Hans Stuck (sometimes called Hans Stuck von Villiez) (born December 27, 1900 - died February 9, 1978) was a German auto racing driver. Despite many successes in Grand Prix motor racing for Auto Union in the early 1930s, during the era of the famous "Silver Arrows", he is now mostly known for his domination of hillclimbing, which earned him the nickname "Bergkönig" or "King of the Mountains". December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (362nd in leap years). ... 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... Auto racing (also known as automobile racing, autosport or motorsport) is a sport involving racing automobiles. ... Georges Boillot winning the 1912 French Grand Prix in Dieppe, France Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organized automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. ... 1936 Auto Union Wanderer Auto Union was a joint venture of four German automobile manufacturers, established in 1932 in Zwickau, Saxony, during the Great Depression. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Silver Arrow – 1939 Grossglockner hillclimb Silver Arrows was the name given by the press to Germanys dominant Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union Grand Prix motor racing cars between 1934 and 1939, and also later applied to the Mercedes-Benz Formula One and sports cars in 1954/55. ... Hillclimbing (also known as hill climbing, speed hillclimbing or speed hill climbing) is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course. ...

Pre-WWII career

Stuck's experience with car racing started in 1922 with early morning runs bringing milk from his farm to Munich, shortly after his first marriage. This eventually led to his taking up hill-climbing; he won his first race, at Baden-Baden, in 1923. A few years later, after a year as a privateer for Austro-Daimler, he became a works driver for them in 1927, doing well in hill climbs, and making his first appearance in a circuit race (the German Grand Prix) that year as well. In 1931, Austro-Daimler left racing, and Stuck eventually wound up driving a Mercedes-Benz SSKL in sports car racing, where he continued to excel. 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Munich (German: München, (pronounced listen)German Federal State of Bavaria. ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Austro-Daimler was an Austrian automobile manufactured from 1899 until 1934. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The German Grand Prix (Großer Preis von Deutschland) is an annual automobile race. ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... This page is about the Mercedes-Benz brand of automobiles and trucks from the DaimlerChrysler automobile manufacturer. ... GTP sports cars racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 1991 Sportscar racing is a form of circuit racing, with cars that have two seats and enclosed wheel wells. ...

In 1933, his acquaintance with Adolf Hitler (whom he had met by chance on a hunting trip in 1925) led to his involvement with Ferdinand Porsche and Auto Union in Hitler's plans for German auto racing. With his experience from racing up mountain passes in the Alps in the 1920s, he was virtually unbeatable when he got the new Auto Union car, which was designed by Porsche. Its rear mounted engine provided superior traction compared to conventional front engine designs, so that its (eventually) 500+ horse-power could be transformed into speed even on non-paved roads. In circuit racing, the new car was very hard to master, though, due to the swing axle rear suspension design initially adopted by Porsche (relatively advanced for its day, it is now utterly obsolete because of its many problems). 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 and Führer (Leader) of Germany from 1934 until his death. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Ferdinand Porsche Ferdinand Porsche (September 3, 1875 – January 30, 1951) was an Austrian automotive engineer. ... The West face of the Petit Dru above the Chamonix valley near the Mer de Glace. ... The 1920s was a decade sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... 1936 Auto Union Wanderer Auto Union was a joint venture of four German automobile manufacturers, established in 1932 in Zwickau, Saxony, during the Great Depression. ... The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... A swing axle suspension is a simple type of independent suspension used in automobiles. ... The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ...

His career with Auto Union was quite successful. In 1934, he won the German, Swiss and Czech Grand Prix races (as well as finishing second in the Italian and Eifel Grands Prix). There was no European Championship for the circuit races that year, or he would have won it. Wins in a number of hill-climb races brought him European Mountain Champion, the first of three he would eventually collect. 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Czechoslovakian Grand Prix was an automobile race. ... European Championship (auto racing) - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

In 1935, he won the Italian Grand Prix (along with second at the German Grand Prix; he also won his usual collection of hill-climb wins, again taking the European Mountain Championship. 1936 was leaner; he placed second in the Tripoli and German Grands Prix, finishing second in the competition for the European Championship. After Stuck missed a number of hill-climbs because of injuries suffered in accidents, that year the European Mountain Championship fell to his famous team-mate, Bernd Rosemeyer. 1937 was equally lean, bringing only second places in the Rio de Janiero and Belgian Grands Prix. 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Tripoli Grand Prix in Libya was first held in 1925 and ended in 1940 following the onset of World War II. Part of the Grand Prix circuit, the race was held on a 71. ... Bernd Rosemeyer born October 14, 1909 in Lingen, Lower Saxony, Germany – died January 27, 1938 on the Frankfurt/Darmstadt Autobahn. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

1938 opened poorly; Stuck was either fired from, or quit, the Auto Union team (accounts from the two sides differ). After a series of injuries to other team drivers, as well as pressure from the German government (again, accounts differ as to what combination of factors was the cause), he was re-hired, and proved himself by winning a third European Mountain Championship, his last major pre-war success. 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Post-WWII career

After the war, although Germans were banned from racing until 1950, Stuck obtained Austrian citizenship and immediately continued racing. A link with Alex von Falkenhausen led to Stuck driving for his team in Formula Two racing, although with little success. 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Alex von Falkenhausen Motorenbau (AFM) was a Formula One constructor from 1952 to 1953. ... Formula Two was a type of formula racing. ...

