Nurburgring Nordschleife Resurfacing/Repairs

[simonfc]

I understand that the circuit is closed until further notice for repairs - has anyone got any up to date info on the duration of the closure?

[flemke]

Not to worry - they do this every winter.
This year they are redoing parts of Flugplatz (exit heading towards SK), Metzgesfeld and Brunchen, plus some sort of re-profiling of A. Forst, which is apparently intended to reduce the likelihood that somebody who comes up the hill hard and can't make it around the entering right will stop rather than sliding across the grass "island". There are some pictures of this work on a website, but I'm not the guy to link it in (sorry).
As of a fortnight ago the 'Ring management were saying that they thought that they would need another ten dry days to work before all was completed.
The public lapping schedule ought to appear on their website in early February. You can probably count on the beginning of March at the latest - about the same as last year.

[davyboy]

flemke said:

There are some pictures of this work on a website, but I'm not the guy to link it in (sorry).

I am though

http://ring.wegen.de/fotos/thumbs%5Flist.php?galerie=wanderung%5F20050108

[simonfc]

Excellent news. We are planning a visit in May - is there a site where we can book empty ring, blue sky & free optimax?

[bad_roo]

flemke said:

plus some sort of re-profiling of A. Forst, which is apparently intended to reduce the likelihood that somebody who comes up the hill hard and can't make it around the entering right will stop rather than sliding across the grass "island".

Reduce? They ought to make that area high-grip tarmac (a la Circuit Paul Ricard) if they want people to stop/go.



>> Edited by bad_roo on Friday 21st January 14:24

[White_van_man]

are they going to put the enforced speed limmits on the ring?

[flemke]

W v m,

Are you referring to new speed limits, or to the existing limits at the Breidscheid alternative entrance?

[White_van_man]

the new speed limmits

>> Edited by White_van_man on Tuesday 25th January 19:56

[flemke]

Is this true? If so, where?

[White_van_man]

im sure something was said on here a while ago about some inforced speed limmits being put on the ring, i may have been wrong

[flemke]

White_van_man said:

im sure something was said on here a while ago about some inforced speed limmits being put on the ring, i may have been wrong

Right. I don't know about anyone else, but I've heard nothing.
I hope that these are not famous last words, but I suspect that, for the forseeable future, notions about additional speed limits fall in the same category as rumours about the end of public lapping and speculation about separating bikes and cars.
Much of the appeal of going to the 'Ring is that you can go as fast as you like. This is not lost on the locals whose economy depends as much on public lapping as it does on racing and industry use of the circuit.
The existing speed limits at Breidscheid are legitimate: to protect drivers and especially riders at a point that is often, and nonetheless unexpectedly, used as an entrance to the circuit.
Technically there also is a speed limit at the public-lap exit along Dott. H. As with Breidscheid, there is a logic behind this, although I am not aware that the D.H. limit has even been enforced. It sometimes is enforced at B., and with good reason.
It is not obvious what other section would be a particular candidate for a speed restriction, unless that was everywhere.
I was told that recent public-lapping fatality figures have been approximately:
'02 - 13
'03 - 6
'04 - none

[DocJock]

I believe WVM is referring to the limits at Breidscheid (which are pretty much ignored on quiet days).

AFAIK there are no plans for further limits anywhere on the Loop.

[White_van_man]

cool, thaks for clearing that up guys its still very high on my things to do list this year

[angry]

Unfortunatly,there was at least 1 fatality in 04,i along with several others came off motorcycles at the end of the fast sweeping section soon after adenau forestin august(145mph)i was the lucky one with just a severily bruised arse,but 1 died at the scene and there were others that went off in the ambulance that did not look good.All due to a car dumping its coolant over the track.Please check your motors are in tip top nick before you go.Accidents happen but its good to see the numbers going down if they are correct.
A reliable sorce who lives in the area says repairs are vertually finished and the ring will be open for the usual dates.Easter defo

[flemke]

angry - Thank you for the clarification, although it is a pity that you must report a sad thing. I do believe that reported fatalities at the circuit have declined substantially from '01-'02, when they were perhaps intolerably high.

[iguana]

Flemke were your figs the people declared dead on the circuit? as I understood it the figs of those who are ambulanced away from the circuit techinally alive & die later at the hospital are not included in the 'ring deaths figs.

[flemke]

The numbers that I cited were told to me by a 'Ring obssessive, who should know, although that does not mean that he does know. This is why I tried to qualify their accuracy. I am too lazy to go over to Adenau police station and get the official figures.
I have heard from many different sources that if someone was injured at the circuit but expired away from the circuit, his/her death would not be included amongst the circuit's statistics. I suspect that most all of us - including the poor soul who's just died - would like to keep the statistical methodology as it is.

[jacobyte]

Flemke - Do you post on the Ringers forum (under a different name perhaps)?

[flemke]

jacobyte,

No I don't. Some friends do, and they keep me posted.

[davyboy]

I have a hunch you guys may well be getting a little closer during the coming year

Dave