***Nurburgring Under Threat!!!***

[Skifledanabit]

http://www.facebook.com/SaveTheRing?v=info

please read...

Save The Nürburgring!

Germany\'s Nürburgring is the world\'s automotive playground. A public park for gearheads. Sadly, it\'s been handed over to privateers who\'ve put the entire \'Ring at risk. Michael Frison of 20832.com explains why we need to save the Nürburgring! â€" Ed.

You might be surprised by reading this headline and I\'m aware the subject has not gained much awareness abroad, but there\'s currently a serious threat to the Nürburgring.

Since it\'s opening in 1927, the Nurburgring has been under complete public ownership and administration, but in May of this year the complete Nurburgring race track and park was rented out to two privateers (Kai Richter, Jörg Lindner). They have no motorsports background whatsoever, but are the driving forces behind the makeover, which includes the addition of a theme park with a new roller coaster that doesn\'t work, more hotel capacity than the area needs, a 3,000-seat event arena, and a shopping mall. Everything appears to be far too big and remains empty most of the time.

They promised private financing, but this soon turned out to be a fake. The Minister of Finance had to resign as a consequence. Despite lack of funding completion of the project continued.

The heavy burden now sitting on Nordschleife\'s shoulder is the debt of approximately 400 Million Euros, which seems completely unnecessary considering complete race tracks have been constructed for a fraction of this amount.

The issue is complex and has kept fans of the \'Ring busy, but I want to share with you what just happend last week: Nürburgring officials always claim a total of two million visitors per year, but in true Wikileaks style we got ahold of an older internal document (PDF) telling a different story. Promoters always engage in number polishing, but this is of different quality. It appears there\'s double bookkeeping for real vs. published visitors for all events held at the Ring. Have a look at the graph summarizing the figures:

Who would dare to claim two million spectators while only 370,000 actually turned up? The Nürburgring did and they based the business plan of the new leisure park on these numbers.

You don\'t believe me? Ask Sabine next time you meet her. Several investigations have already been triggered by the Department of Public Prosecution, a governmental board of inquiry and the competition department of the European Commission.

And anyone who criticizes the current direction of the \'Ring is answered with force. Wilhelm Hahne â€" the oldest of the racing Hahne brothers (his brother Armin finished 6th last weekend at the track) â€" had his house searched in June of last year and as recent as last week received again a warning letter from the Nürburgring lawyers for speaking the truth.

It really hurts to get sucked into politics and to witness how they treat the heritage we all love. The worst that could happen is enthusiasts be forced to pay the price of a privateer\'s blunder in the form of higher prices or worse. Threats to the track include reduced maintenance of the track to reduce costs, less motorsports, and restrictions on small clubs running events in the area. Enthusiasts could also be required to book at the new hotels to race at the track.

Please spread the word if you care about Nordschleife and its heritage. Follow "Save The Ring" on facebook and question the information shared by officials.

SAVE THE RING! - to preserve Nordschleife for Motorsport use.

*copied form the facebook page.

[captainbizzaro]

I was out at the ring working on the new \'museum\' segment of the attraction where the roller coaster ran out of, would be a shame to see it fall on it\'s arse. We heard long after we returned that there was some corruption afoot but didn\'t realise it was this bad. I spoke to someone who went out there recently too and they said that it was dead and the coaster wasn\'t running. I was lucky as it was running on F1 day so we got a few rides after Schumacher had been on it, impressive bit of kit as the main feature is the brutal acceleration off the catapult, only beaten by the Ferrari one in Japan for brutality! Anyway, would be a great shame to see it go this way, but I doubt the actual track will be at risk although I don\'t think Bernie will let the F1 circus go there next year if it\'s got a derelict theme park sitting opposite the pit wall.

[goldk28611]

[Dan Norton]

can i ask what signing a petition would do?

its privately owned, so no-one has a chance of doing anything.

[jetpilot]

Im guessing it will be sold on by the owner or by any liquidating company. I seriously doubt something as "large" and historical as the ring will ever end up redundant or out of use.

