84 replies to this topic

[Leif Snellman]

May 30th 2007

Elly Rosemeyer - 100 years!!

http://www.kolumbus....man/elly100.htm

[Ray Bell]

What a fabulous and touching read, Leif...

Such a short time they were together, but a time packed with incident and milestone. Thanks.

[Tim Murray]

Wife of Bernd Rosemeyer.

Mother of Bernd Rosemeyer.

Grandmother of Bernd Rosemeyer.

Happy 100th Birthday Elly!

(and thank you Leif for bringing us these great articles on your superb website).

[Hans Etzrodt]

Enjoyable stoy - thank you Thomas and Leif.

[Arturo Pereira]

Fantastic reading and more fantastic story yet !! Thank you !!!

[RA Historian]

Wow! I did not know that she was still with us. A grand and touching story. Thank you for sharing it.
Tom

[Bernd]

What a fantastic Lady.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Bernd
What a fantastic Lady.

I'm tempted to think they don't make them like that any more!

Except for the bit where she resisted, of course...

[cosworth bdg]

Originally posted by Ray Bell


I'm tempted to think they don't make them like that any more!

Except for the bit where she resisted, of course...

Ray, i agree entirely with what you say...........

[Hieronymus]

Becoming a centurion makes all other achievements during ones lifetime very mediocre.

Hearty congratulations to Elly.

[kayemod]

I treasure my own copy of Chris Nixon's 'Rosemeyer', as since early childhood Bernd has been one of my heroes. I was pleased to read that his Berlin grave is still well tended, and last September I paid my own small homage to The Man at the memorial that marks the spot where he died. This is in a small rest area just off the southbound carriageway of the Frankfurt Darmstadt autobahn, unmarked as far as I could see, except for a small signpost that directs visitors from the lay-by and into the woods alongside. The little path was quite well-trodden, and on reaching the stone column itself, we were touched to discover fresh flowers and candles surrounding it, almost seventy years after the tragic event it marked. A very moving experience.

[jcbc3]

Mid-reading this passage strikes me:

...“Bernd presented me with the challenge and at first I was not at all keen to accept it. I had always had a burning desire to drive what was by now the fastest car in the world, but not at Monza, where I was surrounded by friends and dozens of reporters and photographers.
Before I knew it I found myself seated in the silver car with the long, long tail, equipped with Bernd's helmet and goggles and listening to his instructions. ..."

Shouldn't that be 'white'?

[kayemod]

Originally posted by jcbc3
Mid-reading this passage strikes me:



Shouldn't that be 'white'?

Don't think so, in the Chris Nixon book on page 95, Elly says the car was silver.

[jcbc3]

I thought the Mercedes' was silver (for whatever reason discussed ad infinitum here) and that the Auto Unions kept the traditional white German racing colour. I'm not saying it IS so, I was just wondering.

(I'm at work and can't get to my copy of 'Racing the Silver Arrows' to check.)

[edit]
Just had a thought. The article says it was the T-car. Maybe it remained un-painted?
[/edit]

[Holger Merten]

Originally posted by jcbc3
(I'm at work and can't get to my copy of 'Racing the Silver Arrows' to check.)

[/edit] [/B]

Don't believe everything of this book.

We discussed that topic already here.

Two independent historians published their books about motorsport in Germany in the 30s last year. Conclusion, both came to the result, that the Auto Unions never were painted white, and that MB didn’t scrap of the paint at the Nürburgring. They arrived in bare silver.

[Leif Snellman]

Originally posted by jcbc3
I thought the Mercedes' was silver (for whatever reason discussed ad infinitum here) and that the Auto Unions kept the traditional white German racing colour. I'm not saying it IS so, I was just wondering.
[/edit]

No, the Auto Unions were silver BEFORE even Mercedes-Benz.

[jcbc3]

Thank you. Please disregard everything of mine above.

[kayemod]

Originally posted by jcbc3
Thank you. Please disregard everything of mine above.

Yes, but are you only referring to this thread? How far do you want us to to go back?

(I suppose I should use a smiley here, but I never have, and I'm not going to break the forum habit of a lifetime over this)

[jcbc3]

Originally posted by kayemod


Yes, but are you only referring to this thread? How far do you want us to to back?

(I suppose I should use a smiley here, but I never have, and I'm not going to break the forum habit of a lifetime over this)

Ouch. That HURT!

