The hill climb tradition in Switzerland

Premium

The hill climb tradition in Switzerland

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

Created in 2012

Text:

Jürg Kaufmann

Photos:

Archiv Daniel Reinhard

3

Archiv Jürg Kaufmann / Auto Sport Schweiz

19

Archiv Bernhard Brägger

5

BB-Archiv

3

Archiv Hans Egger

2

Archiv Erwin Boppart

2

Archiv Klausenrennen

2

J. Reinhard

1

Archivbild

1

Archiv Enzmann

1

Archiv

65

104

Alfa Romeo 2905 (1937) - Jean Studer at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen-Lachen hill climb in 1948

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

Fiat (1912) - with three co-drivers leaning into the bend, at the hill climb on the Jaun Pass in 1912

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

With passengers at the Gempen hill climb in 1911 - passengers were quite common back then

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

Fischer (1921) - Steinbuk at the mountain race on the Albis Pass in 1921 - note the correct clothing

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

Bugatti Brescia (1925) - Willy Escher finishes 6th among the racing cars at the 1925 Zugerbergrennen

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

Crossing the finish line of the Klausen race around 1930

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

Austro-Daimler (1928) - Hans Stuck set the course record at the 1929 Bernina mountain race

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

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

Steyr 3.3-liter (1927) - Walter Delmar from Budapest wins the Gurnigel hill climb of 1927

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

Hans Stuck on Austro Daimler at the Klausen race in 1930

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

Bugatti 35 (1930) - Hans Stuber at the Klausen Race 1930

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

Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 (1928) - Kessler on the Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 at the Klausenrennen 1928

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

Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 (1930) - Josef Kessler with the fastest time of all sports cars at the 1930 Klausen Race

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

Mercedes-Benz SSK (1928) - Momberger won the sports car category at the Bernina mountain race in 1929

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

Hans Stuck on Austro Daimler at the Klausen race in 1930

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

Alfa Romeo P3 (1932) - Rudi Caracciola in the Alfa at the Klausenrennen 1932

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

Auto Union Type A (1934) - Hans Stuck at the Klausen Race 1934

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

Georges Irat 6 CV (1937) - Gempen in 1947 - Tullio Rocca

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

MG TC (1947) - Hubert Patthey at the snowy Sierre-Montana hill climb of 1947

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

Ford (1948) - Helbling at the hill climb on the Maloja in 1948

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

Maserati 4CL (1948) - Toulo de Graffenried at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb in 1948

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

Gordini (1953) - at the Kandersteg-Mitholz hill climb in 1953

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

Simca-Gordini (1948) - Rudolf Fischer in the monoposto at the La Sonnaz hill climb in 1949

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

Allard 4000 (1946) - A. Godfrey Imhof at the Maloja hill climb of 1946

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

Allard 3600 (1946) - A. Godfrey Imhof at the Maloja hill climb of 1947, with Ford V8 supercharged engine

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

Delahaye 135 (1948) - Mettraux on the attack at the Maloja hill climb in 1948

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

Delahaye 135 (1948) - René Mettraux the 'Léman' at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb 1948

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

Delahaye 135 (1948) - Mettraux up the mountain

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

Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 (1939) - at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb in 1954 under Stutz

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

Bugatti (1938) - Trümpy at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb in the sports car class in 1947

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

Allard K 3918 (1946) - A. Godfrey Imhof at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb of 1948

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

Allard K 3918 (1946) - A. Godfrey Imhof at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb of 1948

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

Allard 3917 (1948) - Tom Leslie Allard at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb of 1948

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

BMW 315 (1934) - de Terra at the hill climb at the Vue des Alpes 1948

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

Trümpy in the Bugatti at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen-Lachen hill climb in 1939

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

Cisitalia 1100 SS (1948) - Emilio Campolongo from Zurich at the Vue des Alpes hill climb in 1948

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

Cisitalia 1100 SS (1948) - Emilio Campolongo at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb of 1948

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

Delahaye 135 (1949) - Mettraux at the hill climb on the Maloja in 1948

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

Lancia Aprilia 1500 Sport (1948) - Peter Hirt at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb of 1948

