RE: Ringside seat: tourist laps under threat

[Gixer_fan]

Dan7357 said:

I have been going for the last 6-7 years and seen it going downhill. Ok I only do one or two laps when I am there, but I go with around 15 friends, more for the drive and social event.(oh, and steak on a stone)

It seems when Top Gear showed the UK what they were missing out on it changed, you started getting people who just wanted to lap under 10 mins no matter what car they were driving.

It then changed again when the new shops and hotels were built.

I was looking into sorting another trip for this year, but the thought of no parking, traffic everywhere just does not do it for me.

Do they not know how they are killing the place..The passion for cars and having a good petrolhead meet is gone, its all about money now.

More TF days would make more people come, making more money. You would think being German they would put the people first. I understand car makers want to use it too, but can't one person sort a balance out?


I vote we all buy some land, and build the 'Ring 2, right here in the UK.

Seems to be the way most things go: starts of as a unique, cheap, minority interest experience, only to become over-commercialised, crowded, expensive, ruining the qualities that once made it so good.
How about investing in a few UK track days as an alternative?

[Comadis]

here everything is explained:

http://savethering.org/


the "new" ring is a result of nepotism, political power fights, mis-management and finally everything is about money..money..money...

2years ago, the german kitcar/super seven club rented a parking area, incl. toilets, camping facilities etc. they organized a live-band, like the years b4. midnight the police was arriving, asking to stop the music, because the guests from the newly built 4-star hotel complained about noise!!!!

i think that says everything.

its still fascinating for me going to the "ring", but the myth is slowly loosing its charm.

[CBR JGWRR]

redgriff500 said:

Fireblade69 said:

Nice!

Point me in the direction of some one way roads with crash barriers, safety personnel, handling challenges, no speed limits and all within the law then please.

Isle Of Man - closer and cheaper.

If you go with a reasonable sized group they will (or did for us a few yrs ago) close the Mountain Section so you get the complete road.

I'm unsure why the Isle Of Man gets overlooked as Europe keeps tightening its once relaxed attitude to speed and the Ring is a financial disaster if you make a mistake.

EDIT - OK I'm starting to see why it's less popular, ferry crossing in the summer is £220 upwards

Edited by redgriff500 on Friday 20th January 21:07

O/T
It gets worse in TT week...

Also, the fines for driving offences are higher (Kicked off the island, after large fines, and next day courtcases) but, at least the police are more reasonable.

Some insurance companies don't cover the Isle of Man as well.
Mine doesn't, which is a pain in the proverbial.


Also, if you do go, please don't speed in the speed limited bits. The speed limits on the IOM are actually there for a reason, and not to make money like they are here in the UK.

Back on topic...

Gixer_fan said:

Dan7357 said:

I have been going for the last 6-7 years and seen it going downhill. Ok I only do one or two laps when I am there, but I go with around 15 friends, more for the drive and social event.(oh, and steak on a stone)

It seems when Top Gear showed the UK what they were missing out on it changed, you started getting people who just wanted to lap under 10 mins no matter what car they were driving.

It then changed again when the new shops and hotels were built.

I was looking into sorting another trip for this year, but the thought of no parking, traffic everywhere just does not do it for me.

Do they not know how they are killing the place..The passion for cars and having a good petrolhead meet is gone, its all about money now.

More TF days would make more people come, making more money. You would think being German they would put the people first. I understand car makers want to use it too, but can't one person sort a balance out?


I vote we all buy some land, and build the 'Ring 2, right here in the UK.

Seems to be the way most things go: starts of as a unique, cheap, minority interest experience, only to become over-commercialised, crowded, expensive, ruining the qualities that once made it so good.
How about investing in a few UK track days as an alternative?

There is a petition up to make a UK Nurburgring.

The PH topic is:
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Aswissbanker]

Surely it's our chum "Health and Safety?"

Those €26 fees may add up, but the owners must be worrying that one day they'll get a dozen public deaths from just one accident, and a very big legal / compensation fee?

Remember this one from last summer: http://jalopnik.com/5846834/watch-the-scary-nurbur...

[martingti]

The thought of only being able to get to drive round the ring at weekends when it will be ridiculously busy is not one i like at all.
As a massive petrolhead i've been quite a bit in the last 3 years and love everything about the place (except the nightlife - everything is shut at night time!).
Last year on one of my trips i went on the GP circuit for the 20 minutes, i was sharing the track with 1 other car it was that quiet!
We also went on the ring during the week and it wasnt too busy and managed to set a time of 10:19 (yes im one of those people chasing a sub 10 minute lap time) then when we went on the ring at the weekend the track was incredibly busy and i only managed 1 lap as it was too busy to enjoy, being in a mk4 golf i was constantly moving over for the faster cars.
If its only gonna be open weekends then thats what its gonna be like every weekend then i doubt i will go again which im i'd be gutted about.

[paranha]

I have been a Nordschleifer for 37 years---maybe 20 TF laps in all that time.My driving has been with an annual Int Fahrerlehrgang/Driver training course,which has been in existance since 1964-Without a break. Last year was the First time we did not have an event, due to the criminal events and lack of Any management, by the New companies total lack of business knowledge.Why have No criminal trials been held, to bring the crooks to some belated justice?