[D-Type]

Happy Birthday Elly

[paulhooft]

Great news that she is still with us:
I have her books Rosemeijer and Alleinflug here on my bookshelves!
Alleinflug is about her Flying adventures...
Paul

[Mark A]

Originally posted by kayemod
I treasure my own copy of Chris Nixon's 'Rosemeyer', as since early childhood Bernd has been one of my heroes. I was pleased to read that his Berlin grave is still well tended, and last September I paid my own small homage to The Man at the memorial that marks the spot where he died. This is in a small rest area just off the southbound carriageway of the Frankfurt Darmstadt autobahn, unmarked as far as I could see, except for a small signpost that directs visitors from the lay-by and into the woods alongside. The little path was quite well-trodden, and on reaching the stone column itself, we were touched to discover fresh flowers and candles surrounding it, almost seventy years after the tragic event it marked. A very moving experience.

I visited the site a couple of years ago (and noted the rest area is called B Rosemeyer)

Was nice to find it was well tended and obviously had a lot of visitors.

[Dennis Hockenbury]

A very happy 100th birthday to a very extraordinary lady.

[Racer.Demon]

And some well-deserved free publicity for Leif's good work:

http://www.grandprix...ns/ns19219.html

[aldo]

I'm late in joining this thread on Elly Beinhorn, yet I was sure that Leif would have opened it.
BTW, I didn't miss such a special occasion for sending my personal wishes to Bernd Jr for his mother.
Yes, meeting her was a moving experience, maybe the first time in which I had to fight my emotion and rely on my professionalism. I had history, our history, live in front of me.
I read with interest Tom O'Keefe very good story on her: it delivers what such an extraordinary person is. There are a few very minor inaccuracies in the final pages, yet it is a great story.
I wish to share with you all the info that Alleinflug has been reprinted by Herbing publishers in Munich with a new chapter by Bernd Jr. It has a simple and moving sticker on the cover: For the 100th Birthday. There are some photos from the family collection which have never been published before. At 19.90 euro it is a must even for non-German speaking scholars and enthusiasts of her and her time.

[antonvrs]

My best wishes to Elly Rosemeyer on the occaision of her 100th birthday.
Are any of her books available in English?
Anton

[monoposto]

Congratulations to Elly on the occasion of her birthday . A remarkable achievement, a remarkable life and a family around her to be proud of.

Apart from Chris Nixon's : Rosemeyer! there is one other book in English that I am aware of : Flying Girl, published in 1935

[lustigson]

I'll read the article later on.

But what an anachronism mrs. Rosemeyer is. Wife of a pre-WW2 great, still alive today. Wonderful.

[Richard Jenkins]

Sadly, Elly Beinhorn-Rosemeyer has died. Link

[Barry Boor]

Very sad, but you can't complain about 100 years, can you?

[Dennis Hockenbury]

I am so very sorry to learn of Elly Beinhorn-Rosemeyer's passing. She was a truly remarkable lady.

[lil'chris]

A truly amazing first 25-30 years spent achieving ( like Berndt ) then I guess she was happy to enjoy life at a slower pace and out of the public eye. A shame that her flying achievements aren't as recognised in the english speaking world as those of Amy Johnson & Amelia Earhart.

Bye Bye Elly.

Chris

[nivola]

This young lady will be missed.

Benard Has Been Waiting For You.

R.I.P

[dbw]

isn't paul pietsch still with us ?

[cpbell]

How sad. I hadn't realised until reading this discussion that she had survived for so long; to then read that she died only a week or so ago is very saddening. A remarkable lady and, though I'm not a religious person, the thought that she is now reunited with her husband after almost seventy years is a comforting one. R.I.P.

[postajegenye]

I didn't want to open a new topic for this.

Today I got the book "Elli Rosemeyer-Beinhorn: Mein Mann der Rennfahrer" (My husband the racing driver) as a birthday present.
It's a 70-year-old book from 1938, in a pretty bad state but it's still beautiful with those famous old German letters.
I'm very happy now because I didn't expect such a great birthday present. My parents bought it for about 2 dollars at our local market (I'm Hungarian).

EDIT: Oh, and it's signed by Elly. I'm pretty sure it's her signature because it was clearly written there decades ago, and anyway, who would fake it?

[lustigson]

Originally posted by postajegenye
I didn't want to open a new topic for this.

Today I got the book "Elli Rosemeyer-Beinhorn: Mein Mann der Rennfahrer" (My husband the racing driver) as a birthday present.
It's a 70-year-old book from 1938, in a pretty bad state but it's still beautiful with those famous old German letters.
I'm very happy now because I didn't expect such a great birthday present. My parents bought it for about 2 dollars at our local market (I'm Hungarian).

EDIT: Oh, and it's signed by Elly. I'm pretty sure it's her signature because it was clearly written there decades ago, and anyway, who would fake it?

That sounds like one helluva present. Congratulations!

[Hieronymus]

Check here and compare it with your own period autograph of Elly:

http://forums.fourti...read?id=3079441

[kayemod]

Originally posted by postajegenye
I didn't want to open a new topic for this.

