Leonberg, 22nd-24th of July 2011
The history of the Solitude racetrack dates back to 1903 when the
first hill climb for motorcycles went up to the name giving Schloß
Solitude at the gates of Stuttgart. This hill climb was held until
1925 when a new circuit on public roads was introduced with a
total length of 22 km including parts of the original hill climb
course. In a short period this circuit was used both by
motorcycles and cars but the cars of the era (including Mercedes-
Benz 680S or Bugatti T35) became to fast and the races to
dangerous so the last races before WW2 were tendered for bikes
only.
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After the war the first race started in 1949 and especially the bike
races became more and more important so the Solitude race
even became the GP of Germany. The cars came also back on
the track with several races for sports and touring cars with a
given displacement plus smaller formula races. Since 1935 the
races were held on what is today known as the Solitude ring with
a total length of 11.4 km that does not include the former hill
climb course at the castle anymore. The heydays of the track
came in the 1960s when the Formula 1 held some races on the
Solitude at the same weekend as the bike GP.
The last race was held in 1965 and ever since people hoped that
the engines will be heard again in the Wildpark (wildlife park) but
as the area is divided in several administration districts a
permission for a revival was very difficult. In the last 8 years 3
different events relived the name Solitude but never on the full
circuit. 2003 the centenary was celebrated at the castle with
parts of the historical hill climb, in 2006 and 2008 parts of the GP
circuit were used.
Now in 2011 the organization Retro Promotion and the Solitude
Revival eV took the opportunity to get the desired permission
within the celebration of the Automobilsommer (“automobile
summer”) to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the automobile in
Baden-Württemberg. After an event in the capitol Stuttgart and a
concours a few weeks ago in Ludwigsburg the revival is intended
to become the highlight of the celebration.
On Friday the 22nd of July more than 200 cars and bikes came
together at the paddocks near the Hotel Glemseck. Unfortunately
the ADAC, the largest German automobile club was not willing to
take part at the revival, presumable because the AVD (another car
club) was involved and the decision makers were not able to join
forces in everyone´s interest. As the ADAC owns a part of the
area inside the circuit (that would have been ideal for the
paddock) as well as the old pit lane and the time keeping
building, the paddock had to be placed at the elongation of the
road in a little bit cramped conditions making the access to the
track difficult.
So the cars were lined up in tents along the road and the visitors
on Friday were already aware that the starting field was
spectacular for a first time event. Beside numerous bikes of the
era especially cars of all the heydays of the circuit were present,
divided basically in three groups: pre-war cars both sport and GP,
endurance racers of the post war years and the formula cars.
The pre-war cars to start with featured some very rare Alfa Romeo
GP cars, a P3 and a 12C37 beside some sports cars of the same
make, a very original Maserati 8CM (that was voted best pre-war
car in the concours as well) and 4 CL, an ERA and several
Bugattis. The sports cars featured several MGs, Morgan three-
wheelers and Aston Martin but crowd favorites were without doubt
to two oldest cars on the track, the American LaFance “Red
Baron” and Brutus, the 47 Litre monster of the Technikmuseum
Sinsheim that did not miss an opportunity to spit fire out of its
exhaust as thick as an arm.
The endurance classes started with those cars originally
competed in the races of the past especially the Porsche 550
Spyder that dominated their class in the 1950s. In 1956 no less
than 8 of these cars finished on the first places of the international
race for sportscars up to 1.5 litre and this time three of them were
present. Beside a privately entered two works cars from the
Porsche Museum were driven by nobody less than Hans
Herrmann and Herbert Linge, both successful Porsche race
veterans and supporters of the Solitude Revival idea from the first
hour. Further cars of this class were a Maserati 200 SI (2415) and
a Ferrari 500 Mondial (0536MD), the Maserati Type 60/61
Birdcage (2451) unfortunately was just seen on the track at
Saturday but not on Sunday.
The closed cars started with a duo of Porsche 904 GTS of the
last year of the races and the 356 Carrera with the famous
registration WN-V2 that was driven successfully by the late Paul
E. Strähle in period.
Two Ferraris were back on their previous place of activity, the 250
GTO (3809GT) won the GT race in 1962 in the hands of Kalman
von Czazy, the 275 GTB (06785) competed at the rallye Lyon-
Charbonnieres when it had an accident on the Solitude.
The cars were not restricted to the years of the original races so
cars after 1965 were also allowed to take part in the revival so
people were able to admire a Porsche 917 K that was brought to
Stutgart together with a Ferrari 365 P2 by David Piper, a duo of
Porsche 956 , a Porsche 910 plus several Abarths.
