[M-terkait]

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

You doing it wrong!

That's because you are playing with the wrong game... for that you need to have Gran Turismo




Congrats to Capricorn, wishing them to benefit from this investment, and help us the fans continue to enjoy this legendary track!

Loool Agree GT5/6 FTW

[fgalanda]

Originally Posted by Fortyb

Yeah that seems cheap as hell..Because the money there going to get back form charging Auto corporations to test there vehicles on this track and also charging the public..There going to be Raking in the Dough.

Thats exactly my thoughts... I could never understand how they couldnt make money and be constantly in loss

[ccraig13]

Originally Posted by Ghetto2315

Maybe HIG Capital can open up a Nurburgring clone in the USA somewhere...

I think we should have at least one on each coast

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by jtuds

The Save The Ring folks aren't gogin to be happy about this...but it could turn out OK.

Apparently the buyer was talking about all the great stuff they want to implement to make Touristenfahrten safer and more efficient, so that was promising.

I think the locals are worried that the demand from auto makers, track day rental companies and other private users will be so high that the company will go for wherever the profit is, even if that means less public access. My question is - when it was government owned, why would they have not doen the same? The thing lost money for years, and if my tax dollars were paying for it, I'd want the gov't to operate it profitably, not to take a loss for the sake of the gear heads.

What many people seem to fail to understand is that the part of the 'Ring that was not profitable was not at all the race track (or rather tracks as there are two). They were and have always been quite profitable. The big money was lost in the totally insane idea of the infrastructure that was recently built around it, i.e. the RingWerk and the GrüneHölle. These things do not have anything to do with the race track (at least not directly) and were the cause for all the financial problems the 'Ring as a whole had the past few years.

Capricorn wants to go back to the basics, i.e. the idea of a center of automotive competence, which is a good thing IMO. They also seem to be far more competent and involved in the automotive world than the people who were in charge in the past, and Capricorn already has roots at the 'Ring anyway.

Originally Posted by jtuds

Another risk is simply less public days, so peopel who live nearby may not be able to drive over tehre after work on a Wednesday for a few laps. That would suck because if you've ever seen the place on a weekend, it's ridiculous - but of course it probably pulls a ton of cash.

I don't think they'll end touristenfahrten, but I could see them limiting it to weekends, which would suck but be better than nothing...

They cannot "end Touristenfahrten". Aside from that it would be a rather bad idea from a commercial and reputation standpoint, a law has been passed last year which ensured that the 'Ring will always be open to the public.

Most of the money on the Nordschleife (not the Grand Prix circuit) comes from the industry pool, i.e. car manufacturers that test their prototypes between March and October every year. However, a big part of it has always been that everyone can drive there, and that will not change.

Alpina_B3_Lux

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by fgalanda

Is it just me or 125 000 000 euro seems really cheap?

It's not 125 million, it's just a bit over 100. The price for the 'Ring was 77 million, plus an investment of 25 million in order to improve the infrastructure and give the whole place a different orientation.

Considering the money that was invested by the government / tax payers in it, it is not very expensive. However, considering the economic risk inherent to buying something in this region where there's almost no industry besides the 'Ring, it is still a considerable amount of money.

Alpina_B3_Lux

[kornykidd0]

I'm going April 13th for a ring day. I can't wait.

[Diver]

Another chapter in the saga of the great ring.

[335igawnM3]

Already had plans to go to the ring for Tourist day this Sunday. This news made my weekend a whole lot better

[335igawnM3]

Originally Posted by nick380

Definitely not impossible, anything track can be simulated when given enough time to study the track. This is cool nonetheless get to see more craziness on the track.

I have driven 25 laps around the ring and PKumarM3 is right. The hills look like walls and you never know what's on the other side until you get there. Along with the sheer blindness of the corners; it IS impossible to replicate. However, GT5/GT6 are the best games for the ring. They got the bumps fairly accurate, as far as location for the big ones, along with the turns (good for memorization purposes) but the elevation is a ways off but the narrowness is decent but not spot on. Degree of difficulty is very high.

