Nurburgring and Lauda ...

**Adam43** · 10 Jun 2004, 14:10 (Ref:999705)

A quick quiz question!

Where on the circuit did Lauda have that crash in 1976?

Dani Filth · 10 Jun 2004, 14:15 (Ref:999709)

ggrrrr . .. Ex-Muehle/Bergwerk or the next section i think ..

**Adam43** · 10 Jun 2004, 14:16 (Ref:999713)

the next section is Kesselchen. Ring any bells?

**Adam43** · 10 Jun 2004, 14:18 (Ref:999714)

Dani that piece of info allowed me to find this: http://www.f1-grandprix.com/history4.html

Quote:

at the German Grand Prix on 1 August, Lauda crashed his Ferrari at Bergwerk, a 150 mph section of the Nürburgring, in a massive, flaming accident that still brings shivers when viewed to this day.

Cheers

Dani Filth · 10 Jun 2004, 14:20 (Ref:999718)

thanks to Grand Prix Legends ..

for the names ..

i knew the corner .. but i forgot the name

429CJ · 10 Jun 2004, 17:27 (Ref:999889)

Bergwerk is a right-hand corner, actually how did Laudas car hit the right side of the bank?

Kicking-back · 10 Jun 2004, 17:35 (Ref:999898)

There was all sorts of speculation about a mechanical failure.

JGM · 10 Jun 2004, 18:18 (Ref:999937)

It was at the lowest part of the circuit just after where it crosses the bridge over the road to Adenau and begins the long climb up towards the Karussel. It's called Exmuhle.

**Bononi** · 10 Jun 2004, 18:26 (Ref:999950)

Dear god, I still remember that day, can't believe he survived to that horrific crash.

crozier74 · 10 Jun 2004, 18:45 (Ref:999970)

Eh JGM? I've never heard of it happening at Ex-Muhle before :confused: You sound fairly certain though. What's your source?

I always thought it was at Bergwerk too, at least that's what every source I've ever read on the accident says. Judging by the footage, and having now driven it in GPL, it seems very likely to me that the corner was in fact the un-named left-hander immediately after Bergwerk. Marked it with a dot on this map:-

[EDIT: just to add the map is from http://www.racingcircuits.net/ a great site! Adam /EDIT]

gfm · 10 Jun 2004, 20:27 (Ref:1000103)

Crozier74
It was a little further up the road than your dot. We were the race before the GP and when they bought Lauda's car back to the Paddock after, you knew he was in trouble.
Motors TV have been running some legend programmes and they have his shunt captured from start to his release with guys like Guy Edwards trying to fish him out. It was pretty bloody dreadful.
It's a very fast narrow uphill part of the circuit and there's a long way to go on full throttle, and the surface undulates too. Clipping the curbs can unsettle the car and if you run out of room, get two wheels on the grass, you're in deep trouble.

917Addicted · 10 Jun 2004, 20:57 (Ref:1000161)

Are you sure?? From the photos i've seen it's more to the left-corner before bergwerk (so, the corner after ex-muhle). Don't know for sure though...

Dani Filth · 11 Jun 2004, 08:00 (Ref:1000484)

it appeard to be a left corner to me too

crozier74 · 12 Jun 2004, 15:36 (Ref:1001793)

Quote:

Originally posted by 917Addicted
Are you sure?? From the photos i've seen it's more to the left-corner before bergwerk (so, the corner after ex-muhle). Don't know for sure though...

Ah, yes, that might be it

In the footage, the corner seemed to be fast, but a bit tighter radius than the one after Bergwerk, which is a never-ending sweeper. The banking at the one before Berwerk is also much steeper than the one after it, which goes with the footage. Maybe one of us GPLers can make a gif animation of what the two corners are like in GPL, and compare it to the footage of Lauda's crash, to identify which is the more likely one where it happened.

Overall, I think your right, and I'm wrong

gfm · 12 Jun 2004, 18:37 (Ref:1001988)

I maybe completely wrong, but I don't think I am. But I was sure it was after the dot on your map, not before.

If it was before, the circuit runs down hill into Bergwerk, which doesn't compute, and the curves after Bergwerk are up hill and to the left.

I look forward to the matter being resolved !!

M Coupe · 12 Jun 2004, 18:46 (Ref:1001999)

It was at the flat out LH bend before Bergwerk. So on the map 2 corners before the dot, just above the e in Ex-muhle.

Thought this was well known??? I've always been told it was there by those people who teach others the circuit.

gfm · 12 Jun 2004, 19:44 (Ref:1002031)

Apolgies; I stand corrected. Which is why it's called Lauda Curves on the new circuit maps.
I don't remember the circuit surface being that lumpy there.

ASCII Man · 12 Jun 2004, 19:50 (Ref:1002034)

Wherever it was, it sure was a strange crash though.
Looked alot like a right rear suspension failure or something.

shiny side up! · 12 Jun 2004, 19:59 (Ref:1002037)

Just saw the video, and it is a very strange looking crash indeed. Surely a failure of some sort... not even time for Lauda to countersteer or anything before he as spearing off course.

**Adam43** · 17 Jun 2004, 17:16 (Ref:1007161)

I'll start with a picture:

This is from the bridge going over the Adenau/Breidscheid road. At the top of the picture the right hander corner leads onto the 'straight' towards Bergwerk that contains that flat left hander. I'm afraid I have no pics of it (cameras are banned when driving around it and when we walked it we didn't have the camera

).

gfm, I've not seen it called the Lauda curves. The map I bought while there didn't have it on, although of course not all corners are named.

It is a great place and I strongly suggest that anyone who gets the chance goes. Maybe I'll see you there as I'm going back...

**Adam43** · 17 Jun 2004, 17:19 (Ref:1007162)

mod stuff: I think this will be better served in the historic forum, although of course perhaps it would be good in the track days forum - not that it is a track day - hmmm perhaps another thread there!

Moved from F1 to Historic.

gfm · 17 Jun 2004, 20:22 (Ref:1007339)

If you go on nurburgring.de, they have some circuit maps on there, and that curve named after Nicki.
I enjoyed ten races there in the seventies and a couple since and the memories are as fresh as ever.
It's a most daunting and marvallous place for real drivers. I've said this before, but I always enjoy going in company with a few 'cowboys' who fancy themselves a bit; then they have a look around for the first time and, after that faces are a little more 'concentrated'!
More than a smattering of fear ...!!

**Adam43** · 17 Jun 2004, 20:29 (Ref:1007345)

Thanks for pointing out the map

It is indeed a fantastic place, we walked a bit of it the evening before we went round. I wondered at what point someone would point out that actually it is all a big joke and they never did actually race cars round there! However, when out in a car it felt natural, it was obvious people should race there.

gfm · 17 Jun 2004, 20:42 (Ref:1007359)

It's a real 'journey' isn't it. Stunning views from some places. Extemely vicious if it's raining.

Dani Filth · 17 Jun 2004, 20:45 (Ref:1007364)

yes . thats the place i climb with my Lotus 49 ..

.. second gear(others in 1st) 80 kph and accelerate hard blind left corner . and brake hard before you climb to the karusel(quite a few corners before karusell) .. yeap .. GPL is quite accurate

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