European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 21, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Engines snarling a pack of big trucks Powers through a turn on the curb urging in West Germany. The no. 24 truck with left hand drive leads in the first turn. Story and photos by Randy Barnett motor sports editor we have Well Over 100,000 spectators Here this weekend for the truck grand prix and that s More than Bockenheim will have for the German grand prix next sunday said a Gleeful curb urging official As he watched a sea of Cowboy Clad fans of truck racing pour into the grandstands. He had Good reason to be Happy. The crowds were tremendous and the festival starring the Kings of the Road was obviously a huge Success. Even the Cool Damp weather had not spoiled things. Although truck racing is a relatively new motor sports concept in Europe the West German round in the european truck racing championship already ranks As a major event on the country s racing Calendar. The curb urging which no longer hosts the formula one German grand prix that race is now a Bockenheim exclusive counts on truck racing to fill the formula one void and the big trucks do. The atmosphere certainly has nothing to do with formula one grand prix racing. That s where the Jet setters hang out. Most fans of truck racing Wear Cowboy and cowgirl costumes Western hats fringed jackets and pointy toed boots. They flock to the country and Western music pavilions that feature such singers As Rattlesnake Annie and they stand in line to go Riding on a mechanical Bull. It s a different audience from the one observed at any other motor sports event in the world. Last weekend s race was the third truck grand prix a thick Cloud of diesel smoke fills the air As two racers Battle for position in the truck grand prix. 12 stripes Magazine july 21, 1988 Western clothes and Confederate flags Are the order of the Day at the truck races. Held in Germany. Each time the Spectator f  his gone Well Over the 100,000 Mark. And what about the racing simply put it is spectacular a Smoky noisy sight that any racing fan even if he hates trucks should Sec once. To witness a big Field of 1,000-horsepower trucks charging and Power sliding around a twisting Road c circuit at speeds up to 100 Miles an hour is an experience not to be forgotten. Truck racing started on High Speed Oval tracks in America. The dutch introduced it to Europe six years ago and now it s a big attraction in eight european nations. The German truck grand prix is one of 10 in the european championship the others Are in England Hungary Austria France Sweden Belgium and . England which dominates the sport hosts three of the 10 european championship rounds. The emblems on the racing trucks include Ford cargo and Ford Louisville Renault Volvo m.a.n., Raba , Peraso Scania Bedford Leyland erf Ivreco Scammell and Mercedes Benz to name a few. For racing purposes there Are three classes set up by diesel engine capacity class a up to 11,950 c class a up to 14,100 cd and class cup to 18,500 cd. The horsepower ranges from 350 in class a to More than 1,000 in class c. About 25 percent of the Drivers Are professionals racing in All of the championships and making their living at it. The others Are amateurs who race Only on occasion. Finding time to practice is the main problem Tor the Amateur truck racers. Many Are genuine Long distance truckers and some own their own trucking companies and the race participation gives their firms added exposure. Many other truck racers have never driven big rigs for pay on Europe s highways but come from the Field of Auto racing and rallying. Among such Drivers Are slim Borgund of Sweden who drove two seasons for the Tyrrell team in formula one grand prix racing Andy Dawson of England a former British rally Champion will Green of England a top sports car Driver and Hans Heyer of Germany twice the German racing Champion. The trucks Are surprisingly easy to drive said Dawson and you must slide them around just As you would a rally car. You encounter the same driving problems As you do in rallying and by that i mean putting the truck in the right position and controlling the slide. It s a lot of fun really and i m not Here for the Money. I m just Here for the Beer. This is my first race in two years although i raced the trucks regularly before he added. I have a garage business in England and racing these trucks is Good publicity for it. Here i m driving a Scammell. It has about 750  Dawson who finished sixth despite major problems with his vehicle s brakes said the top Speed for the trucks is set by the Rule Book at 100 Miles an hour and that an engine governor is used to keep speeds from Topping that Mark. Still he said on the one straight Section where most of the overtaking is done i was pushing right on the 100 limit. And i was overtaken More than once. Makes one wonder a bit about the  when a Driver loses it in a big Way As englishman Mike Johnson did in his big Ford destruction follows although not usually to the truck. Coming out of the first left hand turn Johnson lost control. The truck shot off the Road onto the grass and into the Guardrail. The Guardrail which would Stop a Normal racing car fell like a strip of cardboard. A Cement signal station House behind the rail was pushed off its foundation and severely damaged. The truck was returned to the paddocks but was not damaged to any great degree. A Short time later it was being prepared for its next race. Along with the racing spectacle itself the truck grand prix is providing a showcase for the european truck Industry. Firms like Daimler Benz Goodyear Ford Pirelli Volvo and Many others including trucker clothing shops feature huge special exhibitions it the curb urging grounds. Like the grandstands the exhibition tents were last weekend jammed. Long distance trucker Maga Ines a also a part of the scene and they of course support truck racing to the Hilt. With its great Success throughout Europe truck racing has become a big Industry since its Start in the Netherlands in 1982. It promises to grow even More. Five races remain on the 1988 european championship Calendar Silverstone near Northampton England aug. 13-14 Mantrop Park ,.r link Oping Sweden aug. 27-28 zolder near \ Hassel Belgium sept. 17-18 Jarama near Madrid Spain oct. 8-9 and Donington near Derby England nov. 5-6. July 21, 1988 stripes Magazine 13