Otto Merz

Otto Merz ( born June 12, 1889 in Esslingen am Neckar, † May 18, 1933 in Berlin) was a German racing driver. He drove both circuit racing and mountain - and long-distance races.

Origin and family

Merz was the son of metalworker Karl Gottlob Merz and his wife Christine Margaret Merz born Blessing, living in Esslingen. At the time of his marriage Otto Merz was also based in Esslingen. He married in Schelkingen on October 19, 1918 Maria High, house daughter, born in Allmendingen on January 22, 1889, daughter of Leo and Mary high high -born Autenrieth. Her father was a canteen manager in the cement factory in Schelkingen. Merz worked as a chauffeur; both spouses were Protestant.

Life

Merz was motor vehicle craftsmen and In 1906, the Daimler Motor Company, where he soon worked as a race mechanic. Since 1923, he raced for Mercedes. As early as next year, first successes came a. 1925 or 1926, he won among others the Solitude race and together with Walter gardener the European Grand Prix for touring cars in Spain.

On July 17, 1927 Merz won on a Mercedes -Benz S 2nd Grand Prix of Germany for sports cars or the first Grand Prix on the Nürburgring. Hazards were 18 laps or 508.752 kilometers on a combination of North and South Loop. Otto Merz with passenger Eugen Salzer won in 4:59:35,6 hours and with an average of 101.82 km / h ahead of his teammate Christian Werner.

1928 won the team Caracciola / Werner the Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. Otto Merz, who is the only drove despite extreme heat without detachment, was after a puncture in 4:56.02,0 hours or with 103.10 km / h in second.

In the next few years Merz participated only in a few races, including the Tourist Trophy and long-distance races. After the Grand Prix of Germany in 1931, where he was finished fifth with a Mercedes- Benz SSKL, he retired for two years of racing.

1933 Merz announced a streamlined clad SSKL for the race on the AVUS in Berlin. During training, his car was probably hit by a Seitenbö; Merz was killed.