Recently, at the request of Richie Jenkins, I have been speaking to the son of Harry Merkel, the "one-off" world championship GP driver (1952). The silly thing is I knew Harry and spoke to him at length on a number of occasions, but didn't ever know he had raced!
Now, some years after his death, his son's stories have aroused my interest in Harry.
He was never a world class driver, but drove in some interesting cars and races (three Mille Miglia, three Nurburgring 1000 km, one Tourist Trophy in Ireland etc) and he was apparently a great story teller about his racing and WWII experiences.
If I have some facts to which to relate the tales he told his son, I might be able to build it into an interesting story.
Can anyone help with some race results for Harry?
Apparently he did a little bit of motorcycle racing before the war, then raced cars in the 1950s and into the 1960s.
Harry Merkel
Started by
Barry Lake
, Jan 24 2004 16:38
91 replies to this topic
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#2
Hans Etzrodt
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Posted 25 January 2004 - 11:16
No bells ringing here, Barry. 
#3
Barry Lake
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Posted 25 January 2004 - 12:51
You won't find him on any winners lists, Hans. He didn't win, but he took part, which is all that those other than the very rich or super talented (and occasionally ultra-determined) can expect to achieve.
#4
David McKinney
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Posted 25 January 2004 - 17:05
My far from complete notes only have him racing small sportscars (Dyna-Panhard and Porsche 1100) at the Nürburgring in 1952, failure to start the same year's German GP and, at the wheel of a Porsche 1500. fifth place in the 1954 Oporto sportscar race in Portugal. You could try http://www.wsrp.wz.cz for Mille Miglia, Le Mans etc
#5
Udo K.
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Posted 25 January 2004 - 18:21
1952:
May 25th: Eifelrennen Sports 750: 2nd in a Dyna-Veritas (?)
Sports 1100: 4th in a Porsche 356 1.1
1953:
July 12th: Avusrennen Sports 1100: 4th (Porsche 356 1.1)
Merkel drove together with Adolf Vianden on the first ever Nürburgring 1000 KM weekend in 1953.
They were in the "Seriensportwagen bis 1300 ccm" class, doing the second best qualifying time (35th overall out of 50). Vianden drove the start and went out with a dead engine after 5 laps. Merkel did not drive in the race.
1954:
May 23rd: Eifelrennen Sports 1500: 9th (Porsche 356 1.1)
June 27th: GP Oporto Sports 1100: 2nd (Porsche 356 1.1)
Aug. 1st: AvD Rheinland-Pfalz-Preis Sports 1500: 11th (Porsche 356 1.1)
Another 1000 KM race in 1957. This time with Hans Knippel in a Porsche 356A (GT 1300)
They finished 7th in class and 42nd overall.
May 25th: Eifelrennen Sports 750: 2nd in a Dyna-Veritas (?)
Sports 1100: 4th in a Porsche 356 1.1
1953:
July 12th: Avusrennen Sports 1100: 4th (Porsche 356 1.1)
Merkel drove together with Adolf Vianden on the first ever Nürburgring 1000 KM weekend in 1953.
They were in the "Seriensportwagen bis 1300 ccm" class, doing the second best qualifying time (35th overall out of 50). Vianden drove the start and went out with a dead engine after 5 laps. Merkel did not drive in the race.
1954:
May 23rd: Eifelrennen Sports 1500: 9th (Porsche 356 1.1)
June 27th: GP Oporto Sports 1100: 2nd (Porsche 356 1.1)
Aug. 1st: AvD Rheinland-Pfalz-Preis Sports 1500: 11th (Porsche 356 1.1)
Another 1000 KM race in 1957. This time with Hans Knippel in a Porsche 356A (GT 1300)
They finished 7th in class and 42nd overall.
#6
Stefan Ornerdal
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Posted 25 January 2004 - 20:09
He was busy at Eifelrennen 1952, he raced in F2-class in a BMW 328, but did not finish.
I also have a H. Merkel entered in "Preis von Tirol", Innsbruck, oct 6 1963 in Formula Junior. Could this be the same man?
Stefan
I also have a H. Merkel entered in "Preis von Tirol", Innsbruck, oct 6 1963 in Formula Junior. Could this be the same man?
Stefan
#7
Udo K.
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Posted 25 January 2004 - 20:19
Quote
Originally posted by Stefan Ornerdal
I also have a H. Merkel entered in "Preis von Tirol", Innsbruck, oct 6 1963 in Formula Junior. Could this be the same man?
Stefan
Yes, pretty sure.
Another two 1000KM races:
1962 with Frank Kahlkuhl in a Porsche 356B (GT1600 class) 21st, 5th in class
1963: again with Liebl Porsche356 1600GS Carrera (GT1600) 37th, 5th in class
Avus Race June 6th 1963: 2nd in GT1600 class again with the 356 Carrera
#8
uechtel
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Posted 25 January 2004 - 23:25
Quote
Originally posted by Stefan Ornerdal
He was busy at Eifelrennen 1952, he raced in F2-class in a BMW 328, but did not finish.
I think this was the Krakau Special, as it seems that he started for the team of Krakau and Rieß (information yet to be confirmed, so a good question perhaps...). Also I do not know whether he actually took the start as some sources give also von Hanstein taking over the cockpit of #133 in that race and on this picture from the start I think I can recognize the baron´s crash helmet (it´s the car two rows behind Wharton, just in front of the "Shell" monument).
