Kerenzerberg Race: First details

OLDTIMER Three years after the first revival, the second new edition of the Kerenzerberg Race will take place on the first weekend in June 2018. Although there is no longer a stopwatch, there will still be plenty of action. Even Peter Sauber has already signed up. From 1967 to 1970, the Kerenzerbergrennen in Glarus was one of the most popular national mountain races. Drivers from all over [...]

Peter Sauber takes off in his Sauber C1 for the 1970 Kerenzerberg race.
Peter Sauber at the start of the 1970 Kerenzerberg Race in his Sauber C1. He has not yet decided what he will be driving in June (Photo: Franz Leupi Archive).

From 1967 to 1970, the Kerenzerbergrennen in Glarus was one of the most popular national mountain races. Drivers from all over Switzerland, even from Formula 1 (Silvio Moser won in 1970 in the Bellasi F1), took part.

At the end of May 2015, the first new edition for historic series and racing vehicles took place. Because not everything went smoothly from an organizational point of view, a completely new OC has been formed since then.

Initiator Franz Leupi, probably the biggest fan and collector of memorabilia from the time of the Kerenzerberg Race, is still involved in a supporting role. The OC president is Peter Rufibach, the president of the Glarus Chamber of Commerce. The race is organized by ACS Mitte with the proven duo Sepp Ludin and Thomas Kohler at the helm.

Franz Leupi: "The canton and the population are fully behind it. Everyone wants it to be a nice event. That's why we have changed many other things."

If the original track length had to be shortened at the first revival due to a lack of marshals in the upper part for safety reasons, it will now even be extended to 3.17 km. So the participants have more time to ride. As in the old days, the start will be at the Waid Restaurant in Mollis.

Initiator Franz Leupi with his book about the history of the hill climb and Gody Naef, who at the age of 99 still feels fit enough to take part in the revival next June (Photo: Peter Wyss).

Two to three demonstration runs per day
The paddock is no longer located at the distant Mollis airfield, but on the Netstal Maschinenfabrik site in the immediate vicinity of Näfels train station. This means that spectators arriving by public transport are immediately in the middle of the action.

The number of participants will be 170 to max. 200 cars up to 1988. Newer and for spectators attractive cars will be admitted only exceptionally.

The program on June 2-3 will only include demonstration runs, there will no longer be a racing class. This means significantly less effort and costs.

The most prominent participant so far is Peter Sauber - but he's not sure which car he'll be driving. Sauber in a Sauber - that would be awesome.

If his health permits, 99-year-old Gody Naef will also be there. He has set his sights firmly on this date. Like Peter Sauber and Fredy Lienhard (who competed in his first car race there in 1967 on a Mini Cooper and will be back in 2018), he has already competed in the original Kerenzerberg race.

www.kerenzerbergrennen.ch

 

 

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