Deadly day at the Nurburgring

[bruntr]

This accident happened a few weeks back and is one reason I’m only a spectator on the weekends when every nutcase with a car or bike is on the track. Quick trips to the track during the week allow me to run with little to no traffic.....none the less you still have to treat this place with respect no matter how many people are there..... I think its safe to say the Ring claims 3-4 people a month



Sunday 11 Jun 10:30. A 24 year old on a Honda CBR 1000 motorcycle looses control of his bike on the hill in Fuchsröhre a very high speed section of the track with small but blind uphill corner, after tumbling more than 100 meters he struck the guard rail suffering fatal injuries. By now a car driver who had no time to brake, crashes into the motorcycle in the middle of the track. Because of the location of crash two more bikers’ age 42 & 48 approached at high speed and were not able to stop in time to avoid the oil and debris on the track, both crash suffering light injuries. Seconds later a Porsche 997 and a M5 BMW approach and manage to stop in time but a 54 year old man on a Ducati traveling close behind the Porsche could not hitting the rear of the White Porsche, the force of the impact throws the 54 year old man over the car landing in front of the BMW he also suffers fatal injuries........



Track was closed for about 6 hours...... Lots of talk that the owners should run cars and bikes at separate times but I don't think they will ever change.... Despite the carnage I will still continue to ride and enjoy this incredible place.....My boss also a rider had this crash happen almost in front of him and despite having seen death up-close he continues to ride this place as well.....Place is worse than crack...... that’s the only way to explain it

[pinky]

If running the events as is claims 3-4 people a month isn't enough reason for change, I don't what is.

[bruntr]

Originally Posted by pinky

If running the events as is claims 3-4 people a month isn't enough reason for change, I don't what is.

I think the reason they don't change is because ring is classified as a "One Way Toll Road" not a race track. Sort of like getting on NJ turnpike, pay your toll and off you go..........

[pinky]

OH?..did not know that. I guess that would make it a little harder to change the rules.
I bet if you had as many lawyers as we do here in the States it would change pretty quick.

[Simba]

Originally Posted by pinky

If running the events as is claims 3-4 people a month isn't enough reason for change, I don't what is.

I'd counter by saying that the thousands of other people who don't ride/drive over their abilities, and as such don't end up causing large accidents, are a better reason not to change anything.

If anything, I'd say a more pro-active manner of alerting other drivers of an accident would accomplish a lot more.

[DStinson]

ScottThats crazy. I have not been on the ring just the GP course. It is tempting for 15 euro a lap. I am more of a closed circit race-track kind of guy for saftey reasons like this. I might have to join you and Ty out there next year for a day.

[sburns2421]

The number I've always heard is about 1 per week, so 3-4/month sounds accurate. Not surprising really when you consider the safety, or lack thereof, and the speeds at which most are travelling. Mixing cars and bikes seems like a deadly combination, although there still would have been at least one fatality in this incident.

Maybe splitting them up would be a good idea, although natural selection is always going to be at work. I personally doubt I would ever go near the place on a bike.

[DesmoWorks]

I don't understand what this is? A road that looks like a track that you pay money and go as fast as you want with cars and bikes right next to each other?

[Ben710]

Yeah, they call it the "nordschleife". North (ern) loop so to say.

It actually is handled as public road, 24km long, one way.

That shit you read happens all the time. A reason why I will never ride there. Too many idiots not caring for their and others´ lifes.

[Ducaholic]

FAST CARS + FAST BIKES + OPEN TRACK = DANGER!!! (mostly for bikes)

[Old Baldy]

It's an oldie, but I still love this video of Hand Stuck in an M3 Race car, around the Ring...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...50806359077736

[MaliciousBraham]

I have always wanted to ride the Ring.

If given the opportunity today, I would go for it. Accidents, deaths, and all... that place is sacred ground.

[Giannis]

People die on every single racetrack or road if you want to drop riding do it but you are not going to live longer because of it..

[998Junkie]

Originally Posted by pinky

If running the events as is claims 3-4 people a month isn't enough reason for change, I don't what is.

Well we have the Angeles Crest Highway that has at times generated about two or three fatalities a month and that is a public road. Stepped up enforcement double fine zones have only managed to reduce that by about 30%. People are still killed up their every month.

I don't know what you can change...it's kind of like banning guns thinking it will eliminate murder.

[PSk]

What's wrong with the Ring is what has always been wrong and why it was effectively closed to 'real' racing (and yes I know that some races still ocurr there, like 24 hour saloon car stuff, etc.), and that is: It is close to impossible to marshall.

I'm sorry there is no way I'd race, lap any track that did not have flag marshalls, etc.

The Ducati rider would be alive today if they had flag marshalls as he would have seen a double waved yellow and buttoned off!!!

Thus for the owners to continue to allow this they need to install a light system all around the track and have cameras monitoring every section ... thus a few people in a 'computer' room could flick a switch to change lights in that area to flash yellow and thus warn drivers/riders that there is a caution ahead. To just take peoples money and do nothing should make you liable.

Pete

[bmxr]

G,

Danger comes in degrees, not in absolute, ie: "on" or "off". By riding under safer circumstances you are, in fact, likely to live longer. The whole reason I don't ride on the street much is because of the cars. The last thing I'm going to do is get on a road with them where they are likely to be driving as hard as possible.

Picture a squid on a GSXR1000. Now picture that same dipshit cresting the road behind you at 160mph in a BMW sedan

[DesmoWorks]

Originally Posted by Old Baldy

It's an oldie, but I still love this video of Hand Stuck in an M3 Race car, around the Ring...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...50806359077736

wow! that video is insane, so fast! Was that once a race track, there were grand stands and things at the start?

That looks like a really cool place, although some of those guard rails are really close. Not much run off.

[nycstripes]

Sounds like a truly unique place to test your intestinal fortitude, for me a track day with corner workers waving flags to warn me of road hazards is a better option.
Be careful out there, watching that BMW was run the course was madness.

Ken

[kman458]

Originally Posted by DesmoWorks

wow! that video is insane, so fast! Was that once a race track, there were grand stands and things at the start?

That looks like a really cool place, although some of those guard rails are really close. Not much run off.

Nurburgring was one of the classic grand prix tracks of the 20s and 30s. The old Nurburgring was not one but two circuits which could be used together (making a total of 172 corners) or as separate entities. The Nordschleife (North Loop) was 14.2 glorious miles of tarmac and the Sudschleife (South Loop) was a mere 4.8-miles. Where the two tracks met there was the paddock, the pits, a magnificent wooden grandstand and even a place to stay - the Sporthotel.

[resuscit8u]

bike in the pic is not a 1000RR, it is a 954RR