Ernst Loof
Ernst Loof ( born July 4, 1907 in Neindorf at Oschersleben, † March 3, 1956 in Bonn ) was a German engineer, racer, racing manager and entrepreneur.
Life
His professional career began in Ernst Loof as car locksmith in Halberstadt. From there he moved to the motorcycle manufacturer Imperia in Bad Godesberg. Here he was an engineer, factory racers and partners. 1932 and 1933 he won, among others, in the Eifel Race at the Nürburgring the solo class up to 350 cc and 1934 and 1935 the sidecar class with 350 or 600 cc.
Four times he was German champion on the road, three times in the 350 cc class solo and once in the sidecar class up to 350 cc. Also four German league titles he won ³ at mountain races in the solo classes to 350 and to 500 cm.
After a short time at Auto Union Loof came to BMW, where he was responsible for automotive racing applications from 1938, for example: 1938 Mille Miglia (class and team victory ), 24 Hours of Spa (class and team victory ), 1939: 24 Hours of Le Mans (class and team victory ), 1940: Mille Miglia (total victory and places three, five and six as well as team victory ).
When, after the Second World War, the German car plants were destroyed or dismantled, Ernst Loof, Schorsch Meier, Lorenz Dietrich and Werner Miethe began to build sports cars. From 1946/47, they acquired units and all vehicles of the BMW 328, which provided them with streamlined bodies. It was also used by the BMW vehicle frame 315. In 1948 she founded the Baden-Württemberg Meßkirch the company Veritas.
After the bankruptcy of the Veritas GmbH Loof moved in 1951 to the Nürburgring, where he developed under the name " Veritas Nürburgring" sports cars and even built some copies of the Formula 2 car " Veritas Meteor". With a " Meteor" he launched himself alongside Hans Herrmann and Willi Heeks at the Grand Prix of Germany on 2 August 1953 but dropped out at the beginning of the race.
After the brand Veritas did not meet with commercial success at the Nürburgring, BMW took over the operation in 1953 and Ernst Loof as an engineer. 1954 build Loof the prototype of an open sports car ( BMW internally called 528), which, however, in favor of a year later presented the BMW 503 and BMW 507 was not in series.
With Hans Wencher as a passenger Loof 1954 BMW drove the Monte Carlo Rally.
Ernst Loof died after a long illness on March 3, 1956 in Bonn.
Title
Swell
- Torah Hornung: "50 years of Nürburgring". Gorres -Verlag, Koblenz 1977.
- " Motor Klassik " (4/ 1988).
- Werner Oswald: "All the BMW Automobile 1928-1978 ". Engine book publishing house, Stuttgart 1979.
- Matthias skirts, " built at the Nürburgring Oldtimer ". (Website of the district Ahrweiler )
- Rainer Rossbach: " Veritas RS: establishment of a myth." In Prova - magazine for automotive avant-garde ( 2001).