Besides that Merkel appears in the race programmes of the following events (but I don´t know in which events he actually took part):
25.5.1952 Eifelrennen Sports Cars < 1100 cc: Porsche
25.5.1952 Eifelrennen Sports Cars < 750 cc: Dyna-Veritas
31.5.1953 Eifelrennen 1953 Sports Cars < 1100 cc: Porsche (entered by Ludwig Buchberger, Munich)
2.8.1953 1953 German GP Sports Cars < 1100: Porsche (entered by Buchberger, Munich)
9.8.1953 Schauinsland Hillclimb Sports Cars < 1100: Porsche (entered by Ludwig Buchberger)
30.8.1953 Nürburgring 1000 km Production Sports Cars < 1300 cc: Porsche (co-driver A. Vianden)
16.5.1954 Leipzig SPorts Cars < 1500: Porsche
23.5.1954 Eifelrennen Sports Cars < 1500: Porsche 9th place
1.8.1954 German GP Sports Cars < 1500: Porsche 8th place
8.8.1954 Halle-Saale-Schleife Sports Cars < 1500: Porsche
15.8.1954 Sachsenring Sports Cars < 1500: Porsche
5.9.1954 Dessau (race cancelled) Sports Cars < 1500: Porsche
11.9.1954 Tourist Trophy Sports Cars < 1500: Porsche 550 (ret.) (co-driven by Buchberger)
15.5.1955 Dessau Sports Cars < 1500: Borgward
28.8.1955 Nürburgring 500 km Special Prodcution Touring Cars < 1000 cc: Panhard [given residence: Munich]
27.5.1956 Nürburgring 1000 km Sports Cars < 1500: Kieft [given co driver George Trouis]
26.5.1957 Nürbrugring 1000 km 1957 GT < 1300 cc: Porsche (without given name of the co-driver) [given residence: Plettenberg]
1.6.1958 Nürbrugring 1000 km Sports Cars < 1500: Porsche 550 RS (dna) [given co-driver Hans Knippel]
Hope I could give you a few starting points for your investigations.
#9
275 GTB-4
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Posted 26 January 2004 - 03:12
http://www.oldracing...tn.asp?letter=M
HARRY MERKEL DIED IN AUSTRALIA
BORN 10 Jan 1918
Taucha bei Leipzig
DIED Feb 1995
Killarney Vale, New South Wales, Australia
After leaving East Germany for West, he ran a number of dealerships, with the franchises for Guzzi's, Lancia's, Panhard's & Triumph's amongst many others. He later re-married & emigrated to Australia where he passed away recently.
HARRY MERKEL DIED IN AUSTRALIA
BORN 10 Jan 1918
Taucha bei Leipzig
DIED Feb 1995
Killarney Vale, New South Wales, Australia
After leaving East Germany for West, he ran a number of dealerships, with the franchises for Guzzi's, Lancia's, Panhard's & Triumph's amongst many others. He later re-married & emigrated to Australia where he passed away recently.
#10
Udo K.
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Posted 26 January 2004 - 14:13
Quote
Originally posted by uechtel
27.5.1956 Nürburgring 1000 km Sports Cars < 1500: Kieft [given co driver George Trouis]
26.5.1957 Nürbrugring 1000 km 1957 GT < 1300 cc: Porsche (without given name of the co-driver) [given residence: Plettenberg]
1.6.1958 Nürbrugring 1000 km Sports Cars < 1500: Porsche 550 RS (dna) [given co-driver Hans Knippel]
The Kieft in 1956 was listed in the race program, but was a DNA, same the Porsche 550RS in 1958.
1957 co-driver was Hans Knippel.
#11
Barry Lake
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Posted 27 January 2004 - 04:53
Thanks to everyone for your help.
Does anyone know anything about the BMW-Eigenbau that Harry was supposed to race in the 1952 German GP? His son Ralph told me he drove it only that once (so I assume he practised) for whoever owned it at the time. He said Harry had the opportunity to buy the car, and considered doing so, but ultimately, did not. The story he told was that the car had alloy wheels and that the person who did buy the car suffered a broken wheel and crashed - perhaps the first time he raced it.
Can anyone add anything to this?
Does anyone know anything about the BMW-Eigenbau that Harry was supposed to race in the 1952 German GP? His son Ralph told me he drove it only that once (so I assume he practised) for whoever owned it at the time. He said Harry had the opportunity to buy the car, and considered doing so, but ultimately, did not. The story he told was that the car had alloy wheels and that the person who did buy the car suffered a broken wheel and crashed - perhaps the first time he raced it.
Can anyone add anything to this?
#12
David McKinney
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Posted 27 January 2004 - 06:50
Until our German friends come in, I can add only that it was Krakau's car
#13
uechtel
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Posted 27 January 2004 - 09:58
Besides the already shown picture of the Eifelrennen start in 1952 I have only this one online at the moment:
It is from 1950 and shows Willi Krakau at Monza, getting out of the way of not-yet-five-times-world-champion Fangio himself. And here you can find a little more to read about Krakau and his car.
Unfortunately I lost the trace of the car after the German GP 1952 so the story of the broken wheel could be helpful. A possible candidate would be Clemens Sandgathe, who appeared in an to me unknown BMW Special at the Eifelrennen and on the Avus in 1953.
It is from 1950 and shows Willi Krakau at Monza, getting out of the way of not-yet-five-times-world-champion Fangio himself. And here you can find a little more to read about Krakau and his car.
Unfortunately I lost the trace of the car after the German GP 1952 so the story of the broken wheel could be helpful. A possible candidate would be Clemens Sandgathe, who appeared in an to me unknown BMW Special at the Eifelrennen and on the Avus in 1953.
#14
Paul Taylor
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Posted 10 December 2005 - 01:01
Sorry for resurrecting an old thread...Is it possible to post a picture of Harry, please? 
#16
uechtel
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Posted 07 May 2006 - 10:20
Sometimes patience pays out...
Even with an autograph!
Even with an autograph!
#17
Paul Taylor
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Posted 08 May 2006 - 13:57
Thanks 
Do you have a photo of his face?
Do you have a photo of his face?
#21
Richard Jenkins
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Posted 09 May 2006 - 09:10
Looking through that site I had no idea that Arthur Legat looked the spitting image of Alan Jones.
#22
Paul Taylor
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Posted 09 May 2006 - 11:11
Thanks Paul, but I've seen that one before... 
I was looking for something bigger and clearer ;)
I was looking for something bigger and clearer ;)Quote
Originally posted by Richie Jenkins
Looking through that site I had no idea that Arthur Legat looked the spitting image of Alan Jones.
#23
eukie
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Posted 20 June 2007 - 19:47
Quote
Originally posted by Paul Taylor
Thanks
From the austrian car magazine "Austro Motor" 8/1954 - Harry Merkel (left; 1. 1300 cc, Porsche) and Otto Mathé (right; 1. 1600 cc, Porsche) on the podium of the I. Bäderpreis at Baden (AUT), 1954 July 4.
#24
r.atlos
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Posted 20 June 2007 - 21:56
Sorry to bust in, eukie - but Otto Mathé was a one-armed pilot. What we see clearly is that the person on (our) right is holding his laurels with his left hand and shaking hands with Merkel with his right hand. I would also suggest that Otto looked differently from this guy. My apologies ...
#25
eukie
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Posted 21 June 2007 - 05:46
Rudi - no need to apologize. 
It's a simple misunderstanding, I think: What I wanted to say is, that Merkel is on our left and Mathé on our right, the taller of the two. Of course Mathé was one-armed, but he wore a prosthesis.
Here's another one with Mathé, again Baden 1954, but from the dirt track races in spring:
It's a simple misunderstanding, I think: What I wanted to say is, that Merkel is on our left and Mathé on our right, the taller of the two. Of course Mathé was one-armed, but he wore a prosthesis.Here's another one with Mathé, again Baden 1954, but from the dirt track races in spring:
#26
ERault
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Posted 27 January 2008 - 18:10
I just came accross the car shown in post 16 in the book "Die Aussenseiter". Apparently, Merkel sold the car to Heini Walter for the 1955 season. The photo in the book is Walter driving it at Campione.
What exactly is the car ? Is it a Porsche 356 with a body by Merkel, or is it a Merkel chassis with a Porsche engine ?
Heini Walters seems to have loved Porsche specials, as for 1956 he was riding a Sauter-Porsche. Anything on this one ? I remember that a Sauter-Stanguellini was raced in Switerland in 1953ish.
What exactly is the car ? Is it a Porsche 356 with a body by Merkel, or is it a Merkel chassis with a Porsche engine ?
Heini Walters seems to have loved Porsche specials, as for 1956 he was riding a Sauter-Porsche. Anything on this one ? I remember that a Sauter-Stanguellini was raced in Switerland in 1953ish.
#27
sweeks
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Posted 21 February 2008 - 05:55
I just sent the URL for this web site and this thread to Harry's daughter.
I think she can fill in some details!
I think she can fill in some details!
#28
Ingrid Mancini
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Posted 24 February 2008 - 03:21
Hello from San Diego, CA. I am Harry Merkel's daughter (ingrid) and just recently came upon this website. I will scan any photos I have of my father and other famous race drivers from the old days. My father competed in so many races I cannot remember them all. Some are: Nurburgring, Mille Miglia, LeMans, Avus-Berlin, Ireland, Portugal, Monaco and many more. His favorite car was the 1100 Klasse Porsche. He also built a car which was very flat and low and was nicknamed "Das Brett" which was purchased later by Mr. Heini Walter of Switzerland. I spoke with Mr. Walter a couple of days ago and he told me that he won many Swiss Championships with this car. More to follow ..
respectfully submitted by Ingrid Merkel-Mancini
respectfully submitted by Ingrid Merkel-Mancini
#29
Hugo Boecker
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Posted 03 March 2008 - 16:01
Hi Ingrid,
here is an other interesting car driven by your father.
It seems to be a special Dyna-Veritas. He raced it at least at the 1952 Eifelrennen in the 750cc class and at the German Championship race for 1100cc cars at the Essen-Grugapark in 1952. The picture below shows him (car #54) being lapped by winner Brendel (#51)
Neue Ruhr Zeitung 22.9.52
Perhaps you can tell us some more of this car ? Was this the car he entered in the 1951 Mille Miglia?
here is an other interesting car driven by your father.
It seems to be a special Dyna-Veritas. He raced it at least at the 1952 Eifelrennen in the 750cc class and at the German Championship race for 1100cc cars at the Essen-Grugapark in 1952. The picture below shows him (car #54) being lapped by winner Brendel (#51)
Neue Ruhr Zeitung 22.9.52Perhaps you can tell us some more of this car ? Was this the car he entered in the 1951 Mille Miglia?
#30
Ingrid Mancini
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Posted 04 March 2008 - 03:42
Hi Hugo:
Thank you for your reply and posting the picture of the Dyna-Veritas. I remember sitting in this car. I have two very nice photos of it also. One was from the 1952 Nurburgring Race with starting number 71 and the other one was at the start platform of the Mille Miglia - the car's number was 2340 in 1952. He also raced in the 1951 Mille Miglia with his Dyna-Panhard, 750 cc Klasse, placing 4th. I have the beautiful trophy. In 1955 he raced a Porsche 1300 cc at the Mille Miglia, finishing in 7th place in his class in 13 hours and 57 minutes.
My father is an honorary member of the "Club Della Mille Miglia", translated to be Club of the 1000 mile Winners.
I recently finished getting some high resolution scans of appr. 20 to 30 pictures and will be posting them as soon as I get them resized. I also have very good photos of Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips, Juan Manuel Fangio, my father with Stirling Moss and more. It is surprising and exciting that there is so much interest in the old racing days.
Sincerely, ingrid merkel-mancini
Thank you for your reply and posting the picture of the Dyna-Veritas. I remember sitting in this car. I have two very nice photos of it also. One was from the 1952 Nurburgring Race with starting number 71 and the other one was at the start platform of the Mille Miglia - the car's number was 2340 in 1952. He also raced in the 1951 Mille Miglia with his Dyna-Panhard, 750 cc Klasse, placing 4th. I have the beautiful trophy. In 1955 he raced a Porsche 1300 cc at the Mille Miglia, finishing in 7th place in his class in 13 hours and 57 minutes.
My father is an honorary member of the "Club Della Mille Miglia", translated to be Club of the 1000 mile Winners.
I recently finished getting some high resolution scans of appr. 20 to 30 pictures and will be posting them as soon as I get them resized. I also have very good photos of Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips, Juan Manuel Fangio, my father with Stirling Moss and more. It is surprising and exciting that there is so much interest in the old racing days.
Sincerely, ingrid merkel-mancini
#31
Hugo Boecker
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Posted 04 March 2008 - 09:24
Thanks Ingrid for your reply. Graet to hear that it was the MM-car.
Do you know who made this car ? Was it built at the Nürburgring at the Veritas premises or was it a special made by your father like the "Brett" ?
Do you know who made this car ? Was it built at the Nürburgring at the Veritas premises or was it a special made by your father like the "Brett" ?
#32
Udo K.
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Posted 04 March 2008 - 10:32
Check your e-mail, Ingrid. Thanks.
#33
sweeks
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Posted 16 October 2008 - 05:14
We recently realized that the pictures promised were never made available. Here are some of them. If I did this right????
#34
sweeks
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Posted 16 October 2008 - 06:08
Well . . . that was easy, although I didn't get too sophisticated with describing the individual pictures. Here are the rest of the pictures (thumbnails) that we scanned in Spring '08. I'm very pleased with how easy ImageShack.com makes this process.
Ingrid is actually in Munich right now visting family and friends for a few weeks. I am 99% sure she wanted me to complete the promise of uploading the scanned pictures. If I am 1% wrong about this, please send condolences to my family in a few weeks when she finds out that I did this ... I had a good life.
One of the pictures in the post above shows Harry Merkel with a shotput, from an Australian newspaper article. He was extremely good at it because this was from an article that included his expolits in a Master's meet in Australia where he won Gold! To prove that the "acorn (or apple) does not fall far from the tree" Ingrid was the USA National Senior Olympics Bronze Medalist in the shotput in 2003 in Norfolk, Virginia. If she had gone to (she couldn't because of other "stuff-she-had-to-do") the 2008 USATF Masters National Championships in Spokane, Washington, she would have won Gold by, easily, about a foot and a half (0.5 meter). Ingrid has not lost distance in the shotput since she started in the Senior Olympics and USATF Masters in 1997 . . . that means she is actualy getting better at it as she gets older.
She has exceeded the USATF "All American Standard of Excellence" in both the shotput and discus. That is an extremely tough standard, because I also do both events and I am woefully short of both marks, despite being good at both when I was young and one of Joe Paterno's football players as a Center in 1969 (PSU is # 3 !!!!) . . . And I am not a small guy at 280 lb!. I am about 10 feet short on the shotput distance "USATF All American Standard of Excellence" for my age group.
Ingrid, in a meet a few weeks ago was over 2-1/2 feet longer than the USATF "All American Standard of Excellence". That is Huge!
OK ... so here are the rest of the thumbnails:
Ingrid is actually in Munich right now visting family and friends for a few weeks. I am 99% sure she wanted me to complete the promise of uploading the scanned pictures. If I am 1% wrong about this, please send condolences to my family in a few weeks when she finds out that I did this ... I had a good life.
One of the pictures in the post above shows Harry Merkel with a shotput, from an Australian newspaper article. He was extremely good at it because this was from an article that included his expolits in a Master's meet in Australia where he won Gold! To prove that the "acorn (or apple) does not fall far from the tree" Ingrid was the USA National Senior Olympics Bronze Medalist in the shotput in 2003 in Norfolk, Virginia. If she had gone to (she couldn't because of other "stuff-she-had-to-do") the 2008 USATF Masters National Championships in Spokane, Washington, she would have won Gold by, easily, about a foot and a half (0.5 meter). Ingrid has not lost distance in the shotput since she started in the Senior Olympics and USATF Masters in 1997 . . . that means she is actualy getting better at it as she gets older.
She has exceeded the USATF "All American Standard of Excellence" in both the shotput and discus. That is an extremely tough standard, because I also do both events and I am woefully short of both marks, despite being good at both when I was young and one of Joe Paterno's football players as a Center in 1969 (PSU is # 3 !!!!) . . . And I am not a small guy at 280 lb!. I am about 10 feet short on the shotput distance "USATF All American Standard of Excellence" for my age group.
Ingrid, in a meet a few weeks ago was over 2-1/2 feet longer than the USATF "All American Standard of Excellence". That is Huge!
OK ... so here are the rest of the thumbnails:
#35
sweeks
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Posted 16 October 2008 - 06:22
I forgot to ask if anyone here knows what that car is in the first thumbnail picture in the first message I sent. She can't remember . . . but that is one nice looking car!
#36
uechtel
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Posted 16 October 2008 - 17:11
It´s an early private-built Porsche "spyder", I think raced for a while in 1954 by Günter Schröder of the Renngemeinschaft Berlin-Halensee(around Helmut Niedermayr).
I don´t have much information on it unfortunately.
I don´t have much information on it unfortunately.
#37
uechtel
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Posted 16 October 2008 - 17:11
And I forgot to say: Fantastic pictures!!!
#38
fines
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Posted 16 October 2008 - 17:21
Isn't that Minister Seebohm in the second pic?
#39
sweeks
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Posted 17 October 2008 - 01:23
Quote
Originally posted by fines
Isn't that Minister Seebohm in the second pic?
If he would be the equivalent of the head of the "American Automobile Association" (AAA), that's who Ingrid says it is. At the opening of the "Auto-Merkel" shown in one of the other pictures.
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#40
Joe Bosworth
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Posted 17 October 2008 - 02:04
Bravo BravoThis is one of those TNF things that is breathtaking. It couldn't happen elsewhere.
Some of the photos and in particular the 1958 'Ring autographs are priceless!!
Many thanks for those who have dug up the photos and details and made them available to us all.
Priceless
Regards
#41
sweeks
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Posted 17 October 2008 - 03:46
These are the same thumbnail images from above, this time with captions. I deleted one repeat.
Ingrid Merkel - Muenchen - in "an early private-built Porsche "spyder"" - (thanks uechtel for the ID)
Harry Merkel - 1985 - with shotput
Harry Merkel Passport Photo
Avus - Berlin - 1953 - Harry Merkel, Nr. 158
Harry and Ingrid Merkel on Harley Sportster - Huntingdon Beach, California 1983
Masten Gregory - 1958
Zur Eroeffnung von Auto Merkel - President des ADAC’s
Weltmeister Werner Haas
Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips
Weltmeister Wilhelm Noll & Fritz Cron
Avus - Berlin - 1953 - Harry Merkel, Nr. 158
Race start somewhere?
Harry Merkel - through windshield
Harry Merkel in 54 car
Harry Merkel - left
Opening of Auto Merkel - Muenchen
Harry Merkel - Nuerburgring - 1952
Harry Merkel - Start of Mille Miglia - Brescia
Harry Merkel, Nr. 158 Avus - Berlin
Car 84 - location unknown
Harry Merkel - Nr. 12, 1953
Burnt out car - somewhere
Rechts: Heini Walter, Europa Bergmeister at Pitstop 1000km Rennen 1960/61 - Won 3 times 1500 Sportscar Klasse with Porsche 1500 Spider - Managed by Harry Merkel
Mitte: Harry Merkel
Joakim Bonnier, links & Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips, rechts
1958, Fahrerlager am Nuerburgring
Juan Manuel Fangio - Weltmeister - 1955/1957
36 car - location unknown
Joakim Bonnier, links & Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips, rechts
1958, Fahrerlager am Nuerburgring
Autographs:
Graf Berghe von Trips
Trintignant
+++
Autographs - 1960 - Nuerburgring
Hans Hermann
Madame Ferrie
Joakim Bonnier
Huschke von Hanstein
Th. Losinger (drove with Heini Walter - Switzerland)
Taruffi, Italy
Gaisberg Rennen - 1958 - Austria - Autographs
Wolfgang Seidel
Mathe
Jean Behra
Edgar Barth
Ernst Vogel
Richard von Frankenberg
+++
Huschke von Hanstein
Heini Walter
H.J. Walter (Nurburgring 1960)
Joakim Bonnier
G. Isenbuegel
Graf Lurani (Italy)
Harry Shell - 1957
Harry Merkel with Mille Miglia scarf and trophies - Australia
http://img388.images...ustrike1.th.jpg
Harry Merkel - winner- Austrian Speedway Grand Prix
http://img399.images...ysporox6.th.jpg
Harry Merkel on Harley Sportster - Huntingdon Beach, California 1983
http://img241.images...gmossun4.th.jpg
Harry Merkel & Stirling Moss in Australia mit 1955 Mille Miglia Tuch
http://img245.images...rdatsse8.th.jpg
Old car and Dyna Panhard at side of road
Ingrid Merkel - Muenchen - in "an early private-built Porsche "spyder"" - (thanks uechtel for the ID)
Harry Merkel - 1985 - with shotput
Harry Merkel Passport Photo
Avus - Berlin - 1953 - Harry Merkel, Nr. 158
Harry and Ingrid Merkel on Harley Sportster - Huntingdon Beach, California 1983
Masten Gregory - 1958
Zur Eroeffnung von Auto Merkel - President des ADAC’s
Weltmeister Werner Haas
Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips
Weltmeister Wilhelm Noll & Fritz Cron
Avus - Berlin - 1953 - Harry Merkel, Nr. 158
Race start somewhere?
Harry Merkel - through windshield
Harry Merkel in 54 car
Harry Merkel - left
Opening of Auto Merkel - Muenchen
Harry Merkel - Nuerburgring - 1952
Harry Merkel - Start of Mille Miglia - Brescia
Harry Merkel, Nr. 158 Avus - Berlin
Car 84 - location unknown
Harry Merkel - Nr. 12, 1953
Burnt out car - somewhere
Rechts: Heini Walter, Europa Bergmeister at Pitstop 1000km Rennen 1960/61 - Won 3 times 1500 Sportscar Klasse with Porsche 1500 Spider - Managed by Harry Merkel
Mitte: Harry Merkel
Joakim Bonnier, links & Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips, rechts
1958, Fahrerlager am Nuerburgring
Juan Manuel Fangio - Weltmeister - 1955/1957
36 car - location unknown
Joakim Bonnier, links & Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips, rechts
1958, Fahrerlager am Nuerburgring
Autographs:
Graf Berghe von Trips
Trintignant
+++
Autographs - 1960 - Nuerburgring
Hans Hermann
Madame Ferrie
Joakim Bonnier
Huschke von Hanstein
Th. Losinger (drove with Heini Walter - Switzerland)
Taruffi, Italy
Gaisberg Rennen - 1958 - Austria - Autographs
Wolfgang Seidel
Mathe
Jean Behra
Edgar Barth
Ernst Vogel
Richard von Frankenberg
+++
Huschke von Hanstein
Heini Walter
H.J. Walter (Nurburgring 1960)
Joakim Bonnier
G. Isenbuegel
Graf Lurani (Italy)
Harry Shell - 1957
Harry Merkel with Mille Miglia scarf and trophies - Australia
http://img388.images...ustrike1.th.jpg
Harry Merkel - winner- Austrian Speedway Grand Prix
http://img399.images...ysporox6.th.jpg
Harry Merkel on Harley Sportster - Huntingdon Beach, California 1983
http://img241.images...gmossun4.th.jpg
Harry Merkel & Stirling Moss in Australia mit 1955 Mille Miglia Tuch
http://img245.images...rdatsse8.th.jpg
Old car and Dyna Panhard at side of road
#42
uechtel
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- 1,971 posts
- Joined: April 01
Member
Posted 17 October 2008 - 08:10
[QUOTE]Originally posted by sweeks
These are the same thumbnail images from above, this time with captions. I deleted one repeat.
Ingrid Merkel - Muenchen - in "an early private-built Porsche "spyder"" - (thanks uechtel for the ID)
[/quote]
Please note the unofficial character of this model designation. I have noted that it was named "NA-Porsche", but I am unable to find the source for this any more
Anyway I would be very interested in finding out more about the story of this car.
[quote]
[quote]
Avus - Berlin - 1953 - Harry Merkel, Nr. 158
[/quote]
The picture is also a real jewel - on this instance because of the car in front. See here:
http://forums.autosp...?threadid=87614
(Unfortunately without the initial photos)
[quote]
Race start somewhere?
[/quote]
Nürburgring 25. May 1952 Eifelrennen, start of sports car 2 litre class. First row (fltr): Pole (hidden) Kurt Adolff, Veritas RS - 2nd Toni Ulmen, Veritas "Großmutter" - 3rd Fritz Rieß, Veritas RS - 4th Karl Günther Bechem, AFM "Sport" - 5th Theo Helfrich, Veritas RS.
Harry Merkel had been entered in the Formula 2 and the 1100 cc Sportscar classes, but unfortunately I think his drive in the Grand Prix class was taken by von Hanstein.
[quote]
Harry Merkel in 54 car[/quote]
Nürburgring again, this time 1. August 1954 German Grand Prix, Sportscars 1500 cc. The car in front is the Porsche special of Dutch driver Hezemans.
Merkel sold the car to Swiss Heini Walter for 1953.
[quote]
Opening of Auto Merkel - Muenchen
[/quote]
Right side in front a nice wonderful Dyna Veritas (Panhard chassis with bodywork made by Baur). Fantastic.
[quote]
Harry Merkel - Nuerburgring - 1952[/quote]
Eifelrennen again. A Panhard with a Veritas badge on the nose...
The car behind is Swiss Franz Hammernick in his Veritas, running in the 1500 cc class.
[quote]
Harry Merkel - Start of Mille Miglia - Brescia
[/quote]
Even more clearly that Veritas emblem!
[quote]
Harry Merkel - Nr. 12, 1953
[/quote]
Krieau Speedway circuit ("Sandbahnrennen"), Austria, 25. April 1954. Merkel in his Porsche Spyder (see previous Nürburgring picture from 1954) chasing Hans Roth, AFM-BMW
[quote]
Burnt out car - somewhere
[/quote]
Nürburgring again. Somebody should be able to identify.
[quote]
Harry Merkel - winner- Austrian Speedway Grand Prix
[/quote]
Same event as above I think (Krieau, 25. April 1954).
According to my records the race was won by Koresch in his Veritas, so maybe either a trophy for a podium rank or for a class victory.
[quote]
Old car and Dyna Panhard at side of road [/B][/QUOTE]
The Dyna Veritas/Panhard and a Ford Taunus.
These are the same thumbnail images from above, this time with captions. I deleted one repeat.
Ingrid Merkel - Muenchen - in "an early private-built Porsche "spyder"" - (thanks uechtel for the ID)
[/quote]
Please note the unofficial character of this model designation. I have noted that it was named "NA-Porsche", but I am unable to find the source for this any more
Anyway I would be very interested in finding out more about the story of this car.
[quote]
[quote]
Avus - Berlin - 1953 - Harry Merkel, Nr. 158
[/quote]
The picture is also a real jewel - on this instance because of the car in front. See here:
http://forums.autosp...?threadid=87614
(Unfortunately without the initial photos)
[quote]
Race start somewhere?
[/quote]
Nürburgring 25. May 1952 Eifelrennen, start of sports car 2 litre class. First row (fltr): Pole (hidden) Kurt Adolff, Veritas RS - 2nd Toni Ulmen, Veritas "Großmutter" - 3rd Fritz Rieß, Veritas RS - 4th Karl Günther Bechem, AFM "Sport" - 5th Theo Helfrich, Veritas RS.
Harry Merkel had been entered in the Formula 2 and the 1100 cc Sportscar classes, but unfortunately I think his drive in the Grand Prix class was taken by von Hanstein.
[quote]
Harry Merkel in 54 car[/quote]
Nürburgring again, this time 1. August 1954 German Grand Prix, Sportscars 1500 cc. The car in front is the Porsche special of Dutch driver Hezemans.
Merkel sold the car to Swiss Heini Walter for 1953.
[quote]
Opening of Auto Merkel - Muenchen
[/quote]
Right side in front a nice wonderful Dyna Veritas (Panhard chassis with bodywork made by Baur). Fantastic.
[quote]
Harry Merkel - Nuerburgring - 1952[/quote]
Eifelrennen again. A Panhard with a Veritas badge on the nose...
The car behind is Swiss Franz Hammernick in his Veritas, running in the 1500 cc class.
[quote]
Harry Merkel - Start of Mille Miglia - Brescia
[/quote]
Even more clearly that Veritas emblem!
[quote]
Harry Merkel - Nr. 12, 1953
[/quote]
Krieau Speedway circuit ("Sandbahnrennen"), Austria, 25. April 1954. Merkel in his Porsche Spyder (see previous Nürburgring picture from 1954) chasing Hans Roth, AFM-BMW
[quote]
Burnt out car - somewhere
[/quote]
Nürburgring again. Somebody should be able to identify.
[quote]
Harry Merkel - winner- Austrian Speedway Grand Prix
[/quote]
Same event as above I think (Krieau, 25. April 1954).
According to my records the race was won by Koresch in his Veritas, so maybe either a trophy for a podium rank or for a class victory.
[quote]
Old car and Dyna Panhard at side of road [/B][/QUOTE]
The Dyna Veritas/Panhard and a Ford Taunus.
#43
Hugo Boecker
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- 702 posts
- Joined: May 04
Member
Posted 17 October 2008 - 08:19
Quote
Hans Meyer-Seebohm was head of the ADAC (Allgemeiner deutscher Automobil Club). The picture must be taken at around 1952.Originally posted by sweeks
If he would be the equivalent of the head of the "American Automobile Association" (AAA), that's who Ingrid says it is. At the opening of the "Auto-Merkel" shown in one of the other pictures.
Hans-Christoph Seebohm was the traffic secretary in Germany from 1949 -1966. I don't know if they were related.
http://de.wikipedia....ristoph_Seebohm
#44
uechtel
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- 1,971 posts
- Joined: April 01
Member
Posted 17 October 2008 - 08:32
I think it ahs not been asked here yet, Merkel name frequently appears together with a few other people in my records, so I would like to learn about his connections to the following persons:
Ludwig Buchberger: The man who placed a lot of Merkel´s entries around 1953/54 (the Porsches as well as the Dyna-Veritas). Why didn´t Harry enter the cars under his own name?
Willi Krakau: Responsible for both of Merkels Grand Prix entries (Eifelrennen and German GP 1952)
Hans Roth: Also from Munich, perhaps they teamed together to travel to the races?
Fritz Kaspar: Same as with Roth. Kaspar seems to have also been connected with Buchberger. Looks like some kind of team effort
Ludwig Fischer: Well, the most under-estimated driver talent ever and more than a little bit crazy. Anyway there seem to have been connections with Buchberger and perhaps also Merkel.
