Quote:
Originally Posted by Holger
LOL, the beauty of amateurs driving cars they cannot fully control ...
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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.