The first Eigenthal revival called "Kriens-Eigenthal-Historic" will take place to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the last edition of the Eigenthal hill climb. The date of the historic racing event has been set for September 15 and 16, 2018.
The first VIP starting numbers were symbolically allocated at the press conference on January 31, 2017.
With starting number "1", the car that has gone down in the history of the Eigenthal hill climb as the last winner of the GT class (Series IV 1300-1600 cc) in 1968 with the two running times of 3.08.13 and 3.07.51 will open the revival.
The car in question is the green Lotus Elan S2 with the Swiss cross, which was driven by Mario Garovi, who died suddenly last year. However, he will be worthily represented by his daughter Martina, who will now be driving the Elan at the start.
Lots of support from the region
The upcoming revival is thanks in part to the main initiator Alfred Gut, who is the editor of the municipal organ KRIENSinfo and a member of the trade association "gvk". He came up with the idea after a meeting with Ruedi Caprez and Fredi Amweg in the Obernau restaurant. The attempt to organize a revival was then quickly decided.
The subsequent collection of signatures from Kriens businesses, which unanimously expressed great interest in the revival, was motivation enough to draw up a concept that was submitted to the Kriens municipal council for its opinion. Just a few weeks later, the good news, fundamental interest and support on the way to the police and canton was in the mailbox in an official letter from the municipal council.
The history of the race before the war
The Eigenthaler mountain race was held for the first time on May 28, 1923 as an internal ACS Lucerne, Obwalden and Nidwalden section race. The race was won by Eduard Koch with 22 participants, who covered the distance from Oberbau to Eigenthal in 8 minutes and 45 seconds. The anniversary publication "25 years of ACS Lucerne" from 1933 reads: "If the great line of Swiss sport is to go upwards, it needs trials or races. Every nation for which sport is important strives for top performances; because only through records does the broad mass of sportsmen and women receive new impulses".
The Klausen race was suspended in 1928, so the Eigenthal race was regarded as a national mountain test ride. The winner was none other than Hans Stuck in the Austro-Daimler in a time of 6 minutes and 21.4 seconds.
In 1929, the race was won by Hans Stuber from Bern in a Bugatti 35C in a time of 6.20.4. The start was at the Nagelschmiede in Oberbau, the finish about 100m before the culmination of the road, at the entrance to the forest at 1030m above sea level. The route was 6.5 km long, the difference in altitude 490 m and the steepest gradient 14%. A Bugatti 35, with Louis Chiron at the wheel, also won the Klausen in the same year.
In 1931, the winners on September 5/6 were once again Hans Stuber and Bugatti. They beat their time from the previous year by around 17 seconds and the clock stopped after 6.03.6. The weather had been miserable at the time and the demands for using the Eigenthalstrasse were prohibitively high. The "Kriens-Eigenthal" could literally only be saved in the final hours. The entry fees at that time were CHF 40 for touring cars, CHF 60 for sports cars and CHF 80 for racing cars. There were 43 racing cars from five nations at the start and three women were among the drivers.
Events after the war
In 1964, the race was held again for the first time after the war on October 3 and 4 on a shortened course (from the Hergiswald bridge to 250 m below the Holderkäppeli). The race now counted towards the Swiss Automobile Championship. It was won by Jürg Dubler in a 998cc Cooper BMC racing car with a total time of 5.06.41 for both heats, clearly beating the more powerful racing cars.
However, the new track record of 2.29.72 (78.87 km/h average) was set by Silvio Moser from Ticino in a Brabham Formula 3. Around 20,000 spectators lined the track. The paddock was located on Lucerne's Allmend and on the grounds of the Eichhof brewery. The participants were escorted to Obernau in groups with police escorts.
In 1966, the race not only counted towards the Swiss Automobile Championship but also towards the European Touring Car Cup. And British driver Sir John Whitmore was absolutely unbeatable in the right-hand drive Cortina Lotus on September 24/25. With his spectacular driving style, he drove himself into the hearts of all spectators.
Unfortunately, 1968 was the last edition under the same title and on the same route. With 237 registered vehicles, there was still an absolute record number of participants, but the race could no longer be held the following year.
The future in 2018
The planned event on September 15/16, 2018 will be a "memorial" event. You could also call it a "rolling museum". The focus will be on the great history of the event.
It will not be a race and there will be no timekeeping or rankings.
Approximately 250 historic vehicles with two, three and four wheels of all classes (racing cars, touring cars, sports cars, motorcycles and sidecars), which fit into the period of the original Eigenthal hill climbs as far as possible, will be admitted.
Absolute priority is given to all vehicles and drivers who have already taken part in previous events.
In addition, the aim is to involve the community of Kriens and its surroundings and plan an extensive supporting program for young and old during the "race weekend". There are many ideas for this, from a yodeling fair to a nostalgia day, from a large exhibition to a ride by the Swiss Veterans Cycling Club ...
Further information can be found on the Kriens-Eigenthal-Historic 2018 website.
