It's one of those things with "insider tips": the more they circulate, the less they are "insider tips". So it would actually make much more sense not to write anything about the Schauinsland Klassik so that this event can continue to be traded as an "insider tip" for as long as possible!
Homage to that time
On the first weekend in August (August 2 and 3, 2019), the 13th Schauinsland Classic was held in Freiburg im Breisgau near the border, paying homage to the legendary hill climb that was held 38 times from the mid-1920s to the mid-1980s - 100,000 spectators were not uncommon in the heyday of this race.
After being banned by local politicians on environmental grounds, the Schauinsland Klassik was launched in 2001.
Wide range of vehicles
125 teams, mainly from Germany and Switzerland, supplemented by teams from France and Luxembourg, took on the first of two stages on Friday lunchtime.
From A for Alfa Romeo or Alvis 12/70 Sports (1937) to F for Ford A Boattail Racer (1930) and M for Mercedes Benz 230 SL (1967) to V for VW 1303 Beetle (1979), the entire range of classic cars worth seeing was at the start.
Over hill and dale
The first day led from Freiburg first over the piece de resistance, namely the Schauinsland to Neuenburg am Rhein, into southern Baden near Lörrach, and then via St. Blasien, Totdnau back to the starting point. A good 250 kilometers awaited the participants, peppered with 31 special stages that had to be tackled to the hundredth of a second.
The finish line was in the evening on Freiburg's Münsterplatz, which was lined with perhaps a thousand spectators. Barriers ensured that the participants' cars did not have to find their way through the crowd...
It was almost like being at a classic car event in Italy!
On the legendary Schauinsland route
The second day covered 260 kilometers in the eastern and northern parts of the vast Black Forest. And of course the Schauinsland route was again at the start of the stage. Everything was peppered with 21 special stages.
After a total of 500 kilometers, the Schauinsland Klassik ended on Saturday evening amidst the "Street Food Market" at the Freiburg exhibition grounds and the enraptured amazement of interested visitors. The crowning finale was the award ceremony, which took place in a new form at the exhibition center.
There, to their own great surprise, Susanna and Stefano Ginesi from the "Porsche Classic Zurich" team were the most jubilant. The pair won the overall standings with their Porsche 356 C from 1964. "This is an incredibly nice feeling and means a lot to us. We've driven in many races before, but the reception on Münsterplatz was truly unique!" said Stefano Ginesi, beaming with joy.
Freiburg and Catholicism
Holy Mass in Freiburg Minster is sacred to the local clergy in the truest sense of the word. No disturbances are tolerated, especially not from motorsport events such as the Schauinsland Klassik. The finish on Friday evening can therefore be set for 7.30 p.m. at the earliest for the first car, because by then the Saturday evening mass is finished and the engines are no longer any competition for the spoken word in the church. The crowd of spectators at the finish line raises the question of "Schauinsland Classic versus church service"...
Broken rim
Just like last year, Robert Krause (37) drove a 1930 Ford A Boattail Racer together with Benjamin Drescher (36). This year's victory in the pre-war classification came to nothing. Shortly after the start, on the legendary Schauinsland circuit, a rim broke on their racer. At least they managed to repair the damage together with the ADAC repair crew and get back into the race.
Heroes
Mario Ketterer (69) and Fredy Amweg (70) were the guests of honor at this year's Schauinsland Klassik. The pair's vehicle was unusual: The fast racing machine from earlier times had to make way for a VW Beetle with just 34 hp, and they had to work out between themselves who had to take the wheel and who had to sit in the passenger seat. It was always fun, and to make sure they weren't tempted to set the fastest time, the Beetle had the word "Press" printed on it, along with the number 459 - not the star number, but symbolic of the record time of 4:59 minutes set by Mario Ketterer in 1978 in a RALT Formula 2 racing car.
Fredy Amweg was also able to enter his name in the golden book of Schauinsland: the Swiss mountain king won in a March BMW Formula 2 monoposto in 1974. "We don't take it too seriously - I think we have to stop every now and then and do a level check," laughed Amweg on Friday lunchtime. He did not explain the level check in detail, it remains unclear whether it concerned the levels on the Beetle or the two throats...
Careful route selection
Why does the Schauinsland Klassik have so much charm? Quite simply: the routes were chosen with incredible care.
Main roads were avoided whenever possible and were only used for the transition to the next section of secondary road. Actual forest paths and estate roads were also included in the routes, allowing the participants to get to know the Black Forest from a completely different perspective. It could happen that forest workers were disturbed while logging or that they encountered a log transport with a tractor.
The attractive (driving) routes led through places that you would never get to know as a normal driver. And the area is so extensive that new and varied routes are likely to be added to the program again next year...
This is likely to be the case again next year when the Schauinsland Classic takes place again on July 31 to August 1, 2020.
