«Mini Garage, Your Garage» by KW Automotive: On a First-Name Basis with the Mountain Master

One of Europe's most successful hill climb racers: Reto Meisel is no ordinary figure in Swiss motorsports. Not only is Meisel the owner of the Garage Meisel, Inc. in Leuggern AG, a Mercedes partner for 54 years and now in its second generation of family ownership. He is also the team manager and driver of the Meisel Racing Teams (MRT) all rolled into one. As early as 1989, Meisel began competing in unlicensed slalom races; starting in 1991, he moved on to circuit racing and hill climbs. And with success: As early as 1998, Meisel became the Interswiss Swiss champion, followed by several hill climb championship titles starting in 2002, and last year, Meisel claimed the title of European Hill Climb Vice-Champion.

Race cars of all kinds

In the the latest episode of «Mini Garage, Your Garage» of the YouTube Channels from KW Automotive Switzerland Meisel shows KW Managing Director Maurice Schindler around his operation, his race cars—ranging from the Opel Kadett C to the self-built Mercedes SLK 340, which has long been legendary among fans—and, of course, his cool Setra team bus for race weekends, complete with a garage. And Meisel—referred to as «Reto» in the interview—reveals why a Mercedes from the W124 series takes pride of place in the showroom as a “youngtimer” and how he memorizes the course layout for hill climbs.

Stories About Cars

Nothing is as fascinating as automotive history and stories about cars: That’s what inspired the video series by KW Automotive Switzerland (kwsuspensions.ch). An entertaining format—which is why Autosprint is a presenting partner of «Mini Garage, Your Garage» is a show where automotive personalities chat authentically and off-script about technology, history, cars, and people.

There’s always plenty to talk about at KW Automotive Switzerland—which, incidentally, was once KW Automotive’s first overseas branch—not least because KW Automotive, just like Meisel, is no ordinary company. The German company is one of the world’s leading suspension providers, a development partner to automakers, and a motorsports supplier—and from coilover suspensions to BBS wheels, the 115 Swiss KW partners offer everything related to suspension, whether for racing, everyday driving, or classic cars—whether gas-powered or electric. By the way: KW can make cars sportier or more comfortable, depending on your preference, and here go to the «Mini Garage, Your Garage» episode (in German) featuring Reto Meisel.