Kurt Bergmann - team boss and design legend celebrates his 90th birthday
02/28/2019
Kurt Bergmann from Vienna, head of the glorious Kaimann Formula Vee racing team from 1966 to 1982 and master builder of the twin-engine Pikes Peak Golf GTI Turbo, celebrated his 90th birthday with many of his former drivers and numerous friends on February 23, 2019. The original date would have been January 15, but Niki Lauda was unable to attend due to illness. And as the former Kaimann driver was keen to pay a special tribute to his old foster father and mentor with his presence, as he had done on his 80th birthday, the celebration was postponed several times. Unfortunately, however, Niki's failing health meant that he was unable to attend. Instead, the ex-Kaimann pilots Quester, Peter, Huber, Breinsberg and Poldi von Bayern celebrated their old boss.
Pictured from left to right: presenter Rainer Braun (78), Eberhard Winkler (80), Poldi von Bayern (75), ex-Formula V Europe boss Anton Konrad (80), Kurt Bergmann (90), Erich Breinsberg (77, (half hidden), Dieter Quester (79), Peter Peter (75). (© Adamec)
On the occasion of the celebration, there was a cheerful chat about old times: Kaimann Formula Vee drivers Rainer Braun, Peter Peter, Dieter Quester and Poldi von Bayern, with long-time journalist and F1 reporter Helmut Zwickl in the background (from left to right). (© Adamec)
There are still people with a big heart. Two-time European Formula Vee champion Erich Breinsberg (right, © Adamec) has secured a carefree retirement for his former racing team boss Kurt Bergmann. Before an investor was able to buy up and demolish the property with living quarters and workshop that Bergmann had occupied as a tenant, thereby putting the old man out to pasture, Vienna's largest VW dealer Breinsberg acquired the property himself and gave his old mentor the right to live in familiar surroundings for life free of charge. "I owe Kurt so much in motorsport," says Breinsberg, "so it was time to give something back." True human greatness that is rarely found today.
Two great Formula Vee pioneers met again at the ceremony. Former FV Europe boss Anton Konrad and Kurt Bergmann. Konrad, now 80 years old, was first appointed Head of Press and then Head of Group Communications at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg after his Formula Vee time in 1972. (© Sascha Christof)
Incidentally, even 90 years of life do not prevent Kurt Bergmann from continuing to construct technical devices such as remote-controlled mini-submarines (photo © Sascha Christof) or helicopters and proudly demonstrating them in operation. And he is already working on his next project - but he is not yet revealing what it is.
.jpg)