Further classes were dedicated to rallye and touring cars of the
1960s and 1970s including several Renault Alpine, Porsche 911
or the smaller NSU or Fiat-Abarths, a class featured the Lancia
Rallye cars including the modern interpretation of the Stratos.
The last group featured the formula cars of that era headed by a
Porsche 804 Formula 1 and a 718 F2, several Lotus both F1 and
F2 and the F2 Brabhams and no less than 3 Maserati 250F.
Without being road legal the owners of these cars had the once in
a lifetime opportunity to enjoy the full circuit that is normally open
road and bikes meeting point on ordinary weekends.
The Saturday started with a few formation laps were the drivers
had the first contact with the track. The lap starts on the old start-
finish straight before going left passing the hotel Glemseck to go
up the hill to the Frauenkreuz. On top of the hill a small section of
the original circuit was re-naturalised a few years ago so the track
is going down straight ahead instead of turn left to the back
straight. This long straight was the fastest part of the track back
in the active years leading to the so called “Schatten”-corner, an
“S” that was once the slowest passage and very popular for the
spectators. After another left-bent the best part of the track is the
way back to the finish on the road winding through the Mahdental.
When looking at old pictures of the day thousands of people were
sitting on the natural tribunes on the left and the right of the road
but since than the forest has taken most of the areal and so this
part had to be restricted to the public as this would have been
impossible to fence off on the full length.
On 2 pm the track was officially opened by the majors of Stuttgart
and Leonberg who led the corso celebrating the 125 years of
Automobile. This was a colourful mix of cars from all eras and all
countries and with its sheer number of cars the corso ensured a
lot of variety on the track. Beside the corso and the regular
groups two other rallyes, the nearby Bosch Boxberg Klassik and
the Soltitude Rallye (being organized at the same weekend) took
the opportunity to experience a few laps on the closed off circuit
so at the end of the weekend more than 800 cars were seen on
the track.
The “race” groups were driven two times both on Saturday and
Sunday for 1-3 laps each run. As this was the first time for the
event and nobody knew what to expect the permission was given
with some restrictions both in the the question were the
spectators were allowed to watch and the speed limit on the
track. Just a few dreamers might have thought that they can drive
a lap at full race speed as the circuit is way to long to be properly
secured for a race. As one unreasonable driver would have risked
the further permission the groups were led by pace cars around
the circuit. So the main attraction (the full circuit) was also the
only “problem” of the weekend. During a race the field usually
spreads out within a few laps so that there is action everywhere at
any time but with the pace cars the cars were running in a close
pack. With the moderate speed it took a few minutes for the cars
to come back after another lap leaving the spectators alone in
between. This was not a problem at the main spectator zone at
the start-finish as hosts Johannes Hübner and Adriano Cimarosti
had enough stories to tell about the cars and the Formula 1 past
and present to keep the audience entertained but on the other
side of the track this was missing. This might have been the
reason why the visitor zone at the Schatten was not very well
visited although this is a good place to watch the cars as they
have to line up there to go through the corner. A solution might
have been to spread to groups with more pace cars or even to run
more groups at the same time to get a little bit more action on the
track, the second solution would have also given the drivers the
chance to do a few more laps. But this is certainly a small taint
one is willing to look over on a first time event and the organizers
might take this as an experience for a future event everybody is
hoping for. The fact that they have proven to be able to run an
event that big without any incidents should make a permission for
further editions more likely. Maybe not as an yearly event but
hopefully within the next few years. With almost 20000 visitors
one can see that the public is eager to see the cars running at
the Solitude and the international field shows that the Sulitude
ring is still very present in people´s mind even outside of
Germany.
