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In the stranglehold of the oil sheikhs - How the 1973 petrol boycott paralyzed motorsport and the horsepower industry

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Created in 2015

Reading time 12min

Written by:

Rainer Braun

Photos:

Hallo Fahrerlager

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Hallo Fahrerlager

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Zwei PS - So umgeht eine VW-Bulli-Besatzung aus dem Landkreis Weilheim das Fahrverbot im Dezember 1973

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Ungewisse Zukunft - Das Thema Ölkrise beherrscht im Winter 1973:74 die Schlagzeilen der Fachpresse

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Betretene Gesichter - Gerade hat ONS-Präsident Bernet (links) bei der Meisterfeier in Berlin das Motorsport-Verbot für Deutschland verkündet

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Freibrief - Nur mit dieser Ausnahme-Genehmigung war das Fahrverbot zu umgehen

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Ford-Fest - Die Kölner feiern dennnoch fröhlich in der Krise. Am vorderen Tisch sitzt von links; Hans Herrmann, Hans Heyer sowie die Streckensprecher Rainer Braun und Jochen Luck (beide mit Hut)

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Ungewisse Zukunft - Das Thema Ölkrise beherrscht im Winter 1973:74 die Schlagzeilen der Fachpresse

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Ungewisse Zukunft - Das Thema Ölkrise beherrscht im Winter 1973:74 die Schlagzeilen der Fachpresse

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Regierungs-Schelte - Alpina-Chef Burkard Bosvensiepen machte seinem Ärger Luft in einem zornigen Brief an den damaligen Bundeskanzler Willy Brandt

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Zapfsäule - Bitte nur 20 Liter tanken

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Summary

When the fourth Middle East war begins, no one suspects what trouble is to befall the Western car nations just a few weeks later. Rainer Braun tells the story of the time when gasoline was rationed and motorsport was completely banned until further notice.

This article contains the following chapters

The disaster takes its course
Flood of cancellations and panic reactions
Existential fears in all areas
Slow normalization
It will be hard and painful"

Estimated reading time: 12min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Our report comes from the 3rd volume from 2009 of the popular book series "Hallo Fahrerlager" by Rainer Braun. First weekend in October 1973, Sauerland-Bergpreis. The decision in the German racing championship is approaching. While the title contenders Dieter Glemser, Hans Heyer and Dieter Basche complete their training runs on Saturday, an unpleasant but initially hardly threatening piece of news makes the rounds in the paddock: war in the Middle East. On October 6, Syria and Egypt launch a surprise attack against arch-enemy Israel in the "Yom Kippur War" with the aim of recapturing territories lost six years previously. It is about the Sinai and the Golan Heights. As the race Sunday draws to a close and Ford Escort RS driver Glemser is crowned champion, no one in the PS faction has any idea what trouble is in store for the Western car nations just a few weeks later in connection with the fourth Middle East war that began the day before.

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