Guy banned from the 'ring after drifting

[MacGuffin]

Have you ever been on the Ring?

I was once a passenger in a 1984 VW Passat. It was the most scary thing I did in my life - and we only got up to a 120 km/h!

The videos don't show the negative and positive G-forces. It's actually more a roller coaster, than a race track - but without rails.

[idk]

Originally Posted by Ottobon

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.

First it's not a "race track" in the official view... it's a piece of road, that you are allowed to drive when you pay a toll. It says explicitly, that you have to follow the normal rules, that are valid on every piece of road in germany.

Because the ring has "two lanes" and it's a "one way" circuit, there is no speed limit here in germany like on a regular country-road, but during the public driving hours u formally have to step low.
When the car manufacturers test their cars, the track is sometimes exclusively for them, and they can do whatever they want because they can afford it.
When u go with your car to a non-public event on the ring you loose all your insurance and so on.

We dont know all the facts... have you ever seen how intense the traffic is on the ring on some days? There are COACHES and also many people in small cars (like VW Lupo) that just want to drive one lap in peace, but they don't race and often do not know how to react to the bunch of really professional drivers.
So when grandpa sees some guy driftinging in his side window he might freak out and everyone is gonna die To prevent that you arent allowed to show off next to (novice) people..

This COULD be the case and we dont know anymore about it now... i just know from experience that the "guilty" person has a much different view on how the facts are presented.

[Alok]

Originally Posted by torqueless

any idea on what kinda vehicle it was?

if it was a AE86 i'll be rofling.

I'll let some snippets from Bridgetogantry do all the talking

MX5 does 8min46s
After some basic tweaks and professional input, we've knocked a whopping 20 seconds off the Mazda's BTG time.

100bhp and 1050kgs

The changes aren't that dramatic, but they are worthwhile. The biggest improvement is to the amount of grip now available. Kumho KU15 tyres may not be mega expensive at 200 to 250 euros a set (195/50-15s) but they are leagues ahead of normal 'sporty' street tyres.

But no matter which tyres you fit or how much you spend, they're only any good if they're touching the tarmac. To that end I spent 70 Euros at TTE getting an accurate four wheel alignment on their digital system. With 1.8 degrees on the front and 2.2 degrees of negative camber on the back the amount of lateral grip on offer feels amazing. And the tyres still need 31psi (cold) to keep the sidewalls off the floor. Both Marc at TTE and Max from Re:Worx have suggested winding more camber on and dropping the pressures... but I'll save that for the next set of tyres.

Click to enlarge!

With over 1.2G registering on the grippiest corners, and 1.6G through the Karussell, the results can't be argued with. By putting the roof up and locking the passenger door in the carpark I also gained 7mph over the previous best run up the Kesselchen. But it's not just Marc's geometry tweaks that have dropped the laptime from 9min06s on the Nangkangs to 8min46s now.

TTE also fitted my ebay bucket seat and corbeau harness.

New seat is a tight squeeze... into the roll cage I mean

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The steering wheel is delicate instrument of control. Not a hand hold to brace against. The addition of the all-enclosing bucket and tight five-point harness means the centre console and my knees aren't being used as braces and the grip on the steering wheel is more to do with controlling the car than my own movements. And for about £200 including the fitting at TTE it's cheap speed and welcome safety.

The last addition to the mighty mighty Mazda are the full set of Yellowstuff EBC brake pads that cost me far too much. The cheap ones I fitted were manageable in performance terms, but lasted less than 20 laps. The Yellowstuffs are supposed to operate best at the temperatures that normal pads disintergrate at. If that's true they should stop better and last longer.

They do stop better and after 30 laps with them there's no sound of crunching... full review to follow!

http://bridgetogantry.com/index.php?...d=90&Itemid=50

A passenger's story

So I'm sat in the Carpark wondering if the rain we rode through at Cocham is going to hit the ring. When up rolls an ALFA with a avaitored dude behind the wheel.

"fancy a Lap"?
"you bet"!!

So I settle beside my cousin for a trip around the Ring, the BTG avatar ever in my mind.

First few corners are sweet as we make an F40 look like hes out for a sunday drive, then we land behind an M3 who clearly has a problem with the correct lines, and, as it turns out the Passing rules for the RING. we sit behind him for a few turns, waving! flashing Lights! indicating to overtake! all to no avail.

Theres a buzzing on the Dash and my pilot leans forward to pick up his phone. Whilst in conversation he spots an opening, sends the M3 wide and the leaves him getting smaller in the rearview,as Im thrown left and right through a series of bends!...... And All 1 handed while hes having a casual conversation into the Mobile.......

Wet track in the back half and dale proves that his Avatar is not some movie maker trickery as we take the rest of the track with the car travelling sideways around every available corner.

AWESOME!!!!!!! Thanks Dale!!!!

http://bridgetogantry.com/index.php?...d=3887&catid=2

[awdrifter]

Wow, that sucks. But I do see why though, the Ring is still public road, just like drifting on any public road, you'll get a ticket if the pigs catches you.

[Hannah Gregory]

Wow, how cool is that, being banned from the Ring is as cool as doing a really good lap time, in fact, more rare!

Only downside is you can't drive the Ring anymore

[TomCat]

Originally Posted by 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.

