"Auerberg Classic" 2022: Vintage motorcycle spectacle with an environmental touch

Created: 07/02/2022, 16:00

By: Jörg von Rohland

A real eye-catcher in 2019: Paul d'Orleans and "Retro-Cat" Sandra with the very rare Sunbeam "Crocodile", which he drove up the Auerberg.

© Martin Ratkovic

The event is no longer an insider tip: the "Auerberg Klassik" has long since been considered the meeting place for vintage motorcycle enthusiasts par excellence, even before its third edition in September.

At the regularity races in Bernbeuren, a field of the extra class is at the start again.

The demand for the places is enormous.

Bernbeuren – The event team around initiator Hermann Köpf can pick the raisins again.

If you want to take part in "Auerberg Klassik", you have to bring a special motorcycle with you, participation in the races is limited.

Shortly before the registration deadline, Köpf again had more than 300 registrations this year, and only 200 starting places will be allocated.

Street racing motorcycles with history are preferred.

As is well known, the spectacle, which is taking place for the third time this year, follows on from the legendary Auerberg races that were held in Bernbeuren from 1967 to 1987.

Hundreds of drivers and thousands of visitors came to the winding track on the Auerberg back then, "to see thrilling motorsport," as the members of the specially founded club "Auerberg Klassik" know.

They grew up with the races and reinvigorated them.

In 2019, the event captivated 10,000 spectators

7,000 visitors came to Bernbeuren for the first edition in 2017, compared to 10,000 in 2019.

One can confidently assume that there will be more this year on September 10th and 11th;

because the trade press raves: Never before had he seen such a top-class starting field of pre-war motorcycles in Germany, said a motorcycle journalist in 2019, who was quoted by the trade journal "Curves".

The field of riders was led by the American motorcycle historian Paul d'Orléans on a "Sunbeam Crocodile", built in 1925 - a very rare specimen that is usually only found in museums.

A "Sunbeam Crocodile" and other rarities will zoom up the Auerberg again this year.

In the regularity runs, it is not the speed that counts, but rather putting two runs on the asphalt in the same time as possible.

A tricky task that Max Kuypers solved best in 2019.

With a time difference of just 0.406 seconds, he became "Bergkönig 2019".

There is also a lot to do around it

This year the "trappings" on the Auerberg will be fascinating again.

The "Best Dressed Competition" in particular is intended to ensure this, and visitors are encouraged to participate with reduced admission.

So it's worth digging into grandma's and grandpa's wardrobe and throwing yourself into an epoch-accurate shell.

The best outfits are rewarded with prizes.

In the center of Bernbeuren, visitors can also expect a lot of nostalgia: an exhibition with items on loan from the German Two-Wheeler and NSU Museum in Neckarsulm, the Hockenheimring Museum, the TOP Mountain Timmelsjoch Museum and private collectors is planned.

There is also an exhibitor area with current motorcycle models, the main partner is "Indian Motorcycle".

And the organizers refer to another special feature, which this time wants to take climate protection into consideration: Interested participants are to be provided with synthetically produced racing fuel, which can be used to minimize CO2 emissions: "We see it as our duty to hold our motorsport event in this popular Make the excursion area as climate-neutral as possible,” says Hermann Köpf.

And: "We are pleased to have found a partner who will support our event as a flagship project in terms of sustainability."

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You can find more current news from the region around Schongau at Merkur.de/Schongau.