What is the Regional Govt.of Rheinland-Pfalz doing to solve the self destruction of Nurburgs way of life, and the people of the Eifel area around it.I think IF the Federal govt. wanted to solve this Political game, it would do it in an instant---but its an opposition party in RP power-so let it stew in its own juice-while Angela teaches some lessons-to the voters who made the wrong choice.Perhaps our German friends or Comadis will comment!!.

It was stated last year when the question of the "Pool" manufacturers testing costs were mentioned, a figure of 1 million Euro,s PA was given---TOTAL--should be double that sum for Each company--would go some way to reducing the debts that We are being bled to death for--

[markeym3]

It is a shame to hear this , as mentioned earlier by other members , when i first went 2000 (E30 M3) it was a special place , not overcrowded and a pleasure to be there relaxed , now it seems it is a comercial place even now when your going round(M3 CSL) all the bullst just takes the shine off a little , seems to be the way nowadays anything that may have a profit gets taken over (privatised) and ruined ... sorry to go on , but my understanding was that the ring was created by our old chum hitler to help unemployment and bring money to the area ,, the way its going i can only see hotels losing out and retaurants and mountains of curry wurst going to waste ... cheers

[PascalBuyens]

MattCSLnut said:

+1
I've been going since 2004 (Ze Gut Old Dayz) sadly things have changed for the worst since RingMafia took over the controls.
I wonder if that BIG accident last October http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... had anything to do with the latest bad news and fewer TF days ?

1999 were the good old days at the Ring.... It has become way too popular after that... And now, with the new management... no good.

[Maxus]

This is very short sighted if it happens. The reason a "ring time" means so much is because we can relate to it.
If TF's are closed the manufacturers might as well talk about "Nardo times" or any other test facility.

[anonymous-user]

markeym3 said:

It is a shame to hear this , as mentioned earlier by other members , when i first went 2000 (E30 M3) it was a special place , not overcrowded and a pleasure to be there relaxed , now it seems it is a comercial place even now when your going round(M3 CSL) all the bullst just takes the shine off a little , seems to be the way nowadays anything that may have a profit gets taken over (privatised) and ruined ... sorry to go on , but my understanding was that the ring was created by our old chum hitler to help unemployment and bring money to the area ,, the way its going i can only see hotels losing out and retaurants and mountains of curry wurst going to waste ... cheers

The Nurburgring was built well before Hitler's time, construction started in 1925, it was completed in 1927.

[sim16v]

PascalBuyens said:

MattCSLnut said:

+1
I've been going since 2004 (Ze Gut Old Dayz) sadly things have changed for the worst since RingMafia took over the controls.
I wonder if that BIG accident last October http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... had anything to do with the latest bad news and fewer TF days ?

1999 were the good old days at the Ring.... It has become way too popular after that... And now, with the new management... no good.

Tf has been going since the track opened in the 1920s, 1999 was hardly the good old days!

I'd have liked to lap in the late 80s, just look at Stefan Roser's laps in the Ruf Yellowbird.

Filmed during Tf in the late 80s/early 90s!



It is busy now, but you can still get some great lapping in, even on a busy weekend.

Ease off on the beers the night before and get there for the track opening at 8.30

You could get half a dozen laps in before there is any hints of crowds appearing!

[Monty Zoomer]

McSam said:

Nürburg. It's spelt Nürburg, and the umlaut doesn't get any less important every time you guys ignore it on a major motoring website. Being arsed to press ALT+0252 is all it takes to look like you understand..

Thank yoü

[vintageracer01]

SAVE THE RING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nurburgsingh]

I took my first laps in 1992... When the barriers were in the old pits at T13, I took my ring taxi ride in an E34 M5.... and I really was the only Indian in the village!!

The demise of the experience has been recent and rapid, I used to look forward to the TF dates being published more than I did Xmas....

I love the ring, I really do... But it's a total mess these days.

Someone posted earlier about the Ise Of Man being an alternative..... I did start to think that could be an option..

But "douglassingh" doesn't have the same 'ring' to it....

I AM nurburgsingh... and I will return to the place I love and I will stay in a locally owned hotel of my choice and I will eat in several of the locally owned restaurants in adenau.

[kitty55]

Pingman said:

Do they make more money from manufacturers hiring the whole circuit to privately test their vehicles than they get from public sessions?

yes, they now do indeed unfortunately. private sessions on the ring are RIDICULOUSLY expensive and i just experienced that myself last in august last year..:-(

[williamp]

You lot will hate this news then:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... - the James Hunt movie

Imagine them hiring the track out to make a whole film. Imagine!! How dare try to look for new avenues of income generation in a world financally very different to the recent past etc etc

[marka1781]

1ts trip in 1992, followed by 5/6 other trips in late 90's and most recently in 2007 never will again as most say its really not what it was. To much TV exposure has brought in the occasional boy racers not true petrolheads! Video games etc have increased awareness with a general negative view and no real fast proper driving hence more closures! The place will never be what it once was but the tarmac is still a hallowed place and yes better roads excist but they are not one way with no restrictions. I will always fondly remember those laps but somehow feel that a cheapish hoon as it were will generally cost more as the years pass (insurance,fuel,travel costs) although decent fast cars do cost much less these days.

Save the RING though its special history makes it a place a hold on to!

[VonSenger]

Yep that's Dale. Feel sorry for him but unfortunately it's.a business and needs to maximise profits. Sad state of affairs.

[EDLT]

Well I went to the ring before it was popular, back in 1764.

[soad]

benzito said:

I've never been, however the way things are looking I might never get to go

Ditto