Even my very first event, an endurance race at Snetterton in October 1993, was fortunately supported by Chris Schirle because I was a bloody beginner and was in need of a lot of advise. Behind the steering wheel sat the great Gerry Marshall, who should start the race.
Just to tell not only the half story: because of my poor practice session result – this was mixed up with Gerrys brilliant figures and brought us at least in a middle field position for the start. Chris always said „If you are in the sh.., you´ll get the sh..!“ (… seems to be a standard mantra for motorsport people!). Today it sounds like a self fulfilling prophecy. Indeed Gerry had a collision with a Marcos approxm. 50m after the start and the car ends up in the wall. So my first race finished with very mixed feelings for me. Gerry was very concerned and he apologized several times that it happens (also a week later in a very kind letter) and he tried to explain to me how it has come to the collision. That all happens on my birthday-weekend when I actually started a new decade in my life with historic motorsport.
The people on the third photo are from left to right hand: Ron/DG Motorsport, Gerry, Detlef, Bettina and me, Chris and Julian/DGMotorsport and my daughter Anna.
GTM race prestart at Zandvoort, July 1994, my former Griffith Series 200 #2005091 and Lothar Hachtkempers TVR Grantura Mk3 #9/763. In front Heinz Scheurens Diva GT and Leo Aumüllers Abarth Simca 2000 Coupé.
Here is another photo from Zandvoort circuit in 1995, showing the team with friends around Serge van Havres and my Griffith supported by Chris Schirle/DG Motorsport. Thanks to the generous hospitality of the nevertheless very successful Serge van Havre the following years we had many unforgettable events together as a team, competing in the Europaen FIA Championship for historic GTs and other series.
Bildquelle: Arnfried Weiss
Text: Arnfried Weiss