Racing in Rijeka area

Motor racing in Kvarner area (bay in which Rijeka is situated) have long tradition that goes as far as beginning of last century

 

Race start at Matulji village close to Rijeka. Racing event was called "Abbazia - Monte Maggiore" (Opatija - Mountain Učka Race), around 1932

 

Yet there are two locations that have special place in that field.

 

Preluk and Grobnik are symbols of past and present. Preluk, by many characteristics unique in the world when auto racing are concerned, can even be compared to Monte Carlo in that line. For four decades Preluk has been a host of numerous competitions, national and international, that have developed from Adriatic Prix.

 

Preluk is located in Kvarner Gulf (Kvarnerski zaljev in Croatian), few km South West of Rijeka.

It hosted international races between 1939 and 1977, and bike races from 1969 to 1977. GT and sports car races were held between 1937 and 1959, Formula Junior in 1960, 1961 and 1963, and Formula 3 between 1964 and 1968. The track closed in 1977 due to increased boycott by motorcycle riders because of driver hazards - so the local auto-club hurriedly built the Rijeka (Grobnik) track to ensure that they could continue to host the Adriatic GP (GP of Yugoslavia).

 

First edition of auto racing Adriatic Prix race was held in 9th July 1939, when this area was temporary in Italy. From the end of Second World War to June 24th 1991 this area was in Yugoslavia, and after 1990 separation of Croatia from Yugoslavia, this is part of Croatia. That's why, in old records this circuit was known like "Circuito di Carnaro" (Kvarner Circuit) or "Circuito di Abbazia" (Opatia Circuit).

But this was not the first race held on this 6000 meter long road course with level difference of 85 meter. Maximum gradient in uphill was 5.1% and downhill 3.6%. There is a record of local small races from 1931.

The track featured many gradients over the course, and these are as follows:-
0- 150m 0.0% (5m)*
150- 900m 3.5% (31.06m)
900-1930m 5.3% (85.46m)
1930-2065m 0.4% (90.00m)
2065-2715m -2.4% (71.40m)
2715-3865m -3.6% (30.00m)
3865-4015m -3.0% (25.50m)
4015-5015m -1.0% (16.00m)
5015-5445m -2.0% (7.00m)
5445-5645m -1.0% (5.00m)
5645-6000m 0.0% (5.00m)
* Meters above the sea level on the end of section

 

The Italians organized a race on Preluk racing track the same day as the French GP 1939, as Mussolini had denied the Italian works teams to start in France.

 

From David Venables book, The Racing Fifteen-hundreds, a history of voiturette racing from 1931 to 1940, and why this first race for Adriatic Prix was held in Preluk:

"Although Mussolini's edict prevented the Italian team being at Rheims (The Coupe de la Commission Sportive), the Maserati team was not deprived of a race that Sunday (9th July 1939) for as a consolation the team went to the North East coast of the Adriatic as far as the coastal holiday resort of Abbazia (Opatija) where the Circuit of Carnaro was being run on a 3.7 mile (6 kilometers) road circuit.

This made a change from the usual Italian short circuits and nine Maseratis appeared. The Works Maserati Team comprised two 4CL's for Gigi Villoresi and Franco Cortese and the 24 valve 6CM for Giovanni Rocco. Rocco's 6CM led Villoresi and Cortese at the start but then fell back with engine problems, leaving Villoresi and Cortese to complete the 93 mile (150 km) course in an easy demonstration. The pace was hard as five cars fell out including those of Paul Pietsch and Barbieri both of whom only lasted for one lap. To Villoresi, so soon after his brother's death (Emilio Villoresi, Monday 20th June while testing a Tipo 158 Alfa Romeo at Monza) that was a courageous act.

The result: 25 laps = 150 km
CIRCUIT OF CARNARO - Abbazia (I), 9 JULY 1939 VOITURETTE

Entry list: Pietsch, Villoresi, Cortese, Baruffi, Rocco, Romano, Barbieri, Plate, Lami, Pagliano, Bonomi.
Best time in practice - Villoresi (2:48.6 128.113 kph).
Fastest lap - Villoresi (130.120 kph, on lap 18)

 

1 L Villoresi Maserati	4 Cortese Maserati
2 Rocco Maserati	3 Pietsch Maserati
10 Barbieri Maserati	6 Romano Maserati
7 Baruffi Maserati	5 E Platé Maserati

Starting grid of CIRCUIT OF CARNARO - 9 JULY 1939 race, and on the picture Luigi Gigi Villoresi on starting grid with his Maserati 4CL

