European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 24, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday july 24, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13 Sis photo by Randy Bam diesel smoke makes ii difficult for driven following the leading Ley land in he opening Lap of a truck race on Germany s new nuer Burgering. Kings of the Road at High Speed tracks truck racing catches on in Europe the americans started it the dutch introduced it to Europe four years ago and now it s a big attraction i seven european nations. This big attraction is truck grand prix racing. On Germany s nuer Burgering Las weekend the first Ever truck races held there Drew More than 90,000 spectators the largest crowd the new circuit has enjoyed since last year s German grand prix for formula one cars. But the atmosphere certainly has nothing to do with formula one racing. The truck fans Wear Cowboy costume Sand fringed leather jackets flock to the country and Western music Pavilion Sand stand in line to go mechanical Bull Riding. The paddocks at the nuer Burgering Fea tured huge Rucks with panoramic paintings of the american West on the sides of the trailers most of the fans stopping to have their pictures taken i front on these metallic paint monsters. To bring order within this relatively new division of motor sport the euro Pean truck race organization Etro has been formed and this group makes the rules and technical regulations. Many of the race truck Drivers Are genuine Long distance truckers. Some own their own trucking firms or at Leas their families do and he races give their firms added exposure. Many other truck racers have never driven big rigs for pay on Europe s highways but come fro the held of Auto racing and rallying. But they Are not name Drivers except inthe truck racing Field. Where Money is concerned the sport has not yet reached the Point where it pays a Driver to go racing full time but that Day May not be far off especially with the crowds that the races have Bee drawing throughout Europe this season. All Drivers by the Way must Wear Hel mets and fire proof cover alls and use Roll cages and fire extinguishers. The majority of the Drivers come from England with others from Holland swe Den France and Italy and a few fro Germany Switzerland and Denmark. Racing is divided into three classes for trucks up to 300hp up to 360hp and up to 4sohp. The trucks include Dodge,m.a.n., Volvo Renault Leyland Scania Ford cargo Bedford Mack Daf White Ivreco erf Peter bilt Unic and Daimler Benz. Only the cab or tractor unit races and at the extremely fast Silverstone Cir Cuit in England the speeds have topped the 125-Mph Mark. For 1986, however regulations allow trucks Only to reach the100-Mph Mark in High gear and the officials employ scientific Means of deter mining that limit during truck inspections. The size of the trucks makes the racing impressive but passing is extremely difficult. Germany s Hans Cyer who has raced every Type of car in International Competition finished second at Theuner Burgering in the class up to 300hp, and said afterwards it s great fun but i really has t much to do with motor Rac ing. Cyer is no stranger to trucks hav ing driven one and placing Well in this year s Paris Dakar rally. The main attraction for truck grand prix racing is the fun it offers and if you Don t mind being blinded by disc fumes now and then from the trucks 14 liter Turbo diesel engines it s Well Wortha look. Four european grand prix rounds re main in the 1986 championship season. These Are the italian truck grand Privat Misano near Rimini on aug. 2-3 the British truck up at Silverstone on aug.16-17 the swedish truck up at Man Torp Park near link Oping on aug. Bosi and the danish truck up at the Jyl lands ring near silk Eborg. Randy Barnetts a photo by Randy Bamat Tat the truck grand prix Cowboy hats Are de