The 9th Hammerstatt Revival on October 5 and 6 will once again see historic racing cars circling the Neckar origin town. For the first time, classic racing cars and cars with alternative drive technologies will be competing alongside old sports and racing motorcycles from all eras and categories at the show races in the Schwenningen industrial area at the airfield.
A quartet of world motorcycle champions, including US legend Freddie Spencer, slip into their leather suits at the big classic car festival.
Organized by the Schwarzwälder Automobilclub im ADAC e. V., the Hammerstatt Revival in Schwenningen will once again attract many motorsport romantics and fans of classic sports and racing cars to Schwenningen with its "speedy" presentation drives. The event will once again take place on the 1.6-kilometer square circuit in the industrial area at the airfield. The start/finish area with the large paddock will also be located at the former Steinel machine factory, where the Müga company now manufactures its products.
Drivers and spectators enjoy the revival ambience because, unlike many of the modern retort circuits used in motorsport today, the atmosphere here is just right. The course, which is marked out to the highest safety standards, is surrounded by almost countless straw ball cubes - just like in the old days - which certainly contributes to the fascinating atmosphere.
Hammerstatt Revival: homage to the legendary Schwenningen circuit races
The revival is based on the legendary Schwenningen circuit races in the Hammerstatt district, which were held in 1950 and -51 with motorcycles and in 1954 and -55 with motorcycles and cars (F3 and small GT sports cars) with up to 16,000 spectators. Siegfried Schlenker ("Stierle Klepfer"), who sadly passed away this spring, triumphed as a "local hero" in the debut race with his 500cc Norton as one of the winners. Many racegoers at the time still have very special memories of the explosive race duel between Prince Joachim zu Fürstenberg in a gullwing Mercedes and Braunschweig racing ace Kurt Ahrens in a James Dean Porsche Spyder. After a brilliant spin by the aristocrat in the Maico curve, Ahrens triumphed.
Quality and quantity: more than 300 racing motorcycle riders at the Revival, including several world champions
The homage to old racing times has been held in Schwenningen since 2000, with one exception, when the revival was held at the former army airfield in Neuhausen ob Eck. Around 300 racing motorcycle riders are once again expected to take part in this year's event, including former world champions Freddie Spencer, Jim Redman and Dieter Braun. The US American Spencer won the world championship three times on a Honda in the 1980s. The South African Redman, who has long since become an old acquaintance in Schwenningen, also won the World Championship title six times on Honda machines in the "Swinging Sixties".
Swabian Dieter Braun became world champion in 1970 and -73 on Suzuki and Yamaha respectively. Other successful Grand Prix riders such as Gianfranco Bonera, Bruno Kneubühler and Heinz Rosner will be at the start. Swiss Grand Prix legend Luigi Taveri, who won the World Championship title a total of three times, will be there as a guest of honor. Like 87-year-old Adolf Reich from Bad Dürrheim, who finished second in the "Original Hammerstatt Race" in 1954, the "fast-track comrade" will certainly be doing a lap or two of honor.
New to the starting field: racing and sports cars
For the first time, historic racing and sports cars will be competing in what used to be the world's largest watchmaking city. It is now becoming apparent that there will also be a first-class field of top-class and rare vehicles at the start. The field will include everything from Voiturette racing cars from the 1920s to formula cars (including cars built around 1975).
The Steim car collection from Schramberg will awaken some classic racing cars from their slumber and will also bring a very special rarity from motorsport history to the source of the Neckar: an Adler streamlined Le Mans racing car that won the world-famous French 24-hour race in 1937 and 38.
Austrian racing legend Dieter Quester will be competing in a BMW M1. Several historic F1 racing cars will start, including a March 761 (ex-Stuck/Brambilla) and a Jim Clark-Lotus 35.
Markus Hotz, the three-time winner of the Schauinsland mountain race in Fribourg and ingenious racing car designer, has confirmed his participation from Thurgau together with a few friends. The "Swiss" vehicle line-up includes renowned manufacturers such as Bugatti, Aston Martin, Cooper, March, Tecno and Lotus. Various Formula Vee and Super Vee racing cars as well as some Formula 3 cars, such as the ex-Ronnie Peterson-Brabham, will be on the starting list.
Perhaps the revival will even see a small comeback for Vöhrenbach racing legend Manfred Mohr (e.g. F3 winner on the Berlin AVUS steep-curve circuit in 1965) at the Hammerstatt Revival.... The Cyclecar team from Albstadt is expected with their interesting monoposti cars. An ex-F2 Cooper Climax (Stirling Moss/Rob Walker) has also already been named for the attractive starting field.
Future mobility and social commitment at the classic car parade also make the rounds
Also new: under the heading of "Future mobility", new drive concepts will be demonstrated with numerous vehicles. Combined with social commitment in a partnership with the Tannheim Children's Cancer Aftercare Clinic and Lebenshilfe, classic car parade rides with road machines will also be incorporated into the event.
Public close thanks to open paddock
As usual, the paddock will be open to all visitors. Drivers and mechanics will certainly be happy to have interesting horsepower conversations with them. The spectator-friendly SAC motto: At the Hammerstatt Revival, only the leather suit or fireproof underwear is closer to the drivers than the fan.
The large field of participants is expected to be divided into a total of ten starting fields. These will circle the "Neckarring" for 15 minutes twice per event day. Those responsible at the SAC would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people living in the industrial area around the airfield and the town for their cooperation. The constructive willingness to do so makes it possible to pay homage to old Schwenningen racing times and to look to the motorized future.
