BERNIE ECCLESTONE TO BUY THE NURBURGRING
Discussion
MartG said:
Assuming the Germans don't arrest him first ?
Depends on how canny the Germans want to be. AIUI the state that the 'Ring is in is looking down the barrel of a hundreds of millions of Euros bill for something or other; so by Bernie buying it he'll be doing them a huge favour. Possibly enough of a favour to call off the lawyers...?Blackpuddin said:
it's the motoring equivalent of Tesco getting permission to build yet another bloody supermarket in exchange for a playground swing and two bus stops
That's my guess anyway. I can't think of anyone else who has the money on hand to buy it in cash and still have enough left over to make it work, and has a good reason to do it. The Nurburgring is responsible for thousands of jobs in an otherwise extremely poor region, so I'm guessing that if German prosecutors have a "public interest" test on prosecution, it might fail.Blackpuddin said:
it's the motoring equivalent of Tesco getting permission to build yet another bloody supermarket in exchange for a playground swing and two bus stops
Isn't that what they've already got? At least if Tesco bought it the playground swing would work, which is more than can be said for its equivalent at the Nurburgring...
Sounds like Bernie spin .. to evade the main issue 
airportparking said:
My thoughts exactly, clever man
You're assuming he's cleverer than all those guys who'd like to take take that golden goose straight out of his dirty little hands.Bernies had a good innings, but his time is coming to a close.
& if what I hear is right they're not going to embarrass him, they're going to absolutelyy wipe the floor with him & his nasty little operation
LaurasOtherHalf said:
airportparking said:
My thoughts exactly, clever man
You're assuming he's cleverer than all those guys who'd like to take take that golden goose straight out of his dirty little hands.Bernies had a good innings, but his time is coming to a close.
& if what I hear is right they're not going to embarrass him, they're going to absolutelyy wipe the floor with him & his nasty little operation
It doesn't matter how clever (or not) he is personally - he can hire/buy the very cleverest.
Bernie will bow out (of F1) at a time and in a manner of his choosing, no-one elses.
Bernie has of course cut plenty of dodgy deals to get to his present position. But it takes two to cut a dodgy deal - and Bernie will have kept all the evidence for a rainy day, just in case. There will be no floor wiping.
shunaphil said:
Sorry - thats fantasy. If you believe that, then you have no idea what it means to be as wealthy and as connected as Bernie. Do you seriously think he is losing even a seconds sleep abou a trivial (to him) bribery case in a german court?
It doesn't matter how clever (or not) he is personally - he can hire/buy the very cleverest.
Bernie will bow out (of F1) at a time and in a manner of his choosing, no-one elses.
Bernie has of course cut plenty of dodgy deals to get to his present position. But it takes two to cut a dodgy deal - and Bernie will have kept all the evidence for a rainy day, just in case. There will be no floor wiping.
No matter how you cut it, Ecclestone has major problems. This latest scandal has come at a most inopportune time for him: there is the concord agreement and the sale of the commercial rights. CVC could well view him as a liability, someone who will cost them money. Anyone buying into the commercial rights would think that, due to his age and less than firmity, he would not be staying in his position for very long. Or to put it another way he isn't part of the deal.It doesn't matter how clever (or not) he is personally - he can hire/buy the very cleverest.
Bernie will bow out (of F1) at a time and in a manner of his choosing, no-one elses.
Bernie has of course cut plenty of dodgy deals to get to his present position. But it takes two to cut a dodgy deal - and Bernie will have kept all the evidence for a rainy day, just in case. There will be no floor wiping.
So one concern of any purchaser would be his replacement and what better way to quell those fears that install the replacement now?
With regards the bribery accusation, although my understanding is that he admitted the actions, this is I think of more concern to him. Fit and proper person might come into it and even if you have got flash briefs, if you upset a few people in the past, and this might apply to Ecclestone, then you are vulnerable. Indeed, if you appear vulnerable then you are.
There can be little doubt that this is the endgame for Ecclestone. No one goes on forever, and the only concern for him, if we go by his previous conduct, is how much he walks away with.
For me one of the most significant incidents was his absence at the German GP. That either was an admission of weakness or merely appear to be. From the point of view of those judging him it matters not which.
Derek Smith said:
shunaphil said:
Sorry - thats fantasy. If you believe that, then you have no idea what it means to be as wealthy and as connected as Bernie. Do you seriously think he is losing even a seconds sleep abou a trivial (to him) bribery case in a german court?
It doesn't matter how clever (or not) he is personally - he can hire/buy the very cleverest.
Bernie will bow out (of F1) at a time and in a manner of his choosing, no-one elses.
Bernie has of course cut plenty of dodgy deals to get to his present position. But it takes two to cut a dodgy deal - and Bernie will have kept all the evidence for a rainy day, just in case. There will be no floor wiping.
No matter how you cut it, Ecclestone has major problems. This latest scandal has come at a most inopportune time for him: there is the concord agreement and the sale of the commercial rights. CVC could well view him as a liability, someone who will cost them money. Anyone buying into the commercial rights would think that, due to his age and less than firmity, he would not be staying in his position for very long. Or to put it another way he isn't part of the deal.It doesn't matter how clever (or not) he is personally - he can hire/buy the very cleverest.
Bernie will bow out (of F1) at a time and in a manner of his choosing, no-one elses.
Bernie has of course cut plenty of dodgy deals to get to his present position. But it takes two to cut a dodgy deal - and Bernie will have kept all the evidence for a rainy day, just in case. There will be no floor wiping.
So one concern of any purchaser would be his replacement and what better way to quell those fears that install the replacement now?
