Gempen-Memorial 2014 - for frequent riders and regular connoisseurs

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on September 22, 2014

Reading time 3min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Rudolf Menzi

150

Rudolf Menzi

150

Sauter Renault Spezial (1956) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar E-Type (1969) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Delage Grand Sport (1922) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bugatti 35B (1928) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bild von Partner Planai Classic 2025 Inline 1

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Salmson GS Val 3 Serie 7 (1929) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bentley 8 Litre (1931) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bugatti T51 (1932) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Gespannte Besatzung im Bugatti

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alvis Firelfly Special (1933) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Lockere Stimmung im Alvis

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bentley 4,5 Litre Le Mans (1934) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Riley Nine Special (1934) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Riley Nine Ulster Imp (1934) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Aston Martin Le Mans (1932) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bentley Derby 4.25 (1936) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

MG NB Magnette (1936) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lagonda LG45 DHC (1937) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

BMW 328 (1937) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bugatti 57 Ventoux Sports Coupé (1937) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

MG TD Midget (1950) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar Mark V Converible - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Allard K2 (1951) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

VW Käfer (1953) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Entspannte Besatzung im MG TF

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XK 120 OTS (1954) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

MG TF 1500 (1955) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Austin-Healey 100/4 (1955) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Etwas Schutz verleiht auch diese Windschutzscheibe

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes Benz 190 SL (1956) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Austin-Healey 100-4 BN 2 M (1956) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes Benz 300 SL (1957) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Flügeln gleich sind die Türen an diesem Mercedes Benz 300 SL offen

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Flügeltürer am Start

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat-Abarth 750 GT Coupé Zagato (1957) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Aleggerita (1957) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce (1958) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Austin-Healey BN 6 (1958) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes Benz 220 S (1958) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Austin-Healey 100 BN 6 (1958) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Peugeot 203 C (1958) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes Benz 190 SL (1959) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volvo PV 544 (1959) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Enzmann 506 (1960) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche 356 (1960) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato (1960) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Fiat 600 D (1960) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Triumph TR3 A (1961) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II (1962) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Chevrolet Corvette C1 (1962) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Willys Jeep Cj2A (1962) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

MG Midget Mk 1 (1963) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Porsche 356 C (1964) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT (1965) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Austin-Healey 3000 Mark II (1965) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Aston Martin DB5 (1965) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lancia Flaminina Zagato Super Sport 3C (1966) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III (1966) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Chevrolet Corvette C2 (1966) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Austin Mini Cooper Mk II (1967) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Marcos 1500 GT (1967) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Cobra 427 (Replica) (1970) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar B22X3054 () - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XK 120 OTS (1953) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes Benz 190 B (1961) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Studebaker Avanti (1966) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II (1961) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XK 150 (1958) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II BN7 (1962) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

MG TF 1500 (1956) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Mercedes Benz 220 Coupé (1956) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Den Scheibenwischer brauchen wir heute nicht

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Im Bentley geht es lustig zu

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Konzentration vor dem Start

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Letzte Informationen vor dem Start

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Voll mit Brillen ausgerüstet

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Ein bisschen Helm darf ja auch sein

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Gempen-Memorial 2014 - Ruedi Wenger ist natürlich auch dabei

You have only

16 out of 150

images seen in high resolution

As a driver at the Gempen Memorial 2014, you had to be an early riser, especially if you were traveling from far away. This was because the car check-in for the one-day event took place from 07:00 and the six 5.2-kilometre mountain runs started at 09:15.

Bild Bugatti 35B (1928) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

For frequent runners and sun worshippers

Six mountain runs in one day meant plenty of opportunity to ride a challenging and varied route in warm and sunny weather. Thanks to the fact that the vehicles could be brought back to the start on a separate route, so many runs were possible in the first place.

Bild Salmson GS Val 3 Serie 7 (1929) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

And because helmets were not mandatory, the drivers and co-drivers were also able to enjoy the sun when they weren't burying their heads in the cockpit to read the stopwatches.

For connoisseurs at the side of the track

For the spectators, too, who had to pay a modest fee of five Swiss francs, the many climbs meant that there was hardly ever a dull moment. And as there were no major incidents, the program could be completed as planned.

Bild Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce (1958) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

Although the route, which runs for the most part through woodland, does not allow for too many comfortable spectator seats, the 17 pre-war and 71 post-war vehicles (up to 1964 (with a few exceptions)) that were judged could be admired at length, especially in the start and finish area, where there were also opportunities for refreshments.

The challenges

The mountain route from Dornach to Gempen has an average gradient of 5.59% over 5.2 kilometers, with a maximum gradient of around 10%, which hardly caused any serious difficulties for any of the vehicles. Rather, it was the 30 bends, including six to eight hairpin bends depending on the count, that challenged the entire driver.

The benchmark time was set in the first training run, when the track was still quite damp. After that, the aim was to get as close as possible to the self-set time in the two best runs without exceeding the maximum permitted average speed of 49.9 km/h.

Bild Riley Nine Special (1934) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

Around 50 km/h is a brisk pace, especially for pre-war cars, when there are so many turns involved. If the clutch then causes difficulties, as it did for Bruno Mazzotti in the 1934 Riley Nine Special, driving uphill becomes a real challenge.

Tradition behind us

A hill climb from Oberdornach to Gempen was held for the first time back in 1911. In the 1920s, up to 10,000 spectators attended the hill climb following the first event. The last of these hill climbs took place in 1947, but the old tradition was revived in 2011 by the Classic Group of the ACS beider Basel. A uniformity rule was chosen for the event back in 2011, which was also used in 2014.

Pre-war overall winner

To the astonishment of many spectators, the winner was not a vehicle from the post-war category but Raoul-B. Roth with Reto Kleiner in the (Jaguar) SS One from 1934. The two managed their two best runs with a difference of one hundredth of a second each.

Bild SS One (1934) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

Philipp Buser in the 1958 Austin-Healey 3000 BN6 was left behind, but won the post-war category, which had a much larger field, with a total deviation of 14 hundredths of a second.

Bild Austin-Healey BN 6 (1958) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

A total of 40 of the almost 90 participants managed to complete their standard time in two runs with an overall difference of less than one second.

Registered vehicles and ranking list

The following table shows the registered vehicles, their category classification (1=pre-war, 2=post-war), their classification within the category, their start number (St-No.) and the details of the vehicle. All information without guarantee.

