bizarre posturing, agtlaw is not exactly forthcoming, is he ? Odd, very odd, even by PH standards.

Fair to assume there hasn't been a sea change nor a ECJ arreté on this.

[iguana]

Ref the insurance you usually still have tp cover, be careful of Poles on track tho, they have no cover!

Edited by iguana on Tuesday 10th May 22:05

[PapaJohns]

heading there for the first time in September myself, so obviously I'm no expert but was under the impression the TF days meant the track was like being on the autobahn regards to rules etc

[upsidedownmark]

Rules and the like yes, insurance no.

Here's a quick snip from the relevant section of my current policy:


Pretty clear no? Pretty standard too. Now, it may be that you can fight that, or that it's not truly enforcable under european law, or some such.. but seriously, why not just hire a car from one of the ring rental companies, pay a little more upfront and avoid the risk of life alteringly expensive claims, OR a life altering amount of stress trying to fight the insurance company over a wording that is pretty damn clear.

The 'problem' with the ring is that it IS subject to normal road rules, somebody will be adjudged to be at fault, and the repairs for others and the track furniture tend to get really expensive, really fast. That's why trackdays are set up differently despite the occasional whining.

[nickfrog]

iguana said:

Ref the insurance you usually still have tp cover, be careful of Poles on track tho, they have no cover!

Hiya Mr Lizard, how is it going ? I was under the impression that tp cover was still there because insurers have to honour claims under EU law. But that they would then come after the billy. And then in this very thread agtlaw tells us not to worry about that (eventually) but then doesn't tell us what has changed since 2014. Confusing isn't it ?

[iguana]

All good cheers, I think Agt is referring to a case that although nowt to do with the 'ring, had repercussions on eu insurance cover, it was something obscure if I recall to do with a tractor & in another country?


Naturally however I'm biased on Brits going to 'ring & crashing as I bring a fair few a year of their cars back! So I'm all for folks going there & driving far beyond their capabilities

[iguana]

To add, I think it's to do with this

http://www.newlawjournal.co.uk/nlj/content/short-h...

http://insurance.dwf.law/news-updates/2014/11/vnuk...

Edited by iguana on Tuesday 10th May 22:58

[iguana]

nickfrog said:

I was under the impression that tp cover was still there because insurers have to honour claims under EU law. But that they would then come after the billy. And then in this very thread agtlaw tells us not to worry about that (eventually) but then doesn't tell us what has changed since 2014. Confusing isn't it ?

They certainly have done, I know personally of 2 cases simply as I brought their spanked motors back, (quite large life changing sums involved too) so must have been a lot more cases, however how the '14 thing affects things since, I do not know.

[CupraAndy]

Hi all,

I go to the ring every year, however i havent taken my race car in about 4 years. I am taking it this year and the roll cage is still padded, I have non winged bucket seats, high door bars and a pop off wheel. Its never been a problem in that configuration. However ive never risked the canards or rear wing for TF.

I was there only a few week ago, and saw a car meeting every description I mentioned I try to avoid going on track. However I noticed these were German cars and unsure if they are "locals". Where as myself in the bight yellow & black Britt wagon would perhaps be pulled to one side. I just never fancied taking the risk for a bit of enjoyment at this fantastic place.

[Pip1968]

But Porsche GT3 RS have rear wings and never get pulled (for that at least).

Are we talking wax and feathers??? ala Icarus?

Pip

Edited by Pip1968 on Thursday 29th June 21:26

[Jim1556]

I was there a few weeks ago, someone got refused entry once the marshal saw a pop off steering wheel! Sad...

[FTBBCVoodoo]

Jim1556 said:

I was there a few weeks ago, someone got refused entry once the marshal saw a pop off steering wheel! Sad...

Same thing occurred with my brother last year. Spent entire weekend there (DTM weekend) and completed about 8 laps in total as the track was closed a fair few times. Went for 1 final lap before calling it a weekend and got stopped due to steering wheel.

Would have ruined his weekend if it was on lap 1 ;-)

We generally go on DTM weekend because if there are any problems then we can just drink beer and watch loud touring cars on the GP track :-)

[JontyR]

FTBBCVoodoo said:

Jim1556 said:

I was there a few weeks ago, someone got refused entry once the marshal saw a pop off steering wheel! Sad...

Same thing occurred with my brother last year. Spent entire weekend there (DTM weekend) and completed about 8 laps in total as the track was closed a fair few times. Went for 1 final lap before calling it a weekend and got stopped due to steering wheel.

Would have ruined his weekend if it was on lap 1 ;-)

We generally go on DTM weekend because if there are any problems then we can just drink beer and watch loud touring cars on the GP track :-)

Ironically all of the DTM cars will have had quick release bosses on their steering wheels too!

I blame the eBay cheap culture for this issue as Ive been there plenty of times with a removeable steering wheel, the difference being is mine have been welded to the steering column and bought from a quality company such as SPA or Lifeline. So now someone with a quality item will fail?

I can understand the side ears to the buckets as they will reduce visibility on what is a road as well as rollcage padding.....but some of the other issues are scary due to the distance and cost to go over there and potentially be turned away at the gate on the first lap!

the Ring really has become a victim of its own success! Back in the 90s it was an amazing place to be

[nickfrog]

It's still pretty amazing on a quiet evening or a track day.

[JontyR]

nickfrog said:

It's still pretty amazing on a quiet evening or a track day.

I do miss the place...had some fun times out there, although Helmut Dähne refused to come for a lap with me in my Atom....lol

I think the next time I head over will be for a track day...or just rent a car that way you can concentrate on enjoying the place and not worry too much about the potential problems.

[itcaptainslow]

Must admit I'm becoming reluctant to do Tourist laps due to the perceived liability risk increasing thanks to higher levels of traffic and dafter driving. Shame the trackday prices are going up, too. I really hope keep going to the 'Ring but I think a combination of growing up, owning a house, having responsibilities and the above mean I'll think twice about my next trip.

Truly jealous of German residents whose road insurance automatically covers them on the circuit!