Autobahn spider Dresden

**Autobahn** *spider* **Dresden**
*Hellerauer spider*
	Dresden , Germany
Route type:	temporary racetrack
Owner:	public
Opening:	1951
Decommissioned:	1971
shortened version
	1957-1971
	Route data
Important ; events:	GDR championship
Route length:	5.3 km (3.29 mi )
	Short haul
	1955
	Route data
Route length:	3.2 km (1.99 mi )
	Original route
	1951-1954
	Route data
Route length:	6.443 km (4 mi )

51.136184 13.752201Coordinates: 51 ° 8 '10.3 " N , 13 ° 45' 7.9" E

The motorway spider in Dresden - Hellerau was an international motorcycle and car racing track in the area of the Dresden-North motorway triangle ( A 4 / A 13 ) from 1951 to 1971 . The northern part of the "Hellerauer Spider" belongs to Volkersdorf .

Special feature of the route

With three switchbacks , the route was a bit unusual, but adapted to the conditions of a motorway triangle. Other racing courses, such as the Bautzener Autobahnring using the Bautzen-West junction, had two switchbacks. Otherwise, the circuits (circuits) dominated the racetracks . That did not mean, however, that the racetrack planners no longer provided for switchbacks, but when the Hockenheimring was renovated and shortened in 2002, a switchback was built in again.

The low speed of the vehicles in the hairpin bends gave the viewer a more accurate picture of the racing vehicles and drivers. In addition, the different braking maneuvers of the drivers before the switchbacks were very informative for the visitors.

history

The route with a length of 6.443 km was used for the first time at the GDR championships in 1951. Paul Greifzu won this race in a self-made BMW. Heinz Melkus was able to achieve several victories on the Autobahn spider. From 1957 the course was changed slightly and from then on it was 5.3 km. The races of 1968 were canceled because the Warsaw Pact countries invaded the Czechoslovakia . The last race took place in 1971.

Original route
1951–1954
Short haul
1955
shortened route
1957–1971

Race (selection)

run	date	class	winner	model
I. Highway spider	June 17, 1951	Formula 2	Paul Greifzu	BMW (self-made)
II. Highway spider	July 27, 1952	Motorcycle (250 cm³)	Ewald Kluge	DKW
III. Highway spider	July 26, 1953	Formula 2	Edgar Barth	EMW 52/53 - BMW
IV. Highway spider	June 13, 1954	Formula 2	Rudolf Krause	BMW-Greifzu 51/54
	June 13, 1954	Formula 3	Theo Helfrich	Cooper T31 Norton
V. Highway spider	May 22, 1955	Formula 3	Heinz Melkus	Melkus Post JAP
VI. Highway spider	September 22, 1957	Formula 3	Lex Beels	Cooper T42 Norton
VII. Highway spider	September 21, 1958	Formula 3	Jos Saveniers	Cooper T42 Norton
VIII. Highway spider	5th July 1959	Formula Junior	Heinz Melkus	Melkus 59 Wartburg
	5th July 1959	Formula 3	Kurt Ahrens jun.	Cooper T42 Norton
IX. Highway spider	September 18, 1960	Formula Junior	Kurt Ahrens jun.	Cooper T52 Fiat
X. Highway spider	September 10, 1961	Formula Junior	Kurt Ahrens sen.	Lotus 20 Ford
XI. Highway spider	September 23, 1962	Formula Junior	Max Byczkowski	Melkus 62 Wartburg
XII. Motorway Spider Race	September 22, 1963	Formula Junior	John Peterson	Brabham BT6 Ford
	September 29, 1963	Motorcycle (125 cm³)	Helga Steudel	MZ RE 125
XIII. Motorway Spider Race	20th September 1964	Formula 3	Max Byczkowski	Melkus 64 Wartburg
XIV. Motorway Spider Race	September 12, 1965	Formula 3	Christian Pfeiffer	SEG II Wartburg
XV. Motorway Spider Race	September 18, 1966	Formula 3	Dieter Bohnhorst	Brabham BT16 Ford
XVI. Motorway Spider Race	September 10, 1967	Formula 3	Heinz Melkus	Melkus 64 Wartburg
XVII. Motorway Spider Race	September 14, 1969	Formula 3	Heinz Melkus	Melkus 64 Wartburg
XVIII. Motorway Spider Race	September 6, 1970	Formula 3	Freddy Kottulinsky	Lotus-Ford 59
XIX. Motorway Spider Race	4th September 1971	Formula 3	Freddy Kottulinsky	Lotus 69 - BMW / Schnitzer

Web links

photos

1971-09 Dresden motorway spider, motorcycle racing
1970-09 Dresden motorway spider, motorcycle racing

Individual evidence

[1] Course of the motorway spider Dresden-Hellerau

[2] I Autobahn spider Dresden 1951

[3] XIX Int. Autobahn spider race Dresden 1971