The 'Ring is officially For Sale...

[Beefmeister]

Any takers? Just €125m to you sir, they'll even chuck in some floor mats and a dodgy theme park...

http://bridgetogantry.com/2/index.php/home/news/49...

I can see corporate leviathan VW buying it, they've seemingly got cash to burn and would benefit from having it as a testing base.

Only downside is that other manufacturers will be charged much more for testing there.

[A3tdi]

I don't understand why they have found it so difficult to make a successful business model out of this.

[CAPP0]

A3tdi said:

I don't understand why they have found it so difficult to make a successful business model out of this.

Greed?

[Gad-Westy]

Beefmeister said:

Only downside is that other manufacturers will be charged much more for testing there.

I'm not sure that's a downside. Would be refreshing to read about a new car that isn't 1.5 seconds quicker around the 'ring than the old model.

[_Batty_]

The Ringworks themepark that has never run?
The massive museum/empty shops?
I'm sure plenty who depend on the tourism that the ring gives could provide a better answer.

[CudaBen21]

Yes I can see VW group or mercedes buying the place as well and they will probably do a much better job with than the current owners.

[MotorcyclesFish]

I'm gonna buy a few hundred yards of it and put in a cafe and a toll booth.

[fastka]

that new complex at the 'ring is not what the 'ring is about. it is a god awful ghost town of expensive tat shops and fake tanned trying to look glam.
the only time i have seen any life there was when Germany were playing in the Euros (may have been World Cup, can't remember) and they had 2 huge TV screens in that large hall area to the left and the place was absolutely filled with families having picnics and a great time watching the footy.

the Northloop should be completely separate from the GP circuit and i think it could survive.
surely the overheads of the Northloop aren't too great?

[mattball]

Northloop overheads - A lot of resurfacing needs to be done, they get far harsher winters than here.

[fastka]

true, but how much does that cost?

keeping the Northloop as a separate entity, could it not cover it's overheads with the 'ring tickets, track days and manufacturer days...?

[EventHorizon]

Lets just hope they dont rob us of public access.

[mattball]

fastka said:

true, but how much does that cost?

keeping the Northloop as a separate entity, could it not cover it's overheads with the 'ring tickets, track days and manufacturer days...?

£100,000 per mile maybe? Worst case scenario, it's 13 miles so £1.3 million. I'm not too sure, it isn't cheap but it'd depend how much you're taking. I'm not sure if any maintenance is required to armco, gravel traps and that.

[Krikkit]

mattball said:

fastka said:

true, but how much does that cost?

keeping the Northloop as a separate entity, could it not cover it's overheads with the 'ring tickets, track days and manufacturer days...?

£100,000 per mile maybe? Worst case scenario, it's 13 miles so £1.3 million. I'm not too sure, it isn't cheap but it'd depend how much you're taking. I'm not sure if any maintenance is required to armco, gravel traps and that.

A quick google says £11/m^2 or about £100k/mile for a single carriageway. Even at double or triple that for far more careful and expensive works it's not a huge cost.

I think that's a very fair price for the ring, we just need someone like Glickenhaus to jump in and buy it sharpish!

[JayT]

How about a Pistonheads collection fund?

I will start at £5.00 - any advancement?!

[petrolsniffer]

125 mill A drop in the ocean for any of the german big three!

[McSam]

petrolsniffer said:

125 mill A drop in the ocean for any of the german big three!

But if it's not practical (for legal reasons) to continue with Touristenfahrten, then none of them will want to take it because they'd be eternally known as the company that "killed" the 'Ring, whether it was their fault or not.

[RDMcG]

Will be a tragic loss if it happens and no longer provides broad access. Ever since the Richter/lindner disaster there has been a cloud of uncertainty.

[hidetheelephants]

McSam said:

petrolsniffer said:

125 mill A drop in the ocean for any of the german big three!

But if it's not practical (for legal reasons) to continue with Touristenfahrten, then none of them will want to take it because they'd be eternally known as the company that "killed" the 'Ring, whether it was their fault or not.

All 3 should chip in and run it 'federally'; it's Ze German way!

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

MotorcyclesFish said:

I'm gonna buy a few hundred yards of it and put in a cafe and a toll booth.

No mate - some speed cameras will net more profit for sure.