Today I got the book "Elli Rosemeyer-Beinhorn: Mein Mann der Rennfahrer" (My husband the racing driver) as a birthday present.
It's a 70-year-old book from 1938, in a pretty bad state but it's still beautiful with those famous old German letters.
I'm very happy now because I didn't expect such a great birthday present. My parents bought it for about 2 dollars at our local market (I'm Hungarian).

EDIT: Oh, and it's signed by Elly. I'm pretty sure it's her signature because it was clearly written there decades ago, and anyway, who would fake it?

I'd really treasure that, having compared it, do you think the sig is authentic? I have a copy of the English language reprint signed by Chris Nixon, written when Frau Beinhorn-Rosemeyer was still alive. It's a fascinating book, I think the only one of my (many) motor racing books that my non-enthusiast Wife has actually read and enjoyed.

I suppose you wouldn't accept $5 for it, I'd pay for the postage of course......

[RStock]

Originally posted by Leif Snellman
May 30th 2007

Elly Rosemeyer - 100 years!!

http://www.kolumbus....man/elly100.htm

As a big fan of both Bernd and Elly , I would just like to say , that's a great story , well done .

[Cavalier53]

Looking for something else, I stumbled on a sort of "Making of.." documentary about a film production on Elly Beinhorn to be aired this spring on German ZDF: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Z5EhKC5Qvwk . I did not find it mentioned here on TNF, and probably this is the most appropriate thread for the pre-announcement.

 

Unfortunately all is in German of course, and I honestly hope the actual film will be more entertaining than this documentary with lengthy interviews with a very poor sound. Nevertheless, it's already striking to see Bernd's plane (and other actors) in bright color compared to the BW images we are used to.

 

Bernd Jr. turned up for the publicity shots, and I'm probably not the only person curious for the result.

[Vitesse2]

Looks promising! Although I have to say that the actress picked to play Elly is perhaps a bit too tall. And no doubt the swastika will have been erased from the tail of her Taifun. Los Angeles, 1934:

 

Edited by Vitesse2, 22 February 2014 - 21:47.

[Rob29]

Amazing! I had not noticed this thread before-being a fan of women in motor sport and aviation.sadly we can't get ZDF anymore in UK.Perhaps someone can produce a DVD copy of this programme?

[Tim Murray]

Looks promising! Although I have to say that the actress picked to play Elly is perhaps a bit too tall.

Yes indeed. Vicky Krieps is 5'9"/1m75 tall (according to IMDb) and in this shot she appears taller than Max Riemelt playing Bernd (although she is wearing high heels):

http://www.haz.de/Na...inhorn/43197905

The film is being advertised on Amazon.de as available from 25th April:

http://www.amazon.de...s/dp/B00IA01EKM

Great to see Prof Rosemeyer looking very hale and hearty - amazing to think that he's now 76.

[Vitesse2]

Maybe they'll do what Hollywood do with Tom Cruise - but in reverse? Seven pictures of Tom Cruise being tall.

[kayemod]

Maybe they'll do what Hollywood do with Tom Cruise - but in reverse? Seven pictures of Tom Cruise being tall.

 

On the height question, a really great actor, which of course rules out Tom Cruise, seems to be able to get around this, a good example being French actress Marion Cotillard's brilliant Oscar-winning protrayal of Édith Piaf in La Vie en Rose, one of my own all-time favourite films. Piaf was tiny, she was popularly known throughout her too short life as "The Little Sparrow", and Cotillard is average height at least, and throughout the film, this was never really apparent. Absolutely nothing at all to do with motor racing of course, but a truly great film, and you don't need to be a devotee of chanson to enjoy it.

[Allan Lupton]

On the height question, a really great actor, which of course rules out Tom Cruise, seems to be able to get around this, .

Yes, Peter O'Toole as T.E. Lawrence is possibly the best-known example of that.

[kayemod]

Yes, Peter O'Toole as T.E. Lawrence is possibly the best-known example of that.

 

You're absolutely right Allan, but an important difference is that very few people have any real idea how tall Lawrence was, whereas almost everyone who has heard of Édith Piaf would know that she was tiny. In fact Lawrence at 5'5" was nine inches shorter than Peter O'Toole at 6'2", while 4'8" Édith was ten inches shorter than 5'6" Marion Cotillard, so that makes Marion the winner by a single inch. Tom Cruise could be a possibility to play T E Lawrence on screen, though I'd say that even a recently departed Peter O'Toole could probably out-act him.

[JoBo]

 

Unfortunately all is in German of course

 

Why "unfortunately".....????

[Michael Ferner]

Lemme guess... He not speaka thatta languish?