Text&Images: Peter Singhof
www.ClassicCarPhotography.de
<http://www.classiccarphotography.de/>
Solitude Revival Keywords
001 Alfa Romeo 12C s/n 51204 1937
001 Buick Model B Touring 1903
002 Maserati 4CL 1939
003 ERA B-type R9B 1936
004 Bugatti T59 1934
004 Goliath GD 750 1954
005 Maserati 8CM GP s/n 3015 1933
006 Bugatti 35B s/n 4942 1929
008 Bugatti 37A 1928
008 Volkswagen Hebmüller Cabriolet 1950
009 Miller Indianapolis race car 1930
01 Bugatti T35 1926
01 Honda 250 RC 163 Replica 1963
010 Anzani Collet 1924
010 Opel Super 6 1938
011 Alfa Romeo P3 1932
012 Alfa Romeo 6c 2500 SS 1939
014 Alvis 12/70 Sport Special 1939
016 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible 1953
016 Delahaye 135S 1937
018 Riley Speed Adelphi 1936
02 Bugatti T37
02 Honda 250 RC 163 Replica 1963
020 MG N Magnette Supercharger 1936
021 Riley 12/4 1938
022 Alvis 12/70-SP20 1938
024 Lagonda Rapier 1935
024 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet
025 Aston Martin Ulster 1934
026 Alfa Romeo 8c2600 Monza 1934
027 MG L Magna Lightweight s/c 1933
028 Riley Nine Special 1934
029 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport 1929
03 Fiat 509 Sportivo 1927
03 Honda 250 RC 163 Replica 1963
030 Bentley 3 Litre Tourer s/n 778 1929
033 Mercedes-Benz SSK s/n 35937 1928
035 Austin 7 Brooklands 1927
036 Morgan Threewheeler 1928
037 Morgan Threewheeler 1933
038 MG PA Sports 1934
039 Aston Martin International s/n S64 1930
039 Jaguar XK 150 DHC 1959
04 Eckert-Honda 750 1984
04 Maserati 26M 1928
041 American LaFrance "Red Baron" 1916
042 American LaFrance "Brutus" 1909
043 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL 1960
043 Porsche 917K 1970
044 Ferrari 330 P4 1967
045 Cooper Monaco King Cobra 1963
046 Ferrari 365 P2 1965
049 Maserati 3500 GT 1961
05 Alvis Experimental Car 1928
050 Ford GT40 1966
051 Gulf-Porsche 917K R 1970
053 AC Cobra 427 Roadster 1965
053 Maserati 3500 GTIS Sebring 1962
054 Porsche 956 JDAViD (Ringtaxi) 1983
055 Porsche 956 NewMan (Ringtaxi) 1983
056 Facel Vega HK2 1962
057 Porsche 908 Spyder "Steve McQueen" 1969
059 Abarth 3000 SP 1971
060 Porsche Chanabé CH2 1973
061 Porsche 910 1967
062 Abarth 2000 SP 1970
063 Abarth 1300 Lufthansa Coupé 1964
064 Abarth 1300 OT Spider 1968
066 Ginetta G4R 1963
068 Astra RNR1 Climax FPF 1969
07 Bugatti T35 B 1929
071 Porsche 550 Spyder 1954
072 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLS Porter 1955
073 Maserati 200 SI 1957
074 Mercedes-Benz 170 VA 1952
075 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider 1955
078 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL 1962
079 Talbot T26 GS Le Mans 1950
08 Honda 250 RC 163 Replica 1963
080 Healey Silverstone Typ E 1950
082 Siata 300 BC Spider 1952
084 Porsche 550 RS 1955
085 Großer Werkmeister 1952
088 Maserati T61 Birdcage 1960
089 Riley Sport
091 Dodge Viper GTS-R 24h Nürburgring 1999
096 Porsche 911 SC/RS 2,7 1975
097 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona 1971
098 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione s/n 6785 1965
098 VW T1 Samba 1966
101 Jaguar E-type Coupé 1967
102 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupé 1965
106 Fiat-Abarth 2300 S Coupé 1963
107 Porsche 550 Spyder
108 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS 1964
109 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS 1965
11 Bentley 4/8 Litre 1931
110 Porsche 911 1965
111 Porsche 914/6 GT 1970
112 Abarth-Simca 2000 Longnose 1965
113 Opel GT Steinmetz 1972
115 Lancia Appia Zagato Sport 1961
116 Abarth 1300 OT 1965
117 Abarth-Simca 1300 1963
118 Alpine-Renault A110 1300 1974
119 Triumph Spitfire MK III 1967
120 NSU TT 1968