 

Results of this race:

1 L Villoresi (Maserati 4CL 1.5L *) 1:10:51.2

2 Cortese (Maserati 4CL 1.5L *) + 12.2
3 Romano (Maserati 6CM 1.5L) + 7:26.1
4 Rocco (Maserati 6CM 1.5L *) - 1 lap
DNF E Platé (Maserati 6CM 1.5L) ~4 laps mechanical
DNF Baruffi (Maserati 6CM 1.5L) ~3 laps mechanical
DNF Barbieri (Maserati 6CM 1.5L) 1 lap crash
DNF Pietsch (Maserati 6CM 1.5L *2) 1 lap engine

Fastest lap: L Villoresi (Maserati) 2:45.2

* Entered by Officine A Maserati
*2 Entered by Scuderia Torino
*3 Entered by C Lami

 

There are results of others auto races in period from 1950 to 1968. This info is courtesy of Tony Kaye.

1950... <1100cc Veselinovic (HR) Fiat 88.5kph
1950... >1100cc Maleric (SLO or HR) 90.7kph
1951... <1100cc Malagola (I)
1951... >1100cc Koresch (A)
1952... raced, but I have no specific data
1953... some junior formulae (I've seen the photo, but I have no specific data)
1954... <1300cc Otto Mathé (A) Porsche
1954... >1300cc Ernst Vogel (A) Porsche 116.27kph
1955... <1300cc Otto Mathé (A) Porsche
1955... >1300cc Ernst Vogel (A) Porsche no.140
1956... >1300cc Ernst Vogel (A) Porsche no.20
1956... <3000cc Franco Cortese (I) Ferrari no.44 121.4kph
1957... raced, but I have no specific data
1958... <1300cc Sep Liebel (A) Alfa Romeo
1958... <2000cc Ernst Vogel (A) Porsche no.144 131.25 (first time Villoresi's 128.113kph was bettered)
1959... <1300cc Charles Vögele (CH) Lotus no.121 115.4kph
1959... GT class race (raced, but I have no specific data)
1960... Formula Junior Sep Liebele (A) Stanguellini 117.65kph
1960... Sport class race Frazer (Rhodesia)
1961... Formula Junior Mario Zanarotti (I) Stanguellini 124.8kph
1962... raced, but I have no specific data
1963... Formula Junior Kurt Ahrens () Cooper 142.29kph
1964... Formula 3 1st heat Roman Dirschl (D) Lotus, 2nd Heat Hans Byczkowski (DDR) Wartburg
1965... Formula 3 Manfred Mohr (D) Brabham 139.05kph
1966... Formula 3* Patrick Dal Bo (F) Brabham 95.25kph (cancelled after 5 out of scheduled 12 laps due to heavy rain)
1967... Formula 3 David Walker (AUS) Cosworth
1968... Formula 3 Manfred Mohr (D) Tecno 149.169kph

Some of rare pictures from Preluk racing track

 

This is Barry Collerson, one of the drivers, on the 1966 car race:

"Our next meeting, the Adriatic Grand Prix in Yugoslavia, gave me my first experience of racing behind the Iron curtain, The colorful seaside town of Rijeka and Opatija and it is here that the Grand Prix is held, on a natural road circuit which starts on the beachfront and winds up a steep hill with a rock face on one side and a sheer drop to the sea, protected by a stone wall, on the other. Then comes a fast downhill straight, a hairpin, another straight bit followed by a series of downhill S bends and back to the pits on the waterfront. The circuit also boasts an uphill hairpin which is the tightest I have ever seen; during practice I think every driver had to select reverse gear to get round it at one time or another.
The general layout is not unlike Monaco, but it's much faster and longer, being almost four miles per lap.
We were paid our starting money in local currency and, as this money has little value on the exchange rate outside Yugoslavia, we decided to spend as much as possible while we were there. Our starting money, equal to about 45 Pound each, was a small fortune by local standards and we found it difficult to get rid of the local currency - I wish I suffered from this problem more often. We even lived it up by staying in a hotel, which was a change from living, sleeping and eating in the transporter.

Saturday's programme consisted of several motor cycle events plus the two eight-lap qualifying heats for the Grand Prix. In my heat I managed to finish second, with Kurt Keller third, but I was lucky to finish, nursing my car to the chequered flag with 20lbs oil pressure and a run big-end bearing which took its toll on the big-end and con rod. Overnight we patched up the engine with a new set of bearings as a starting money special for the final on Sunday. However, the race became a farce when the heavens opened up just before the start making the already dicey circuit like a skating rink. The promoters wanted to abandon the race and after some argument the cars which had qualified were wheeled out onto the circuit to drive an exploratory lap, after which a vote was taken. The result was a deadlock, half the drivers (including Kurt and myself) voting to race while the remainder claimed it was too dangerous. Eventually a compromise was reached, the race being run over five laps instead of 12. Although run at a snail's pace, several drivers (including me!) still managed to spin on the treacherous surface, the eventual winner being Patrick Dal-Bo in the works entered Pygmee. Kurt, who loves the rain, upheld our team name by finishing third."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long time ago, on September 14, 1969 the first of nine motto Adriatic Grand Prix (Motorcycle GP of Yugoslavia) was held and for the first time the race counted for the world championship. A terrifying track. From one side rocks covered with strews, from other side sea or hundred meter of abyss. Track vas 6000 meter long. Famous racers like Giacomo Aggostini, Wal Donnelly, Kurt Keller, Angel Nieto, Mario Lega and Takazumi Katayama come there to show their courage.
Mario Lega on Morbidly came first, ahead of second placed Takazumi Katayama and 9 Yamaha drivers in 250 ccm class.

 

 

Giacomo Agostini during the race on Preluka racing	Track 1966	Giacomo Agostini

 

Down, far, far away, you can see start-finish strait and pit area or on other side, mountain side covered with straw bales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This lasted till Jun 27 1977 when, long expected and announced, suspension of all Road course motto Grand Prix races was confirmed. This decision was legitimate considering speed and safety of drivers and audience.
From then on, races could be held only on motordrome.

This was last race on this track. FIM-a decided that this track was not safe (no wonder), and racing there was forbidden. The track, when bikes were concerned, had the same reputation as Isle of Man, and was killed off the year after the Grand Prix of Isle of Man.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Takazumi Katayama is still speed record holder on this track, with 161,555 Kmh

 

 

 

 

And I'd like to take this opportunity to mention the riders who lost their lives on Preluk circuit.
Josip Vitanovic (HR) 1951
Billie Nelson (GB) 1974
Urlich Graf (CH) 1977
Giovanni Ziggiotto (I) 1977

 

 

Statistics from 1946 to 1977 - Preluk track

1946: First race after the War that counted for the Championship of the Republic of Croatia

1947: The race counted the first championship of Yugoslavia. Results unknown. All winners are from Zagreb but I don't have any more details.

1950: The race become international under the name of Adriatic Prix (Nagrada Jadrana)

1960: The race become the Adriatic Grand Prix (Velika Nagrada Jadrana)

1961: The 50cc race is part of the 5th race of the European Cup FIM for the 50cc

1969: The Adriatic Grand Prix become part of World FIM championship

1971: Grand Prix was not held due to some bureaucratic problem (changing of the organization)

1972: The Adriatic Grand Prix become the Yugoslavian Grand Prix ( Velika Nagrada Jugoslavije)

1973: Raced after the tragical GP of Nations and the TT, the Yugoslavian GP is also judged dangerous and is hit by boycott of the teams Yamaha, Harley and MV Agusta

1974: Otello Buscherri, winner on Malanca on 125, is disqualified to have used his 7th speed gear. The British Billie Nelson is killed on the race of the 250cc. He crashed his 250 cm3 Yamaha into the crowd injuring several spectators, two of whom gravely. Nelson died in the night in hospital.

1977: The race, which ended in a complete disaster with Urich Graf and the Italian Giovanni Ziggiotto killed and nineteen other riders injuried, was eventually the last held there and the World Championship moved to the circuit of Rijeka. Yugoslavian promoters had received an ultimatum from the International Federation before the race, if they did not improve the safety of the street track, the Grand Prix of Yougoslavia would not be held in the circuit of Opatija anymore. Ulrich Graf (crashed after his Kreidler suffered a rear tyre failure while travelling at a speed of about 130 km/h, on the fifth lap of the 50 cm3 Grand Prix of Yugoslavia. He was sent into the rocks skirting the track and died shortly afterwards in a local hospital. The engine of Zigiotto's Harley Davidson seized during saturday practice for the 250 cm3 class, the Italian was hit by Swedish Per-Edvard Carlsson who was following him. Ziggiotto succumbed to his injuries in a hospital of Rijeka eleven days later, on 29 June 1977; Carlsson received injuries either.

 

 

 

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After 20 minutes drive, north, on sport airfield, in an area known as Grobnik lays the Grobnik field.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Google image of Rijeka - Grobnik racing track

 

Grobnik field started to be a big construction site and in only few spring and summer months of 1978 the race-track was built on this field by strict international rules. Track is builded up in only 15 months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layout of Rijeka - Grobnik racing track

 

 

Last Grand Prix race of world championship for 1978 was scheduled in FIM calendar to take place on September 17 in Grobnik. Many have doubted but it was held indeed! Nevertheless, everyone came, even those that have already had the title. It is registered that the winners of first Grobnik race-track were: Ricardo Tormo (50 ccm, Spain, Bultaco), Angel Nieto (125 ccm, Spain, Minarelli) and double winner Greg Hansford (250 and 350 ccm, Austria, Kawasaki) who had the first overall record on that race track which was 153,110 km/h.

 

Years have gone by and «Grobnik beauty» has not changed, infrastructure update was too slow and it could not keep up the pace with other race-tracks in the world any more. Some great world aces kept coming back to Grobnik year after year. Aces like Lazzarini, Dorfilinger, Nieto, Cadalore, Managa, Lavada, Spencer, Kocinsky, Roberts, Lawson, and Rainey raced on 25 year old asphalt.

 

By 1990, 13 races for world championship took place and the last one on June 17, 1990 was held in Rijeka. Last big international race before brutal aggression on Croatia took place on May 12, 1991 and it was called Opatija Prix.

 

Bur still today, on Grobnik field you will find a wonderful motorcycle track and fantastic grip. I know of no other track which also offers appropriate grip in the rain. You'll only find that in Rijeka! The racing circuit is very smooth to ride. It is just a 20 kilometers to the holiday resort of Opatija. The Grobnik circuit, knows how to welcome you. A gorgeous fast track with a great possibility to experiment different lines. An inviting place with a nice atmosphere, a perfect organization and a delightful hospitality.

 

 

From the year 1978 when it was built until now, the race-track meets strict world standards of auto motto federation (FIA and FIM) and has license for all auto motto races except F1.
Every year more and more race-car drivers, even world-known, visit motordrome Grobnik. Motordrome is used daily for training practices, testing and various events and demonstrations. It is used over 300 days a year. Almost all car producers are present such as Mercedes, Audi, Subaru, Suzuki, Aprilia etc.

 

 

 

Statistics from 1978 to 1990 - Rijeka track

1978: The New Track is build in only 15 months due to the used of the Army and the prisoners, on Grobnik, an sport airfield 10km North of Rijeka. It's now on the Grobnik Track that the race of Yugoslavia GP is held.

1981: Michel Rougerie is killed. He fell in the second lap of the 350 Class race, being in 10th place at the moment. He picked himself up off the ground and, while trying to walk away from the track, his team-mate of team Pernod-Yamaha, Roger Sibille wasn't able to avoid and struck him at full speed. Rougerie was hit at the chest and died instantly.

1983: Rolf Rüttimann is killed during 125cc race. He crashed at about 160 km/h into the guard-rail in a left bend in front of the pits during 23rd lap of the 125 cm3 race of the Yugoslavian G.P. held on 12 June. He ran in the last positions at the moment of the accident: his motorcycle passed over him and he hit with his head under the guard rail, and was immediately taken to Rijeka hospital. He died some days later.

1990: German Reinhold Roth suffered severe injuries in a June 1990 racing accident and retired from competition. While battling against Alex Criville in the Grand Prix of Yugoslavia 250 cm3 race, Roth crashed into the back of amateur rider Randy Milner, who was proceeding at a very slow pace, thinking that the race was going to be red-flagged because of the rain. Roth was without oxygen support for minutes after he suffered massive head injuried to which he never recovered. Milner was severely injured as well.
Eros Manferdini was killed during the round of the European Motorcycle Championship class 250 cm3 held at Rijeka on 27 May 1990. Shortly after the start of the race, Finnish rider Päiväläinen hit the straw bales near the side of the track on first turn, sending the bales into the path of the other competitors and causing a multiple pile-up. Manferdini fell down and died at the scene, hit by Reinhold Roth, six other riders were severely injured in the accident, bikes and straw bales caught fire.

1991: In May the Political situation is highly critical in Yugoslavia. The race of the European Cup in Opatija happened but the race of the Yugoslavian GP in June is canceled and is replaced by Spain.