20 replies to this topic

[Michael Ferner]

It's crunch time for the Nürburgring... yet again!

Friday this week is the definite deadline for the prospective (and approved!) buyers of the Ring, and if they default on their next payment yet again they will forfeit the purchase option. After recent developments, including some shady business deals by one of the consortium, most analysts expect the deal to go south by the end of the week. And then?

Most likely the foreclosure process will open again, but a "second round" will likely be somewhat "hairy" after last months rulings from the EU commission which put the kibosh on any hopes for public subsidies to keep F1 at the Ring. And the real money cow of the last twenty years, "Rock am Ring" has meanwhile found a new home at a nearby semi-abandoned airfield. The future looks bleak once more...

[arttidesco]

There is always hope, even in a disaster zone.

 

Gerhard Richter

[Michael Ferner]

While there's life, there's hope, but a business can't run on hope alone. Things have changed, and F1 is rapidly pricing itself out of its core market, leaving behind ruins. Governments in general eschew public service these days, but F1 on itself is not a sustainable business model anymore. It used to be profitable because of the side effects on local business, but a private investor cannot bank on that. Quite ironic, given that the Ring was built with the specific goal to produce business for the region, almost ninety years ago. Now everybody wants the business to remain, but nobody wants to pay Bernie. In fact, nobody has the money to do it, except for the local government of Rhineland-Palatinate who have run the Ring into the ground. Almost 400 million Euro have been lost by the disastrous policy of the Kurt Beck administration, a loss which is now being shouldered by the citizens of this Bundesland, including me - thank you very much! In return, the Ring will probably close in the near future - good deal!!!

I don't begrudge Bernie the money he made, after all he's a businessman and I don't see any other use for F1 these days, it's just a business. But to see Kurt Beck happy in retirement is something I can't stand. If it wasn't for several other issues under his aegis, the Nürburgring business alone is outright criminal neglect for which he is responsible. What makes me even more mad is that I used to vote for his party - never again!!!

Edited by Michael Ferner, 29 October 2014 - 10:44.

[kayemod]

 the Ring will probably close in the near future - good deal!!!

 

 

Not all bad news then. It's just possible that some element of ride comfort may be introduced into fast production car suspensions in the future. That's unless the manufacturers find somewhere else to conduct their ridiculous point-scoring Nürburgring "testing" of course, Adolf had no idea what he was starting back in the 1930's, but of course that's not exactly the worst of all the things he did.

Edited by kayemod, 29 October 2014 - 11:52.

[RA Historian]

"Adolf had no idea what he was starting back in the 1930's, but of course that's not exactly the worst of all the things he did.""

 

 

Wasn't the 'Ring built in the '20s, and that Hitler had nothing to do with it?

 

[Doug Nye]

Konrad Adenauer had rather more responsibility... and to what Party does your favourite Herr Beck belong, Michael?

DCN

[kayemod]

 

Wasn't the 'Ring built in the '20s, and that Hitler had nothing to do with it?

 

 

Well, he went there and encouraged them, that's good enough for me.

[Michael Ferner]

Konrad Adenauer had rather more responsibility... and to what Party does your favourite Herr Beck belong, Michael?

DCN

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Beck


[I can't seem to find any other english language profile but the dreaded wikipedia, sorry!]

[Allan Lupton]

Ah, I thought perhaps there was a connection but it seems not.

[JoBo]

Ah, I thought perhaps there was a connection but it seems not.

The BECK`S beer connection is over - or better: this bottle is empty!   

 

JoBo

Edited by JoBo, 29 October 2014 - 16:52.

[E1pix]

The failings of the 'Ring is just another clue that our sport itself may soon be nostalgia.

Another clue is the average age demographic at the circuit. I'm 54 and am on the younger side of live attendees. Not a good sign, either.

[SEdward]

The construction of the Ring started in September 1925. The first races, for two-wheelers, were held there in in June 1927. Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of a coalition government of the NSDAP-DNVP Party on 30 January 1933.

So I don't think that he had much to do with the building of the circuit.

 

Edward

[B Squared]

Per a thread on Racing Comments:

 

http://forums.autosp...ys-nürburgring/

[Tuboscocca]

Per a thread on Racing Comments:

 

http://forums.autosp...ys-nürburgring/

...and this guy is listed (only) as 1342th wealthiest  worldwide...

 

Michael

[Michael Ferner]

My thoughts, too. He's a beggar.

[Tuboscocca]

My thoughts, too. He's a beggar.

Hartz IV-Aufstocker??  Sorry a GERMANs-only joke

 

Michael

[Ralf Pickel]

Ah, I thought perhaps there was a connection but it seems not.

It´s a strange coincident, but if the story is correct ( it was told to me shortly ago by someone who should know), the guy who could not conclude the deal now (and is head of Capricorn) started his career as a mechanic to the Beck´s brewery heir, who has been a very well known historic racer (but no longer races nowadays).

 

Ralf 

Edited by Ralf Pickel, 31 October 2014 - 07:20.

[Michael Ferner]

Srangely, the "Ja zum Nürburgring" group finds this news shocking, although it's a last minute goal before an almost certain sudden death in overtime, and an eternal "Nein zum Nürburgring"...

[JoBo]

It´s a strange coincident, but if the story is correct ( it was told to me shortly ago by someone who should know), the guy who could not conclude the deal now (and is head of Capricorn) started his career as a mechanic to the Beck´s brewery heir, who has been a very well known historic racer (but no longer races nowadays).

 

Ralf 

Robertino Wild started his automotive-career with a workshop that was backed by a German collector of historic cars in the late 80s.

Later on he was backed by the major share-holder of BECKS-beer collector/racer Burkhard v. Schenk. With his money he founded CAPRICORN that became a well known workshop for historic Maserati-, Alfa-, Porsche- and Ferrari-race cars. 

 

Upon the sale of BECKS to ANHEUSER Mr. Wild supervised investments of v. Schenk in various huge real estate projects. Also CAPRICORN expanded and became a major address for individual modern automotive solutions:

 

1. they solved the front-axle problem with the 1st series of Mercedes Benz Smart-cars.

 

2. Ford could not get EU-approval for importing the Ford GT due to some technical issues. CAPRICORN got the job to solve all 50+ issues to get the car EU-legal.

 

Mr. Wild also acquired a foundry in Italy to produce parts for historic race cars. Nearby the `Ring CAPRICORN build a test-center thats open for the international automotive industry.

 

All their companies are like clinics and perfectly organised. 

 

Furthermore CAPRICORN invested in Kevlar-production and I heard that also Ferrari was one of their customers. 

 

Mr. Wild raced v. Schenks A6GCS-Maserati and unfortunately crashed in a race in the UK and and suffered serious injuries at one arm that finished his racing career.

 

Some years ago v. Schenk and Wild`s/CAPRICORN collaboration came to an end.

 

JoBo

Edited by JoBo, 01 November 2014 - 01:26.

[Ralf Pickel]

Thank you for the whole picture ! Very interesting.

 

Ralf

[arttidesco]

Upon the sale of BECKS to ANHEUSER Mr. Wild supervised investments of v. Schenk in various huge real estate projects. Also CAPRICORN expanded and became a major address for individual modern automotive solutions:

 

Any connection to the sponsor of TNF's Formula One Team of choice ?

 

I'll get my coat