Women and motor races

At the end of August 2012, the organisers of the car race 'Klausenrennen' in the Alps in Switzerland looked at the history of the legendary event from another point of view: this time, the female participants from 1922 to 1934 are the center theme, such as Ernes Merck who finished with the time of 19:32 hours the race faster than her husband or Mrs Elsässer who was driving her open Bugatti sports car in a comfortable modern knee-length dress, practical car coat with neck warming fur collar, and bonnet over her short hair (photo below). The first women in 1924 were Mrs Rothenbach and Prinzessin zu Hohenlohe; last mentioned drove a Bugatti. Klausenrennen reports that in sum 23 female drivers participated in the longest mountain car race of the world between 1922 and 1934.

The next official Klausenrennen will start on 27 September 2013 in Linthal. Oldtimer drivers and cars equipped with CO2 neutral motors will arrive (or not, old cars are allowed until construction date 1971) on 29 September 2013 at the Klausenpasshöhe. At the start, young actress Manon Pfrunder in a car by Bugatti. Find more information on klausenrennen.com.

fig.: Ms Elsässer from Bellinzona and her 1,5 litre Bugatti at the mountain car race in 1926. Photo: (C) OK Klausenrennen.

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