| The Green Hell: The Nurburgring | | Date Created: May 05, 2006, 12:43 PM |
 The Richmond track has many years of history behind it - but it pales in comparison to the site of this weekend's Formula One race at the Nurburgring. Named for the village and nearby 12th-century Castle Nurburg it circled, the original track was completed in 1927. The Nordschleife (Northern loop) included more than 170 turns and more than 14 miles in distance, snaking through the Eifel forest. (See a full map here.) As race cars became faster and faster, the Nurburgring course became more and more dangerous: not only because cars would fly into the air at many of the undulating crests around the track but also because of the lack of walls or barriers around the narrow circuit. It surely wasn't fun to launch into the forest at 150 mph plus in an era where deaths were an almost expected result each season.
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 Jackie Stewart, who as a constant safety advocate was to Formula One as Jeff Burton is to NASCAR, was brilliant at the long circuit, but called it "the Green Hell" and lobbied for many safety changes such as more guard rails and less undulations. Despite some improvements in 1976, World Champion Niki Lauda urged a driver boycott of the course, but was not able to get a concensus among the rest of the drivers. Ironically, Lauda crashed horrifically on lap two with full tanks of fuel (see video here), and nearly perished in the fiery aftermath. Only the heroics of fellow drivers who stopped to pull him from the wreckage saved his life. The length of the track made it nearly impossible to adequately staff and equip each of the corners with fire and safety workers.
Lauda's crash was enough to end the F1 history at the Nordschleife, until the new modern track was built in the mid-80s. It is somewhat a typical modern F1 track: rather sterile and not always conducive to passing, but it is still surrounded by the original course.
(Black and white images from the Nurburgring by race photographer extraordinaire, Jesse Alexander. See Jesse's site for more brilliant images. Amazon also offers several of Jesse's books - all worth a look if you're even slightly interested in racing history. I recommend you start with Driven).
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What makes the Nurburgring unique is it remains open for anyone with a street legal car or motorcycle and approximately 12 euros to purchase a lap around the legendary circuit. Imagine the insurance nightmare here in the US if tracks like Watkins Glen or Talladega offered a chance for anyone to simply buy a ticket and set off onto the track - with no speed limits and relatively few rules.
If you find yourself in Germany, it is a beautiful area and a must-see stop if you've ever fantasized about cruising a legendary race course with no speed limits. If you do, read and print the official safety brochure. And, to be sure, memorize the safety and accident procedures. On one trip, we met several members of a motorcycle club that regularly laps the course each month. Their barely ironic club name? "The Organ Donors Club."
Many of my German, Italian and English co-workers when I was with Ilmor/Mercedes-Benz teased the Americans about our habit of tearing down or calling a 50-year-old building or site as "historic" or an "antique," had a field day by taking us to spectacular restaurants and pubs near the circuit that are 500-800 years old.
Speaking of Mercedes, if you catch Speed Channel's coverage of the action Sunday morning, look for the incredible, curved Mercedes-Benz grandstands at several spots alongside the course. Imagine a Chevy-only grandstand at a NASCAR track, filled with nothing but crazed cheering and flag-waving GM employees and die-hard customers who bellow each lap as their heroes speed by. (Kinda like Dale Jr. each lap at Talladega...heh)
Wanna buy advanced tickets for driving your vehicle 'round the old track? Check the official Nurburgring site. Wanna sneak preview? There are many sites with videos of a lap of the course, but one of the best is at the British Mosler site.
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No Glove, No Love: We rely on the good folks at GM Racing to transcribe many of Dale Jr's media discussions at the track. They do a great job, but today's transcript had a rather funny typo.
Here's the snippet, in response to questions about any similarities between the personalities and driving styles of Dale Jr. and his father:
Q: YOU DON'T EVER WAVE THE FINGER?
A: "I've waved it a few times. I was going to start marketing Web Loves to keep myself from flipping people off (laughter)."
Uh, he said "webbed gloves..." (At least I HOPE he did... heh heh) |
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