54th international six-day trip

The 54th international six-day race was the team world championship in enduro sport and took place from 10 to 15 September 1979 in Neunkirchen, Germany, as well as in Siegerland and Westerwald . The Italian national team won the World Trophy for the third time after its last success in 1931. The national team of Czechoslovakia won the silver vase for the seventeenth time.

competition

organization

400 drivers from 19 FIM motorsport associations were registered for the competition . Teams from 17 nations competed for the trophy standings. There were also 17 silver vase, 41 factory and 56 club teams at the start.

FRG, GDR, Austria and Switzerland participated with national teams in the competitions for the World Trophy and the Silver Vase. The FRG also provided 17 club teams, the GDR was not represented. Austria participated with one club team, Switzerland with two.

The total distance of all stages was 1545.2 kilometers.

1 day

Of the 400 registered drivers, 388 started the competition. On the first day of driving, 282 kilometers had to be completed in two identical laps. The weather was sunny and free of precipitation. At special stages, a four-kilometer motocross test had to be driven per lap, and an acceleration test had to be completed.

In the World Trophy, the team of the FRG led before Italy and the GDR. Switzerland was 10th, Austria 13th.

In the silver vase evaluation, the FRG team led the ČSSR team and the GDR team. Switzerland was in 7th place, Austria in 12th place.

2 day

The route on the second day was identical to the previous day. Only the motocross test to be completed twice led over a new, 3.5-kilometer distance. The weather was still sunny and free of rain.

In the World Trophy, as on the day before, the team from Germany led ahead of Italy and the GDR. Switzerland was unchanged in 10th place, Austria improved to 12th place.

As on the day before, the team from the FRG led the team from the ČSSR and the team from the GDR in the silver vase evaluation. Switzerland slipped to 9th place, Austria improved to 11th place.

3rd day

The third stage of the day was also the longest of the event at 313 kilometers. Again there was a motocross test twice.

In the World Trophy, the team of the FRG led ahead of the GDR and the ČSSR. Switzerland slipped to 11th place, Austria was unchanged in 12th place.

In the silver vase evaluation, the FRG team led the ČSSR team and the GDR team. Austria was unchanged in 11th place, Switzerland slipped down to 13th place.

4th day

The route of the fourth day was largely the same as the day before and was slightly shorter. As on the previous day, two motocross tests were integrated again.

In the World Trophy, the Italian team led ahead of the FRG and the GDR. Austria improved to 9th place, Switzerland slipped to 12th place.

In the silver vase evaluation, the GDR team was ahead of the ČSSR team and the Poland team. In the BRD team, Harald Strossenreuther received 720 points. A spark plug on his KTM had torn out, but he was able to replace it in a repair. The team was thus in 5th place. Switzerland improved to 11th place, Austria slid down to 13th place.

5th day

The route on the fifth day was a total of 249 kilometers. The weather was sunny with no precipitation.

In the World Trophy, Italy continued to lead ahead of the FRG and the ČSSR. In the GDR team, Uwe Köthe received 360 points. His throttle cable tore in the first special test, but was able to reach the next checkpoint within the target time after repair. Also in the special stage, Frank Schubert's motorcycle suffered a breakdown , but this did not affect his driving time: despite repairs, he not only set the best time in his class in both special stages, but also all participants. The GDR team was thus in 4th place. Austria lost one place and was now in 10th place, Switzerland was unchanged in 12th place.

In the silver vase evaluation, the GDR team continued to lead ahead of the ČSSR team and the FRG team. Switzerland and Austria were unchanged in 11th and 13th place respectively.

6th day

On the last day of driving, only 91.5 kilometers had to be driven. Light rain showers fell throughout the day. In the final race, the drivers of the classes up to and including 75 cm³ had to complete 12.6 kilometers, the drivers of all other classes 14.7 kilometers in the fastest time.

In the final race, the ČSSR silver vase team was able to take the lead from the GDR.

Of 388 drivers who started on the first day, 269 reached the finish.

Final results

World Trophy

space	team	Points
1.	Italy	343.8
2.	BR Germany	407.2
3.	Czechoslovakia	899.3
4th	German Democratic Republic	1,230
5.	Sweden	1,780.5
6th	United States	1,991.7
7th	Netherlands	3,262.3
8th.	Poland	5,804.1
9.	United Kingdom	8,405.4
10.	Austria	9,795.5
11.	Belgium	61,739.4
12.	Switzerland	108,792.6
13.	Australia	123,078.5
14th	France	155,580.6
15th	Finland	271,328.5
16.	Spain	288,355.2
17th	Canada	304,995.2

Silver vase

space	team	Points
1.	Czechoslovakia	654.5
2.	German Democratic Republic	687.1
3.	BR Germany	1,377.8
4th	Sweden	1,585.2
5.	Poland	1,670.1
6th	United States	2,219.5
7th	Australia	35,849.4
8th.	Italy	48,087.8
9.	Belgium	50,401.5
10.	Finland	65,367.1
11.	Switzerland	67,646.4
12.	Netherlands	94,349.2
13.	Austria	96,557.8
14th	Spain	106,447.4
15th	United Kingdom	123,108.5
16.	France	140,408.9
17th	Canada	158,479.2

Individual evaluation

388 drivers from 18 nations started. 119 drivers were dropped out or disqualified.

Of the 269 starters at the finish, 152 received gold, 76 silver and 41 bronze medals.

The best driver in points in all classes was Frank Schubert from the GDR on an MZ 250.

literature

• Eberhard Pester: By a silk thread . In: Allgemeine Deutscher Motorsport-Verband (Ed.): Illustrated Motorsport . 29th year. Sportverlag Berlin, 1979, ISSN  0442-3054 , p. 220-223 .

Web links

• Speed ​​Track Tales ISDT 1979 - West Germany
• 6daysmemories.com - Neunkirchen / Siegerland Germany
• Intern. 6-day enduro ride Neunkirchen / Siegerland 10.-15. September 1979