Werner Haas
Werner Haas ( * May 30, 1927 in Augsburg, † November 13, 1956 in Neuburg an der Donau by plane crash ) was a German motorcycle racer and three-time world motorcycle champion at NSU.
- 3.1 See also
- 3.2 Literature
- 3.3 External links
- 3.4 Notes and references
Life
Werner Haas was born the son of a postal Schaffner and trained as a motor mechanic in the fleet of the former imperial post. In 1945, he worked temporarily at the American armed forces.
His racing career began on an old Werner Haas NSU 500 SS ( NSU Bullus ). The Augsburg Ardie retailer J. Wiedemann supported the young racing driver, asked him his workshop and a 125 - cc - Ardie available and gave him a job with Ardie as a test driver.
In 1952, Haas was successful with a 125 cc engine in DIY -Puch frame and dropped the stewards of NSU on. As at Solitude motorcycle race in July 1952, the factory driver Roberto Colombo and Karl Hofmann had fallen in training, Werner Haas a Rennfox of NSU was offered in the evening before the race. Haas took his chance and won the race, said he could beat strong international competition.
For him, this was a breakthrough, he was awarded a contract as a works driver at NSU. In the motorcycle world championship in 1953 Werner Haas was nearly unbeatable on the Rennfox in the 125 cc class and the Rennmax in the 250 cc class and was superior world champion and German champion in two classes. Then he was elected this year to the German Sportsman of the Year.
In 1954, Werner Haas won again the 250 cc World Championship; the title in the 125cc class picked up his team-mate Rupert Hollaus, who still had a fatal accident in the season during training before the race at Monza. The German championship he won again in both the 125cc and 250cc in the. In this year he Federal President Theodor Heuss presented the Silver Laurel Leaf, the Federal Republic of Germany, the highest state award for an athlete.
Since the FIM 1955 awarded no marks World Cup more, attracted several major works, including NSU and Moto Guzzi, from road racing, with factory racing machines back.
In 1955, Werner drove Haas, like his brother Otto, on the NSU Geländemax then in 1956 still in the motorcycle off-road racing, but moved permanently from Zweiradsport back. He created his own existence with a DEA Großtankstelle in his hometown.
With a self- built Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing he still took part in the rally sport and began following the acquisition of private pilots license in August 1956 at the same time with aviation.
On November 13, 1956 Werner Haas led to the airfield at Neuburg on the Danube from servicing the engine of his Jodel D9. To test he flew a traffic pattern, while the aircraft crashed in the twilight of 50 meters from the landing approach. This crash ended the life of one of the most successful motorcycle racers of the post-war period.
In several cities such as Augsburg and Neckarsulm streets were named after Werner Haas.
Statistics
Title
- 250 cc World Champion on NSU Rennmax R22
- German 125 cc champion on NSU
- German 250 cc champion on NSU