Wilhelm Herz
Wilhelm Herz ( born January 18, 1912 in Lampert 's home; † 5 January 1998) was a German motorcycle racer and world record holder.
Career
Wilhelm Herz started his career in 1932 on a 498 - cc DKW and won the opening race of the card driver class of the Hockenheimring the first place. 1936, one heart occasionally a factory of Oskar DKW Steinbach available and 1937 Heart of August Prüssing was engaged for the works racing team of DKW. 1938, DKW no 500 cc factory team. Therefore Heart earned both his work machine and went in 1938 as a private driver at the start and was in this class, German masters of privateers. In 1939 he joined NSU and participated in national and international competitions, among others at the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man. In 1948, he was on NSU German road champion in the 350 cc class.
His international reputation gained Wilhelm Herz by numerous world records on two and four wheels. The outstanding records were the absolute motorcycle world records from 1951 on the motorway Munich -Ingolstadt and from 1956 on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA, in each case at NSU. Here he was the first motorcycle racer, which reached speeds of more than 200 mp / h and 300 km / h with his vehicle.
From 1954 to 1992 Wilhelm Herz was managing director of the Hockenheimring and led it through the Grand Prix status for Motorcycles and Formula 1 for the international significance. Heart was awarded for his services to motorsport in 1952 by Federal President Theodor Heuss with the Silver Laurel Leaf; In 1972 he was awarded by the Federal President Gustav Heinemann, the Federal Cross of Merit 1st class. The city Lampert home awarded him an honorary citizen in 1956, the town of Hockenheim in 1969 honored heart of his services to the Hockenheimring with the Golden Medal of Merit and both, as well as the city of Lampertheim named a street after him. Furthermore him the Supreme National Sports Commission for automobile racing (ONS ) in 1972 with the Golden Badge of Honour distinguished. In the same year he was the German Motorsport Association (DMV ) awarded honorary membership.
The 50th anniversary of the world record of 1956 committed Heinz heart in 2006 with a replica of the Dolphin III on the Bonneville Salt Flats during BUB Speed Trials with demonstration runs.
To mark the 100th birthday of Wilhelm heart 18 January 2012 shows the Technik Museum Speyer by initiative of his son, Heinz heart, a special exhibition entitled " WILHELM HEART, the world record holder. A life in motorsport. "