Nürburgring

The foundation stone of the Nürburgring.

The Nüburgring was created because of the unfavourable economic conditions at the time, Local people from that part of the Eifel lived poorly. The district administrator of the former district of Adenau, Dr. Otto Creutz, understood in 1925 the opportunities that an international racing circuit would offer the region. He supported the Rhineland ADAC's plans for the construction of the race track.

On 27 September 1925 the foundation stone of the Nürburgring was laid. The inauguration took place on 18 June 1927. The total length of the track was 28,265 km. In addition to the complete circuit,there ware tree variations: Nordschleife (22.810 km),Südschleife (7.747 km) and Start & Zielscheileife (2.238 km). The cost of the circut´s construction amounted to 14.1 million Reichsmarks.

The story behind some of the names around the track.

Hatzenback - Small brook running parallel to the track.

Quiddelbacher Höhe - Small mountain top near the village of Quiddelbach.

Flugplatz - Previously there was a place for sail flying beside the track.

Schwedenkreuz - Old cross-roads from the Thirty Year's War.

Fuchsröhre - 'Foxpipe'. During the building of the track, a frightened fox fled into a drain-pipe. The workers then gave the section it's name. Called 'Foxhole' in English.

Karussell - from the special characteristics of the track layout.

Pflanzgarten - Used to be a garden belonging to the castle of Nürburg.

Schwalbenschwanz - 'swallows tail' because the engineers working on the track layout thought it looked like the tail of a swallow.

Track length Nordschleife.

1927-1969 22,810 sometimes + 7,747 km (the original version, the wheels lost contact with the track over 30 times)
1970-1982 22,835 km (modified version, they sat up fences and took off the worst tops on the hilltops)
1983-to date 20,832 km (shortened version, because of the new Nürburgring)

Incline: Max 17%
Decline: Max 11%
Lowest 334 meters at Breidscheid
Highest point 626 meters at Hohen Acht
Difference Hi/Lowest point: 292 meters

The Nordschleife have almost no safety run-off areas -- just unforgiving metal barriers and plenty of that age-old enemy of the car, the tree. The drive is immense fun, but at the same time it's terrifying. Circuit spokesman Hans-Joerg Fischer defends the course, saying the number of deaths has fallen sharply in recent years. ``Many people think it's very dangerous and that we have lots of deaths. But last year we only had three deaths out of 300,000 people driving the circuit. That's very low,'' he said. ``It's actually no more dangerous than ordinary roads.
The track is open to the public most days between March and November but is also used for many types of races such as touring cars and classic car grand prix. Crowds of people turn up just to watch and decaying old concrete grandstands on some of the corners are often filled. Despite the obvious folly, a lap of the Nürburgring is a thrill one does not easily forget. Marshalls release cars onto the circuit every 15 seconds. Once out there, you are on your own.

The Rules on Nordschleife.

Phone Numbers:

Tourist-Office: 02691 / 92060
Accommodation agency:02691 / 920610
Tickets: 02691 / 920611
Racing Museum: 02691 / 302147
Ring Taxi: 02691 / 302179
Müllenbach Camping: 02692 / 224
Drive yourself: 02691 / 302144
Dorint Hotel: 02691 / 3090

Last Updated Januari 1999