[AtomicRex]

My personal opinion is that I hope it does go to the dogs.....in fact I\'m pretty much of the opinion it went there about 5 years ago!
 
I for one am partly to blame as I ran tours out there, but I think programs such as Top Gear are fully to blame as everyone goes out there to break the 10 minute barrier!  Most of the Britt\'s that go there are a disgrace and cause more than the average number of accidents!
 
The place has become far to commercialised, and they don\'t help themselves either.  With barrier repairs costing €1000\'s and potentially ten times that with circuit closures, people would sooner do a runner than fess up!  This leaves coolant and oil trails which is lethal to other users.  I speak from experience here managing to lift the bike up from hitting coolant!
 
As said, hopefully it will die a death....and then reopen quietly in years to come, where only the dedicated few will go for the ultimate holiday!  Back in the late 90\'s is was sooooo quiet there

[Competition PZ]

Well the petition IS being noticed and there is more being uncovered on the dubious practices of the two guys who set up the Ring-Werk which is the moeny SINK that the costs are being raised on the Loop to cover.
 
SO join in, leave it "to someone else" and it will never open again.
Background reading to the petition ....
Ringers Forum View topic - Who the hell is the devil? (a report)
Ringers Forum View topic - Save the Ring
 
Better find ways to protest if you liek the \'Ring, because it\'s now OFFICIAL that makers are leaving
Pirelli have confirmed they will NOT pay the higher fees demanded and will leave
http://www.volksfreund.de/nachrichten/region/wirtschaft/Wirtschaft-in-der-Region-Reifenhersteller-Pirelli-verlaesst-Industriepool-des-Nuerburgrings;art882,2651245]Reifenhersteller Pirelli verlässt Industriepool des Nürburgrings - volksfreund.de[/url]

the first car companies retire from the Nürburgring?
The privately run Automotive GmbH has confirmed to the Rhine newspaper that the tire manufacturer Pirelli no longer "will participate in the industry pool". Reasons not disclosed.
Rumors are circulating that the British company Aston Martin and German marque Mercedes are to leave.
"It is unknown us", said Stefanie Hohn, the press officer of Automotive GmbH.
The control center of the industry pool was not available for comment. There have been fears that prominent companies could look for a different test track. Around 40 companies of the automotive industry that have booked the Nordschleife for several weeks a year to test products are present in the industry pool.

Letter from a US author pretty much sums up and hopefully they listen to and learn from HISTORY.
 
Save The Ring - Personal Letter to European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia.
 
adn I LOVE the logo created ---- but I\'m computer geek, so not sure who else will get/like it
[/quote]

The German TV coverage WITH SUBTITLES.
 
Get what it\'s all about ......
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbf7VsZ1Hx0
 
Get on over and sign up to the petitions and letters !!!!

Now there\'s even MORE fallout that they\'re wanting tax payers to pay for ...
 
More public money needed to fund ring°card company.
 
(apologies for layout/cuts as I\'m taking from thread at http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42846&page=2 )
 
I agree that for weekend British vacations it\'s a poor copy of what it once was but there is still a large German usage and on those days MUCH more sensibel shared driving Pick when to go and with tourist-sessions on the GP circuit for 35 euros there isn\'t an equal for petrol heads ... JUST drive sensibly fast !!!

[Competition PZ]

After Pirelli leaving another company suffering .....
 
52 years of tradition ended
 
Scuderia Hanseat has to cancel their Spring course - for the first time since 52 years.

Scuderia Hanseat was founded by well known motorsport personas 52 years ago. The list of instructors reads like a who-is-who of motorsport: Edgar Barth, Graf de Beaufort, Richard von Frankenberg, Paul Fr̬re, Helm Gl̦ckler, Hans Herrmann, Stirling Moss, the legendary Hans Stuck, Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips Рto name only a few.
For 52 years has the Scuderia Hanseat organised two major yearly training courses for sports drivers on the Nordschleife and the Grand Prix circuit at the Nurburgring. Every course saw around 300 drivers from 20 nations take part, with many big names from the world of showbiz and business attending, such as the King of Sweden and his son who both attended multiple times.

