November 19, 1938
Lothar Motschenbacher
(Photo; myf5000.com)
Born in Cologne, Germany.
After coming to the United States in 1956, Lothar worked as a Mercedes-Benz mechanic, eventually establishing his own shop in Southern California. He began racing in 1962 and between ‘63 and ‘64 he had 32 wins, 13 of them consecutive, in a Lotus 22 Formula junior. From there, he raced a 427 Cobra and a King Cobra before joining the CanAm series in its inaugural year, 1966.
Motchenbacher was best known for his racing in the SCCA Can-Am series in the lates sixties and early seventies against such famed drivers as F1 world champions Dennis Hulme, Jackie Stewart and Mario Andretti as well as Mark Donohue, Dan Gurney, Peter Revson, Jo Siffert, Chris Amon, Bob Bondurant and more. Motschenbacher was one of the fastest private entrants, usually driving the previous year's McLaren chassis but often ran with the factory teams, such as when he qualified second at Mid Ohio in 1971. His career ended early due to injury.
Motchenbacher is in the SCCA record book, second only to Horst Kroll in the most Can-Am series starts.
Born in Cologne, Germany.
After coming to the United States in 1956, Lothar worked as a Mercedes-Benz mechanic, eventually establishing his own shop in Southern California. He began racing in 1962 and between ‘63 and ‘64 he had 32 wins, 13 of them consecutive, in a Lotus 22 Formula junior. From there, he raced a 427 Cobra and a King Cobra before joining the CanAm series in its inaugural year, 1966.
Motchenbacher was best known for his racing in the SCCA Can-Am series in the lates sixties and early seventies against such famed drivers as F1 world champions Dennis Hulme, Jackie Stewart and Mario Andretti as well as Mark Donohue, Dan Gurney, Peter Revson, Jo Siffert, Chris Amon, Bob Bondurant and more. Motschenbacher was one of the fastest private entrants, usually driving the previous year's McLaren chassis but often ran with the factory teams, such as when he qualified second at Mid Ohio in 1971. His career ended early due to injury.
Motchenbacher is in the SCCA record book, second only to Horst Kroll in the most Can-Am series starts.
(Photo: jimculp@live.com / ProRallyPix via photopin cc)
Lothar Motschenbacher - McLaren Chevy (1967)
Nice guy.
ReplyDeleteI always cheered for Lothar! I was there in 1971 at Mid Ohio when he sat on the front row.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite cousin, a father figure to me, died while on his way to report to work for Lothar as an F1 mechanic. A semi driver fell asleep at the wheel while high on amphetamines. A very great loss...still very hard to reconcile.
ReplyDeleteGood will to all, I would hope to reach Lothar.
David