Persbericht...
The start number 1 on Uli Sauer's white BMW 328 says almost everything: he's a pioneer of the first hour and the uncatchable record holder. The sympathetic Sauerländer is the only participant who up till now hasn't missed a single AvD-Oldtimer-Grand-Prix. In just over a week, from the 12th – 14th August 2011, he'll be starting for the 39th time at the Nürburgring. „As long as they'll let me and I can, I'll be there“, said the 69 year old from Iserlohn. „Even if I didn't do any more racing, I would still come just to meet up with friends“. It's this mix of historical racing spectacle and fun filled family meeting that makes the AvD-Oldtimer-Grand-Prix so unique and along with Uli Sauer attracts each year around 60.000 visitors to the Eifel. This time you'll not only celebrate the man with the start number 1 but also the 75th jubilee of his sports car.
The roadster from the Bayerische Motoren Werke, gave an impressive debut at the Nürburgring in 1936. Ernst Jakob Henne immediately drove at the premiere presentation of the BMW 328 the first victory and set up a new track record. Wins at Le Mans 1939 and the Mille Miglia 1940 followed with the former AvD Sport President Fritz Huschke von Hanstein at the wheel. A new sports car era was ushered in and the mythical BMW 328 was born. With motor power of up to 130 hp, a the lightweight construction, sophisticated aerodynamics and the relatively low total weight of less than 800 kg, the BMW 328 reached top speeds of 155 km/h. In the space of four years, 464 of the two-seaters were built and around 200 are still preserved today.
Uli Sauer fulfilled in 1970 with the acquisition of his white BMW 328, a childhood dream: "At the beginning of the 50's, I saw one or two 328s in daily traffic on the road, I was mesmerised. The form, the power, the sound - it was my dream car". For that he gladly accepted other restrictions: "We had at the time two small children, dispensed however with a private car and used the company delivery van with the family for many years". The driving pleasure with the oldtimer compensated for the daily inconveniences. 1972 Uli Sauer drove his first veteran rally, 1973 followed with the first AvD-Oldtimer-Grand-Prix and you could almost think his BMW 328 loved the racing action just as dearly as the driver. Upon the question of a camera man as to how he managed to get away so quick with his car by the earlier, customary Le-Mans start, Uli Sauer answered years ago: "When my 328 sees me coming, it starts up on its own." The perfect Symbiosis and best precondition therefore to start in the coming year for the 40th time.
His son Martin has by the way, likewise been infected with the AvD-Oldtimer-Grand-Prix virus. They've been coming together for years with the white BMW 328, with a BMW M1 and even this time with a Messerschmitt Tiger. For three days the historic paddock from the 12th – 14th August will again be their home from home. Son Martin is starting with the BMW M1 at a charity run on the Nordschleife for the C.H.R.S.N. and father Uli, with the start number 1, in the Pre-War race. The race- and sports cars from the "Roaring Twenties and Golden Thirties" start on Saturday from 19.25 hour and on Sunday from 9.30 hour and have for the occasion of the 75th birthday lots of exceptional BMW 328 models in their midst. On to the track with record holder Uli Sauer and his jubilee car are going to be for example the Veritas and AFM 50 that were developed on the basis of the BMW 328, a Frazer Nash BMW 328 or also a sister model from the brothers Rudolf and Fritz Ihle from Bruchsal.
en eten zaterdagavond in Daun: Ite, Jeroen, ... 
