Harry Long, a diminutive Englishman on a 1938 Rudge Rapid (250 cc),
achieved the almost impossible: an aggregate difference of only three seconds over his two runs,
winning the premier award. Arndt Schoppmeyer (FRG) on an NSU DOHC (1938, 250 cm³),
whose motorcycle had originally been found cemented into a house wall, and Hugo Ryf
(Zehnder 1928, 250 cc) placed second and third.
In the pre‑war class (up to 1939), Werner Brack on his standard BS 500
(1929) prevailed over Thomas Malzer (AJS R8‑S, 1930) and Jürgen Schwarzmann
(BMW R51 SS, 1939). Allan Robinson, suffering from a binding rear brake, rode his BMW R51 SS sensibly
to 20th place.
In the 350 cc class (1941–1961), an Austrian marque won: Hermann Stöckl
on a Puch 250 SGSS (1958) achieved the closest aggregate times. Walter Malzner on a
Horak Walter OHC (350 cc, 1947) finished second, and Alfons Rebholz on a Moto Morini
Corsa (125 cc, 1961) was third.
A Matchless G50 ridden by Kurt Schwarz was victorious in the
over‑350 cc category (1941–1961). Andreas Luck on a Gilera Saturno Competizione
(500 cc, 1940) and Klaus Worringer on a Norton Triton 740 (1957) took silver and
bronze. Sammy Miller on his Gilera 500 finished 13th, and 69‑year‑old
John Biggs on a Norton Manx placed 15th.
Harry Manzel of ORF (Austrian Television) Salzburg rode only the
first heat, as did former ice‑speedway racer Walter Wartbichler. The Moto Morini
Settebello once raced by Giacomo Agostini, now piloted by Leopold Seebacher, also
made only a single ascent.
Among the sidecars and tricycles, the winners were Siegfried Judge and
Fritz Wittmann on a BMW R50/16. Their outfit had a time difference of only 0.03 seconds
and reached an average speed of 64.51 km/h (40 mph). Even faster were the runners‑up,
Gary and Barbara Caroline from England, with their 1929 Morgan Super Aero tricar.
At the awards ceremony, Sammy Miller said goodbye with warm words for the organizer
Thomas Fritsch — who had spent the night in hospital — and promised to return for the
3rd Grossglockner Trophy and Professor Krackowizer Memorial in 2006.
Sammy remarked, “We are like a big family.” And that truly was the spirit of the
entire meeting. Peter Krackowizer said, “I am sure that my father’s spirit walked through the
paddock and was pleased.”
It was such a happy and fulfilling weekend that, had “the Krack” still been alive,
he would have been very happy indeed.
Translated by Allan Robinson (thanks!)
Grossglockner Trophy 2004 Memorial "Mister Rudge", Helmut Krackowizer
Posted December 2012 by Peter
at the Fuscher Törl
Harry Long, winner
class up to 1939, 350 cm³
† Claudia Huth (organizer)
Peter Krackowizer (son of
Prof. Krackowizer)
Sammy Miller at the
awards ceremony
