Touristenfahrt

Getting the facts straight.

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Parent Category: Nurburgring

Created on Wednesday, 05 October 2011 10:16

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 April 2012 22:04

Published on Wednesday, 05 October 2011 10:16

Written by Dale

 In the aftermath of such a crappy weekend, I feel it's important that some facts are out there and there is no 'cover-up'. So here goes:

• The Corvette was NOT a rental
• The Ring Taxi was NOT driven by Sabine (she hasn't worked for the 'Ring Taxi since it changed management this Spring)
• This accident was simply the result of placing a massive slow sign close to the racing line, in a blind spot on one of the fastest bends on the whole track. The roadworks zone WAS signposted on the massive illuminated board after the gates, with the whole of Kesselchen flashing as a caution zone. But with no english translation, and no briefing to even draw attention to this sign, it is largely ignored. Even by Nürburgring employees driving Ring Taxis!
• There are only two solutions to this that I see; a speed limit on the whole track during TF OR a better flagging system or other warning system (i.e. upper management treat the guys on the nordschleife zufahrt better please, spend some of your millions down there instead of at the f*cking ring-werk - we need more flag marshalls and more warning lights please)

Here's a video of the BMW Ring Taxi in 'action' - fast forward to 9m50s:

Why did the 8-car pile up happen?

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Parent Category: Nurburgring

Created on Monday, 03 October 2011 13:07

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 April 2012 22:04

Published on Monday, 03 October 2011 13:07

Written by Dale

 Just watch these videos and judge for yourself:

Watch this one from 4m50s...

And the next one too...

 What these show is a clear lack of understanding by the guardrail workers on the speeds involved, or how a car works. By placing the warnings in these positions they are asking cars to both turn and brake from over 120mph over a crest down to just 30mph. No wonder they crashed.

Why no safety marshalls accompanying the repair crew? Why no flag marshalls? When TF was only 500 people, I understand that flag marshalls cost too much. But when 1000s of cars trying to drive, flag marshalls will save lives.

Unfortunately for TF fans, I suspect the answer might be a speed limit rather than a safety worker...

Just in case you thought this was an isolated incident of poorly placed roadworks signs with no warnings:

UPDATED: Hypocrisy, Hysteria and Omelettes.

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Parent Category: Nurburgring

Created on Sunday, 02 October 2011 09:17

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 April 2012 22:04

Published on Sunday, 02 October 2011 09:17

Written by Dale

Today at the Nordschleife. Yes, that's the BMW Ring Taxi in the barrier, with 7 other cars too (car 8 is a VXR220 behind the Unimog).

Something has got to change here at the 'Ring, if it doesn't change for the better, in my opinion, the writing is on the wall*. I am, of course, talking about safety. Namely about fatalities and serious life-changing accidents. 'Hypocrite!' I hear some people say. They are right.

This little blog is called 'Bridge To Gantry' - it's about everything that happens between the Antoniusbuche bridge and the Audi-branded gantry on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. One of the most visited pages is our collection of BTG laptimes. Over half of these times are probably made in touristenfahrten sessions. So for me to call TF dangerous, please understand that I already know it's not a cakewalk... but I have some questions, or rather, some suggestions...

Some choice shots from TF on Sunday

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Parent Category: Nurburgring

Created on Wednesday, 21 September 2011 08:14

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 April 2012 22:04

Published on Wednesday, 21 September 2011 08:14

Written by Dale

It's hard to believe, but I got all these shots in only about 30 minutes stood at T13. T13 is one of the first corners on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Nerves are on fire and sometimes the testosterone can be running a bit high too... click here to enjoy the Nurburgring photos from September 18th, 2011!

Making TF on the Nürburgring Nordschleife safer...#1

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Parent Category: Nurburgring

Created on Thursday, 08 September 2011 11:57

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 April 2012 22:04

Published on Thursday, 08 September 2011 11:57

Written by Dale

I'm sure this is a topic that some people would rather not talk about, but I'm going to try anyway. In the past few weeks various incidents have been hitting the headlines, blogs, forums and social media. I'm not going to give them airtime here, but to understand why I'm making these suggestions (and asking for yours), let's just say they were serious and leave it at that."

Today I'm going to cover just one of the problems (as I see it).

#1 Knowledge and preconceptions.

"To be forewarned is to be forearmed," said somebody famous. My feeling is that many people are arriving at the Nürburgring Nordschleife right now with the wrong ideas and concepts in their brain. In the age of Google and Wikipedia it's almost unimaginable that folks don't research the topic, but look at just one fact:

• People arrive at the Nordschleife entrance ALL DAY EVERY DAY and all ask the same question; "Why isn't it open?"

They haven't even checked the opening times, so why on Earth should we think they've read the rules? We cannot depend on a rule board hidden behind a ticket office...

Read the full article here.

Another reminder about oil spills...

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Parent Category: Nurburgring

Created on Wednesday, 03 August 2011 11:53

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 April 2012 22:04

Published on Wednesday, 03 August 2011 11:53

Written by Dale

The accidents you'll witness in the following video from the Nurburgring Nordschleife could have been avoided if the driver of the red Porsche actually stopped and warned people, instead of simply driving along with this tragically comic smoke cloud behind him... full video and more details after the jump.