Why was the old section of the old Hockenheim dug up?

[Yoong Montoya]

That doesn't make sense to me. Chopping the track in half was bad enough, but to dig up the old circuit and replace it with trees makes no sense to me at all! Why couldn't they just leave the old circuit in place so other racing formulas could use it like World Superbikes?:confused:

[Mr V]

proberbly hade to promise to replace the trees that they cut down for the new track, and the only place they could go was on the old track!

[f1manoz]

Hmm, wonder how the Superbike riders will enjoy the changes to Hockenheim? Wonder if they'll even race there anymore?

[Don K]

Originally posted by mr v
proberbly hade to promise to replace the trees that they cut down for the new track, and the only place they could go was on the old track!

As the new track is a lot shorter than the old one, I would expect (sp?) we would end up (eventually) with more trees than we had before.

[DNQ]

Yes, it's totally because of the trees. But really - why couldn't they just go and plant trees somewhere else instead of over one of the finest circuits in existence (overtaking wise - i know it wasn't much of a driving challenge).

Manoz, yeah I doubt the bikes will like the track - and it seems in motorcycling championships, they like to have at least half decent tracks.

[Valve Bounce]

Originally posted by Don K
As the new track is a lot shorter than the old one, I would expect (sp?) we would end up (eventually) with more trees than we had before.

I don't think so. The areas that were cleared to build the grandstands, new track and provide other open space looked as if they dropped a nuclear bomb on the site. There were many old trees that were knocked down in this process. I would lay money that the new replanting would not compensate for the damage done. Anyway, for a very passionate detailed viewpoint, you might like to send Miss Hardt a PM to ask her opinion.

Valve

[Miss Hardt]

They will end up with more trees...they cut out 47 Ha and they will plant 68 Ha....

I loved the old trees and the old track.
I don't give a about the new track and new trees...they are artificial!

[kdr]

why? to quote a famous phrase...for the fans. or more likely to build that mercedes stand and get more ad boards on the telly.

[AllonFS]

In answer to the question, so that there can be no return to the old circuit, however unpopular the new one is. Can't have Max n'Bernie looking silly can we, so best dig up miles of history and ensure good racing is lost forever from another track.

[R]

Yeah... they seemed to be in an awful rush to dig up the old track...

It should of course have been kept for posterity like the Nurburgring's "Nordschleife". I can't believe how ignorant they are, they are not giving a damn about Hockenheim's history.

[DMC]

It shows an enormous disrespect to the drivers who lost their lives on that stretch of track.

[MiniMe]

Originally posted by f1manoz
Hmm, wonder how the Superbike riders will enjoy the changes to Hockenheim? Wonder if they'll even race there anymore?

The new Hockenheim reminds me of Brands Hatch - coming into the valley lined with grandstands. The bikers love Brands!

Originally posted by DMC
It shows an enormous disrespect to the drivers who lost their lives on that stretch of track.

Agreed - I trust they'll move the memorials (or create new ones) to Giles and the others inside the track somewhere where they can be seen and appreciated? I hope so for the fans sake, though its sacrilege they have to be moved at all!

[racer69]

An absolute disgrace.

Great moments, the talk about Hockenheim 1982 made me get it out and have a look at the race again, wonderful stuff, as has already been mentioned, Piquet and Salazar, Tambay scoring his first win for Maranello a day after Pironi suffered his terrible injuries.

2000, Barrichello's stunning drive, and i guess it is fitting that the last race on the real track produced a home winner.

Makes me appreciate more the track 'Catalina Park' which hasn't been used since the mid 70s, is in the middle of a town in the blue mountains, which hasn't been touched, even down to all the barriers and old tyre stacks are still in place, tarmac only slightly damaged through some weeds growing through the track, maintanence sheds still up, even down to the old 60s style start/finish signs still there, and is less than an hour from my place, i shall visit it even more now.