Nürburgring Pileup - Uber Nightmare

[Synchro Joe]

Watching This Massive Nürburgring Pileup Is An Utter Nightmare

This video shot from the Nürburg Ring shows just how fast things can go from bad, to worse, and lead straight to un-freaking believable. The incident was posted to Facebook yesterday from Rival Motorsport, and it gives a very frightening first-person view of the carnage as it happened. In this case the frightening part isn’t just screeching tires and crunching metal, but also the helplessness of the videographer – who safely stopped short of the initial crash and jumped out to alert other traffic. His efforts did appear to help at least a few cars avoid trouble, at least initially. But with some machines bearing down at great speed, there was simply no time to respond.

We did a bit of investigating to find some information, as there wasn't anything specific mentioned with the post. We can tell that that crash happened at Hatzenbach, one of the early corners on the Nordschleife that’s preceded by a fairly high speed stretch. Knowing the location, we found a report over at Nürburgring news site bridgetogantry.com about a 14-car crash that occurred on November 1 at the same spot, and photos of the cars involved seem to match the video. If that’s indeed the same incident, it began when a Porsche 911 GT3 RS ruptured a coolant hose. That made for slippery conditions which led to others spinning out, but drivers also reportedly said there were no marshals or warning lights prior to the melee at the corner. That would certainly explain why the individual in this video was making a mad dash up the track.

https://www.facebook.com/RivalMotorsport/videos/498438823861480/

Fortunately, the report says there were only two injuries, with none of them being serious. It certainly could’ve been much worse, especially seeing so many people standing on the track after some of the collisions had already taken place. If there’s anything to be learned from this incident that can be translated to every day commuting, it’s that you should always get away from cars and the road after a collision, as soon as it’s safe to do so. Standing around surveying the damage, especially where traffic speeds are brisk, can be absolutely deadly.

Stay safe out there folks, whether you're behind the wheel or on the sidelines.

[cabmandone]

I saw the video this morning while surfing MSN. OUCH
The person that bailed from their car and ran up track to warn others was one brave soul! And the worst part is his car was one of the first to get hit.

[wdfifteen]

I don't speak German well, but I hope his last comment in the video was, "Get behind the guardrail!"

[aigel]

That is insane. Having that track with no flag stations wide open. With flag stations, track would have gone red minutes before the pile up. I am puzzled by the Germans. So orderly in some areas (try to get TUV on a modified vehicle) but total lack of safety rules in many others as seen here.

G

[Daves911L]

Not being there, I may be completely mistaken, but occurs to me that the guy running back up the track waving his arms might have been distracting drivers long enough that they didn't notice the smoke up ahead, where they would normally have been looking. And if guys had kept going, slowed, and driven on through the wrecks, instead of stopping where they did, the carnage might have been much less.

[Bill Douglas]

Geez, worst nightmare.

[Holger]

LOL, the beauty of amateurs driving cars they cannot fully control ...

[Won]

Originally Posted by Holger

LOL, the beauty of amateurs driving cars they cannot fully control ...

Absolutely agree. Individually, they might be OK, but put them all in the same place with some unknown variables, then... Most people here truly believe they are all Michael Schumachers when it comes to driving, it seems.

I was standing near Pflanzgarten watching a train of the latest GT3/RS, Ferraris, Lambos all "drafting" each other near the limit of adhesion, accelerating up the blind right hander. Had there been any issues like a car spun out or pulled over ahead, one guy in the middle of the pack getting loose, etc, there would have been absolutely no space or time for the rest of the pack to do anything but plow straight ahead. I have German colleagues with nicely prepared cars who would only do closed track days at the Nurburgring, because on "tourist" days we can see how bad things can get, very quickly.

As far as I know, because the track is considered a one-way tolled public road, flag stations are non-existent on tourist days. There are spectators/film guys who bring their own flags, but as mentioned above it could actually do more harm than good by distracting the drivers instead of warning them.

I have not lived here long, but I think this approach fits exactly into the German mindset. When they want control, it's full control. But they also know to "let things be" in the complete opposite way. Just like the Autobahn with speed limit of either 80km/h or none . Equally, from the drivers' point of view, they tend to follow the rules quite well, but when the rule says you're free, then you better not get in their way...

George, to get TUV done on modified vehicles is not too bad, you just need a certification or approval for each and every non-standard part fitted on the car. As long as the (million step) procedures are followed, the process itself goes smoothly. That's typically German.

[widgeon13]

Hard to watch that.

[slow&rusty]

I saw that on Jalopnik too, what a shame, speed, lots of cars and poor road conditions will never end well. Some nice cars destroyed.

[Craig T]

I did six laps on the Ring last August and was BLOWN AWAY at the potential for catastrophe. I was almost relieved when it was over

The scariest part is having to lay down a 10K EURO credit card deposit against damage to the Armco or track infrastructure and sign the waiver. A simple spin resulting in a dented Armco section and tow is a $5000 additional bill.

