Bergrennen Gurnigel: Reunion is a pleasure
BERGRENNEN GURNIGEL In a rolling special show, some of the sportiest models from Opel history are on display at the Gurnigel mountain race. A rarity is the "Black Widow" (picture). Special guests are Fritz Erb, who still holds a track record, and Christoph Zwahlen with his completely new Kadett. In the Special Race Cars by Opel special show, the public will be treated to [...]
In the special show Special Race Cars by Opel, the public at the 48th National Hill Climb Gurnigel next weekend, September 9/10, 2017, will be presented with a few samples from the sportiest range of the Rüsselsheim brand.
Rarities are five racing touring cars with famous past. These include an Opel GT Steinmetz, an Opel Manta A and two Opel Vauxhall Vectra B STWs from England. With the two fastest Opel front-wheel-drive cars ever, local heroes Hans-Jürg and Walter Lüthi from Linden set record times at the Gurnigel a few years ago.
By the way tickets you can still win here !
Keyword record: Together with an Ascona 400, which the two-time German rally world champion Walter Röhrl once thrashed over country roads, Opel Classic is specially bringing the legendary Rekord C race touring car from Germany to Switzerland.
The Black Widow, as it is known because of its paint scheme, was built in 1968 in complete secrecy and was intended to herald Opel's return to post-war motorsport. However, the American parent company had banned factory motorsport for safety reasons, so the project was virtually nipped in the bud.
Since the original vehicle soon disappeared into oblivion, a replica as original as possible was made a few years ago in basic black paint with mustard yellow rims and starting numbers. The 200 hp Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" can now be seen at events with historic racing cars and thus fits wonderfully into this field.
Popular sports cars for use in slaloms and hill climbs are the Opel Kadett C GT/E. Even more than 40 years after their market launch, the racing versions with up to 330 hp are still good for victories and records, including at the Gurnigel in the InterSwiss and E1 groups.
Comeback of Fritz Erb and Christoph Zwahlen
The former champion car of slalom legend Fritz Erb will also be on display as part of this special show. With this car, the man from Hallau still holds the IS record up to two liters since 2006, which has not yet been beaten on the shortened track since 2012. The plan is for Fritz Erb himself to appear and drive his "Kadettli", which now belongs to OC member René Aeberhardt, up to the Gurnigelbad himself.
Christoph Zwahlen is also an old acquaintance. The man from Thurgau, who had a serious accident at the Massongex hill climb four years ago, has recovered from his leg injury to such an extent that he is thinking about a comeback in slaloms. To this end, he has completely rebuilt his toxic green Kadett and will present it in static form for the first time at Gurnigel.
Modern vehicles are the two Opel Corsa from the OPC Challenge of the aspiring champion Thierry Kilchenmann and his challenger Fabio Gubitosi. Already in the Oberhallau supporting program, Jasmin Preisig could be seen as a cab driver with her Opel Astra TCR.
This special show alone is worth the trip to the 48th National Hill Climb Gurnigel this weekend.
