Helmut Krackowizer and his first race win in 1947
Already in 1938, at the age of 16, my father rode his first motorcycle – an NSU 250 OSL. Later that same year he acquired a 1935 Norton “International” 500. With a Puch 250 S4 he took part in his first competition in spring 1939: “Around the Dachstein mountain range”. Then came the Second World War.
First race on 6 October 1946 in Salzburg‑Nonntal
My father’s first post‑war race was the first road race in Salzburg‑Nonntal on 6 October 1946, riding his 250 cm³ Rudge. Despite pouring rain, more than 7,000 spectators attended. Each class had two heats; my father finished third in the second heat of the 250 cm³ class, behind the Viennese riders Rott (JAP) and Beranek (DKW).
But the race was almost cancelled.
How the race took place after all
On the Friday before the event, several eager participants trained loudly and without permission on the
Nonntaler main road.
U.S. General Arnold, whose residence (Villa Wartberg) was located near the circuit, felt disturbed by the
noise and sent a military patrol to stop all preparations.
Only the frantic efforts of the organisers saved the race, which finally took place on Sunday in the
typical Salzburg drizzle – the famous “Salzburger Schnürlregen”.
The Race
Despite steady rain, around 7,000 spectators gathered. Helmut Volzwinkler (Salzburg) won the 350 cm³ class on an NSU 350. The Salzburg riders Thürriedl, Strobl and Fischer achieved good positions. The 350 cm³ race became a duel between Leo Fassl (Vienna) and F. J. Binder, which Fassl won with the fastest lap of 1:17.4 (91.6 km/h average). Third place went to Salzburg’s Pepi Jung. Toni Magnus and Willi Koch, also from Salzburg, had to retire.
My father, riding his world‑record Rudge from England, finished third in the second heat of the 250 cm³ class. Sepp Hofmann won the 500 cm³ class on a BMW.
His first win in 1947 in Salzburg
In spring 1947, the first speedway race in Salzburg – organised by the newly founded SAMTC – attracted 20,000 spectators to the horse‑racing track in Salzburg‑Aigen. Encouraged by this success, the first motorway road race in Salzburg took place on 6 July 1947, again organised by the SAMTC. In 1958 this event evolved into the “Grand Prix of Austria”, later held on the motorway section at Salzburg‑Grödig and eventually on the Salzburg‑Ring.
The win in the 250 cm³ junior class was a clear success for Mr. Krackowizer of Vöcklabruck (Upper Austria), riding his Rudge. He finished in 44:32.8 minutes, followed by Fritz Walcher (Imperial) in 46:43.4 and Richard Kwitt (Puch) in the same time.
The race covered 15 laps, corresponding to 63 kilometres (one lap: 4.2 km). Even in the senior race my father led for three laps before retiring due to a defect.
Thus, 6 July 1947 became the day of his first victory – the first of many. From his notes I can still gather details about the circuit: “...one straight of about 1,400 m, 2 × 3 hairpin corners, 4 fast flat curves, 4 slow flat curves... tyre pressure front 1.40, rear 1.75...”
By the way, the fastest lap of the day was set by F. J. Binder (Salzburg) on a Velocette KTT MK VIII 350: 2:25.4 minutes, corresponding to an average of 126 km/h. He had received this Velocette only a few days earlier from Berlin – then in the Russian zone – under adventurous circumstances. My father disassembled the motorcycle, packed it into boxes and brought it to Salzburg over several months. But that is another story!