John Hugenholtz
Encyclopedia
Johannes Bernhardus Theodorus "Hans" Hugenholtz, in English-speaking countries a.k.a. John Hugenholtz (October 31, 1914, Vledder
- March 25, 1995, Bentveld
) was a Dutch
designer of race tracks and cars.
Hugenholtz's father, of the same name, was a Protestant minister and peace activist who moved his family to Purmerend
in 1918 and Ammerstol
in 1924. Hugenholtz studied to be a lawyer and became a journalist by profession, but his interests were in cars. As a young man he was an (amateur) motor cycle racer. He founded the Nederlandse Auto Race Club in 1936 and was director of the Zandvoort
racing circuit from 1949 to 1974. He further founded the Association Internationale de Circuits Permanents in Paris, and the Pionier Automobielen Club in 1956, a leading to the Fédération Internationale des Voitures Anciennes (FIVA). Hugenholtz is best known as the designer of a variety of circuits used for the Formula One
Grand Prix and praised for their challenging nature and innovative features. The latter includes the use of multiple layers of stretching, chainlink fences ('catch fences') to slow down and catch cars running off the track, decreasing the chance of driver injury compared to the customary solid barriers. Amongst others, he designed the circuits Suzuka
in Japan
(1962), Zolder
in Belgium
(1963), Hockenheimring
("Motodrom" stadium section) in Germany
(1965), Jarama
in Spain
(1967), Ontario Motor Speedway
(together with Portland-based architect Michael Parker) in California
(1970), and Nivelles
in Belgium (1971). Although often credited with designing the Zandvoort circuit as well, the layout was largely dictated by the existing road layout with Sammy Davis acting as the principal design consultant.
Besides circuits he was involved in the stillborn projects of the Dutch "Barkey" car (1948) and the "Delfino" (1989). The latter based on Alfa Romeo Alfasud
-chassis and drivetrain.
Hugenholtz and his wife, Marianne Sophie van Rheineck Leyssius, were involved in a car accident in Zandvoort
on January 10, 1995. His wife died immediately, while he succumbed to the injuries two months later at home. His son, Hans Hugenholtz Jr. (born 1950) is a race car driver.
Vledder
Vledder is a village in the Dutch province of Drenthe. It is a part of the municipality of Westerveld, and lies about 24 km northwest of Hoogeveen. It is located along the small river Vledder Aa.-History:...
- March 25, 1995, Bentveld
Bentveld
Bentveld is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Zandvoort, and lies about 5 km west of Haarlem....
) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
designer of race tracks and cars.
Hugenholtz's father, of the same name, was a Protestant minister and peace activist who moved his family to Purmerend
Purmerend
Purmerend is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The city is surrounded by polders, such as the Purmer, Beemster and the Wormer. The city became the trade center of the region but the population grew relatively slow. Only after 1960 did the population...
in 1918 and Ammerstol
Ammerstol
Ammerstol is a village in the municipality of Bergambacht, in the Netherlands. It is located about 12 km southeast of Gouda, on the Lek River.Between 1817 and 1985, Ammerstol was a separate municipality....
in 1924. Hugenholtz studied to be a lawyer and became a journalist by profession, but his interests were in cars. As a young man he was an (amateur) motor cycle racer. He founded the Nederlandse Auto Race Club in 1936 and was director of the Zandvoort
Circuit Park Zandvoort
Circuit Park Zandvoort is a motorsport race track located in Burgemeester van Alphenstraat 108, 2041 KP in the dunes north of the town of Zandvoort, in the Netherlands, near the North Sea coast line.- History :...
racing circuit from 1949 to 1974. He further founded the Association Internationale de Circuits Permanents in Paris, and the Pionier Automobielen Club in 1956, a leading to the Fédération Internationale des Voitures Anciennes (FIVA). Hugenholtz is best known as the designer of a variety of circuits used for 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...
Grand Prix and praised for their challenging nature and innovative features. The latter includes the use of multiple layers of stretching, chainlink fences ('catch fences') to slow down and catch cars running off the track, decreasing the chance of driver injury compared to the customary solid barriers. Amongst others, he designed the circuits Suzuka
Suzuka Circuit
, Suzuka Circuit for short, is a motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Mobilityland Corporation, the subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd..-Introduction:...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(1962), Zolder
Zolder
The Circuit Zolder, also known as Circuit Terlaemen, is an undulating motorsport race track in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.Built in 1963, Zolder hosted the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix on 10 separate occasions in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the 1980 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix. The F1 circus...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(1963), Hockenheimring
Hockenheimring
The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg is an automobile racing track situated near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located on Bertha Benz Memorial Route. Amongst other motor racing events, it biennially hosts the Formula One German Grand Prix...
("Motodrom" stadium section) in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(1965), Jarama
Circuito Permanente Del Jarama
The Circuito del Jarama , formerly known as Circuito Permanente del Jarama is a race course in Madrid, Spain which has hosted nine Formula One Spanish Grand Prix....
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(1967), Ontario Motor Speedway
Ontario Motor Speedway
The Ontario Motor Speedway, located in Ontario, California, east of Los Angeles, was the first and only automobile racing facility built to accommodate major races sanctioned by all of the four dominant racing sanctioning bodies: IndyCar Series and USAC for open-wheel oval car races; NASCAR for a ...
(together with Portland-based architect Michael Parker) in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(1970), and Nivelles
Nivelles-Baulers
Nivelles-Baulers was a race track near Brussels, Belgium locally referred to as Nivelles in French and Nijvel in Dutch.Built in 1971, the circuit hosted two rounds of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix in 1972 and 1974 during the time when the race was supposed to alternate between Walloon and...
in Belgium (1971). Although often credited with designing the Zandvoort circuit as well, the layout was largely dictated by the existing road layout with Sammy Davis acting as the principal design consultant.
Besides circuits he was involved in the stillborn projects of the Dutch "Barkey" car (1948) and the "Delfino" (1989). The latter based on Alfa Romeo Alfasud
Alfa Romeo Alfasud
The Alfa Romeo Alfasud is a compact car made by Alfa Romeo of Italy from 1971 to 1989. It was considered one of Alfa Romeo's most successful models, sold 893,719 examples from 1972 to 1983 plus 121,434 Sprint versions from 1976 to 1989. A common nickname for the car is ’Sud...
-chassis and drivetrain.
Hugenholtz and his wife, Marianne Sophie van Rheineck Leyssius, were involved in a car accident in Zandvoort
Zandvoort
Zandvoort is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.Zandvoort is one of the major beach resorts of the Netherlands; it has a long sandy beach, bordered by coastal dunes...
on January 10, 1995. His wife died immediately, while he succumbed to the injuries two months later at home. His son, Hans Hugenholtz Jr. (born 1950) is a race car driver.