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

Allard K4 (1949) - Imhof at the Maloja hill climb of 1949

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

Allard K4 (1949) - Imhof at the Maloja hill climb of 1949

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

HRG 1.5 liter sports car (1949) - Brock at the hill climb on the Maloja in 1949

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

HRG (1949) - Betty Haig with Mrs. Brock at the hill climb on the Maloja in 1949

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

Veritas BMW (1948) - holder at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb in 1949

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

Veritas BMW (1948) - holder at the Maloja hill climb in 1949

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

Allard J1 (1946) - Develier at the hill climb of Le Rangier in 1950

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

Allard J2 (1950) - Allard with Cadillac engine at the mountain race Vue des Alpes 1950

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

Allard J2 (1950) - Cleanor at the Vue des Alpes hill climb in 1950

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

BMW Veritas Meteor F2 (1950) - P. Hirt at the Sierre Montana hill climb in 1950

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

Veritas BMW (1948) - at the Mitholz-Kandersteg hill climb in 1950

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

Veritas BMW (1948) - at the Mitholz-Kandersteg hill climb in 1950

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

Veritas BMW (1948) - Hammernick at the Sierre-Montana hill climb of 1950

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

Veritas BMW (1948) - Hammernick at the Vue des Alpes hill climb in 1950

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

Alfa Romeo 412 (1951) - Willi-Peter Daetwyler at the Tiefencastel-Lenzerheide hill climb in 1951

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

Alfa Romeo 412 (1939) - Tiefencastel-Lenzerheide hill climb - No herb can grow away against the Alfa Romeo 412 with its 4.5-liter engine in the hands of Willy Peter Daetwyler

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

Alfa-Romeo 412 (1939) - Daetwyler transverse at the 1951 Albis mountain race

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

Alfa-Romeo 412 (1939) - Daetwyler in the Alfa 412 on the slippery cobblestones at the Mitholz-Kandersteg hill climb in 1951

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

Maserati A6GCM (1953) - Star guest and winner of the day Juan Manuel Fangio at the Vue des Alpes hill climb in 1953

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

Ferrari 212 (1951) - At the 1951 Albis hill climb, Rudolf Fischer wins the day in the Ferrari 212

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

Cisitalia 202 (1951) - Arthur Heuberger at the 1951 Develier-Les Rangiers hill climb - "Le Fer-à Cheval" bend

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

Cisitalia 202 (1951) - Arthur Heuberger at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb in 1951

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

Delahaye 135 (1951) - M. Massara at the Mitholz-Kandersteg hill climb in 1951

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

Delahaye 135 (1951) - Meier as winner of the standard touring cars at the 1951 Rheineck-Walzenhausen hillclimb race

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

Ferrari 250 MM (1953) - Hans Wirz from Effretikon on the ex-Paolo Marzotto 3-liter Mille Miglia car at the mountain race from Mitholz to Kandersteg in 1957

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

Panhard Ghia Aigle (1953) - at the Mitholz-Kandersteg hill climb of 1953

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

Pegaso Z 102 (1952) - by Palacio, at the Vue des Alpes hill climb in 1953

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

Pegaso Z 102 (1952) - by Palacio, at the Vue des Alpes hill climb in 1953

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

Jaguar XK 120 C (1953) - Silvio Moser on his C-Type at the Kandersteg hill climb in 1961

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

Lancia Appia (1954) - Winner Jacques Blumer at the Rheineck-Walzenhausen hill climb in 1954

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

Lancia Appia (1955) - the touring car champion Albert Kyburz at the Mitholz-Kandersteg hill climb in 1955

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

Maserati 2000 (1956) - A. Canonica (Geneva) at the Ollon-Villars hill climb in 1956

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

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (1956) - Scherrer at the Ollon-Villars hill climb in 1956

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

DKW 896 Spyder (1957) - Alfred Hartmann (D) at the Tiefencastel-Lenzerheide hill climb in 1957

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

Plymouth (1957) - Marcel Prêtre, the fastest touring car driver of the time and a successful writer, at the Landeron-Lignières hill climb in 1957

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

Fiat-Abarth 750 (1959) - Egli at the Vaduz-Triesenberg hill climb in 1959

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

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce (1958) - Grand at the Mitholz-Kandersteg hill climb in 1960

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

Lotus 18 (1960) - Peter Monteverdi at the Marchairuz hill climb in 1960

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

Cooper T51 Climax (1960) - Jack Brabham contests his first hill climb here in Ollon-Villars in 1960, finishing third in F2 behind Edy Barth and Heini Walter

