Ringside Seat: no news is good news?
Snow stops play and gives time to ponder what the future has in store for the 'ring
Then the snow hit for a single day, and all the bookings just stopped.
And in the silence left behind, all I can hear is one question. "What next?"
Do you feel lucky, punk?
In the last few days the maligned NAG lease-holders officially left their offices and a new sign appeared on the Nurburgring office doors. While NAG are still running place, at least the way is clear for a new direction.
As you'd expect after this news, rumours are flowing quicker than the weissbier. Popular topics include the asking price for the track, or if it might be sold separately from the concrete mess that is the 'Eifel Dorf'. Possible buyers dominate the conversations too. From rich Arabs to Hollywood millionaires, everybody knows somebody who is interested. Possible consortiums of top-tier German businesses are already being formed by brown-nosed yes-men intent on taking their commission.
My personal favourite rumour (although possibly the least likely) is that the circuit could be bought and operated by a co-operative. I like that idea, millions of motorsports fans around the world would love to be a shareholders of the Nurburgring.
But to be honest, it's irresponsible reporting (when has that ever stopped me) to start regurgitating every rumour in every gory detail here. But conjecture runs rife when the atmosphere is starved of truth. And what I find disagreeable is that once again the future of the 'ring, and of a whole dependant region and economy, is being discussed (and maybe even decided) behind closed doors. That's exactly what got us into this mess.
OK, perhaps not the weather for it
Hotels are adding more beds, yet more new buildings are going up down at the industry park. My own employers are refreshing and increasing their fleet of rental vehicles, swapping from one German hot hatch to another. Yesterday this gave me an opportunity to stop worrying about the future and do some actual laps planning for it. And that's a pleasure considering the snow on Monday scared the whole track empty again.
Now call me a snob, but DSG, VAG and FWD are not acronyms that I would normally associate with trackdriving pleasure. But I was happy to be proved wrong, so it doesn't matter who will be running the track next year; we'll be renting out race-prepped Sciroccos for it.
And no, I'm not a xenophobe or racist, just can't believe we can't, collectively, get our arses in gear and do something about it.
How about each European country that sends aid to India and china divert 6 mths worth of that money and pay for the 'ring?
After all, India actually said they don't need the aid (backed up by Kofi Annan!)
And no, I'm not a xenophobe or racist, just can't believe we can't, collectively, get our arses in gear and do something about it.
How about each European country that sends aid to India and china divert 6 mths worth of that money and pay for the 'ring?
After all, India actually said they don't need the aid (backed up by Kofi Annan!)
Martian - you will love the Scirocco, and it might have some more go-faster bits by the time you're here!
scz4 - yes 8m09s actually. First lap was 8m24s, second was 8m09s. There's more to come if I can have some more seat time, but those are they only laps I've ever driven in the car. Engine-wise, the car is 100% stock. About 210hp if memory serves...
End of day if it goes into admin there is nothing stopping the goverment taking ownership and letting the weeds grow until someone writes a big enough check.
Sad but true..I think
A New leader of the party starts in Jan 2013,but could be just as poor as at present.They havent got a clue---best would be for the Greens to pay off all the debts, and get the ADAC/ONS to run the NS----+ BMW/MB/VW to buy the Ring GMBH.
To me it seems as if you slowing down a bit more than necessary for the slow bends? Compared to the cornering forces you're getting in the fast parts, the slow bends look as if the cornering forces were way lower. The first time I thought something had gone pop
Unfamiliarity with the brakes/grip/something else?(I realise as I've never been to the Ring this comment will come across as a bit "armchair enthusiast" but it isn't meant that way!)
I dearly hope that the leadership of the Ring doesn't get 'outsourced' to a wealthy group from anywhere but where is resides. The people in the area seem to be fortunate enough to have a wonderfully rich (in value and history) piece of roadway in their midst and why they should not benefit from that is a mystery to me.
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