Grossglockner Trophy in Memorial Helmut Krackowizer

   103 keen hill climb competitors and many friends of vintage and classic era motorcycle sport gathered at the lower car park of the Grossglockner on the weekend 2./3. July 04. The Grossglockner is the highest mountain in Austria and the road pass over its peak has long been a challenge to all who love high speed motor and motorcycle sport.
   It was the second time that organiser Thomas Fritsch and the Motor Veteranen Club Zell am See had called two and three wheeled racers to the Grossglockners 12.9 challenging kilometres in the memory of the late Dr. Helmut Krackowizer
   To challenge the 27 bends and steep climb to above the snow line a large contingent came from Great Britain, led by the former multiple Trial world champion and road racer Sammy Miller. Miller brought a 1957 replica Gilera 4-Cylinder 500,from his museum in New Milton to Austria.
   With the generous of BMW's "Mobile Tradition" museum in Munich the well-known English road racer and secretary of many years of the "TT Riders Association" Allan Robinson, faced the hill with a 1939 BMW R51 RS. One of only two surviving machines from 12 made BMW were trusting Allan with a motorcycle worth 500 000 Euros.
    Evidence of true grit was evidenced by Englishman Keith Wakelin. The engine of his 1929 "Cotton Blackburn" just refused to start. A whole day spent dismantling and restoring saw the engine run just in time for the days final run of 52,6 km/h on the 12.9 km long racing course!
    Two Morgan super aero tricycles from 1928 and 1929 with 1.200 cm³ were eye-catchers for the audience. Geof Bloor presented the personal machine of Freddy Frith (world champion 1949); a 1947 350 cc Velocette KTT MK 8.

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