The Solitude racetrack is an race circuit on public roads used for motorsport in the Leonberg area, west of Stuttgart, Germany. It is named after Castle Solitude and until 1965 has hosted various motorcycle and automobile races.
Routes
The traditional track used for motorcycle racing is located above the Bergheim district of Stuttgart, but not in the center of the most important 11.3 km long variant of the former race track. This variant leads from the start and finish house at today's ADAC training ground past the Seehaus and then past the Glemseck near Leonberg to Frauenkreuz. From there it continues in the direction of Katzenbacher Hof with the Steinbachsee, past the Büsnau district of Stuttgart to the Schattengrund and through the Mahdental back to start and finish before Glemseck. The section from Schattengrund to Glemseck runs in the valley of the Glems.
History
From 1903: First hillclimb track from Stuttgart Westbahnhof (west train station) to Solitude Castle. From 1906: The start was moved from Westbahnhof to Heslach, a southern district of Stuttgart. From 1925: Circuit with a length of , start and finish at the castle. Direction: counterclockwise. From 1931: The circuit was shortened using the road through the Mahdental. Start and finish was moved to the west. Direction: clockwise. From 1935: Final circuit layout: The route introduced 1931 through Mahdental plus the part excluded in 1931 form the course used until 1965. Direction: counterclockwise. Around 100-year celebration at short route around the castle, but still at historic track parts 1965: Races of motocycles, sports cars and Formula 2 cars mark the final time that international motor sports events were held on the "Solitude". 2003: 100-year celebration on a 4 km short route around the castle, but still using historical parts of the route from 1925-1935. Start and finish moved back to the castle. Racing direction clockwise. The only new part is the shortcut over the wildlife park expressway and its access ramp. 2011: As a result of the efforts of the Solitude-Revival and Retro Revival Classic Culture initiatives, the roads belonging to the latest variant were closed for a weekend as part of the 2011 automobile summer in Baden-Württemberg on the occasion of the 125th "birthday" of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen. Numerous visitors were able to watch historic racing and sports cars from different eras driving on the racetrack.
Motorcycle racing
To 50 cm ³
1962: 1 Ernst Degner, Suzuki 2 Hans-Georg Anscheidt, Kreidler
1964: 1 Ralph Bryans, Honda 2 Isao Morishita, Suzuki
1965: 1 Ernst Degner, Suzuki 2 Hans-Georg Anscheidt, Kreidler
To 125 cc (175 cc) 1925: Willy zig, Puch works 1926: 175 cc: Arthur Müller, DKW 1927: 175 cc: Arthur Geiss, DKW 1949: L. Vienatzer, Puch, Puch works 1950: Ewald Kluge, DKW 1951: Paul Hermann Müller, DKW 1952: Werner Haas, NSU 1953: Werner Haas, NSU 1954: Rupert Hollaus, NSU 1955: Karl Lottes, MV Agusta 1956: Romolo Ferri, Gilera 1962: Luigi Taveri, Honda 1964: Honda Jim Redman 1965: Ernst Degner, Suzuki
To 250 cc
1922: F. Frommholz, NSU
1923: H. Schlaginweit, Paque
1925: Josef Stelzer, BMW
1926: Josef Stelzer, BMW
1927: K. Scherer, NSU
1928: Arthur Geiss, DKW
1929: Kurt Friedrich, DKW
1930: Otto Kohfink, Montgomery
1931: DKW Arthur Geiss
1935: DKW Arthur Geiss
1936: DKW Arthur Geiss
1937: Ewald Kluge, DKW
1949: Otto Daiker, DKW
1950: Hein Thorn Prikker, Moto Guzzi
1951: Guzzi Enrico Lorenzetti, Moto
1952: Rudi rims Heier, DKW
1953: Otto Daiker, NSU
1954: Werner Haas, NSU
1955: Hans Baltisberger, NSU
1956: Carlo Ubbiali, MV Agusta
1959: Willy Oesterle, Maico (series machines races) 1960: Agusta Gary Hocking, MV 1961: Jim Redman, Honda 1962: Honda Jim Redman 1964: Phil Read, Yamaha (this year it was also World Champion) 1965: Ginger Molloy, Bultaco
To 350 cc
1925: E. Bussinger, A.J.S. 1926: Ms. Adam, A.J.S. 1927: F. Franconi, Motosacoche 1928: Friedrich Messerschmidt, BMW 1929: Hans Soénius, BMW 1930: Tom Bullus, NSU 1931: Jimmie Guthrie, Norton 1935: Werner Mellmann, NSU 1936: Heiner Fleischmann, NSU 1937: Heiner Fleischmann, NSU 1949: Wilhelm heart, NSU 1950: Heiner Fleischmann, NSU 1951: Norton Geoff Duke 1952: Reg Armstrong, Norton 1953: Siegfried wishes, DKW 1954: Ray Amm, Norton 1955: Ken Kavanagh, Moto Guzzi – 2 Course: August Hobl, DKW 1956: Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi – 2nd Place: August Hobl, DKW 1964: Jim Redman, Honda