In just my 6 laps I saw a late model BMW M3 grenade his motor, two cars hit the Armco, came around a corner at 120 kph to find a flat-bed on the track doing 40 kph hauling a bent GTI, and was passed twice by a Ducati rider with his girlfriend on the back.

OH, and most auto insurance in Germany specifically excludes the Nurburgring.

...Cost of crashing on the Nurburgring:

These include Armco repairs, safety car attendance, vehicle recovery, track closure:

Base fee for attendance of armco truck: €150
Removing damaged armco: €10/metre (x2 or x3 or x4 for multiple-height sections)
Replacement armco: €31/metre (x2 or x3 for double/triple height)
Removing damaged armco posts: €5.10 each
Replacing armco post: €39 each
Safety car attendance: €82 per 30 mins (car + 2 people)
Circuit closure: €1,350 per hour
Recovery truck: €500 (inc VAT)
Everything except the recovery truck is then subject to 19% VAT.

[berettafan]

I'm a bit chicken but the only way I'm racing on a track is under racing conditions with licensed racers (not licensed drivers...licensed RACERS). anything less is really too much risk.

[aschen]

Originally Posted by Craig T

I did six laps on the Ring last August and was BLOWN AWAY at the potential for catastrophe. I was almost relieved when it was over

The scariest part is having to lay down a 10K EURO credit card deposit against damage to the Armco or track infrastructure and sign the waiver. A simple spin resulting in a dented Armco section and tow is a $5000 additional bill.

In just my 6 laps I saw a late model BMW M3 grenade his motor, two cars hit the Armco, came around a corner at 120 kph to find a flat-bed on the track doing 40 kph hauling a bent GTI, and was passed twice by a Ducati rider with his girlfriend on the back.

OH, and most auto insurance in Germany specifically excludes the Nurburgring.

...Cost of crashing on the Nurburgring:

These include Armco repairs, safety car attendance, vehicle recovery, track closure:

Base fee for attendance of armco truck: €150
Removing damaged armco: €10/metre (x2 or x3 or x4 for multiple-height sections)
Replacement armco: €31/metre (x2 or x3 for double/triple height)
Removing damaged armco posts: €5.10 each
Replacing armco post: €39 each
Safety car attendance: €82 per 30 mins (car + 2 people)
Circuit closure: €1,350 per hour
Recovery truck: €500 (inc VAT)
Everything except the recovery truck is then subject to 19% VAT.

Ive been twice and agree that it is amazing this sort of thing is allowable in this day and age. It really highlights the difference between american and german cultures. Must have seen a dozen wrecks including one guy off his bike.

I only rented a fiesta ST last time because I signed the contract agreeing to pay for the full value of the car if I write it off. The guy said they will basically (legally) hold you hostage at the facility until you pay up. I wanted to rent a cayman but didnt feel comfortable with the 50k euro liability.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by Won

I have not lived here long, but I think this approach fits exactly into the German mindset. When they want control, it's full control. But they also know to "let things be" in the complete opposite way. Just like the Autobahn with speed limit of either 80km/h or none . Equally, from the drivers' point of view, they tend to follow the rules quite well, but when the rule says you're free, then you better not get in their way...

George, to get TUV done on modified vehicles is not too bad, you just need a certification or approval for each and every non-standard part fitted on the car. As long as the (million step) procedures are followed, the process itself goes smoothly. That's typically German.

Go to a playground at an amusement park .

One reason things are more lasseiz faire is that liability is much less stringent in Germany. In the US, the drivers crashing would sue the daylight out of the track and shut it down. In Germany you can't even sue a company the way you can in the US.

On TUV - i have BTDT, it is a total PITA. You have mods (i.e. a steering wheel) that have general approval and don't need entry into your registration but many mods have to be seen and entered into your registration document which will be a novel by the time you are done. Here in CA, I can do pretty much anything I like to my car, and only the Popo will stop me if it gets out of hand.

I recall a guy from this forum building a light weight SWB car and wanting to register it in Germany. He moved since - it never happened.

G

[sand_man]

Yeah, WOW, that was hard to watch. Fodder for nightmares!

[svandamme]

You all have to keep in mind, that , officially, it is NOT a race track.
It is a public road, with public road regulations.

Your not allowed to overtake on the right
your are not allowed to over take if it's not safe

And there are no track marshalls. Because it's not considered to be a race track during "touristen fahren''.


I've been wanting to go there for a long time, but to be honest, the way those fanatics drive on the ring is just plain scary.. Some are so regular there, they get the red mist going to beat their own time...Rollcages, helmets, and others without roll cages or helmet at the same time. And it's just scary how quickly it can go tits up.

Those with roll cages drive like they have a rollcage, but their risk taking affects the others that don't have a roll cage just as much.

And this pile up, luckily no Bikers... Those make the situation even more dangerous.

[pwd72s]

Ahhh, but the GLORY of having driven the ring! Think of the GLORY!

[svandamme]

I think i prefer the glory of not having to pay for the cleanup and not having to write off my car.

[PetrolBlueSC]

I prefer Forza.

[berettafan]

man that is terrifying.