[Dackelone]

I just saw this...




The 'Ring is For Sale (and it's scaring me)...

http://bridgetogantry.com/2/index.ph...t-s-scaring-me

If you haven't heard already, the Nürburgring is for sale. The whole thing, lock, stock and karussell. Depending on your viewpoint, it's either an amazing opportunity or a woeful state of affairs that illustrates everything wrong with the government and politicians of today.

For me, and most other residents, it's definitely the latter viewpoint that is strongest. But what's scaring me is imagining who is looking at this big for sale sign and thinking that it's an opportunity.

Jens Lieser, the state-appointed liquidator, has gone on record to say that the whole thing is for sale, not just the concrete jungle of arena, museum and impotent rollercoaster. A potential buyer could walk away from the table with the F1-spec Grand Prix circuit and the humongous money-maker that is the 20.8km Nordschleife. Maybe it will be sold in pieces, maybe it will be sold in one chunk. Not only is this some prime real estate, but it's practically the centre of the automotive universe.

And how many parties are interested? It began with 50, and at the last count we're down to "between 5 and 10" serious buyers. "And not a single Oligarch or Sheik amongst them,' we're assured. Wonderful(!).

Next Tuesday the 19th of March there will be a demonstration, a 'corso' or parade of cars driving from Nürburg to the seat of state government in Mainz.

The last two paragraphs scare the hell out of me!


Now because this is a blog, I'm going to voice my own opinion. I'm pessimistic. There's no way the government can hang on to something like the 'Ring. The EU are all over it. From the EU's point of view, the German government has been caught red-handed spending taxpayers' money on a private project to the benefit of only a handful of 'businessmen'. Domestically the Nürburgring is competing with other circuits like Oschersleben, Hockenheim and Lausitzring. Within the EU it's butting heads with greats like Le Mans, Silverstone and Monza. When Government-owned businesses are competing against the private industry, it all has to be above board and 100% transparent. The only thing clear about the Nürburgring in the last few years is that it's swallowed over 400 million euros of taxpayers' money. That's not fair, is it? It doesn't matter that it was wasted on a bunch of crap like the rollercoaster and the boulevard.

They are going to sell it. They're going to wipe their hands of the whole sorry mess, take a paltry cash sum (offers are in the region of only €125 million for the whole thing) and by doing that they're going to throw the whole region to the wolves of independent capitalism. All I can hope for is a fair and equal battlefield, where the local hotels and businesses like Rent4Ring get to offer their products on an equal footing to the new track owners... wish us luck!

[Grey Dove]

......This is not looking good

[Elsabor67]

If it becomes privately owned, this will massively suck for the enthusiast. Only hope that the person that buys has some common sense and can meld with the community. Because without the support of the community, they will fail.

[DRVNM3]

[Sean@PSI]

German automakers need to step in on this!

[Hasek9339]

Nooooooo
Please some rich buy it please!!!!!!!!!!!

[b33g33]

So, I guess it's ok to spend billions of German taxpayer money to keep the EU afloat, but a few million to keep an iconic automotive site is too much?

Why is Germany in the EU again?

[vladberca]

Now we can only wait and hope that it will remain the beloved Green Hell for the enthusiasts!

[Diver]

The wolves of independent capitalism? That's where the money to buy luxury cars comes from. Life will go on and BMW's will continue to wiz around the track.

[Accelerometer]

Wow, I am really glad I got to drive it last October. Was hoping to do it again in a few years but that dream appears to be in jeopardy. If this goes completely private it would be a loss global in scale!

[3M TAPE]

I would buy it.

[b33g33]

This could also end up very well.

If the 'ring becomes completely private, then it could become a true race track where you don't have to dodge Dacia Sanderos every few meters.

[ESC OFF]

Originally Posted by Sean@PSI

German automakers need to step in on this!

^^^^^ This! VW seems the perfect candidate.

[Eagle1oh7]

One less thing to do on my bucket list it seems.

[flanast]

Originally Posted by b33g33

This could also end up very well.

If the 'ring becomes completely private, then it could become a true race track where you don't have to dodge Dacia Sanderos every few meters.

+1

[StevenY.]

Originally Posted by Eagle1oh7

One less thing to do on my bucket list it seems.

+1

[JasonCSU]

Wow, the fate of the 'ring could go any direction depending on who the new owner is. If only I had a spare €125 sitting around...

[TSM330i]

UGH! We have to hope that a wealthy car enthusiast buys it before it goes down the drain

[AgentLopes]

I bet James May is loving this lol

[3s-a-charm]

Uhh... shouldn't this be moved to the "Group Buy" section? How many bimmerpost.com members are there and how much would each have to chip in to own a piece of history? Just sayin.

[karussell]

first of all, a dacia sandero with an AW plate is probably faster than most of us on our best day. the beautiful thing about the ring on public days is the diversity of talent and vehicles. There simply is nothing like it in the world.

this is terrible that the facility may be entirely privately owned now. i can guarantee it will never be the same again if this sale does happen.

i wish so much we could just go back to 2006. i miss the old museum with actual cars in it. the gas station gift shop was plenty for everyone wanting a momento.

[cncmastr]

I am surprised BMW doesn't own it yet. They have such a history and do so much testing there.