On this day, May 18, 1947. Motorcycle history.
Today in motorcycle history, May 18, 1947, the Norisring Circuit in Nuremberg, Germany, on the former Nazi Party rally grounds, holds it's inaugural races.
If there were awards for the most surreal place to hold a race, the Norisring in Nürnberg (Nuremburg) in southeast Germany would surely be a nominee.
The track itself winds its way around around the Steintribune, an imposing concrete edifice which was originally created as a podium where Hitler would make many of his infamous Nuremberg speeches, rallying support for his cause. It was tanks and troops, not cars and motorcycles, which were more familiar sights doing lap during the 1930's.
The former site of the Nazi Party rally grounds, also of the NSDAP party conventions, with it's lavish halls, adjoining parks and military parade grounds. Plans for the world's largest arena were never completed, though construction of a 50,000 seat Congress Hall had begun it remained unfinished by the start of the war. The area was damaged by Allied bombing, but a good portion around the Steintribune remained serviceable and soon became a focus for the city's motorcycle manufacturing.
With the Steintribune transformed into a 25,000 seat grandstand and US occupying forces providing fuel for racing, 60,000 spectators turned out to witness their first post-war motorcycle race. Car racing would be held the following year, but it would be bikes which would dominate the early decade of racing at Norisring.
During the growing stages a variety of different circuit layouts were tried, including Figure 8's and the use of an underpass. Racing continued until 1958 when the German factory teams withdrew from racing leading to a two-year pause. Racing resumed on a shorter course in 1960, not happy with it the track would be extended in 1961, finally setting on its current variant in 1972. Short and fast, with wide straights leading to narrow, tight hairpins. Oh, yeah!
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