About the history of the motorcycle DKW...

Germany, was founded in 1907 by the Danish Jörgen Skafte Rasmussen in Zschopau, south of Chemnitz, Germany, in a closed weaving-mill as a instrument panel factory. During the First World War he occupied himself with steam-powered vehicles for roads. From this time derived the abbreviation "DKW" (Dampf- K raft- W agen - steam power car)). In the difficult 20ies he changed from steam-powered vehicles for roads to small toy engines - the abbreviation "DKW" got a new definition: Des Knabens Wunsch (The Boy's wish. He developed from a 18 cc two stroke toy engine in 1919 a 120 cc engine for bicycles, the hour of birth of a new motorcycle mark - "DKW" - again with a new definition: Das Kleine W under - the little miracle!

Already in 1928 DKW had been the biggest motorcycle factory in the world. In 1932 DKW merged with Audi, Horch and Wanderer into "Auto Unio" with the world wide famous four intertwined rings, which stayed alive until 1964.

With the model 250 ULD Ewald Kluge won 1938 not only the only one TT title but also the European Championship 250 cc for his Zschopau/Sachsonia based DKW-factory. He was European Champion also in that year and repeated it again 1939. This water cooled split-single two-stroke engine model hat a performance of 28,5 hp. By the way, Kluge was the first German winner of a TT race.

After the War DKW started again with an engagement in motorcycle racing in 1951. At first with 125 cc engines, then with a new constructed, not supercharged, 250 cc engine and finally the sensational 350 cc 3-cylinder-engine which won the German Championship in 1953 already.

When the Ingolstadt based factory changed 1958 into a car manufacture the old experts of two-wheels moved to Nürnberg to the Zweirad-Union. This company had been established under the management of the biggest German engine producer Fichtel & Sachs. Under that roof united then the marks DKW, Hercules and Viktoria.

For further information please visit the homepage of " Audi Tradition

DKW 250 SS

This bike took part in the trophy 2004 - it came from the museum of Audi Tradition from Ingolstadt to the Trophy

Martin Schneeweiss 250 DKW compressor

Martin Schneeweiss, Vienna, had already in 1939 a 250 cc supercharged DKW, hidden behind a tin to protect it against nosy visitors.. with that motorcycle he won the last race before the Second World War at the Großglockner in 1939   up

DKW 250 SS 1939

DKW SS 250 / 1939 - the last version before the Second World War: water cooled, 2-stroke-enginge, 4 gears, 20 hp

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DKW 350 SS 1939

Christian Krackowizer 1975 at the "Oldtimer Grand Prix" on the Salzburgring in the saddle of a DKW 350 SS
from 1939 (which had been ridden by Kurt Mansfeld after the Second World War)

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Kurt Mansfeld 1947 at the Nürburgring

a funny picture from the year 1947: Kurt Mansfeld (in the back) on a DKW 350 during the first race on the Nürburgring (Germany) after the Second World War - with a backpack:
as in those days one had not had enough money to spend it for a room at an inn or hotel, Kurt Mansfeld stayed overnight in the paddock in the open air; but where to let ones personal belongings during race? Right - in a backpack...

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Helmut Krackowizer, Summer 2001 at Bern

Helmut Krackowizer in Summer 2001 at Bern, only a few month before he died, behind a DKW
a very rare 350 DKW SS 1939 production racer

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