121 Lotus Elan S2 26R 1964
122 Abarth-Simca 1300 1962
124 Fiat-Abarth 1000 OTS Coupé 1965
125 Apal GT Porsche 1963
126 Ferrari 250 GTO 1962
127 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SV Zagato 1958
128 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 1955
129 Porsche 356A GT 1957
130 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 1954
132 Abarth 205 Berlinetta 1950
133 DKW 3=6 Monza 1957
134 Abarth 750 Zagato 1957
135 MG A Twin Cam Coupé 1959
136 Alfa Romeo 1900 SS 1954
137 BMW 3,5 CSL Gitanes 1974
138 Opel Commodore GS 3000 1970
139 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 1973
140 BMW 3,0 CSL Batmobil 1973
141 BMW 3,0 CSL Gösser Beer 1972
145 Ford Mustang 1965
146 Jaguar Mk1 3.4 1959
146 NSU Thurner RS 121 1971
147 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 1961
149 BMW 2002 TI 1969
150 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAm 1970
151 Ford Escort TC 1968
152 Alfa Romeo GTA 1966
153 BMW 2002 tii Alpina A4S 1973
154 Ford Escort RS 2000 Mk1 1973
156 Alfa Romeo TI Super 1963
157 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1965
158 VW Käfer 2,0 1968
159 NSU TTS 1971
160 Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR 1968
161 Renault Dauphine Gordini 1964
162 Fiat-Abarth 1000 TCR 1968
163 Mini Cooper S 1965
164 Glas 1304 TS 1965
165 DKW AU 1000 1959
166 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1957
167 Fiat 1100-103D 1958
167 Volkswagen T2 1978
168 NSU TT 1968
169 Mercedes-Benz 280 E Rallye 1977
170 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Rallye 1963
171 Ford Falcon Rallye 1964
172 Austin-Healey 3000 MkII 1961
173 Porsche 911 3,0 Rallye 1974
174 Porsche 914-6 1971
175 Alpine-Renault A110 1800 Gruppe 4 1973
176 Alpine-Renault A110 1300 1975
177 Renault 5 Turbo 1980
179 Lancia Delta Integrale Rally 1992
18 Aston Martin 2 Litre Speed Model 1937
18 MZ RE 125 1968
180 Lancia Stratos Alitalia Gruppe 4 1976
181 Lancia Stratos Gruppe 4 1974
182 Lancia Stratos Olio Fiat Gruppe 4 1974
183 Lancia Fulvia Fanalone 1972
184 Lancia Delta Integrale Strada 1993
186 Lancia New Stratos 2010
187 NSU Prinz 2 1960
188 NSU Prinz II 30 1958
189 BMW 700 Coupé 1961
191 Fiat-Abarth 595 1960
192 FMR TG 500 1959
193 FMR TG 500 1959
195 FMR TG 500 1959
197 FMR TG 500 1959
198 Porsche 356A Carrera 1957
199 Porsche RSR
20 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Corsa 1939
201 Porsche 804 1962
202 Porsche 718 1961
203 Lotus 24 Climax FWB 1963
204 Ferrari 156 V6 1961
205 Cooper T77 Climax FWMV V8 1965
206 Lotus 49C Ford-Cosworth DFV 1969
207 Lotus 72 Ford-Cosworth DFV 1970
208 March 711 Cosworth F1 1971
209 Brabham BT 16 Ford-Cosworth 1.5 1965
210 Cooper T53 Maserati 1961
211 Cooper T53 Climax FWB 1961
213 Lotus 35 Ford 1.5 1965
214 McLaren M10B Chevrolet F5000 1970
215 Brabham BT 18 Ford F2 1966
216 Lotus 69 Ford F2 1970
217 Lotus 59 Ford F2 1969
218 Tecno TF70 Ford F2 1971
220 Brabham BT 36 Ford F2 1971
221 Lotus 59 Ford F2 1969
222 Cooper T75 Ford F2 1965
223 Brabham BT 15 Ford F3 1965
225 Lotus 20 Ford FJ 1961
226 GRD-Toyota F3 1974
228 Martini Mk 18 F Renault 1977
229 Abarth F Italia 1974
231 Kaimann FV 1968
232 Horag HAS 3 Formel V 1969
233 Maserati 250F s/n CM8 1957
235 Talbot-Lago T26 1948
236 Maserati 250F s/n 2507 1954
237 Cooper T43 Climax FWB 1957
239 Stanguellini - Fiat FJ 1959
241 Elva 100 BMC FJ 1959
244 Maserati 250 F s/n 2526 1956
246 Cooper T56 F3 1961
247 Škoda Lucia F3 1965
25 Maico 125 RS III 1972
250 Lagonda
254 Formula Student Sleek 11 2011
257 Formula Student E0711-1 2011
26 Norton 'Ray Amm' 1954
260 Tesla Roadster Sport 2010
262 Jaguar E-type 2011
