Guy banned from the 'ring after drifting

[ahpadt]

Originally Posted by Autoblog

Drivers can fly through the Nürburgring Nordshcleife at tremendous rates of speed, risking life and limb to shave a second or two off a lap time. But apparently if you let the rear wheels slip a bit while coming into a turn, you're a drifter just begging for a pink slip. Bridge to Gantry blogger Dale Lomas was banned from the 'Ring for what he says is nothing more than some oversteer, but the heavy-handed Germans didn't see it that way. Officials wrote Lomas, who prides himself as a paid racing instructor, a ban slip with an offense that translates to "Drifting while Overtaking."

The Green Hell isn't just some lawless speed haven, which makes sense considering the dangers inherent in the famous circuit's myriad twists and turns. Still, while getting banned from the 'Ring is a real bummer, at least the pink slip looks good hanging on the office wall.

More: http://bridgetogantry.com/index.php?...d=178&Itemid=1

[Blind_Io]

That is simultaneously sucky and fucking awesome.

They should do a monthly drift day, I'd pay to see that.

[TomCat]

I think it was the overtaking bit that was the real problem.

Putting someone else's life in danger so you can be a showboating idiot isn't allowed, I guess.

[the Interceptor]

Note that it might also mean "drifting while being overtaken", which is a different story.

[idk]

Mhh... technically yes but i dont think so... anyway... Nürburgring is a verey dangerous track, many many accidents happen. Especially drifting can get out of countrol very easily and i think the operators should be very hard on every person that even put a small risk on others with their action.

It's all speculative... we dont know the details. Sure they guy who got it says he wasnt drifting... or at least it was not intentionally... but who knows?!

PS: The note says that he is banned just for the rest of that special day...

[Alok]

Fuck!! I personally know Dale and he is mighty talented in his Miata. Living essentially at the doorstep of the ring, he knows the ring like the back of his hand. Shame about it though.

[thedguy]

If I got that I'd be simultaneously bummed out and stoked. I'd frame that and hang it in the shop for all to see... some will laugh, idiots will think I got banned for drifting the entire track.

[Viper007Bond]

Is it a perm ban? Or just a temporary one?

I'd fight to my death if it was a perm ban.

[prizrak]

How do you really tell if it's drifting or just recovering from oversteer? Wouldn't it look pretty similar? I suppose the only sure fire way to tell is if you are entering the corner sideways.

[torqueless]

any idea on what kinda vehicle it was?

if it was a AE86 i'll be rofling.

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by torqueless

any idea on what kinda vehicle it was?

if it was a AE86 i'll be rofling.

Originally Posted by Alok

Fuck!! I personally know Dale and he is mighty talented in his Miata. Living essentially at the doorstep of the ring, he knows the ring like the back of his hand. Shame about it though.

[Hidden_Hunter]

eh if it was a public session he could of a) been creating a safety issue b) just plain ruining it for others

[Ottobon]

Originally Posted by idk

Mhh... technically yes but i dont think so... anyway... Nürburgring is a verey dangerous track, many many accidents happen. Especially drifting can get out of countrol very easily and i think the operators should be very hard on every person that even put a small risk on others with their action.

It's all speculative... we dont know the details. Sure they guy who got it says he wasnt drifting... or at least it was not intentionally... but who knows?!

PS: The note says that he is banned just for the rest of that special day...

Its a fucking race track, accept that its a dangerous place with poor run off design, if you don't want people driving quickly and dangerously on it then don't go there, or lobby to just shut the whole damn thing down.

If you look up Porsche test driving videos at the Nurburgring all it is is drifting, yet some guy gets banned for doing the same thing. It would be one thing if he was damn close to crashing, but to me it sounds like the idiot power hungry officials have no idea what the word "discretion" is.

[fbc]

All I can presume is that somehow he was perceived to have been intentionally and irresponsibly creating a danger to other drivers - above and beyond the inherit danger of the 'ring. Whether that perception was accurate is obviously questionable, but if it was accurate a slap on the wrist is probably justified. Yes the 'ring is a very dangerous place, but I don't think it's unreasonable for those dangers to be managed (up to a point of course), nor should that allow people to drive without regard for other's safety.

Of course it's also entirely possible this is just a ridiculous over-reaction...

[torqueless]

well.

the fact that it was a miata makes it even better

hopefully it had an LS1 in it.

[BlaRo]

Dumb question: how did they even catch him doing it in the first place? Did somebody rat him out, or are there cameras everywhere?

[the Interceptor]

Originally Posted by Ottobon

If you look up Porsche test driving videos at the Nurburgring all it is is drifting, yet some guy gets banned for doing the same thing. It would be one thing if he was damn close to crashing, but to me it sounds like the idiot power hungry officials have no idea what the word "discretion" is.

Well, the point is not that he was drifting, the point is that he was drifting while he overtook someone (or while being overtaken), and that's where he endangers others and where the fun stops.

[Greatgraddage]

What probably happened is he had a close call with the other car and the other guy complained to the stewards.

[MacGuffin]

Well, they surely have the place equipped with cameras on every corner. So no need to someone reporting somebody.

Also I don't believe you get banned for just ONE drift, because that could also be unintentional. I would assume you get a warning first and only get banned when you ignore the warning and repeatedly behave in conflict with the regulations.

We only know one side of the story so far...

[Vector]

Well, with everything else becoming more and more emasculated in this day and age, I guess it only follows that so to will the 'Ring. Soon they will be painting lines and banning driving aggressively altogether. It'll become just another toll road once H&S have had their way with it. Sad.