He drove a Porsche Spyder in 1953, also with no success. A liaison with BMW, starting in 1957, was more fruitful, although his first hill-climbs for them (in a Type 507) were not. A switch to their tiny BMW 700 RS did the trick, and at age 60, he became German Hillclimb Champion for the last time. He decided to retire on a high note, and thereupon closed his professional driving career. Porsche 550 Spyder Porsche 550 RS Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Porsche 550 Spyder The Porsche 550 was a sports car automobile produced by Porsche during the 1950s. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1953 calendar). ... BMW AG (an abbreviation of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, or in English, Bavarian Motor Works), is a German company and manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The BMW 507 is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful cars ever produced. ... The BMW 700 was a small rear-engined car produced by BMW from 1959 to 1965, based on the BMW 600 (which was based on the Isetta). ...

As an instructor on the Nürburgring, he taught his son Hans Joachim the secrets of this challenging circuit. The Nürburgring (alternative spelling: Nuerburgring), known as simply the Ring by enthusiasts, is the name of a famous road racing circuit for autos or motorcycles in Germany, of which there are several configurations. ...

Personal life

Stuck was born in Warsaw, although there is some uncertainty about his birth year, which some claimed to have been 1890 or 1895. Although his parents were of Swiss ancestry, they had moved to Germany by the time Stuck was born, and he grew up there. Warsaw (Polish: , (?), in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

He was called up for military service in World War I in 1917. In 1918, his older brother Walter was killed, along with Walter's commanding officer; as a result, Stuck met the commander's sister, Ellen Hahndorff, and they were married in 1922. After several years, Stuck's involvement in the fast life off the track as well as on caused them to split up and divorce. Combatants Allies: Serbia, Russia, France, Romania, Belgium, British Empire, United States, Italy, and others Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead:5 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:8 million Military dead:4 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:7 million The First World... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

In 1931, he met Paula von Reznicek, a famous tennis player; they were married in 1932. The fact that she had a Jewish grandfather caused Stuck some problems with the rise of the Nazis, but his personal relationship with Hitler saved him from serious trouble. 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... The term National Socialism has been used in self-description by a number of different political groups and ideologies, some of which have no connection with the Nazis; see National socialism (disambiguation). ...

In 1939, he met Christa Thielmann, at that point engaged to Paula's youngest brother. Stuck and Paula divorced in 1948, and he married Christa that year. Their son, Hans Joachim, was born in 1951. 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ...

Racing results

Complete Formula Two results

Season Summary Points were given to top 5 finishers (8, 6, 4, 3, 2). ... Alex von Falkenhausen Motorenbau (AFM) was a Formula One constructor from 1952 to 1953. ... The 1952 Swiss Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on May 18, 1952 at Bremgarten Circuit. ... The 1952 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on September 7, 1952 at Monza. ... Scuderia Ferrari is the common name for the Gestione Sportiva, the division of the Ferrari automobile company concerned with racing. ... Season Summary Points were given to top 5 finishers (8, 6, 4, 3, 2). ... Alex von Falkenhausen Motorenbau (AFM) was a Formula One constructor from 1952 to 1953. ... Results from the 1953 Formula One German Grand Prix held at Nürburgring on August 2, 1953 Classification Notes Pole position: Alberto Ascari - 959. ... Results from the 1953 Formula One Italian Grand Prix held at Monza on September 13, 1953 Classification Notes Pole position: Alberto Ascari - 202. ... Alex von Falkenhausen Motorenbau (AFM) was a Formula One constructor from 1952 to 1953. ...

Further reading

• Chris Nixon, Racing the Silver Arrows: Mercedes-Benz versus Auto Union 1934-1939 (Osprey, London, 1986) pp. 30-37, 164-168

External links

• Die Silberpfeile - Hans Stuck
• From Austria to Auto-Union and back

Bibliography

• Hans Stuck and E. G. Burggaller (editors), Motoring Sport (G.T. Foulis, London, 1935) Although this is a collection of items by various writers, it does contain a number of item by Stuck