264 Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK
29 BMW RS 500 1954
29 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Coupé 1958
34 Yamaha TZ500-4 1967
39 Yamaha TZ 350C 1976
45 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 1965
47 Moto Guzzi 350 Bialbero 1957
49 DKW RT 125 1954
51 Moto Guzzi 500 Condor 1939
54 Mercedes-Benz 300 SE 6,3 AMG 1970
55 AJS R7 Boyracer 1952
56 Busch BMW RS 500 1967
57 BMW RS 500 Sitzer 1954
58 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1600 1971
58 BMW Kneeler 1962
59 BMW 500 Kneeler 1968
60 BMW RS 500 Kneeler 1967
61 BMW Kneeler 1969
61 Ferrari 246 GT Dino 1971
62 Ferrari 246 GT Dino 1971
64 NSU 500 SSR Bullus 1932
66 BMW RS 68 1952
66 Maserati Indy 4,9 SS 1973
70 BMW 2002 TI 1975
71 Blackburne
78 BMW M1 1980
A06 Horch 470 Cabrio 1932
A10 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Cabrio B 1935
A11 Mercedes-Benz SSKL 1930
A14 Chevrolet National A-B 1928
A16 Riley Spezial 1928
Bosch Boxberg Klassik 2011
Boxberg Klassik 2011
C13 VW Käfer Mille Miglia 1954
C15 VW Bus Samba 1966
Corso 125 Jahre Automobil
D01 Cadillac El Dorado Special Sport 1955
D02 Ford F100 Pickup 1955
E02 Ford Mustang Hardtop V8 1966
E05 Ford Mustang T5 2+2 Fastback 1965
G1 Renault Caravelle Cabrio 1966
Group A1 - pre-war GP cars
Group A2 - sports cars after 1935
Group A3 - sports cars up to 1935
Group B01 - Race cars and Prototypes over 3000 ccm
Group B02 - Race Cars and Prototypes up to 3000 ccm
Group B03 - Race cars and Prototypes before 1960
Group B04 - GT classics over 2000 ccm
Group B05 - GT classics up to 2000 ccm
Group B06 - GT classics up to 1960
Group B07 - classic touring over 2000 ccm
Group B08 - classic touring up to 2000 ccm
Group B10 - Rallye & touring
Group B11 - Mythos Lancia Rallye
Group B12 - classic touring up to 1000 ccm
Group B13 - Messerschmitt Tiger
Group C1 - Formula 1 after 1960
Group C2 - F2/F3/F500 after 1960
Group C3 - FF/FV/FJ/FR after 1960
Group C4 - Formula race cars up to 1060
Group D - Formula Student
Group E - Eco vehicles
Group M1 - motorcycles
Group M2 - sidecars
Gruppe A Pionierzeit - Autos für Wenige
Gruppe C Bulli-Parade - Volkswagen Transporter und Bus
Gruppe C Und läuft, und läuft - Der Käfer
Gruppe D Yankee Doodle - Full Size aus Amerika
Gruppe E Vau Acht - Pony & Muscle Cars
Gruppe G Vive la Voiture - Fahrgenuss à la Française
Gruppe I Very British - alles von der Insel
Gruppe J Super Seven Club
Gruppe K Sport Leicht - Ikone Mercedes SL
Gruppe L Porsche 356 - der Vorgänger der Legende
Gruppe M Der Elfer - Form für die Ewigkeit
Gruppe N Roadster Fun - in offener Zweisamkeit
Gruppe O Schwungvolle Dächer - das sportliche Coupé
Gruppe P Cruisen im Wind - Cabriolets für die ganze Familie
Gruppe Q Tief-Breit-Stark - wovon die Jugend träumt
Gruppe S: Prestige & Komfort - Fahren auf höchstem Niveau
Gruppe T Ferrari & Co - Exotische Raritäten
Gruppe V Biker's Heaven - Klassiker auf zwei und drei Rädern
Gruppe Z Sonderfahrzeuge und Sponsoren
Host Johannes Hübner
I10 Sunbeam Tiger MkIII 1967
K07 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster 1957
Landrat Böblingen Roland Bernhard
MCV
megacity vehicle
Mercedes-Benz SL Line-up
N2 BMW 507 Serie I 1957
O09 Borgward Isabella Coupe 1961
OB Leonberg Bernhard Schuler
OB Stuttgart Dr.Wolfgang Schuster
Organizer Karl Ulrich Herrmann
P2 BMW 501 Baur Cabrio 1955
Q08 VW Golf I GTI 1980
Q11 BMW 2002 Turbo 1974
Rallye Solitude Historic 2011
Solitude Revival 2011
T06 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 1975
T10 Ferrari 308 GT4 1977
T13 Ferrari Dino 246 1974
V11 Terrot HSST 350 1933
V16 BMW R60/2 1962
Z1 Mercedes-Benz O319 1964
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