Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Stock car racing - gladiatorial battles like in the old days

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

Created on May 20, 2011

Reading time 4min

Written by:

Bernhard Brägger

Photos:

Archiv Bernhard Brägger

15

Archiv Bernhard Brägger

15

Mercury - Startszene in einem Stockcar-Rennen der Fünfziger-Jahre - Mercury, neben Buick, Peugeot, Ford und Hudson

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

Peugeot 402 Familiale - Ford gegen Citroën gegen Peugeot 402 Familiale - alle kämpfen bei diesem 50er-Jahre-Stockcar-Rennen gegen alle

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

Impressionen von Stockcar-Rennen in den Fünfzigerjahren - staubig ging es da zu

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

Ford - bei diesem Stockcar-Rennen um 1955 fährt ein Ford gegen Chevrolet

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

LaSalle - hart gefahren wurde bei diesen Stockcar-Rennen in den Fünfzigerjahren

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

Impressionen von Stockcar-Rennen der Fünfziger-Jahre - gut gefüllte Besuchertribunen - dem Publikum gefällt es

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

Impressionen von Stockcar-Rennen der Fünfzigerjahre - beinahe unerträglich zu sehen, wie schöne alte Wagen hier verarbeitet wurden

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

Chrysler Royal - Ford vor Chrysler Royal und Peugeot 402 - es geht hart zu bei diesem 50er-Jahre-Stockcar-Rennen in der Schweiz

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

Citroën 11 Légère - Ein Citroën Légère passiert den liegenden LaSalle bei einem Stockcar-Rennen in den Fünfzigerjahren

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

Citroën 11 - ein Citroën Légère fährt bei einem 50er-Jahre-Stockcar-Rennen gegen gegen eine Meute Amerikanerwagen

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

Graham-Paige - Graham-Paige, LaSalle und Peugeot bei Stockcar-Rennen aus den Fünfzigern

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

Graham-Paige Supercharger - Graham Paige Supercharger, auch Sharknose genannt, kämpft mit Ford und zwei Chevrolets bei einem Stockcar-Rennen in der Schweiz in den Fünfzigerjahren

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

Hudson - Nicht für Jedermann - Stockcar-Rennen in den späten Fünfzigerjahren, gut sichtbar ein Hudson

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

La Salle - LaSalle und Chevrolets kämpfen sich durch den Rauch bei diesem Stockcar-Rennen aus den Fünfzigerjahren

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

Mercury, Peugeot 402, Buick und Hudson im Fight beim Stockcar-Rennen aus den Fünfzigerjahren

You have only

3 out of 15

images seen in high resolution

Summary

At the end of the 1950s, following the 1955 ban on circuit racing, another type of motor sport aroused widespread public interest and sparked heated discussions, angry letters to the editor and humorous reactions. The fashionable stock car races even occupied the Federal Council and the Federal Court. An agency report from October 15, 1959 stated: "For some time now, so-called stock car meetings have been held in Switzerland. These are races that are held outdoors on an oval grass track with two straights of 60 to 80 meters in length with old cars that are ready for demolition, whereby it is permitted to eliminate the competitors by deliberately ramming their cars and thus preventing them from continuing their journey. The winner is the one who has completed a certain number of laps first." Without taking a retrospective stance, lamenting the beautiful classic cars or even becoming a moralist, the randomly compiled letters to the editor, cantonal and federal court rulings, agency reports or editorial statements reflect the spirit of the times when it came to motorsport fringe phenomena. At the beginning of the sixties, stock car racing went quiet in Belp, in the sand north of Bern, in Grenchen and also in Geneva. The newly enacted Road Traffic Act and its enforcement ordinance became a chicane that was difficult to circumvent - but interest in this type of motorsport also declined rapidly.

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

At the end of the 1950s, following the 1955 ban on circuit racing, another type of motor sport aroused widespread public interest and sparked heated discussions, angry letters to the editor and humorous reactions. The fashionable stock car races even occupied the Swiss Federal Council and the Federal Court. An agency report from October 15 , 1959 stated: "For some time now, so-called stock car meetings have been held in Switzerland. These are races that are held outdoors on an oval grass track with two straights of 60 to 80 meters in length with old cars that are ready for demolition, whereby it is permitted to eliminate the competitors by deliberately ramming their cars and thus preventing them from continuing their journey. The winner is the one who has completed a certain number of laps first."

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Photos of this article

Source: