9 replies to this topic

[HistoryFan]

I heard that Colin Kolles' father (name?) was racing in Romania in former days. In Rallyes but also with a self building touring car (what car?).

Had anyone more details about his father?

And about Colin's career in Rallye from 1985 until 1992?

[hansfohr]

I heard that Colin Kolles' father (name?) was racing in Romania in former days. In Rallyes but also with a self building touring car (what car?). Had anyone more details about his father? And about Colin's career in Rallye from 1985 until 1992?

Both father and son are dentists. The Kolles family fled from Rumania in 1980 (Colin was 13) with one piece of luggage, settling in London before moving to Bavaria. Colin competed in rallying and hillclimbing, no results available.

[HistoryFan]

No more details about his father?

[arttidesco]

No more details about his father?

According to Wiki "evidence" that his father was dentist to former Romanian leader Nicolae Ceauşescu[2] is not factual.

[2]^ "The Mole:270".

[Felix]

According to Wiki "evidence" that his father was dentist to former Romanian leader Nicolae Ceauşescu[2] is not factual.

[2]^ "The Mole:270".

According to my info Colin's father was an engineering manager under the old Romanian regime and his wife (Colin's mother) is/was the dentist. When they fled to Germany - where Mrs Kolles had distant relatives - via the UK in 1980 Romulus Kolles entered the used car trade in Ingolstad (Bavaria, home of Audi) as a sort of driver/handyman as he hardly spoke German but had some understanding of mechanics ... when the communist regime collapsed 10 years later he was ideally placed to export used cars to Romania where there was a massive market for Audi/VW. I believe he was doing over 100 cars per week at one stage, which is where the family wealth came from.

He rallied stuff like Dacia, Yugo and suchlike in Romania, and was Romanian rally champion in the early 70s.

I echo the Wiki story about Mr or Mrs Kolles NOT having been Ceauşescu's dentist - to start off with the dictator would hardly have allowed an engineer to work on his teeth, while the family seat was in Timisoara, close to the Serbian border and about 400 kms from Bucharest. Can't see a dictator having a dentist based five hours away by car ... plus Kolles has always denied it, saying the only (loose) connection to the Ceauşescu regime was that his mother's sister's husband was a general in the Romanian army, and that his wife fled with the Kolles family, causing the marriage to break down. He would have no reason to hide the truth.

[HistoryFan]

Thank you very much!

[Arjan de Roos]

Thank you very much!

Another source gives Romulus Colesnic the title of security advisor to mentioned dictator. Calin followed his father to rallies and hill climbs as said.

Edited by Arjan de Roos, 17 August 2010 - 12:11.

[HistoryFan]

I heard that his father Romulus also was involved in the Kolles DTM team.

The relationship between Kolles and Audi is very old, perhaps we see VW or Audi with Kolles' HRT team in future. Perhaps with the new engine regulations for 2013.

[Arjan de Roos]

I heard that his father Romulus also was involved in the Kolles DTM team.

The relationship between Kolles and Audi is very old, perhaps we see VW or Audi with Kolles' HRT team in future. Perhaps with the new engine regulations for 2013.

I believe Sr. ignited the idea, now he is managing the company, while Jr. is team chef.

Edited by Arjan de Roos, 17 August 2010 - 12:06.

[Michael Ferner]

Serving the spaghetti, then?