11 replies to this topic

[Graham Gauld]

Here is a question for our Eastern European friends. I am trying to find details of a Hungarian motor racing "champion" who raced at the end of the 1930's and, I believe, in 1940. He comitted suicide in 1950. That is all the information I have and am trying to trace any Hungarian "champions" in that period so that I can trace his or their history to find out who this person was.

GG

[Gary C]

ah, Graham, so you received that e-mail too?

[Geza Sury]

Not much of a help, just a couple of names from that period:

Delmár Walter (died in 1949 in Switzerland)
Wilheim Sándor
Wiesengrund Ferenc
Kovács Károly (this is a very common name in Hungary)
Feledy György
Bossányi Péter

BTW these names are in the "Hungarian order". To learn more about this topic, please take a look at the first post of the László Hartmann thread.

[pnegyesi]

If this thread is still alive, then I have some ideas

[fines]

Go ahead, post away! Every thread is "still alive" so long as TW doesn't "kill" it.

[pnegyesi]

Delmár died in Switzerland in 1948.

Are you sure about the suicide part? There was a very talented, internationally recognized motorcycle champion, called Endre Kozma - he even had trial runs with BMW in Germany, though he did not become a member of the official squad. He ventured into cars a bit in late 1930s. He died in 1942.

[Martin Pfundner]

Originally posted by pnegyesi
Delmár died in Switzerland in 1948.

Are you sure about the suicide part? There was a very talented, internationally recognized motorcycle champion, called Endre Kozma - he even had trial runs with BMW in Germany, though he did not become a member of the official squad. He ventured into cars a bit in late 1930s. He died in 1942.

as all data given for the Hungarian mystery champion are rather vague I have a feeling that Count Tivadar Zichy could be meant.

[ReWind]

Originally posted by pnegyesi
Delmár died in Switzerland in 1948.

According to my notes [sorry, can't say anything specific about the sources] Walter Delmár was born on 28 December 1893 in New York City (USA) and died on 16 December 1949 (55 years old) at Bern (= Berne, Switzerland).

[pnegyesi]

Originally posted by Martin Pfundner




as all data given for the Hungarian mystery champion are rather vague I have a feeling that Count Tivadar Zichy could be meant.

But Zichy comitted suicide in the 1980s, not in 1950

As for Delmar's date of death. I have to check whether it was 1948 or 1949.

[Hans Etzrodt]

Originally posted by pnegyesi
Delmár died in Switzerland in 1948.

Are you sure about the suicide part?...

Walter Delmar died on Saturday, December 17, 1949 following a stroke at age 56. About early 1949 the famous Hungarian sports man had moved to Bern (Switzerland) after the shipping business in Budapest, which he had managed, was taken over by the new Hungarian government.

In case it has been forgotten, in the mid-thirties, Delmar was elected as representative of Hungary into the CSI (Commission Sportive Internationale). In this capacity he had repeatedly visited the Swiss Grand Prix.

[pnegyesi]

Walter Delmar died on Saturday, December 17, 1949 following a stroke at age 56. About early 1949 the famous Hungarian sports man had moved to Bern (Switzerland) after the shipping business in Budapest, which he had managed, was taken over by the new Hungarian government.

In case it has been forgotten, in the mid-thirties, Delmar was elected as representative of Hungary into the CSI (Commission Sportive Internationale). In this capacity he had repeatedly visited the Swiss Grand Prix.

Yes, you are quite right. Regarding the shipping business, Delmár earned the nickname "Homokos" from his friends as he was shipping lots of sands (homok). However homokos is also a rude slang for gay - though this was just teasing him, as he had a wife and three (I hope my memory serves me right here) daughters.

[pnegyesi]

I'd like to also mention here Endre Kozma who once raced for the BMW motorcycle team in Germany. He died in the 1940s though