With regards the bribery accusation, although my understanding is that he admitted the actions, this is I think of more concern to him. Fit and proper person might come into it and even if you have got flash briefs, if you upset a few people in the past, and this might apply to Ecclestone, then you are vulnerable. Indeed, if you appear vulnerable then you are.
There can be little doubt that this is the endgame for Ecclestone. No one goes on forever, and the only concern for him, if we go by his previous conduct, is how much he walks away with.
For me one of the most significant incidents was his absence at the German GP. That either was an admission of weakness or merely appear to be. From the point of view of those judging him it matters not which.
What happens to F1 post Ecclestone?
LongQ said:
What happens to F1 post Ecclestone?
Indeed. Despite all the arguments about whether Ecclestone has been good for F1 or not, you have asked the most pertinent question. It is one that worries me. I, like everyone I assume, have no idea.The feeling I get is that Ecclestone has little concern for continuity. He appears to be training no one to replace him and when, or perhaps if, the flotation occurs then it seems probable that he will not play the man any longer. His apparent fear of travelling to Germany is unlikely to reassure people that the sport is in safe hands.
We've heard rumours as to who might replace him but such uncertainty is not good for the sport at a time of flotation and the concord agreement negotiations. We have an FIA that has been neutered because it's main source of income, F1, has dried. We have a FOCA that is a shambles and, apparently, the only other power block wants out.
As you ask, what's going to happen to our sport?
Derek Smith said:
LongQ said:
What happens to F1 post Ecclestone?
Indeed. Despite all the arguments about whether Ecclestone has been good for F1 or not, you have asked the most pertinent question. It is one that worries me. I, like everyone I assume, have no idea.The feeling I get is that Ecclestone has little concern for continuity. He appears to be training no one to replace him and when, or perhaps if, the flotation occurs then it seems probable that he will not play the man any longer. His apparent fear of travelling to Germany is unlikely to reassure people that the sport is in safe hands.
We've heard rumours as to who might replace him but such uncertainty is not good for the sport at a time of flotation and the concord agreement negotiations. We have an FIA that has been neutered because it's main source of income, F1, has dried. We have a FOCA that is a shambles and, apparently, the only other power block wants out.
As you ask, what's going to happen to our sport?
However the continuity of racing is a different matter and absent some sort of target for drivers to aspire to the stepping stones of today (and thus the cash cow at grass roots level for tomorrow?) are less than evident on a global stage.
Let's hope that BE doesn't buy it,we need someone who would be sympathetic to local business's as well as enticing more people to use the facilities by lowering the prices and removing the snide little tax's Lindner has brought in. We need some thing like the VAG group to step in,or indeed,a conglomerate of manufacturers,after the increase's that Lindner introduced!!!
Derek Smith said:
No matter how you cut it, Ecclestone has major problems. This latest scandal has come at a most inopportune time for him: there is the concord agreement and the sale of the commercial rights. CVC could well view him as a liability, someone who will cost them money. Anyone buying into the commercial rights would think that, due to his age and less than firmity, he would not be staying in his position for very long. Or to put it another way he isn't part of the deal.
So one concern of any purchaser would be his replacement and what better way to quell those fears that install the replacement now?
With regards the bribery accusation, although my understanding is that he admitted the actions, this is I think of more concern to him. Fit and proper person might come into it and even if you have got flash briefs, if you upset a few people in the past, and this might apply to Ecclestone, then you are vulnerable. Indeed, if you appear vulnerable then you are.
There can be little doubt that this is the endgame for Ecclestone. No one goes on forever, and the only concern for him, if we go by his previous conduct, is how much he walks away with.
For me one of the most significant incidents was his absence at the German GP. That either was an admission of weakness or merely appear to be. From the point of view of those judging him it matters not which.
I agree with what you say to some extent - the cvc deal could well include a 'bow out' arrangement.So one concern of any purchaser would be his replacement and what better way to quell those fears that install the replacement now?
With regards the bribery accusation, although my understanding is that he admitted the actions, this is I think of more concern to him. Fit and proper person might come into it and even if you have got flash briefs, if you upset a few people in the past, and this might apply to Ecclestone, then you are vulnerable. Indeed, if you appear vulnerable then you are.
There can be little doubt that this is the endgame for Ecclestone. No one goes on forever, and the only concern for him, if we go by his previous conduct, is how much he walks away with.
For me one of the most significant incidents was his absence at the German GP. That either was an admission of weakness or merely appear to be. From the point of view of those judging him it matters not which.
I genuinely don't believe Bernie is vulnerable in any way to the bribery case outcome - if its guilt/a fine then he can just write a cheque. Bernie operates globally, presumably has business interests that are very widely scattered, so 'fit and proper' in the UK (or even EU) isn't going to matter much in Asia say.
I agree that this must be the twilight for Bernie (my point was really that he isn't going to be 'floor wiped' by anyone).
I don't think the fans should be too worried whatever happens short term - F1 is a multi-billion dollar global industry that isnt going to disappear overnight.
However - F1 DOES need someone at the very top who can cut a deal here, keep the teams in line there, and keep the FIA at bay everywhere, if it is all going to continue long into the future. Who that person is I don't know.
terenceb said:
Let's hope that BE doesn't buy it,we need someone who would be sympathetic to local business's as well as enticing more people to use the facilities by lowering the prices and removing the snide little tax's Lindner has brought in. We need some thing like the VAG group to step in,or indeed,a conglomerate of manufacturers,after the increase's that Lindner introduced!!!
I don't know who officially owns Millbrook now (used to be Vauxhall) but it's available for all manufacturers to use, so doing something similar with the Ring would be great but it's possible it might have to shut on certain days to the public - I don't think Millbrook is ever open to the public apart from event-specific days.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff