The Klausen Race took place ten times between 1922 and 1934 and was a meeting place for the international racing elite and one of the most challenging hill climbs of all. The length of the course and its dangers meant that only the best drivers with the fastest equipment stood a chance.
After 1934, the racing engines on the Klausen came to a standstill until 1993, when a few determined people organized another hill climb - with historic vehicles. Despite resistance and difficulties, further memorial events were held in 1998, 2002 and 2006. Then came the next break, which will finally come to an end in 2013. The Klausen Race is back on September 27 to 29, 2013.
Start with the 2012 prologue
As a prelude, so to speak, and to bridge the break, the new race organization around Fritz Trümpi, Daniel Geissmann and André Leutwiler quickly put together the prologue, an informal afternoon ride over the Klausen Pass, starting in Glarus, aperitif on the Klausen Pass and evening event at the finish in the Gotthard Motorpark in Altdorf.
The mountain shows its bad side
As if the weather gods wanted to show off their power, they shrouded the Klausen Pass in thick fog and let it drip from the clouds. The fog was so thick in places that you had to search for the edge of the track and some of the 150 or so registered drivers laid down their weapons before the event even started, leaving their beloved vehicle in the warm garage at home.
Nevertheless, more than 130 classic cars lined up in Glarus and tackled the route up the Klausen Pass at 2 p.m. on September 29, 2012.
The Klausen Pass race track has it all
The drivers took the opportunity to check the current condition of the race track in their old vehicles and at the same time refresh their own knowledge of the track, if they had any.
Just after Linthtal, the road climbs steeply up the mountain with many twists and turns. Some of the bends here are covered with the notorious cobblestones. After a few kilometers, the route becomes more straightforward, and Urnerboden is reached via long straights for pass roads. Here, almost unbelievably high speeds used to be ridden on loose ground. This straight section is followed by the second part of the pass road with its many bends and hairpin bends, which leads to the top of the pass after around 21 km.
Even in the rain and fog, the participants were enthusiastic about the route, which is probably unique in Europe in terms of historic racing.
However, it should not be underestimated, even though it is asphalted throughout. Compared to the Grossglockner or Jochpass, the road surface is very uneven and even the straights are a challenge for pre-war vehicles, not to mention the bends ...
Unbroken popularity
Even six or seven years after the Memorial was last held, the popularity of the Klausen Race remains unbroken. How else could it be explained that classic car fans from far and wide flocked to Glarus to take part in the 2012 prologue? And they brought vehicles well worth seeing, including a Bugatti T35, a Talbot-Lago T 150 C, an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Corsa, an Amilcar CGSS, a Brasier racing car from 1908, a horde of Riley and Alvis, as well as pre-war vehicles from Fiat, Ford and Rolls-Royce.
It was probably due to the bad weather that the announced American La France, a Bugatti, a British Salmson, an SS 100 and a pre-war MG stayed at home. The few weatherproof fans along the route probably didn't notice, as there were still plenty of interesting classics to admire, if you could see any cars at all in the fog.
Meeting point Gotthard Motorpark
After driving around 64 km, the prologue participants reached Altdorf and drove into the Gotthard Motorpark. Some of the vehicles were able to drive into the tastefully illuminated hall on the second floor, where drinks and snacks were also available for another aperitif.
From 18:00, the event came to an entertaining end with dinner, speeches (the mayor of Uri did the honors) and an evening program.
Key points of the 2013 regulations
The announcements by Daniel Geissmann, who explained the modalities of the Klausen Race 2013, were eagerly awaited.
Fears that the Klausen Race would become a coffee run were immediately dispelled. The aim is to have 50% of participants riding purely for best time .
However, there will still be a regularity mode for the other 50%, but this will only be open to pre-war vehicles, while post-war vehicles built between 1947 and 1953 that are equipped for racing must always compete in the "Competition" category, i.e. they must have an FIA-HTP car pass and the driver's corresponding racing license.
Pre-war vehicles built between 1905 and 1946, which are driven on the basis of uniformity, are set an average speed of 49.9 km/h, as is usual in the FIA, which may only be exceeded within certain limits. For those who are now howling, 50 km/h on a mountain pass road can be quite fast for a pre-war classic, especially when you consider that the long straight on the Urnerboden will be neutralized again.
In addition to the historic vehicles, an "X" category has been defined in which vehicles with alternative drive systems built between 1905 and the present day will compete against each other for time.
Elaborate organization
Organizing a hill climb according to FIA standards on a 21 km long pass road is no mean feat. Daniel Geissmann has to organize around 300 marshals, and the route has to be secured in many places with crash barriers and other safety measures. It is clear that this also requires a not inconsiderable budget.
Accordingly, the entry fees - entries will be accepted soon, the closing date for entries is June 30, 2013 - will be based on the not insignificant amount charged for participation in similar events such as Grossglockner, Gaisberg or Arosa. However, final figures will only be available in a few days together with the regulations.
Three mountain races in 2013
The Klausen Race 2013 will begin on Friday, September 27th with the administrative and technical approval of the cars. On Saturday, a training run will be held from 10:00 and the first race run in the afternoon. On Sunday, in contrast to previous editions, only one race will take place, with the ranking announcement scheduled for 15:00. If the weather or other circumstances prove to be unfavorable, the classification, which will be carried out in five categories and four engine capacity classes, can also be based on just one race or even the training run.
And now that the prologue was not blessed with good weather, the signs are certainly good for optimal (weather) conditions in a year's time.
Registered vehicles for the Klausenrennen Prologue 2012
| Vehicle | Year | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Abarth 595 SS | 1970 | D |
| AC-Cobra 427 | 1968 | CH |
| Alfa Romeo 6 C 2500 SS Corsa | 1939 | CH |
| Alfa Romeo Corsa Spider Super Sport | 1939 | D |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 SS Sprint Speziale | 1964 | CH |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia GT Sprint 1600 | 1965 | CH |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Super | 1963 | CH |
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider | 1961 | CH |
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint | 1959 | CH |
| Alfa Romeo GTA | 1969 | CH |
| Alfa Romeo Spider Duetto / Pininfarina | 1966 | CH |
| Alfa Romeo Ti Super | 1969 | CH |
| Alvis 12/70 Speed 20 | 1938 | CH |
| Alvis Firefly Special | 1933 | CH |
| Alvis Speed 20 Special | 1934 | CH |
| Alvis Tourer 4.3 | 1936 | F |
| American La France | 1915 | CH |
| American La France Type II | 1912 | CH |
| Amilcar CGSS | 1928 | CH |
| Amilcar CGSS | 1928 | CH |
| Austin Healey 3000 MK | 1966 | CH |
| Austin Healey 3000 MK III | 1964 | CH |
| Austin Mini | 1970 | CH |
| Austin-Healey 100 / 4 | 1955 | CH |
| Austin-Healey 100 / 6 | 1957 | NL |
| Austin-Healey 100 / 6 | 1958 | CH |
| Austin-Healey 100-4 | 1956 | NL |
| Austin-Healey 100-6 | 1957 | D |
| Austin-Healey 100-M | 1954 | CH |
| Austin-Healey BN 1 | 1954 | CH |
| Austin-Healey BT7 Monte Carlo | 1962 | CH |
| Austin-Healey MK III | 1966 | CH |
| Austin-Healey MK III 3000 | 1965 | CH |
| Austin-Healey Sprite | 1958 | CH |
| Austin-Healey Sprite 1100 | 1963 | CH |
| BMW 328 Roadster | 1939 | CH |
| BMW R25/2 | 1951 | CH |
| BMW R51/3 | 1953 | CH |
| BMW R66 | 1938 | F-67630 |
| Borgward Isabella Coupé | 1958 | CH |
| Brasier racing car | 1908 | FL |
| British Salmson 54 c Special | 1935 | CH |
| BSA 500 | 1933 | CH |
| BSA R35/4 | 1935 | CH |
| Bugatti T 35B | 1930 | CH |
| Bugatti T 35C | 1929 | D |