Ludwig Buchberger: The man who placed a lot of Merkel´s entries around 1953/54 (the Porsches as well as the Dyna-Veritas). Why didn´t Harry enter the cars under his own name?
Willi Krakau: Responsible for both of Merkels Grand Prix entries (Eifelrennen and German GP 1952)
Hans Roth: Also from Munich, perhaps they teamed together to travel to the races?
Fritz Kaspar: Same as with Roth. Kaspar seems to have also been connected with Buchberger. Looks like some kind of team effort
Ludwig Fischer: Well, the most under-estimated driver talent ever and more than a little bit crazy. Anyway there seem to have been connections with Buchberger and perhaps also Merkel.
#45
Jean L
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- 274 posts
- Joined: January 08
Member
Posted 17 October 2008 - 11:48
Burnt out car is Dino 246S 00778 ,Scarlatti/Cabianca ,1000 Km Nürburgring 1960.
#46
fines
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- 9,647 posts
- Joined: September 00
Member
Posted 17 October 2008 - 15:00
Quote
AARRRRRRGGGGGGGGH!Originally posted by Hugo Boecker
Hans Meyer-Seebohm was head of the ADAC (Allgemeiner deutscher Automobil Club). The picture must be taken at around 1952.
Hans-Christoph Seebohm was the traffic secretary in Germany from 1949 -1966. I don't know if they were related.
Yes, Meyer-Seebohm, that's who I meant!
No relation, I'd think.
#47
sweeks
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- 15 posts
- Joined: February 08
New Member
Posted 18 October 2008 - 05:32
It is just amazing to me that . . . all of you . . . can look at an old photo and identify the race, the year of the race, the details of the car, who raced it, who made it and then identify other cars in the photo and who was driving that car, who made it, etc.
I'm assuming now that you also know who made the paint, who made the tires and the year of manufacture of the helmets!
To borrow a term used earlier, for me anyway, it is "breathtaking". I am in awe.
The clincher for me was the ID of the "burnt out car somewhere" . . . How do you guys do this???
I'm assuming now that you also know who made the paint, who made the tires and the year of manufacture of the helmets!
To borrow a term used earlier, for me anyway, it is "breathtaking". I am in awe.
The clincher for me was the ID of the "burnt out car somewhere" . . . How do you guys do this???
#48
fines
-
- 9,647 posts
- Joined: September 00
Member
Posted 18 October 2008 - 09:07
Even better - we even know who the driver slept with the night before the race... 
... and in the right order!
... and in the right order!
#49
uechtel
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- 1,971 posts
- Joined: April 01
Member
Posted 18 October 2008 - 10:29
Oh well...
You seem to be already much closer to the answer than you may think! With the response to your pictures here you can already experience how the TNF works.
Most important thing is always pictures, pictures, pictures. You can not get enough of them. Sometimes a single picture tells a story you can fill a book with and everytime you look at it you detect something new. All you have to do is to bring it in the right context and then exchange about it with the other TNF people.
So thank you again for your invaluable contribution.
Btw pictures. Re-reading the thread I found an old request...
Well, in the meantime - when I had the first look at this picture it immediately made my day. Hope it has the same effect to others here.
(Source: Thoroughbred & Classic Car, Sept. 1975 issue)
You see it pays out to be patient...
Quote
...can look at an old photo and identify the race, the year of the race, the details of the car, who raced it, who made it and then identify other cars in the photo and who was driving that car, who made it, etc.
You seem to be already much closer to the answer than you may think! With the response to your pictures here you can already experience how the TNF works.
Most important thing is always pictures, pictures, pictures. You can not get enough of them. Sometimes a single picture tells a story you can fill a book with and everytime you look at it you detect something new. All you have to do is to bring it in the right context and then exchange about it with the other TNF people.
So thank you again for your invaluable contribution.
Btw pictures. Re-reading the thread I found an old request...
Quote
Originally posted by Barry Lake
Thanks to everyone for your help.
Does anyone know anything about the BMW-Eigenbau that Harry was supposed to race in the 1952 German GP? His son Ralph told me he drove it only that once (so I assume he practised) for whoever owned it at the time. He said Harry had the opportunity to buy the car, and considered doing so, but ultimately, did not. The story he told was that the car had alloy wheels and that the person who did buy the car suffered a broken wheel and crashed - perhaps the first time he raced it.
Can anyone add anything to this?
Well, in the meantime - when I had the first look at this picture it immediately made my day. Hope it has the same effect to others here.
(Source: Thoroughbred & Classic Car, Sept. 1975 issue)
You see it pays out to be patient...
#50
Hugo Boecker
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- 702 posts
- Joined: May 04
Member
Posted 18 October 2008 - 17:35
Harry Merkel started together with Buchberger at Dunrod in the 54TT. Their car #50 is said to be a Porsche 550 according to some sources like Time and Two Seats. R.Hough says in his book "Tourist Trophy" that the engine capacity was 1084 cc. So I think it was the same car as shown here with #54 at the Nürburgring.
http://img210.images...lin54carlp9.jpg
Any information or even pictures?
http://img210.images...lin54carlp9.jpg
Any information or even pictures?
