Crackdown at the ring...

[Andyk]

Ha sanyone seen this....



Police at the new Nürburgring are promising to be stricter with all Visitors who flout Germany rules for vehicles, starting this August onwards!A NEW crackdown has been launched by the RheinlandPfalz Police, in and around the Nürburgring region. Police are sending out a message to all Visitors that their vehicles will be seized and vehicles may be impounded (at additional cost to you, of course) if their owners do not have the correct “original” documentation. In addition, a range of many popular UK vehicle modifications has been identified and judged to be unsafe for driving around the Eifel area and also the Nürburgring.

Driving in Germany is normally a complete pleasure as the roads are in excellent condition and the German drivers are well-trained and cooperative. The German autobahns are famous for being some of the few public roads in the world without blanket speed limits for cars and motorcycles. Although, Visitors should also be aware that with the high alcohol content of German social beverages, it doesn't take long to hit the low alcohol limit. Everything is fine – just as long as you follow the rules.

One very popular destination for us Brits is the Nürburgring, simply known as "The Ring" by enthusiasts. It can be classed as a normal road in Germany, or a motorsport race track, depending on whom you speak to. It is open to anyone with a road legal car or motorcycle and also a few euro in their pocket to pay for the road toll.

Nürburgmotorsport recognised the growth of English speaking visitors and so the new company was set up two years ago by British owner Ken Harris. The aim is to provide a wide range of support services to Visitors from the UK and all parts world, where speaking English is popular. As a well known local company regular meetings are held with all the main authorities in the area.

Ken Harris explains more, “I meet up today with Herr Linden – Polizeiinspektion Adenau (Chief Constable) as part of ongoing discussion for my project named Open Road (Projekt Freie Fahrt). This aims to promote “Best Practice” for Visitors to the Nurburgring. We discussed amongst other topics the New Ring Damage Insurance which my company offers and also the details of the accompanying mandatory, Visual Vehicle Inspection.

“I must say it was a bit of a shock to learn that the rules will be strictly applied and there is now a full collection of Police photographs showing items on vehicles which are judged to be dangerous. Not all, but many of which affect UK cars and the Police intend to enforce these rules starting in August and have asked me to inform the UK Press.

“So having your vehicle approved at a UK MOT centre may not now be enough to satisfy these much stricter locally applied rules and you need to keep with you the original car documentation, because any photocopies are not accepted,” continues Ken Harris – British owner of Nürburgmotorsport UG.

The Vehicle Inspection is now being hurriedly updated and will include advice and assistance so as to comply with the latest Police rules and regulations, as part of the Visitor Support only available from Nürburgmotorsport UG and other appointed approved garages.

By permission of the RheinlandPfalz Police the photographs pertaining to UK cars can be seen at the following website location:-

www.nurburgmotorport.com

NürburgMotorsport can provide all the aspects needed for having an enjoyable and safe stay at the Nürburgring. From travel booking, Ring Insurance, airport pickups, accommodation, servicing and repair, Race Team Management, Race / Driver training, not to mention the cars i.e. store your own or rent a brand new one.




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[glendog74]

Hmmmmm, if they do start getting tough and demanding additional vehicle inspections - it will affect the popularity of the Ring and in-turn hit Ring and local business profits... Let's see how long that would last! The additional inspection idea just seems like a money making scheme to me. Cnuts.

I think this is the same company that offers the almost useless Ring barrier & track furniture insurance policy - only after you have paid for a car inspection and which only covers 8 laps on track? Waste of fucking money...

The local Police have always conducted random roadside checks on vehicles and the Ring marshalls conduct noise testing at the track entrance occasionally. Of course, if you turn up in a stupidly modified Saxo or have a road bike with ridiculously loud race can then you are just asking to be checked over more closely. For us other normal law abiding Ring users i suspect it will be business as usual...

[Ade]

There was that one BMW(?) parked next to us when a marshall came round and stuck what looked like a parking ticket under the windscreen. Was that one of the inspectors?

[glendog74]

Don't think so. The driver had probably been spotted doing something dodgy or reported for bad or unsafe driving on track. They try and track you down so that they can 'have a word'!

He must have come off track and quietly parked up and gone for a coffee!

[alexk]

I didn't read anything specific about it, but I would guess it has to do with very modified cars that even a blind can see they are not load-legal, FIA-legal etc.

I saw a highly modified RX7 (where we were staying), it was from fast and furious movie.
Strangely enough, I didn't see the car in the track. Where were they doing with it ?

[AlexGTT]

Some of this might even play into our hands. It could quiet down a bit and get back to the experience it was a few years ago before programmes like Top Gear over-popularised the place.

I'm fairly sure our cars would be fine in any inspection. Of the very few mods most of us run just about all would be TUV approved and it's just a matter of securing the required documentation from the manufacturers (AP, KW, etc) and carrying it with us. It's a bit like taking the BMW/Michelin Cup tyre document to your MOT in case they play up about the tyres and measure them correctly.

It's been required for the past few years to carry all required documentation for the car, reg doc, insurance, etc., so that's business as usual.