... when it really costs



http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.a...=153750&nmt=RE: Video: Why It Can Cost To Crash At The 'Ring

 

thing about that video is that he does not look like he is going that quick - also how easily it goes over all from a bit of understeer !

 

Ooops


I have to say I was quite impressed with how quickly they got out of the car - it must have cushioned the blows quite well

 

For any sensible person, you should ignore this. As you're unlikely to drive as badly as he did. But just use it as a cautionary, rather than scaremongering, tale.

He entered the corner FAR too fast, wrong line, and in the wrong car, but that last bit is just my opinion.

It was his second lap and he's a complete tool. The roll was his own fault keeping his foot in far beyond the point of no return. But that's a much smaller crime than entering a corner you don't know far too fast. At no point does that corner look like you can take it that fast unless you are in a car on slicks with some serious downforce.

BUT it is a timely reminder that crashing at the ring can be an expensive thing. He'll have to pay for marshalls recovery, loss of revenue for the time the ring was closed, he's wide open to be sued by his passenger, car recovery to Bongard's in Adenau, barriers (if he hit them, I don't remember) and clean up of any oil spills etc.

Also, if the german police consider you to have driven particularly badly, or hit another driver/biker, you're open to prosecution.

He's probably looking at a bill, which his insurance will pay, and then likely recover from him, of 10,000 euros upwards. And that's not including the cost to his car.

However, you can avoid the ignominy of being such a tool and a large bill by:

a) Don't buy an Astra VXR 'burg' edition. It's not big and it's certainly not clever

b) Watch lots of vids so you know the track

c) get instruction. Plenty of local firms, or even experienced locals can give you tips.

d) build up your speed

e) don't try and show off at the biggest spectator area on the track

f) Don't try and break any time records/don't time. This guy is already talking about going back and going faster than a certain lap time.

g) If you're really worried, go on a track day there. BaT are doing one and various other firms do them there too. Drivers will be better quality.

h) Games are no match for actual experience at the ring. Vids are better than games.

i) It's fecking brilliant there, completely addictive and it's perfectly possible to have a completely safe time there.

Finally, you can get proper ring insurance, even for normal track opening, as well as actual track days. If this vid worries you but you still want to go to the ring, it might be worth investing in it.

 

I agree- a shite car driven by a shite driver

 

Good advice from the Chilled man.

It's REALLY easy to get confident on about lap 5 onwards, and you can easily find yourself thiking there is a nice straight bit over a crest, when actually you are about to die.

When I went last year, I had forgotted about 90% of it and was genuinely scared.

But everyone tries to push it a little bit harder at Brunchen

 

I'll bet part of the over enthusiastic entry speed was down to having stood on the outside of Brunchen to watch other cars prior to 'having a go' himself. I'll bet also he had mates at that very spectator spot (the most popular spectator spot on the circuit... for some reason )

I remember standing there myself and looking at the entry which from a spectators viewpoint (the spectators mound opposite) looks deceptively open, which it isnt when you are coming down that hill towards it on track.

Not making excuses for him btw, just that I can imagine this catches a lot of noobs out.

What seemed wierd to me was, as Chilled points out, he appears to keep his foot in, which seems very odd considering the general laws of self-preservation for the uninitiated generally means throwing the anchors out at the first sniff of trouble.

 

Chilled makes some very good points! I would agree with most, looks like he comes in far too fast. I stood and watched there for a while after we'd done our laps and the only videos i have of cars carrying that sort of speed were a GT3 RS and the M5 Ring taxi! I would have thought a high powered front drive hatch would be a fairly safe way to get to know the Ring but just shows how it can all go wrong.

We did 2 laps each in my mates Cayman S and it was good fun, didnt go mad, kept the traction turned on and just kept things quite steady watching out for cars in front and behind. If i'd have been in my S2000 at the time i probably would have pushed a bit harder so was perhaps a good thing i wasn't! Definitely going back at some point.. My mate has an RS4 now..

 

Reading some of the thread replies and looking at the video there were 3 passengers and a driver - certainly 3 jump out of the car very quickly so not too sure what the Ambulance was needed for

So there you have it 3+ British chavs in a understeering, over powered, torque steering car racing around the "ring"

Horrible to see but a good reminder of how things can go badly wrong

 

from memory there is a bit of a 'bump' as you go in to that corner too - so that wont help... but i suppose every accident looks slow ! but happends all to quickly... i would never want that happening to me - we all get it wrong sometimes - but thats one place NOT to do it - and although you walk away.. its something you will never forget.. and its only £££ but the fact you walk away should be the main point..