[Competition PZ]

Are folks here interested or getting the news in other places anyway ?
I\'m crossposting from www.ultimatecarepage.com and can be followed there if preferred.
 
Save The Ring Update - English subtitles - Nurburgring report on German TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzN_nhojo9o
 
Nice that folks are subtitling for us, my German\'s not that good

[goldk28611]

*geek alert*
love that logo too!

[dudsey]

It doesn\'t matter if the ring gets closed down, go drive around rural areas of Germany and many have fantastic driving roads with cars you see every 4-5kms if at all. I\'ve clocked 3k miles driving in Germany and not once driving on the ring. There are plenty of good roads to drive on even within 20 miles of the ring, I don\'t know why people pay for the privilege. And to all those that will reply to my comments with; "you are risking lives of others, you should keep it on track" etc you are hypocrites as there is no way you buy a sports car to drive it within the confines of the law.

[Competition PZ]

I think some do dudsey and like folks who stopped smoking, if we\'ve had a "bad one" on the open roads we can be a little "evangelist" on the risk to self and others on public roads.
 
I am around the \'ring regularly and dont go on the track every time and you\'re worrying me on the roads now
 
To many it will matter if the \'ring closes as many businesses will fold and no likelihood of anything to replace it in the area other than deforestation
 
On the hypocrisy, agreed, I\'m as guilty as most on that but TRY to limit it to tracks and competitions ... and the \'ring In Scotland there are roads the equal of the \'ring in splendour, speed and challenge. BUT I\'d not run those as flat out as the \'Ring where you know everyone\'s going the same way round
 
Have a good experience on the \'Ring and it\'s never forgotten. Problem now is there are too many who see the TIME the goal rather than the enjoyment who are making it scary. Usually avoid Brit holidays and it\'s better If you are over often, drop me a line and happy to introduce you to the locals and when best to go for a quieter run.

[dudsey]

You make valid points, but no need to be worried. I haven\'t frequented the German roads for quite some time now .

I  went to the \'Ring last in early September 2010 on a race weekend, well  racing on the Saturday and there were maybe 25 cars on track on the  Sunday. The car parks were empty no queue\'s at all although there were  some Brits in some Focus RS\' and low and behold, they were the only 2 to  go off track. But I agree with people trying to get good times and forgetting to enjoy their cars instead of just thrashing them :Nono!.

I don\'t think the ring will close, if anything it  will get some form of government grant/fund as it must bring plenty of  revenue to the region and country as a whole, so from a economic stand point it\'s half-witted, as there is nothing else around there! But if it does, I will happily pay for closed/private track sessions (yes this goes against my previous comments but I\'d be the only one on it!)

If  they offered some sort of subsidised car transport for the yanks I\'m  sure a lot of them would bring their cars over. There are plenty of mega rich  car enthusiasts in the states. I remember reading some time ago an  American used to fly over once or twice a year and hire a P-car to take  round the ring, top it up with any fluids he used, return it after 3  days and fly home.

Not planning any trips to the \'Ring any time  soon, maybe go watch the 24h GT3 in June mainly to see the P4/5  competizione purpose built for the race (later to be shipped to NY and used as a road car!). Other than that no idea when  I\'ll be going again. Do you go often?

[Competition PZ]

A surprising lot of Americans DO come over for the \'Ring ... they usually take in a Spa trackday as well
 
Know the owner of the P4/5 competizione and have full details of his build !
Clips of JIm out at Vallelunga with it .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qJDmKoAShQ
He posted all the details of the build and progress updates regularly on our forum over at www.ultimatecarpage.com
 
btw I think that without the touristfahren income and regular use there will not be enough usage and the track will drop into disrepair and then unable to be used. Then never open again I\'ve seen many "historic" tracks over the decades disappear
 
I\'ve an apartment overlooking the Breidscheid entrance to the track so I\'ve a vested interest in getting all the attention and action to get rid of the jokers !!

[dudsey]

Yea there\'s a facebook group as well for the P4/5, hope Jim or his son brings it to Goodwood Festival of Speed after the race.

What\'s your email dude?