The father of the Ennstal-Classic is dead - Obituary Helmut Zwickl
02/12/2025
Helmut Zwickl founded the Ennstal-Classic, a superlative classic car event, around 33 years ago. On February 9, the former motorsport journalist died at the age of 85.
The trained chemist had no ambitions to grow old in this profession. He was already in the pit lane at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1963 and remained loyal to motorsport beyond the millennium. He reported for the Kurier, Autos Revue, auto motor und sport, Auto Zeitung, Motorsport aktuell and Speedweek. In addition to numerous books of his own, his name also appeared repeatedly in Auto-Jahr. His observations were critical and full of subtle irony.
When the paddocks became increasingly impersonal and his questions were answered with meaningless standard phrases, he turned his back on current racing. I remember exactly how he complained to me in Monaco that he had been waiting for over two hours for one of the young racing drivers and that he was getting fed up with it. Because what he would then say wouldn't really be useful in the end. The working relationship between drivers and journalists became increasingly impersonal, which is clearly evident in today's reporting.
A picture from days gone by: Helmut Zwickl with his friend Jochen Rindt
However, his network was now so large that he brought it with him into the classic car scene after his journalistic career. Not just like that, they all came to Gröbming at least once: Sir Stirling Moss, Jochen Mass, Hans-Joachim Stuck (on the cover photo in a Porsche 956 Gr. C), Nigel Mansell, Sebastian Vettel, John Surtees, Hans Hermann, Rauno Aaltonen, David Coulthard, Arturo Merzario, Nino Vaccarella, Dieter Quester, Gerhard Berger, Mario Illien, "Mr. Bean", Brian Johnson, Hermann Mayer and many more. With a lot of passion and commitment, the Ennstal-Classic grew bigger and more important every year.
I still remember well how we - Helmut, Michael Glöckner and I - first had the idea of an "Ennstal-Classic" at breakfast together in the Sauber Motorhome at the 1991 Hungarian Grand Prix. It came true just one year later: a first attempt with only 46 cars at the start, but Walter Röhrl and Karl Wendlinger were already involved.
Now, at the age of 86, Helmut started his last special stage after a long illness. As we know that he will not be coming back, we already miss him. Thank you Helmut for your years of friendship!
Helmut Zwickl with his daughter Jenny