| Buick Super 50 | 1940 | CH |
| Cadillac 6267 | 1952 | CH |
| Cadillac Series 62 Convertible | 1959 | CH |
| Chevrolet Corvette | 1959 | CH |
| Chevrolet Corvette C1 | 1960 | CH |
| Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 1963 | CH |
| Chevrolet Impala | 1959 | CH |
| Dodge Polara 500 | 1966 | CH |
| Dollar Chaise Super Sport twin port | 1929 | CH |
| E-Force E- Quad | 2012 | CH |
| Edsel Corsair Convertible | 1959 | CH |
| Ferrari 365 GT2+2 ("Queen Mary") | 1970 | CH |
| Ferrari Daytona | 1971 | CH |
| Feuling W3 (See Ordener) | 2002 | CH |
| Fiat 1600 S (Coupe Pinifarina) | 1963 | CH |
| Fiat 500 F | 1969 | D |
| Fiat 508 c | 1937 | CH |
| Fiat 521 Sport | 1929 | CH |
| Fiat Abarth 1000 TC | 1963 | CH |
| Fiat Abarth 1000 TC Berlina Corsa | 1966 | CH |
| Fiat Abarth 1000 TC Corsa | 1964 | CH |
| Fiat Balilla Coppa D'oro | 1934 | CH |
| Fiat Steyr Fiat 850 TC | 1956 | CH |
| Ford A Sedan | 1929 | CH |
| Ford A Speedster | 1931 | CH |
| Ford Capri 3000 GT | 1970 | CH |
| Ford Capri RS 2600 | 1971 | CH |
| Ford De Tomaso PS Cobra 427 | 1968 | CH |
| Ford Mustang | 1971 | CH |
| Ford Mustang Grande | 1971 | CH |
| Indian Four | 1940 | CH |
| Indian Scout 101 | 1928 | FL |
| Jaguar Mk 2 | 1961 | CH |
| Jaguar SS 100 | 1937 | CH |
| Jaguar Type E Convertible | 1971 | CH |
| Jaguar XK 120 Coupe | 1952 | CH |
| Jowett-Javelin Jupiter | 1953 | CH |
| Lagonda Rapier | 1934 | CH |
| Lea Francis Type M Special | 1927 | CH |
| Lotus Europa S2 | 1971 | CH |
| Lotus S2 Elan | 1964 | CH |
| Lotus S2 Elan | 1965 | CH |
| Maserati 3500 | 1961 | CH |
| Matchless G80S | 1965 | CH |
| Mercedes-Benz 190 SL | 1956 | CH |
| Mercedes-Benz 280 SL | 1970 | CH |
| MG A | 1959 | CH |
| MG C | 1968 | CH |
| MG C GT | 1969 | CH |
| MG TA Special "Q-Type | 1936 | CH |
| MG TD | 1952 | CH |
| MG-A MK II | 1962 | CH |
| Mini Cooper | 1964 | CH |
| Morgan + 4 | 1965 | CH |
| Morgan +4 | 1955 | CH |
| Morgan 4/4 Series V | 1967 | CH |
| Morgan Plus 4 | 1965 | CH |
| Motosacoche 414 | 1930 | CH |
| NG TF V8 ( Nick Green) | 1971 | A |
| Norton CS 1 | 1928 | FL |
| Opel Kadett B LS -Super | 1970 | CH |
| Peugeot 203 | 1959 | CH |
| Peugeot 203 Cabriolet Grand Luxe 1.3 | 1955 | CH |
| Peugeot 404 Cabriolet Pininfarina | 1968 | CH |
| Plymouth Superbird | 1970 | CH |
| Porsche 356 B 1600 Coupé S 90 | 1963 | CH |
| Porsche 550 | 1954 | CH |
| Porsche 911 Targa | 1972 | CH |
| Porsche 912 | 1968 | CH |
| Protoscar Lampo 3 | 2011 | CH |
| Renault Alpine A 110 1600 S | 1970 | D |
| Riley Special 12-4 | 1934 | CH |
| Riley 15/6 Sport | 1934 | CH |
| Riley 15/6 Sport | 1934 | CH |
| Riley Black Cock Special | 1933 | CH |
| Riley CC 12/4 Special | 1937 | CH |
| Riley Falcon 15/6 Special | 1935 | CH |
| Riley Kestrel Sports | 1938 | CH |
| Riley Nine Brooklands Special | 1932 | D |
| Riley Racing Speed 6 | 1935 | CH |
| Riley TT Sprite | 1935 | CH |
| Riley TT Sprite | 1934 | CH |
| Riley TT Sprite Special | 1938 | CH |
| Rolls-Royce Phantom II Kitchener | 1932 | CH |
| Shelby Cobra | 1965 | CH |
| Shelby Cobra 427 S/C | 1965 | CH |
| SS 100 Jaguar | 1937 | CH |
| Steyr Puch 650 TR2 Europe | 1966 | CH |
| Talbot Lago T 150 C | 1937 | CH |
| Triumph GT 6 | 1970 | D |
| Triumph TR 3 | 1957 | CH |
| Triumph TR 6 | 1973 | CH |
| Volvo 122 S | 1966 | D |
| VW Karmann-Ghia convertible | 1969 | CH |
| VW T1 panel van | 1957 | CH |
