August 11, 1934
Ludwig Heimrath Sr
(Photo; plus.google.com)
Born in Germany.
Heimrath emigrated from Germany in 1956 and before long he was racing a Volkswagen. One of the most famous names in Canadian auto racing, he raced competitively in every year from 1958 to 2000, winning two Canadian driving championships and one Trans-Am championship along the way.
Heimrath won the Canadian Sports Car Racing Championship in 1961 and in 1964. He was first runner-up in ’62, ’63 and ’65. He was the second Canadian to race in Formula 1, when he entered the U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen in 1963. He won the SCCA Trans-Am championship in 1977.
He was an expert long-distance racer and teamed up with such champions as Johnny Rutherford and Craig Hill in entering the Sebring 12 hours, the 24 Hours of Daytona, although he never won any of those races. He was a USAC Indycar competitor in ’68 and ’69 and raced in the Canadian and Continental Formula A division in 1970.
Not to be confused with his son, Ludwig Jr. who was good enough to race in the CART series, this racing icon still drives his Porsche GT2 on the street and takes it to the track for lapping days.
Heimrath was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2000.
This Day In Motorsport History - Home Page
Ludwig Heimrath Sr
Born in Germany.
Heimrath emigrated from Germany in 1956 and before long he was racing a Volkswagen. One of the most famous names in Canadian auto racing, he raced competitively in every year from 1958 to 2000, winning two Canadian driving championships and one Trans-Am championship along the way.
Heimrath won the Canadian Sports Car Racing Championship in 1961 and in 1964. He was first runner-up in ’62, ’63 and ’65. He was the second Canadian to race in Formula 1, when he entered the U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen in 1963. He won the SCCA Trans-Am championship in 1977.
He was an expert long-distance racer and teamed up with such champions as Johnny Rutherford and Craig Hill in entering the Sebring 12 hours, the 24 Hours of Daytona, although he never won any of those races. He was a USAC Indycar competitor in ’68 and ’69 and raced in the Canadian and Continental Formula A division in 1970.
Not to be confused with his son, Ludwig Jr. who was good enough to race in the CART series, this racing icon still drives his Porsche GT2 on the street and takes it to the track for lapping days.
Heimrath was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2000.
This Day In Motorsport History - Home Page
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