I think a surge in fatalities will get the Ring shut down sooner then the officials enforcing the rules that prohibit you from endangering the lives of other drivers so you can show off Nick Hogan style.

[Vector]

Originally Posted by TomCat

I think a surge in fatalities will get the Ring shut down sooner then the officials enforcing the rules that prohibit you from endangering the lives of other drivers so you can show off Nick Hogan style.

Everybody should know what they're getting into when driving on the 'Ring. I think they should enforce a minimum class restriction and driver competence instead of just letting on everybody's grandma with her beetle driving around like a sunday idiot. Maybe there could also be 'relaxed' days and 'aggressive' days.

[D-Fence]

Jesus this thread is going somewhere.


a) HE WAS ONLY BANNED FOR THE REST OF THE DAY!

b) I would beat the shit out of anyone who kept posing and drifts into my car. The Ring is dangerous enough, no need for a "professional" to ruin my car while trying to be cool. And thanks Alok for the quote, but imho he acts like a moron:

Theres a buzzing on the Dash and my pilot leans forward to pick up his phone. Whilst in conversation he spots an opening, sends the M3 wide and the leaves him getting smaller in the rearview,as Im thrown left and right through a series of bends!...... And All 1 handed while hes having a casual conversation into the Mobile.......

Wet track in the back half and dale proves that his Avatar is not some movie maker trickery as we take the rest of the track with the car travelling sideways around every available corner.

AWESOME!!!!!!! Thanks Dale!!!!

Sorry, but this is completely irresponsible. He should really be happy he was not caught using his telephone, because I BET he would be gone for longer.


@ Vector: You obviously have never been on the ring, so please refrain from those statements like

Everybody should know what they're getting into when driving on the 'Ring. I think they should enforce a minimum class restriction and driver competence instead of just letting on everybody's grandma with her beetle driving around like a sunday idiot. Maybe there could also be 'relaxed' days and 'aggressive' days.

because this is what the ring was for since the opening, for EVERYONE. If you want hardcore track racing, rent a track. As easy as that.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Theres a buzzing on the Dash and my pilot leans forward to pick up his phone. Whilst in conversation he spots an opening, sends the M3 wide and the leaves him getting smaller in the rearview,as Im thrown left and right through a series of bends!...... And All 1 handed while hes having a casual conversation into the Mobile.......

Wow, this guy sounds like an irresponsible douche. I don't care how good you think you are, stay off your fucking phone on the track.

[Vector]

Originally Posted by D-Fence

because this is what the ring was for since the opening, for EVERYONE. If you want hardcore track racing, rent a track. As easy as that.

Sorry, I didn't realize the 'Ring was Disneyland. I thought it was the most dangerous, hardest race circuit in the world.

So where do the dwarves live?

[Alok]

Originally Posted by Vector

Sorry, I didn't realize the 'Ring was Disneyland. I thought it was the most dangerous, hardest race circuit bit of deresticted public road in the world.

So where do the dwarves live?

Ping!!!! Man, read.

[fbc]

Originally Posted by Vector

Sorry, I didn't realize the 'Ring was Disneyland. I thought it was the most dangerous, hardest race circuit in the world.

So where do the dwarves live?

Regardless, it's no excuse or justification for being an ass on it and putting other's lives in danger.

[hajj]

Originally Posted by Vector

Sorry, I didn't realize the 'Ring was Disneyland. I thought it was the most dangerous, hardest race circuit in the world.

So where do the dwarves live?

My guess would be Alberta, you probably know them anyway

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally Posted by hajj

My guess would be Alberta, you probably know them anyway

Don't be talking shit about my gnomes!

[hajj]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

Don't be talking shit about my gnomes!

Just tell the one we mean to shut up then

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

Wow, this guy sounds like an irresponsible douche. I don't care how good you think you are, stay off your fucking phone on the track.

Afterwards, he pulled into the Starbucks at Adenauer Forst and ordered a Double Venti Mochachino with a hint of caramel, extra whipped cream, being extra careful not to spill any on his Alcantara driving gloves. While downshifting into Metzgesfeld from 75mph, he sent a text message to his friends letting them know that Indiana Jones was at 8:45, not 8:10 like he previously noted back at Flugplatz when he checked his iPhone for movie times while arcing into the sweeping left-hander at 140+ miles per hour.


Can you tell I haven't been to Starbucks in a while? Or the 'Ring, for that matter.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by Alok

I'll let some snippets from Bridgetogantry do all the talking

http://bridgetogantry.com/index.php?...d=90&Itemid=50

A passenger's story


http://bridgetogantry.com/index.php?...d=3887&catid=2

Completely Off-Topic

Any doubts I had about keeping my Miata just went out the window. Time to turn it into a project car

[Vector]

Originally Posted by Alok

Ping!!!! Man, read.

Pong!!!! You're wrong! It had always been purpose built as a racetrack.

[Lupin_IV]

It was a purpose built racetrack that has always been open to the public when not being used for a race.

When it's open to the public, you shouldn't attempt unnecessarily dangerous maneuvers as there is a strong possibility that the person in the next car is just out for a scenic drive.

[Vector]

Originally Posted by Lupin_IV

there is a strong possibility that the person in the next car is just out for a scenic drive.

And I am simply saying that letting people go for a scenic drive on the friggin Nurburgring is the most idiotic thing in the world. There are lots of other country roads around there where you can do that.