Originally Posted by PKumarM3

having driven the ring and spending countless hours on forza...

the sheer elevation change and narrowness of the road is impossible to replicate in a simulator.

How many laps have you done?

[Bahn360Photo]

it lives!!!

[abc]

as it isnt a closed track, doesn't it get packed w/ public traffic (going at all kinds of speeds) I imagine it's rather chaotic?

[conradb]

Originally Posted by TSM330i

+1
I've been to the 'Ring - it's SO worth it!
Just make sure you practice on a simulator before you go. You can actually learn the track before you do. Trust me, it works and you'll have more fun.

This is accurate. I practiced on a couple video games before I went to learn the track better. When I went with my M3 in 2011, it was a lot easier for me than it could have been. Now I'm going again in 2 weeks to pick up a 550i. I will be driving it on the 'Ring. I will miss my limited slip diff :[

[conradb]

My worry now is insurance. Since it was a public road before, insurance applied. Now I guess it's a certified private race track? Insurance won't apply :/

When does all this deal finalize? I'll be at the Nurburgring April 3rd _@

[Gray_Panther]

Originally Posted by Petros

as long as they keep it open to the public, i don't care if it's owned by tooth fairies from another dimension. Driving there is one of the things I have to do before i die.

Eimai mazi sou, file.

[Suave]

So nobody is talking about the fact that when the track goes private it will no longer be a public road. That matters for the many who do ED on tourist insurance which would not cover an accident on a private track. Don't know how much it would be but venture to guess it would at least double the cost of laps and delays with people hopefully forced to buy insurance.

[positiveions]

Well, as long as it's not closed, I'm happy. Hopefully the new owner will keep the door open to enthusiasts.

[C230AMG]

Hope new ownership does not price out the poor/common folks in the future.

[Ringer]

Well, that's great news. I hope that they'll take care the legendary Nurburgring. I saw somewhere on FB that they've started to fix the asphalt in some places and repaint the kerbs.

As long as it's open to the public...it is great. I've been there 4 times and i want to go again.

[rs-6]

Originally Posted by Suave

So nobody is talking about the fact that when the track goes private it will no longer be a public road. That matters for the many who do ED on tourist insurance which would not cover an accident on a private track. Don't know how much it would be but venture to guess it would at least double the cost of laps and delays with people hopefully forced to buy insurance.

It doesn't necessarily have to be this way. Some parts of the German Autobahn are in private concession, so I suspect they might be able to keep the current status as toll-road. Let's hope...

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by Suave

So nobody is talking about the fact that when the track goes private it will no longer be a public road. That matters for the many who do ED on tourist insurance which would not cover an accident on a private track. Don't know how much it would be but venture to guess it would at least double the cost of laps and delays with people hopefully forced to buy insurance.

Nobody is talking about it because it has no relevance. Any street can be owned or built privately, and still be part of the public road network.

Nothing will change as far as insurance coverage is concerned.

Alpina_B3_Lux

[Suave]

Originally Posted by Alpina_B3_Lux

Nobody is talking about it because it has no relevance. Any street can be owned or built privately, and still be part of the public road network.

Nothing will change as far as insurance coverage is concerned.

Alpina_B3_Lux

Actually if the Ring becomes a certified Private track and no longer a toll road insurance companies including ED insurance will NOT cover it. I am planning an ED in July of this year so not a concern since new owners do not take over until 2015. I am sure they will insurance at the track if and when is needed.

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by Suave

Actually if the Ring becomes a certified Private track and no longer a toll road insurance companies including ED insurance will NOT cover it. I am planning an ED in July of this year so not a concern since new owners do not take over until 2015. I am sure they will insurance at the track if and when is needed.

I have no idea what a "certified private track is", but I can assure you that the 'Ring will continue to be accessible to the public, in particular during "Touristenfahrten". As I wrote in one of my earlier post, a law has been passed last year precisely to that effect. Whether any foreign insurance companies will tailor their product to cover this or not, is obviously another story. In Germany it does not make a difference for insurance purposes whether a track (or any other road) is privately owned or not.

Alpina_B3_Lux