The "Lenzerheide Motor Classics" celebrated its debut on the weekend of July 2-3, 2011! Around 70 cars and many motorcycles from days gone by found their way to Lenzerheide. The weather was kind, especially for the engines, as the temperatures were almost wintry. The windy 12 degrees on Saturday meant that all the helpers and marshals were freezing on the track, hidden in their winter jackets.
Attractive track layout from a driver's perspective
It was mainly the drivers' tempers that were heated up, as they had free rein with their cars on a great circuit. When else can you drive from Lenzerheide along the lake almost as far as Valbella (Rothorn valley station) without observing the usual speed limits? The enthusiasm among the drivers was great and that is good for the future of the event. Organizationally, everything ran smoothly and without any problems, which testifies to the professional work of Koni Strittmatter and his team.
The riders were thrilled anyway, as it is rare to get to ride so much at an event in Switzerland. The faster drivers were able to cover up to 100 km. At the same time, there was also less waiting in the car and setting up the vehicles went more smoothly than at other events. The fact that the catering and the evening event also met with a positive response rounded off the Motor Classics.
Stop and go
As circuit races are unfortunately still prohibited in Switzerland, the vehicle fields were merged after each lap and then restarted. However, this meant only one short stop for the fields, which were largely organized according to the speed of the vehicles. The pace was set by a racing car in front (Fabio Leimer in the Debora C393-02 with 3-liter Alfa Romeo power from 1993 and Fredy Barth in the Seat Leon from the 2010 World Touring Car Championship). The pace set for the historic vehicles was so high that they were not slowed down in any way, but had little chance of being pursued.
Broad and colorful starting field
The field of participants was absolutely impressive for the first event. A wide variety of eras and vehicle types were represented. The two Maseratis, Kurt Hasler's 8CM Monoposto and Georges Kaufmann's 250F led the way. There was also the exciting ex-DTM BMW 320 from the former Junior Team and the beautiful ex-Silvio Moser Brabham F2, as well as the ex-Siffert Stanguellini! The extensive picture gallery gives an impression !
Formula 1 driver's tank empty
A former Formula 1 driver was also at the start with Jo Vonlanthen, albeit without fuel. On the first "run", the GRD's tank was empty before the journey was started.
Unlucky drivers
There were also a few unlucky accidents over the weekend: a Triumph Spitfire lost its left front wheel, the beautiful Silvio Moser Brabham BT36 got a cold deformation and two motorcyclists argued so much about right of way that both ended up in the grass.
A new edition in a year's time?
Now we can only hope that nothing stands in the way of a new edition and that many historic racing cars will make their way to Lenzerheide in 2012 to do their laps in front of an impressive natural backdrop. After the successful debut, we hope that the event will attract even more spectators, who will be offered a lot.
Starting field (cars/racing cars only, not fully updated)
| VEHICLE | TYPE | cm3 | year | HORSEPOWER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo | SZ 3.0 | 2957 | 1991 | 210 |
| Gebhard | C2 | 1935 | 1987 | 630 |
| Alfa Romeo | GTV/6 2.5 Grand Prix | 2491 | 1986 | 160 |
| Porsche | 911 | 3200 | 1985 | approx. 250 |
| Alfa | GTV 6 | 2491 | 1983 | 160 |
| Lamborghini | Countach LP 400S | 3929 | 1979 | 390 |
| Triumph | TR7 | 1998 | 1978 | 180 |
| Toyota | Celica TA 28 ST | 1588 | 1977 | 86 |
| BMW 320 | DTM Gr. 5 | 2000 | 1977 | 200 |
| Opel | Kadett C GTE | 2400 | 1977 | 160 |
| AC | Cobra Mk IV | 4942 | 1977 | 300 |
| Chrysler Simca | Rallye III | 1294 | 1976 | 165 |
| Lancia | Stratos HF Stradale | 2418 | 1976 | 190 |
| De Tomaso 874 | GT4 | 5769 | 1976 | 330 |
| Ferrari | Dino 308 GT4 | 2927 | 1975 | 255 |
| Leyland | Innocenti Mini Cooper | 1275 | 1974 | 90 |
| Toyota | Celica TA22 GT | 1600 | 1974 | 125 |
| Fiat | 124 CSA Abarth | 1755 | 1974 | 140 |
| Innocenti | Mini Cooper 1300 | 1273 | 1973 | 79 |
| Alfa Romeo | GT Veloce | 1962 | 1973 | 170 |
| GRD 273 | Formula 2, Ford BDA engine | 1997 | 1973 | 250 |
| Porsche | Carrera RSR | 2800 | 1973 | 270 |
| Porsche | RSR IROC | 3000 | 1973 | 318 |
| Alfa Romeo | 2000 GT | 1962 | 1972 | 150 |
| VW-Porsche | 914 | 2000 | 1972 | 100 |
| Porsche | 911 S | 2800 | 1972 | 260 |
| Brabham | BT 36 Formula 2 | 1600 | 1971 | 240 |
| Porsche | 911T | 2200 | 1971 | 125 |
| Ford | Escort TC | 1558 | 1970 | 160 |
| Fisher | Fury Spider | 1600 | 1970 | approx. 100 |
| H. Knobel own construction | Monoposto Dino Ferrari 246 | 2400 | 1969 | 310 |
| Triumph | Spitfire Mk3 | 1300 | 1968 | 75 |
| Jaguar | E-Type Light Weight | 4200 | 1968 | 300 |
| Brabham | BT 16 | 998 | 1965 | 105 |
| Volvo | 122S | 1780 | 1965 | 90 |
| Maserati | 8 CM | 2991 | 1965 | 250 |
| Crosslé | C9S | 1997 | 1963 | 240 |
| Fiat Abarth | 850 TC Nürburgring | 850 | 1962 | approx. 80 |
| Porsche | 356 Type B Karmann Hardtop Coupé | 1600 | 1961 | 75 |
| Lancia | Flaminia Coupé P F | 2458 | 1961 | 128 |
| Jaguar | Type D | 3871 | 1961 | 275 |
| Jaguar | XK 120 OTS Racing | 3400 | 1961 | 180 |
| Alfa Romeo | Giulietta Sprint Zagato | 1291 | 1960 | 100 |
| Ferrari | 250 Gt / SWB Comp | 2953 | 1960 | 250 |
| Stanguellini | Racing car monoposto | 1089 | 1959 | 78 |
| MG | a Wagner sp 1 | 1800 | 1959 | ca 140 |
| Fiat | 8V Berlinetta | 1996 | 1953 | approx. 210 |
| Austin Healey 3000 | M1 BN/7 | 2912 | 1959 | 135 |
| Maserati | 250F | 2493 | 1956 | 270 |
| Austin Healey | 100/4 BN2 | 2661 | 1955 | 90 |
| Austin Healey | BN1 | 2600 | 1953 | 105 |
| Hudson | Hornet | 5047 | 1952 | 147 |
| Laconda | LG6 | 4900 | 1940 | 220 |
| Riley | Speed Adelphi | 1762 | 1936 | 140 |
| ALVIS | Silver Eagle | 4400 | 1936 | 154 |
| MG | K 1 | 1275 | 1931 | approx. 120 |
| Nash | 480 Aeropower | 4600 | 1930 | approx. 120 |
| Salmson | GSS AL3 | 1086 | 1927 | 40 |
| Ford | T Racer | 2900 | 1918 | 60 |
| La France | Type 12 | 14500 | 1917 | 130 |
