autobau: Space for new racing cars
NEW ADDITIONS The autobau Romanshorn sees itself as an automotive world of experience for young and old. Nowhere else are so many series, special and sports vehicles with a Swiss connection on display - for 2018, a few more have been added. At autobau Romanshorn, there is not only room for automobiles of various kinds. Since this year, there is also a very special tricycle [...]
At autobau Romanshorn, there is room not only for automobiles of various kinds. Since this year, a very special tricycle with a prominent Swiss connection can also be admired.
With an LCR Yamaha, Bruno Holzer and co-driver Karl Meierhans won the world championship title in sidecar motorcycles in 1979. The highlight of this design by Louis Christen: the driver sat as in a sports car with motorcycle steering, while the co-driver continued to kneel next to it. "It was not forbidden, so I designed it that way," Christen still grins today.
Christen first became known for his race car designs, some of which are also in autobau. At Holzer's request, he began building sidecars in 1976. Although Holzer was immediately successful with them, the breakthrough did not come until 1979. After that, countless world championship and world cup titles followed for LCR.
Louis Christen: "At the time, it was technologically very demanding. For me, that was the greatest success in the motorcycle scene. After that, the LCRs sold like hot cakes. I am proud that Bruno Holzer is now making his LCR team available to autobau."
A race car as a student work
Jo Brunner baked smaller rolls. In 1973, his brother won the SM soapbox title. Because autobau has been sponsoring the Swiss soapbox scene for 27 years, Brunner's wooden construction, reminiscent of a mini F1, found its way into a corner of the halls.
His Brucos FF1600 has been on display in another part of the building since September. This was a semester project at ETH Zurich. The man from Basel competed with it for two seasons in the Swiss Formula Ford Trophy.
"It was the first Formula Student, so to speak," Brunner points out. "You have to imagine it: We were given our own room in the ETH main building. The whole thing cost me around 15,000 francs in materials."
In the hall of Classic Cars and Sports Cars there is another new addition. A good friend of carmaker founder Fredy Lienhard is loaning the original replica of a 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ1 that crashed at Le Mans and then disappeared. "One of the most beautiful cars ever," Lienhard enthuses.
See for yourself: Since January 7, 2018, the Erlebniswelt am Bodensee is again open every Sunday and Wednesday at certain hours, in the summer months even every day.