Cat	Rank	St-No.	Make	Type	Yr	ccm
1	7	2	Delage	Grand Sport	1922	2100
1	16	3	Bugatti	35B	1928	2300
1	8	4	Salmson	GS VAL 3 Series 7	1929	1100
1	13	6	Bentley	8 liter	1931	7983
1	9	7	Bugatti	T51	1932	2262
1	11	8	Alvis	Firefly Special	1933	4357
1	17	9	Bentley	4.5 Ltr. Le Mans	1934	4398
1	15	10	Riley	Nine Special	1934	1087
1	1	11	Jaguar	SS One	1934	2663
1	3	12	Riley	Nine Ulster IMP	1934	1087
1	6	14	Bentley	TT Racer	1934	3850
1	4	17	Bentley	Derby 4.25	1936	4257
1	12	18	MG	NB Magnette	1936	1271
1	5	19	Lagonda	LG 45 DHC	1937	4453
1	10	20	BMW	328	1937	1997
1	2	21	MG	TA Special	1937	1292
1	14	22	Bugatti	57 Ventoux Sports Coupe	1937	3257
2	57	30	MG	YT	1949	1250
2	49	31	Citroen	Traction Avant	1949	1910
2	19	32	MG	TD Midget	1950	1250
2	44	33	Allard	K2	1951	5623
2	32	34	Jaguar	XK 120 OTS	1952	3443
2	20	35	VW	Beetle	1953	1192
2	64	37	MG	TF	1954	1250
2	58	38	Swallow Doretti	Shapecraft	1954	1991
2	23	39	Jaguar	XK 120 OTS	1954	3400
2	4	40	MG	TF	1954	1500
2	42	41	MG	TF	1954	1250
2	48	42	MG	TF	1954	1250
2	45	43	MG	TF 1500	1955	1466
2	6	44	Austin-Healey	100/4	1955	2661
2	28	45	Sauter	Renault Special	1956	850
2	61	46	Mercedes Benz	190 SL	1956	1897
2	50	47	Austin-Healey	100/4 BN2 Le Mans	1956	2661
2	11	48	Austin-Healey	100/4 BN 2 M	1956	2660
2	26	49	Mercedes Benz	300 SL	1957	2996
2	59	51	Fiat	Abarth 750 GT Coupé Zagato	1957	750
2	12	52	Alfa Romeo	Giulietta Sprint Veloce Aleggerita	1957	1290
2	38	53	Alfa Romeo	Giulietta Sprint Veloce	1958	1300
2	15	54	Austin-Healey	Sprite MK I	1958	948
2	1	55	Austin-Healey	BN 6	1958	2639
2	37	56	MG	A	1958	1500
2	13	57	Mercedes Benz	300 SL	1957	3000
2	47	58	Mercedes Benz	220 S	1958	2195
2	41	59	Austin-Healey	100 BN 6	1958	2639
2	35	60	Peugeot	203 C	1958	1290
2	9	61	Porsche	356 A	1959	1600
2	39	62	Mercedes	190 SL	1959	1897
2	51	63	Volvo	PV 544	1959	1600
2	31	64	Peerless	GT2	1959	1991
2	67	65	Enzmann	506	1960	1600
2	71	66	Porsche	356	1960	1600
2	5	67	Alfa Romeo	Giulietta Sprint Zagato	1960	1290
2	46	68	Fiat	600 D	1960	767
2	34	69	Triumph	TR3A	1961	1990
2	68	70	Jaguar	MK2	1961	3781
2	52	71	Porsche	Carrera 2 356 B-Model	1962	2000
2	53	72	Austin-Healey	3000 Mk II	1962	2912
2	27	73	Chevrolet	Corvette C1 V8	1962	5254
2	3	74	Willys Jeep	CJ2A	1962	2199
2	65	75	Daimler	SP 250 DART	1963	2548
2	62	76	Austin-Healey	Sprite MK II	1963	1096
2	22	77	MG	Midget MK 1	1963	1095
2	30	79	Lotus	26 Elan S1	1964	1558
2	29	80	MG	A	1964	1587
2	18	81	Porsche	356 C	1964	1582
2	66	82	Alfa Romeo	Giulia Sprint GT	1965	1600
2	55	83	Austin-Healey	3000 Mark lll	1965	2912
2	16	84	Aston Martin	DB5	1965	3995
2	70	85	Alfa Romeo	Giulia Sprint GT	1965	1566
2	8	86	Lancia	Flaminia Zagato Super Sport 3 C	1966	2775
2	10	87	Austin-Healey	3000 Mk III	1966	2912
2	21	88	Chevrolet	Corvette C2	1966	7000
2	25	89	Austin Mini	Cooper MKII	1967	1275
2	7	90	Austin-Healey	100/6	1957	2639
2	43	91	Austin Mini	Cooper MKII	1967	1275
2	2	92	Marcos	1500 GT	1967	1600
2	17	93	Jaguar	E Type	1969	4200
2	69	94	Cobra	427		5000
2	60	95	Jaguar	XK 120 OTS	1953	3442
2	54	96	Mercedes Benz	190 B	1961	1897
2	63	97	Studebaker	Avanti 63R319 1	1966	4722
2	24	98	Austin-Healey	MK2	1961	2999
2	56	99	Jaguar	XK 150	1958	3500
2	33	100	Austin-Healey	MKII BN7	1962	2906
2	14	102	MG	TF 1500	1956	1500
2	40	103	Mercedes Benz	220	1956	2200