Timmelsjoch Hillclimb race in 1962 and 1963

The young road transformed into a racetrack

Each year, the majestic Timmelsjoch takes centre stage in a spectacular event: the Oetztal Valley Cycling Marathon sees around 4,000 cyclists speeding down the mountain. However, back in the 1960s, the Timmelsjoch pass was already a popular venue for daring mountain races featuring motorcycles and touring cars. The "Timmelsjoch Hillclimb" was held in 1962 and 1963, just three years after the Austrian section of the High Alpine Road had been completed.
At that time, crossing over the pass, which in Italy is known as "Passo del Rombo" (the roaring mountain pass), was not yet possible. It wasn't until 1968 that the Italian section of the road was finally completed.

 

Motorsport before the era of professionalization 

Race cars of that time had to be financed by the drivers themselves, thus, they often had to rely on financial support provided by sponsors. Consequently, not only driving skills were crucial in order to participate in the race, but the competitors also needed the financial means to afford the vehicles. Despite these challenges, about one hundred participants competed against each other, including both international stars and numerous local Tyrolean talents. Among them there were rising stars who were expected to make a mark in important races in the years to come.

For instance, the 20-year-old Jochen Rindt, also joined the participants steering an Alfa Romeo Giulia TI. Three years later, Rindt already entered the world of Formula 1.


Jochen Rindt in his Alfa Romeo Giulia TI

Gunther Philipp, a beloved actor who enjoyed enthusiastic support from the crowd, was not only a familiar face on screen but also an eager race car driver. Just a few years earlier, he had founded his own racing team, with Jochen Rindt being among its members. To avoid potential conflicts with his film company, Gunter Philipp took part in the Timmelsjoch races incognito. Initially, he entered as "Carlo Brioni" with his Ferrari 250 GT, and in the following year as "Giulio Pavesi" with his Ferrari 250 GTO.

One of the local heroes was Karl Wendlinger from Kufstein, steering a Fiat 1500. At that time, Wendlinger participated in numerous races held in the Tyrol. In 1964, for example, he contested the "Grand Prix of Tyrol" as a highlight of the International Car Race at Innsbruck Airport. Interestingly, Wendlinger's son would become a Formula 1 driver himself in the future.

Another local star of the Oetztal Valley was Alban Scheiber, who participated in the first race by taking the wheel of a Porsche 356 Carrera GS. In the following year, he drove a Lotus 23, reaching impressive speeds of up to 218 kilometres per hour. Notably, both his father and grandfather played significant roles in the construction of the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road.

Alban Scheiber 1963 in his Lotus 23
 

A motorsport spectacle surrounded by a majestic glacier scenery

It goes without saying that the Hillclimb event attracted a large number of motorsport enthusiasts and spectators to the Timmelsjoch. The brilliant autumn weather provided the perfect backdrop for the audience to revel in the stunning scenery of the Oetztal Glacier. In the middle of rocks and trees, fans lined up the track, which had been carefully secured and padded with straw bales and sandbags.

The cheerfull crowd is waiting for the races  in the sunshine.
 

Short racetrack

In the first race, the track was kept relatively short for safety considerations, as the organizers were concerned about the participants reaching speeds of up to 150 km/h or even higher before navigating a tight double curve adjacent to steep slopes. However, the decision to end the race at Angererboden faced vehement criticism, prompting a route alteration the following year. The starting point was moved to Zwieselstein, which effectively quadrupled the track's length. This adjustment provided a much more vivid showcase of the racers' driving skills and the capabilities of the race cars. Even casual spectators could easily see which drivers and vehicles were delivering exceptional performances. Notably, Grand Prix driver Hans Herrmann established a new record of 5:51.8 minutes during the 1963 race in the Abarth Sport.

 

Memories - 60 Years Later

However, the most fascinating question, at least from today's perspective, remains unanswered: Who were the winners of these races? It seems that this was secondary at the time. Numerous photos of drivers, cars, and even the enthusiastic audience have been preserved. For those interested, the image database of the Vienna Museum of Technology is highly recommended. In the Archive of Technological History, countless pictures taken by motorsport photographer Franz Jelinek, who also captured the Timmelsjoch Hillclimb races, can be found.

All in good mod - race drivers as well as police men.
 

The winners of the races 

Finally, to the winners of that time: In the first race held in 1962, Mr. Scheiber from Oetztal proudly secured the second place in his class, while the Tyrolean favourite Franz Albert, who participated in a Porsche RSK, finished third in the overall standings. The top two places were taken by two Swiss drivers: Hermann Müller ahead of the European Champion Heini Walter, both were also driving a Porsche RSK.

The winner of the 1963 race was Hans Herrmann – an unsurprising and expected performance. Besides having a strong car, Herrmann had already gained major experience from competing in more demanding races in the past. Alban Scheiber won in his class and would have been second in the overall standings. Gunther Philipp and Peter Nöcker were also triumphant in their respective classes, with the latter having won the Nürburgring race a few days earlier.

Links: 
Motorsport in Austria
Database of the Vienna Museum of Technology