Save The ‘Ring

I got this from The Lotus Forums

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! — 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:

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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 — the oldest of the racing Hahne brothers (his brother Armin finished 6th last weekend at the track) — 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.

 

From Axis Of Oversteer

If you have been following the debacle in the Eiffel, here are some pictures and a first hand report from one of our intrepid tracktard reporters, Guillaume, Who was in Nürburg recently. While it is the off season, the picture he paints is not pretty.

The infamous Nürburgring business center was deserted, the 30 m. wide "Ring Kino" entertaining not a soul. The racing apparel shops and the BMW showroom had no customers . The famous "formula 1 experience" roller coaster had its speed cut from 180 km/h to 70 km/h because either bad engineering or shoddy construction was causing the building to crack at the higher speed.

Consider that the project, realized by a private company with public funds from an already economically distressed part of Germany is reportedly to close to a half billion Euro in debt. Enthusiasts, those who have kept the 'ring alive paying their 20+ euros per lap and buying countless gallons of gasoline and beer (not to mention steak on stones) at the local establishments would have been ecstatic just to have a larger parking lot with better bathrooms....

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbf7VsZ1Hx0]YouTube - Save The Ring - Nurburgring report - German TV w/ English subtitles[/ame]

 

The Nürburgring is sold. Demolition planned.

A new buyer has been revealed this morning in a shock press conference. Representing a "national interest", the buyer is apparently very close to a deal to not only own the circuit, the land and the facilities. But also the rights to the Nürburgring name and even the concept.


New BMW Jong-Taxi will be a sure-fire hit.

"The Nürburgring is great national institution," said a representative for the soon-to-be buyers. "It's a facility built by the people, for the people and that's how we want to keep it."
Initial plans are to operate the circuit in Germany while simultaneously building a replica in North Korea.

"The Western Capitalist pig-dogs are ruining a great track," confirmed Onda Wong-Line, spokesperson for the DPRNK Racing Inititiave. "Their evil capitalist ways will spell doom not only for a great symbol of Nationalistic Pride, but also for their entire economy. It is the duty of our Nation and our God Leader Kim Jong Un to save the circuit from the so-called democracy of Germany."

Full Story - The Nürburgring is sold. Demolition planned.