Jo Siffert: Kick-off for special commemorative year

DURING EXHIBITION As a tribute to Jo Siffert, who died in an accident in October 1971, there are various commemorative events this year. An exhibition opens in Givisiez on March 26, and a new Siffert book has also been published. In the scale of the most popular and best-known Swiss athletes of all time, Jo Siffert took and still takes a top place. Accordingly great [...]

Editorial - March 20, 2021

Jo Siffert remains unforgotten. The Stanguellini and two racing motorcycles bear witness to the beginnings of his career (Photos: Peter Wyss).

In the scale of the most popular and best-known Swiss athletes of all time, Jo Siffert took and still takes a top position. The nationwide sympathy was correspondingly great when the charismatic Fribourg native, who was only 34 years old, died at Brands Hatch on October 24, 1971, in a Formula 1 race that was not part of the World Championship.

Since then, there have been several commemorative events, but never spread over several months, as is now happening in 2021 - 50 years after that fatal event.

A guest of peaceful snakes
The first of these will be a permanent exhibition set up at the Swiss Viper Museum in Givisiez - the world's largest collection of Dodge and Chrysler Vipers in production and racing versions. In compliance with the conditions for museum visits imposed by the Federal Council, it can be visited from March 26 and until December 17, every Friday from 10 am to 8 pm.

Private visits and corporate events are also possible on request. The entrance fee for adults over 16 years is 12 francs.

Changing exhibits
The organizing committee, of which Siffert's son Philippe, who turned 50 this year, is a member, offers a small, fine and varied exhibition. In addition to many original memorabilia, seven racing cars from Siffert's career are currently on display.

Philippe Siffert was only nine months old when his father died. His life revolved around him almost every day. He also created a watch collection in his honor.

A beautiful centerpiece is the exact replica of a Gulf-Porsche 917K, elaborately manufactured in Australia, in which only the engine and transmission do not correspond to the original. The OC is trying to find more original Siffert cars in the course of the year.

Other exhibitions and events
Some of them will even be seen in action on August 21/22, 2021 at the 8th Int. Historic Hill Climb Ollon-Villars in Vaud.

Other firmly planned events are the Rétro Circuit Porrentruy-Courtedoux on September 4/5, as well as vehicle exhibitions at the Swiss Classic World Lucerne on October 2-3 and at the OTM Forum-Freiburg on October 16/17. These will each be accompanied by city tours in a Porsche 917.

Three different events are on the program for the 50th anniversary commemorative weekend from October 22 to 24: On Friday, the circuit of Lignières is reserved for the 4th Jo Siffert Challenge (a classic car regularity rally). On Saturday, there will be a memorial day for the general public in the city of Fribourg, and on the actual anniversary of his death, there will be a fan pilgrimage to the St-Leonhard cemetery.

Jean-Marie Wyder and his collaborators have already written several books about Swiss racing drivers, such as "Les Suisses au Mans" (several volumes) and "The Swiss in Formula 1". Now a book about Jo Siffert is added.

World tour with Siffert in book form
A new book is also being published in time for the anniversary year. In the style of James Bond, it is called "His name was Siffert, Jo Siffert" or "Il s'appelait Siffert, Jo Siffert".

Because there are already several books and biographies about Siffert, author Jean-Marie Wyder took a different approach by inviting readers on a visually stunning journey to those 17 countries where "Seppi" raced. With his red helmet with white stripes and the Swiss cross, Siffert was a world-famous ambassador for his country and his sport.

Unique image selection
About 90 percent of the more than 600 photos have never been published before. Therefore, virtually every image is described individually in French and English, unless it is self-explanatory.

Newspaper reports from the time document special races and events. In addition, there are separate chapters on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, CanAm and one-make World Championship as well as a short biography.

Even those who speak neither English nor French will enjoy this new publication. It can be ordered for 122 Swiss francs (incl. postage and packing) at the following address Link. There you will also find some sample pages to browse through.

Informative homepage
Everything worth knowing about the milestones in Jo Siffert's career, the permanent exhibition in Givisiez, the Switzerland-wide calendar of events in 2021 and much more can be found on the newly created special homepage - and even in perfect German.