Our gratitude to a reader Adam Sliwka who forwarded details of the Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe – National Digital Archive of Poland web site where an amazing library of historic images included a number from historic ISDT events. The images here are of the ISDT 1936 held in Germany. Of particular interest is the inclusion of images taken of riders on a very new Autobahn, one of the major civil engineering projects that Adolf Hitler had set about after he became the leader of Germany which it is contended were purposely designed to facilitate rapid advancement of his army should a war break out.
photo – Victorious British Trophy team with Stuart Waycott, A Belstun, George Rowley and Vic Brittain with Walcott’s #42 works Velocette 495cc – the 1930’s ISDT dream team ISDT 1936 Germany (Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe)
The event which started out in Freudenstadt a town in the beautiful Black Forest then headed east to Bavaria, south of Munich to be based at Garmisch Partenkirchen. We know from other years that the Autobahns were not just used to form the route but also became used for the events speed tests as these photos seem to show being held.
photo – Group of sidecars on a new and empty Autobahn including #2 Hauptm Wolff BMW 730cc #4 P Müller on a works Victoria 596cc and what appears to be #9 R L Galloway Rudge 499cc of Germany ISDT 1936 Germany (Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe)
photo – Solo motorcycles #73 Scarf F. Sieber NSU 250cc of Germany and possibly #67 J Pastika CZ 250 of Czechoslovakia in the Speed test on the autobahn ISDT 1936 Germany (Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe)
photo – 3 Solo motorcycles speed along a new road including #243 an unnamed rider entered on a factory Victoria 349cc ISDT 1936 Germany (Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe)
photo – Solo motorcycle speeds before crowd on speed test #66 RWM Tamplin on an AJS 248cc from Ireland ISDT 1936 Germany (Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe)
The following image although credited as being Ernst Henne at the ISDT 1936 is flawed in that he was not #88 however that number was used by German lady racer Ilse Thouret, which it is not. Henne was #176 in this event.
photo – Solo motorcycles speeds across rough forest track #88 Titled as being Ilse Thouret from Germany, the image library title this photo as being the famous German motorcycle racer Ernst Henne in the 1936 event ISDT 1936 Germany (Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe)
Here is another photo from this source featuring Henne in the ISDT 1935
photo – #8 L Kraus Works BMW 600 Sidecar, #171 Ernst Henne Works BMW 500cc #114 J Stelzer Works BMW 500 ISDT 1935 (Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe)
Speed Track Tales 
Fantastic pictures, brings back memories of Alan Jefferies, for whose dealership I once worked, in the 1939 ISDT taking place when war broke out.
Thanks for the memory John
Thanks for bringing these great photos to us all.
Its a pleasure and thanks to the reader from Poland who brought them to our attention, all of what we do here is because somebody gave us or told us something .. keep those memories and archives coming please.
My father in law recently passed and we found in apartment an FICM-ISDT medal. On the reverse reads Internationale Sechstagefahrt, 1936, W. Mundhenke. I have no idea how he came by this. Would you have any information on this medal? I don’t see where he ever won any race.
wel the event will be the ISDT in Germany, whilst you do not give your F-i-L’s name. W Mundhenke was rider 191 on a twin cylinder BMW 494 riding in the C class riding for the DDAC Munich Team. He also rode in the 1938 ISDT in Wales. If your father in Law did not meet him in motorcycle completion it is possible he met him during the war and the medal then changed hands,
Bike No 66 is a pre war supercharged DKW road racer, not a 248cc AJS. Lovely bike but not related to the ISDT I’m afraid. Note the pure road racing set up. No lighting, no exhaust silencer. The rider in nice clean leathers. This DKW was the one famed for its ear shattering exhaust note and amazing speed. At the time Germany led the world in two-stroke technology.
Thanks Bob… yes I had doubts too the lack of side numbers and the bib but as I had few photos of the speed test I went with the image holders details. Will correct later.