Auto Race Car Driver. Born in Remagen, Germany, he began working at a local Mercedes-Benz dealer as a clerk. He persuaded his employers to allow him to race and his first big event was in 1823 when he drove a Mercedes M218 supercharged 8-cylinder car at AVUS and won. His exceptional speed in the rain resulted in his nickname “Der Regenmeister” (the Rainmaster). He became a specialist at the German Grand Prix, winning five times from 1928 to 1939. He became to favorite of the Mercedes-Benz team manager Alfred Neubauer who thought of him as his best driver, perhaps the best ever driver. In April 1933, after 25 laps practice at the Monaco Grand Prix, he crashed heavily into a wall at Tabac and seriously injured his leg. After six months in plaster from the waist down, he finally recovered although his right leg would always be shorter. He continued to driver the powerful Mercedes W125 winning European titles. In 1939 he and his second wife Alice moved to a home in Lugano, Switzerland, and after World War II he resumed his racing but further crashes at Indianapolis and Berne, this time breaking the “good“ leg finally caused him to retire from racing in 1952. In constant pain from his racing injuries, he died at his home in Switzerland from liver disease.
Auto Race Car Driver. Born in Remagen, Germany, he began working at a local Mercedes-Benz dealer as a clerk. He persuaded his employers to allow him to race and his first big event was in 1823 when he drove a Mercedes M218 supercharged 8-cylinder car at AVUS and won. His exceptional speed in the rain resulted in his nickname “Der Regenmeister” (the Rainmaster). He became a specialist at the German Grand Prix, winning five times from 1928 to 1939. He became to favorite of the Mercedes-Benz team manager Alfred Neubauer who thought of him as his best driver, perhaps the best ever driver. In April 1933, after 25 laps practice at the Monaco Grand Prix, he crashed heavily into a wall at Tabac and seriously injured his leg. After six months in plaster from the waist down, he finally recovered although his right leg would always be shorter. He continued to driver the powerful Mercedes W125 winning European titles. In 1939 he and his second wife Alice moved to a home in Lugano, Switzerland, and after World War II he resumed his racing but further crashes at Indianapolis and Berne, this time breaking the “good“ leg finally caused him to retire from racing in 1952. In constant pain from his racing injuries, he died at his home in Switzerland from liver disease.
Bio by: Paul Narramore
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