Circuit Bremgarten
Encyclopedia
The Circuit Bremgarten was a 7.28 km (4.524-mi) race course in Bern, Switzerland
which formerly hosted the Formula One
Swiss Grand Prix
and the Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix
.
Bremgarten was built as a motorcycle racing
track in 1931 in the Bremgartenwald (Bremgarten forest) in the north of Bern. The circuit itself has no true straight; it is a collection of high-speed corners. It hosted its first automobile
race in 1934
, which claimed the life of driver Hugh Hamilton. In 1948 it claimed the life of Italian racer Achille Varzi
. From the outset, Bremgarten's tree-lined roads, often poor light conditions and changes in road surface made for what was acknowledged to be a very dangerous circuit, especially in the wet.
Bremgarten has not hosted an official motorsport
event since 1955, when spectator racing sports, with the exception of hillclimbing
and rallying
, were banned in Switzerland following the 1955 Le Mans disaster
. Although there was a 1982 Swiss Grand Prix
, it took place in Dijon
, France
. On June 6, 2007 an amendment to lift the ban was passed by the lower house
of the Swiss parliament, 97 in favour and 77 opposed. The act still has to pass the upper house
, which has previously voted down similar proposals.
won the 500cc event on a Norton
. He won three more events here; 1932 350cc and 500cc races and 1933 500cc race also on a Norton. Jimmie Guthrie
won the 350cc and 500cc races in 1937.
The Bremgarten Circuit was one of the original rounds of the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship
during the inaugural season of 1949
and from 1951
to 1954
. Famous riders who raced here included: Hans Stärkle, Freddie Frith
and Geoff Duke
. Italian racer Omobono Tenni
was killed at Bremgarten during practice for the 1948 event.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
which formerly hosted the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Swiss Grand Prix
Swiss Grand Prix
The Swiss Grand Prix was the premier auto race of Switzerland. In its later years it was a Formula One race....
and the Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix
Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix
The Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix was a motorcycling event that was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1949 to 1954.-Multiple winners :-Multiple winners :-By year:...
.
Bremgarten was built as a motorcycle racing
Motorcycle racing
Motorcycle sport is a broad field that encompasses all sporting aspects of motorcycling. The disciplines are not all "races" or timed-speed events, as several disciplines test a competitor's various riding skills.-Motorcycle racing:...
track in 1931 in the Bremgartenwald (Bremgarten forest) in the north of Bern. The circuit itself has no true straight; it is a collection of high-speed corners. It hosted its first automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
race in 1934
1934 Swiss Grand Prix
The 1934 Swiss Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race run to the 750 kg formula, held at Circuit Bremgarten, near Bern, on 26 August 1934. It was supported earlier in the day by the voiturette-class I Prix de Berne. The main event was won by Hans Stuck in an Auto Union, having led the race...
, which claimed the life of driver Hugh Hamilton. In 1948 it claimed the life of Italian racer Achille Varzi
Achille Varzi
Achille Varzi , was an Italian Grand Prix driver.-Career:Born in Galliate, province of Novara , Achille Varzi was the son of a prosperous textile manufacturer...
. From the outset, Bremgarten's tree-lined roads, often poor light conditions and changes in road surface made for what was acknowledged to be a very dangerous circuit, especially in the wet.
Bremgarten has not hosted an official motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
event since 1955, when spectator racing sports, with the exception of hillclimbing
Hillclimbing
Hillclimbing is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course....
and rallying
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
, were banned in Switzerland following the 1955 Le Mans disaster
1955 Le Mans disaster
The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race, when a crash caused large parts of racing car debris to fly into the crowd. The driver was killed, as were 83 spectators. A further 120 people were injured...
. Although there was a 1982 Swiss Grand Prix
1982 Swiss Grand Prix
The 1982 Swiss Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Dijon-Prenois in France on August 29, 1982. This was the only win of the season for eventual World Champion Keke Rosberg.- Classification :-Standings after the race:...
, it took place in Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. On June 6, 2007 an amendment to lift the ban was passed by the lower house
National Council of Switzerland
The National Council of Switzerland is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland. With 200 seats, it is the larger of the two houses....
of the Swiss parliament, 97 in favour and 77 opposed. The act still has to pass the upper house
Swiss Council of States
The Council of States of Switzerland is the smaller chamber of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, and is considered the Assembly's upper house. There are 46 Councillors....
, which has previously voted down similar proposals.
Motorcycle racing
The Grand Prix of Bern took place at Bremgarten from 1931 to 1937 and also in 1947 and 1948. In August 1931 the Bern (Swiss) Grand Prix took place and the Irish motorcyclist Stanley WoodsStanley Woods
Stanley Woods Dublin, an Irish motorcycle racer famous for 29 motorcycle Grand Prix wins and winning the Isle of Man TT races 10 times in his career. He was a past pupil of The High School, Dublin. Stanley started racing in 1921 on a Harley Davidson...
won the 500cc event on a Norton
Norton (motorcycle)
Norton is a British motorcycle marque, originally from Birmingham, founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of "fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade". By 1902, they had begun manufacturing motorcycles with bought-in engines. In 1908, a Norton-built engine was added to the range...
. He won three more events here; 1932 350cc and 500cc races and 1933 500cc race also on a Norton. Jimmie Guthrie
Jimmie Guthrie
Andrew James "Jimmie" Guthrie was a Scottish motorcycle racer famous for 19 motorcycle Grand Prix wins and 3 victories in the North West 200 and 6 wins at the Isle of Man TT Races in his career.-Biography:...
won the 350cc and 500cc races in 1937.
The Bremgarten Circuit was one of the original rounds of the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
during the inaugural season of 1949
1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the inaugural F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of six Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 600cc...
and from 1951
1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 3rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of eight Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc...
to 1954
1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 6th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of nine Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc...
. Famous riders who raced here included: Hans Stärkle, Freddie Frith
Freddie Frith
Frederick Lee "Freddie" Frith OBE was a British former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion. A former stonemason and motor-trader dealer was a stylish rider and five times winner of the Isle of Man TT...
and Geoff Duke
Geoff Duke
Geoffrey Ernest Duke OBE is a British multi-time motorcycle Grand Prix road racing world champion.Geoff Duke dominated motorcycle racing in the 1950s, winning six world championships and six Isle of Man TT races...
. Italian racer Omobono Tenni
Omobono Tenni
Tommaso Omobono Tenni was an Italian motorcycle road racer. Nicknamed The Black Devil, he was a multiple Italian Motor Cycle champion, who raced to 47 victories for Moto Guzzi from 1933 till 1948, the year he died from an accident during practice for the Swiss GP.-Early years:Omobono Tenni was...
was killed at Bremgarten during practice for the 1948 event.