This post is a serialisation of an article that originally appeared over 75 years ago in ‘Das Motorrad’, the popular Motorcycling magazine in the German Language as it covered the proceedings of the 1939 ISDT, an event to finish in controversy and the results eventually annulled by the FIM.

After Day 1, Day 2 & Day 3 we get to day 4

ISDT 1939 – Report from ‘Das Motorrad‘: The 4^th Day

report by Von Gustav Mueller

The forth day mainly went through the Tyrol region, so it had been named the Tiroler Strecke[1]. During this day, there were some bad off-road difficulties, especially where one would not expect them.  The pass of Grießen and the pass of Thurn were easy, but the Gerlos pass is quite an affair. And then, there were these well known old acquaintances from earlier six days and winter rides, the “Bauer in der Au” and the “Valepp”[2] where they once had to carry emergency supplies by ski to the riders caught on a winter ride, who had been trapped there by snow, and the Sudelfeld[3]. At the “Bauer in der Au” Wiggerl Kraus had been among the spectators, he was quite well again.

The officials had chosen to use this day to sort out the gold medalists. It is quite understandable, that the officials do not like too many gold medalists, but the method they used, simply shortening the time standards, is the wrong way. The very good riders normally will deal with this situation, but with highest dedication, i.e. riding with high risk. If there is opposing traffic in a bend they cut, a crash will happen. Of course, this doesn’t happen so often to the “extra class” riders, as it does happen to the “first class” riders, or even more to the “only good” riders. Reason is, that these “extra class” riders have extremely short reaction times, so that they can get out of these dangerous situations.

But it can’t be the purpose of this event to get the riders into life threatening situations. A different way, means a less dangerous way, must be found to screen out the gold medalists. Without any doubt, the organisers do know this, but they still haven’t found the right way to do it. Also, it is the riders own fault, that the time schedules get always shorter, as they often ride at such high speed, that they have to wait up to half an hour in front of the time checks.

Of course, you need some time in advance, as a reserve for some incidents, but that must be done prudential and within certain limits. As soon as one has some advance, the speed for the rest of the distance should be slowed down. The ambition of some riders to overtake everyone in front of them, is only silly. This senseless chase is the reason for many tyre punctures, and other defects, too.

The best proof that calm riding can be the right way is seen in Pierre van Maldeghem, president of the Belgian motorcycle association, who always rides smooth, and who did stay without marks until the 3^rd day, but then he took  3 marks on the 4^th day and another 4 on the next day, due to the shortened times. There are some sensible riders who say, that the rider who goes for a silver medal from the beginning, has the best chance to earn a gold medal in the end.

Photo – #110 The NSKK-Obertruppführer [comparable to staff sergeant] Röser, who right at his first appearance at Schönerlinde made people talk of him, did become an excellent off road rider. Here he can be seen with his BMW at a steep climb, on his way to the next to last checkpoint. ISDT 1939 (das Motorrad)

This post is a serialisation of an article that originally appeared over 75 years ago in ‘Das Motorrad’, the popular Motorcycling magazine in the German Language as it covered the proceedings of the 1939 ISDT, an event to finish in controversy and the results eventually annulled by the FIM.

After Day 1 and Day 2 we arrive at Day 3

ISDT 1939 – Report from ‘Das Motorrad‘: The 3^rd Day

report by Von Gustav Mueller

Of course, all the officials and team members did meet at the time check up at the Großglockner[1]. The road is too inviting, especially if you can’t get there for free! But even if one has to abstain from something else for this, if one is in this region, you have to ride up onto the Glockner, that is a point of honour. And, possibly directly afterwards to the Franz-Joseph-Haus. But the best is the descent to Heiligenblut. For this, you need to have some luck, as the weather changes quickly up there, and with some bad luck, you may sit in the fog. This part of the event gave a lot to the competitors, as the Glockner road is splendidly constructed, so that it could be done easily within the time schedule. At the top, right in front of the check point, they had some time to have an ample look around.

Photo – Sometimes it became very tough, and this picture shows, how Korpsführer Hühnlein [Head of the NSKK] himself gives a hand to help a stuck sidecar outfit.
The rider is DDAC [Der Deutsche Automobil Club – the German Automobile Club] man #29 Schrimpf on the BMW R 17 outfit. ISDT 1939 (das Motorrad)

This post is a serialisation of an article that originally appeared over 75 years ago in ‘Das Motorrad’, the popular Motorcycling magazine in the German Language as it covered the proceedings of the 1939 ISDT, an event to finish in controversy and the results eventually annulled by the FIM.

We have recently started mapping the course of the event which can be found on the blog ‘Mapping the 1939 ISDT‘

The first part sets the scene of the first day and here we move to the second day.

ISDT 1939 – Report from ‘Das Motorrad‘: The 2^nd Day

report by Von Gustav Mueller

If only the riders had seen more of the wonderful route we travelled the second day! This route perhaps is the most beautiful one could pack into 373 kilometres. The days route was named “Salzkammergutstrecke”[1] but it could have been named “Five Lakes Day”, too.

The first lake was the ‘Mondsee’[2], which everyone will know. From the Mondsee, the route led to the ‘Attersee’. Unfortunately, the route went only a short section along the lakes shore, and then turned off to the side. Whoever comes to this place once, of course must take the wonderful road, running directly along the lakes shore. It is very pretty, but also very narrow. And if you drive along there, think about the Six Days riders and how they had to “conjure” to be fast. From the Attersee, the route took a big loop over to Gmunden, to the maybe most beautiful lake of the Salzkammergut, the ‘Traunsee’, which we renamed “Traumsee”[3] due to its beauty. From the Traunsee, the road went over to the ‘Wolfgangsee’, you know about the “Weiße Röß’l”[4], and then along the valley of the river Traun to Bad Ischl and Bad Aussee.

Here they had chosen a stunning terrain, and here many did earn points. The roads, on which one eventually might have been able to win some time, were so narrow, that there was no progressing. Additionally, there were large buses, which, although perfectly driven by their drivers, in the end could not be made less wider than they are. And many stupid private drivers, who thought they were absolved from their duty to ride on the right hand side of the road, when hooting loudly.

Photo – Here #34 Harold Taylor BSA [EZY 928?] still had been happy and was full of hope, his machine was o.k., and he, as a careful rider and great expert, had nothing to fear from his side. Second man behind him is the Italian #43 Ranieri on a 500cc Sertum, behind him Feldwebel [Sergeant] Grimm from the Kraftfahrtschule der Luftwaffe [Air Force motoring school], a man who took part at such a big event for the first time, and he made it quite good. On the first day, he had been outwitted by so many tyre punctures, that he did earn 35 points, all the other days he remained without points. ISDT 1939 (das Motorrad)