Bernd Rosemeyer #2

Bernd Rosemeyer Biography

On the Frankfurt-Darmstadt autobahn, just beyond the Langen-Morfelden crossing and set back amongst the trees stands a monument to the great Rosemeyer. Originally from Lingen, Lower Saxony. His career, like many other drivers of the period, began in motorcycles. He competed in various local races including hill-climbs riding BMWs and NSU’s. He gained a reputation for quickness as well as becoming a crowd favorite for his happy ebullient personality. He came to the attention of the DKW factory. DKW had recently joined a group of other manufacturers to form the Auto Union group. A revolutionary new Grand Prix car was being built at the Horch factory, at Zwickau, under the direction of Dr. Ferdinand Porsche. These new cars featured 16-cylinder engines installed at the rear with all independent suspension and aerodynamic bodies. Hearing of this new development Rosemeyer naturally felt that he should be the one to drive these new beasts. Auto Union’s star driver at the time was Austrian Hans Stuck who took the new car to victories at the German, Swiss and Czech Grand Prix. The Auto Union team manager, Willy Walb finally gave in to his young drivers pleading and offered him a trial in November.

On the morning of the test Rosemeyer showed up wearing a suit! Asked by Walb why he was not wearing overalls Rosemeyer answered that “Well this is a special occasion for me – my premiere in a racing car – so I thought I’d dress for it.” Walb did not know what to make of this impetuous driver but soon had an answer. The trial was at the daunting Nurburgring but luckily Rosemeyer was familiar with the course, having raced on motorcycles there on more than one occasion. Soon he was settling down to business. Even though he was now handling 10 times the horse power than he had experienced before, he was making some quick times. Almost as if the car had a mind of its own it sensed the young man’s growing confidence and set out to teach him a little humility. Rosemeyer applying the power a little too quickly, the back end swung around. After doing two complete revolutions and ending up in a meadow he returned to the pits. The cars was inspected for damage while Willy Walb was taking the measure of the young Rosemeyer. Would this driver be able to tame the beast he thought to himself. Rosemeyer returned to the track and was soon equaling the times of the vastly more experienced Stuck. Walb decided to sign Rosemeyer as a reserve driver. The car which terrified many who tried to drive it held no perils for him. Since his only previous experience was racing motorcycles he assumed that all cars drove like the Auto Union!