Bridge to Gantry blogger banned from the 'Ring
Drivers can fly through the Nürburgring Nordshcleife at tremendous rates of speed, risking life and limb to shave a second or two off a lap time. But apparently if you let the rear wheels slip a bit while coming into a turn, you're a drifter just begging for a pink slip. Bridge to Gantry blogger Dale Lomas was banned from the 'Ring for what he says is nothing more than some oversteer, but the heavy-handed Germans didn't see it that way. Officials wrote Lomas, who prides himself as a paid racing instructor, a ban slip with an offense that translates to "Drifting while Overtaking."
The Green Hell isn't just some lawless speed haven, which makes sense considering the dangers inherent in the famous circuit's myriad twists and turns. Still, while getting banned from the 'Ring is a real bummer, at least the pink slip looks good hanging on the office wall.
[Source: Bridge to Gantry]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jawsome 4:13PM (6/08/2008)
"Still, while getting banned from the 'Ring is a real bummer, at least the pink slip looks good hanging on the office wall"
Haha very true
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Robert 4:22PM (6/08/2008)
HOW WAS HE DRIFTING A FWD CAR?!?! I didn't know Honda Civic's could do that!
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paul34 4:43PM (6/08/2008)
If you lift off the throttle to try to counteract some understeer and do it too much the end will probably rotate out, and depending on the suspension setup, might snap oversteer. It probably looked like drifting.
At any rate, that is pretty funny.
Aprime 5:06PM (6/08/2008)
POWERSLIDE
F'YEAH
khan.silver 7:14PM (6/08/2008)
Weight-shifting.
For exapmle, htt a corner near the limits of your grip with your revs high, let off the throttle, and you'll shift the weight forward (as you're essentially braking) which'll cause your rear to break free and your nose to stay planted.
jaz 4:30PM (6/08/2008)
Sucks and Rocks! simultaneously...
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Maestro1 5:25PM (6/08/2008)
So is he banned for good or for a certain period of time?
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Carlos 5:26PM (6/08/2008)
Well that's retarded, chalk one up for german rules.
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Keija 5:40PM (6/08/2008)
well, he risked another ones life ... overtaking from the right is prohibited in usa as well.
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Steve 5:43PM (6/08/2008)
Err... not sure what country you live in, but in the United States it's perfectly legal to pass on the right.
Chris 7:44PM (6/08/2008)
Actually, Steve, passing on the right hand side is permissable only on superhighways, one lane streets, and when the vehicle in front of you is turning left, but the laws do vary from state to state.
Random Task 6:53PM (6/08/2008)
If it's so legal, why are their signs saying keep right except to pass?
stealth 10:53PM (6/08/2008)
because everyone in the US believes the rules of the road only apply to other drivers on the road.
Scott Eaton 7:16PM (6/08/2008)
Perfectly legal to pass on the right when there are more than two lanes going in the same direction. Plus, I've never seen a sign requiring drivers to stay right unless passing (although that would be very welcome).
Allan 9:06PM (6/08/2008)
Passing on the right is a state-by-state law. In NY where I am, it's perfectly legal. But some places it is not (hence the "keep right pass left" signs).
David W. 11:20PM (6/08/2008)
"If it's so legal, why are their signs saying keep right except to pass?"
That's just telling slower traffic to stay in the right lane so that cars going faster in the left (fast) lane don't have to change lanes to pass. So it is still legal to pass on the right hand side...
Keija 5:08AM (6/09/2008)
ok, sorry i didn't know that i figured it would be everywhere this way:
Passing on right prohibited unless vehicles are in "substantially continuous lines". 39:4-85.
Derek 5:51PM (6/08/2008)
I think the ban hinges more on the "while overtaking" part rather than the "drifting". Risking your own life is fine, but this is not a professional driving event so putting another persons life in jeopardy is not. On the surface, this does not seem like a ticket I would be proud of.
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ML 5:51PM (6/08/2008)
You ought to log onto the live-cam at the 'Ring and look at what's been going on for the last four days. There's nothing but campers, tents, and trailers all over the place - all over the TRACK - as far as you can see.
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info 6:47PM (6/08/2008)
It because of a rock concert event "Rock am Ring."