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

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce (1956) - Karl Foitek at the wheel of his Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce at the Lenzerheide hill climb in 1957

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

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint (1959) - Karl Foitek at the Vaduz-Triesenberg hill climb in 1959

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

Cooper Ferrari (1961) - the winner Harry Zweifel at the "Bühlstutz" - Mitholz-Kandersteg hill climb 1961

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

Porsche 787 (1962) - Heinz Schiller from Geneva takes the day's victory in the F1 Porsche at the Steckborn-Eichhölzli hill climb in 1962

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

Porsche 356 B Carrera 2 GS/GT (triangular scraper) (1963) - Herbert Müller at the Ollons-Villars hill climb of 1963

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

Enzmann 506 (1959) - used at the St. Ursanne Le Rangier hill climb in 1966

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

DKW Monza (1958) - Theiler in the Monza at the hill climb of Les Rangiers in 1960

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

Sauter-Abarth sports car (1963) - Walter Egger from Olten at the Mitholz-Kandersteg hill climb

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

Lotus 38 Ford (1965) - Jim Clark as demo driver at the St. Ursanne - Les Rangier hill climb in 1965

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

Triumph Spitfire (1965) - Jacques Thuner on the factory triumph at the Marchairuz hill climb in 1965

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

Cooper-Ferrari (1961) - Zweifel sets a new Kandersteg record

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

Brabham Climax 2.7 (1966) - Charles Vögele on the finishing bend of the Oberhallau hill climb in 1966

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

Porsche 904 GTS (1965) - Herbert Müller at the Ollon-Villars hill climb in 1965

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

Ford Cortina Lotus (1966) - Sir John Whitmore at the hill climb in Eigenthal in 1966

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

Brabham (1971) - Roland Salomon at the Marchairuz hill climb in 1971

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

Giger Formula V (1971) - Franz Giger on his own construction at the Marchairuz hill climb in 1971

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

Porsche Carrera 6 (906) (1966) - Hans Kühnis in Le Rangiers

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

Peter Schetty auf Ferrari 212E Bergspider in Ollon-Villars 1969

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

March (1971) - Xavier Perrot's start at the 1971 Marchairuz hill climb

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

Porsche 911 (1971) - Florian Vetsch at the Marchairuz hill climb in 1971

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

NSU TT (1975) - Schaufelberger as winner special car at the Gurnigel

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

Porsche Carrera 910 Repco (1968) - Karl Foitek drove a Porsche Carrera 910 Repco at the famous St-Ursanne-Les Rangiers hill climb in 1968

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

Brabham BT 20 Repco (1968) - Silvio Moser at the Kerenzerberg hill climb in 1968

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

Sauber C4 (1975) - Harry Blumer sports car winner at the Gurnigel

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

Triumph Dolomite Sprint (1976) - W. Eberhard at the St. Ursanne - Les Rangiers hill climb 1976

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

Corvette Stingray 1971: Joe Kretschi at the Marchairuz hill climb

You have only

3 out of 104

images seen in high resolution

Summary

Hill climbs have a long tradition in Switzerland, which is not surprising given the typical terrain topography. Daring pilots raced up the mountain on over 100 routes. This report introduces the subject, lists all the known venues and routes in detail and illustrates the atmosphere of the time in over 100 unique and sometimes never-before-seen pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

It all began in 1901
More of a reliability or skill competition for the time being
Then the real racing cars
From short sprints to long mountain runs
Not always regular
Unusual events too
With racing celebrities and works cars
Safety as we used to see it
Still an important part of racing today
Complete overview of the known races

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Hill climbs have a long tradition in this country. But who would have thought that well over 100 different routes have served as venues. On October 13, 1901, the first hill climb on Swiss soil took place between Trélex and St. Cergue on Lake Geneva. This discipline had been "invented" just four years earlier in La Turbie, not far from Monte Carlo. The winner, Barbey, in a Daimler 24 HP, covered the 10 km route to St. Cergue in 17 minutes and 10 seconds, a remarkable time given the average gradient of 14%. However, these first events were not actual races in today's sense, but the often-used term "mountain test drive" was more appropriate. With the level of development of vehicles at that time, climbing steep roads without any problems was not a matter of course.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: