Ninety years ago, some of the best racing drivers of their time raced for the first time on the Bernina Pass. On dusty roads - without crash barriers - with vehicles that were difficult to control. But with the courage, skill and inventive spirit of the early years of motor racing and, above all, with a great deal of enthusiasm.
Around 90 years ago for the first time
The automobile race on the Bernina Pass goes back a long way. The first two races were held in 1929 and 1930. The route was around 16 km long, starting north of Poschiavo at the "Fulon" and finishing on the "Baracon". The first race was won by German driver Hans Stuck in an Austro-Daimler, the second by French driver Louis Chiron in a Bugatti T47. Chiron won the hearts of young people in Val Poschiavo thanks to his daring racing and his friendly manner. People in the village spoke of "Giron".
Even back then, people knew that an automobile or motorcycle was helpful for getting to the most beautiful places on earth. So the Engadin, the Puschlav or the town of St. Moritz were not unattainable utopias, but achievable goals.
Those responsible in the region had the foresight to allow automobile traffic. In honor of this innovation, the St. Moritz Automobile Week was held, with its highlight being the Bernina Race. Crowds of spectators lined the pass road as the aces of motor racing battled it out for victory. Then as now, such an event meant a considerable effort, both in terms of planning and finances.
What impression might it have made on the people in the region back then - the sound of the engines, the dust-covered faces of the drivers? We don't know. Apparently, the spectacle was so impressive that the memory of it has remained alive for three generations - in the region and among enthusiasts.
Rebirth
85 years later, the first revival took place. An event that should never have happened in the first place: Because it was normally impossible to revive a hill climb like this after a break of eight decades. On a main traffic artery. With a border connection. Under challenging weather and logistical conditions.
An intensive dialog with fantastic people in charge in administration and politics ultimately made it possible, in addition to expertise, concept and a focus on safety and sustainability. Now, at the fifth attempt, we are celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Bernina Hill Climb.
Where today the drivers pull their racing gloves tight, then lower their visors and count the cars in front of them to the start at "La Rösa", the horses used to be changed by the muleteers before the final ascent to the pass.
Almost like back then
In the first race in 1928, the two big favorites were Louis Chiron and Hans Stuck. The first Bernina record had to be decided between them. The Frenchman thundered off - and ended up in the wall after just two kilometers. Not a hair on his head was bent, but one front wheel was shattered. Which meant that Chiron, one of the main contenders for the title of "King of the Bernina", was left on the track. So Stuck stormed the mountain in pursuit of the highest honor. And the daring daredevil made it, hurling the blue Austro-Daimler through the bends with uncanny speed and unerring safety. 14 min. 58.4 sec. announced the loudspeaker. Stuck thus became the hero of the day, the first to add his name to the list of Bernina records.
Only those who witnessed Stuck's breathtaking drive will fully appreciate what it means to complete the Bernina route at an average speed of 66.4 km/h.
Like father like (almost) son
One man, however, wanted to know exactly what was going on and took a seat in his father's Austro Daimler. Hans Joachim Stuck drove his famous father's winning car from 1928 at the weekend and showed great enthusiasm. The track today is much shorter and of course asphalted, but you still get a feeling of what the drivers did back then.
Stuck achieved a time of 5:15.56 in the 90-year-old car. "Only" two minutes faster was Ronnie Kessel in Clay Regazzoni's ex-F1 racing car, the 1976 Ensign.
Bugatti old and new
It was fascinating to see how breathtakingly fast Martin Halusa was in the Bugatti 35 and how slow the modern Bugatti Chiron was in comparison.
Unfortunately, no times are available for the Chiron, but Halusa's 4:06.15 in the T35 seems simply sensational.
This time everything was just right
The event was at its very best. The weather was perfect and the line-up of vehicles was absolutely worth seeing.
With its own pre-war class à la Klausen, the event could perhaps be brought a little closer to its glorious past. However, with a maximum of 80 cars, the schedule is not overstretched, the drivers get to drive and there is also enough time to solve the necessary logistical problems, such as post bus journeys etc.
The unique backdrop of the Bernina mountains combined with the sensational shapes of old racing cars and the sound of the engines echoing off the mountain ranges opposite are always worth a trip to the Engadin.
If the weather is right, as it was last weekend, you really don't know what you'd rather photograph: the cars or the mountains.
Real motorsport
In contrast to many other "mountain races", real motorsport is organized on the Bernina Pass, i.e. the race is for the best time.
On September 21/22, 2019, Ronnie Kessel in the 1976 F1-Ensign was the fastest to achieve this, clocking 6:32.65 in two runs, followed by Florian Feuster in the Porsche 911 2.3 SR, who completed the two fastest runs in a combined time of 6:53.50.
Thomas Kern came third in the Shelby Cobra and Lukas Halusa fourth in the Ferrari 250 GT Breadvan. In view of the many racing classes/periods, there was of course a class win to celebrate for almost every one of the 13 Competition participants.
In the regularity classification, Stuck, Carmenisch, Rosetti, Zeriali, Wildbolz, Nuener, Magnussion, Schwarzenbach, Roberts, Bonetsmüller, Seidl and Siccardi won in their respective classes. However, the deviations were sometimes considerable because the pilots preferred to let it fly instead of setting the most consistent times possible.
