Sabine feels the economic downturn.....

[miller]

Apparently the Ring Taxi is no more.....


Well the BMW is. Rumours abound Aston Martin may be taking over in conjunction with AMG.


Watch this space.

[miller]

(following info poached from tinterwebz)

A quick photo history of the Ring Taxi

The original Ring Taxi, dating back to 1987, can now be seen in the Nurburgring museum - Unless of course someone can come up with an earlier version?






The Opel Omega was used around 1990



Michael Martini had driven VLN in 1980's and was the son of Willi Martini (a plane and car mechanic who was well known for his track prepped BMW). Willi Martinis old garage is todays BMW Test Center in Nürburg


Then came the 6 cyl E34 M5 and Sabine






Followed by the V8 E39 M5




And finally the V10 E60 M5

[chris g]

When we first visited the place in 2000 there were laps available in a couple of Maserati sports cars - IIRC model with banana rear lights - not clear who managed them - this was a few years before the Viper being there...

[Humpty's Revenge]

Mike take a look at this mate extremely interesting. Unless you`ve seen it before?

http://www.nurburgring-history.co.uk/#

Comes with videos.

[gallvr4]

typical,irish man after a blond in a beemer!!!!!!!!!!!

class photo

[Spirit]

Apparently the Ring Taxi is no more.....

Any rumours about if it's down to money, or BMW stepping away from the "issues" out there Mike ?

[Humpty's Revenge]

Top gear???

[chris g]

From PH...

'Recent reports that the famous BMW 'Ring Taxi was to die in 2011 have mercifully proved to be wide of the mark, after BMW announced that it is merely switching to the E90 BMW M3 - But the legendary Sabine Schmitz won't be behind the wheel.
Still, while the retirement of the old E60 M5 will mean the fastest taxi in the Eifel Mountains might be a little less spacious, the current M3 is probably a more appropriate tool for track work.
And even the official 'loss' of Sabine Schmitz isn't as bad as you think - the 'Ring taxis have always been piloted by a whole team of BMW instructors, so your chances of landing a ride with the 'Queen of the 'Ring' were pretty slim anyway.
BMW's official line is that "the BMW 'Ring-Taxi will continue in 2011 and use the BMW M3 this year. It will be driven by the instructors from the BMW Driving Experience program - much like it used to be in past years."
The legendary Sabine is still plying her track-taxi trade, however. She's doing the rounds (and has been for a little while now) in a Porsche 997 GT3 RS. At 449 euros (£385), it's a little more expensive than a ride in the BMW, but it will definitely be quicker...'

[Spirit]

The legendary Sabine is still plying her track-taxi trade, however. She's doing the rounds (and has been for a little while now) in a Porsche 997 GT3 RS. At 449 euros (£385), it's a little more expensive than a ride in the BMW, but it will definitely be quicker...'

It's a shame she/Porsche feel the need to play on her popularity and charge such a horrendous price !

[Ryan]

That is indeed a huge amount - how many laps does the person get for that, I wonder?

[miller]

id need a shag aswell from her at that price!

my misses normal drive to Tesco probably induces the same amount of 'andrenaline'

[Ryan]

id need a shag aswell from her at that price!

my misses normal drive to Tesco probably induces the same amount of 'andrenaline'

Heh, maybe start your own "Notts taxi"