If you are fond of history, here are two remains of the past that eventually worth a visit.
THE SUDCHLEIFE
Part of the orginal track, the 7.7 km long southern loop was also the first to be repaired at the end of WW2, in order to resume racing activities as soon as possible. But later, it was gradually overshadowed by its rather inhibiting sister over the next decades. And when the Nordschleife was rebuild in 1971, the Sudschleife remained unchanged. Though, some races still occured on it, and it was used as a short cut during warm up laps of F1 GP.
Sadly, it was finally destroyed at 70% in 1983, as the construction of F1 track took its place.
Where to find the remaining 30 % then ? Roughly, the Sudschleife began at the end of the pits lane straight line. Its first half was a descent to Mullenbach village, then it climbed back and joined the straight line passing behind the pits. This climbing part still exist in its original condition.
First, you MUST visit Robin Lord site and see the map of the Sudschleife it shows (initially this map was found by Hans Bjorkeroth)
http://www.oppositelock.freeserve.co.uk/picsidx.html
Click on « A map of the old Nurburgring ». It’s a priceless document that represents the former pits area and the Sudschleife. On the following map of the present page, is the same section today , with the present F1 track and remaining parts of the Southern loop :
In red : the Nordschleife
In violet : the F1 circuit
In green : the road that climb back to the F1 circuit. It was build after 1983 over the Sudschleife, so it gives us some clues about the former track.
In blue : the remaining part of the Sudschleife (following pictures)
Some photos of the surviving Sudschleife (blue on the maps). Unfortunately they were taken in the wrong direction, backward.
Near Mullenbach vilage, the beginning of the climb back to the pits...
Typical piece of sudschleife... long series of harmless curves except for ...
....this one at the end, a nice square angle..
If you fancy visit this place, don’t expect something spectacular : nothing remind us of the glory ot this piece of macadam.
