The mountain race of the Royal Hungarian Automobil Club, popularly known as the "Schwabenberg race"

(A Királyi Magyar Automobil Club hegyiversenye, a "svábhegyi verseny")

Last modified: 30 June, 2010

In 2010 we mark the 90th anniversary of the first mountain race which took place on Schwabenberg Hill (Svábhegy), in a picturesque part of Budapest. If you look at the map, you can see that most of the 5077 meter long racing course still exists.

Here's the original map from 1920.

The route was slightly altered in 1928 - tight corners were replaced by longer curves here and there, which enabled even faster runs.

And here's the route today:

How the race was born?

Motorized tricycles and even some four-wheeler automobiles raced against each other as part of bicycles races from around 1899 in Hungary. In 1901 as part of the first Hungarian automobile show an automobile race was held at the horse race track. Later on, in 1904 an air balloon chasing run was considered as a sporting event.

Then through the efforts of the Austrian and Hungarian automobile clubs the renowned "Prinz Heinrich Fahrt" (Prince Heinrich Tour) had a leg in hour in 1909. It marked a new era in the history of Hungarian motorsport, as Hungarian-made cars participated at the event.

This event prompted the Hungarian (later Royal Hungarian) Automobile Club to organize three events before the 1st World War:

- a so-called "Small Car Race", 1912 - the first Hungarian-organized international race for touring cars

- the Tatra-Adria touring race in 1913

- the Carpathian touring race in 1914

The 1st World War put an end to such activities. Much of the private cars and motorcycles were confiscated between 1914-1918 and destroyed during military actions.

In 1919 the Royal Hungarian Automobile Club resumed its activities and decided that instead of a long-distance touring race, a mountain race in Budapest would be more appropriate. A lost war, the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, lack of fuel and strained relations with neighbouring countries all played a part in the decision.

Count Sándor Andrássy, president of the Club and Aladár Szelnár, a florist who became the new secretary pulled out all stops to make the racing an interesting spectacle. It was to be a race against the clock - the fastest up on the hill won the race. There were a lot of special prizes, awards - some of these have survived and now belong to private collectors.

Once the route was decided and settled upon, ("the Istenhegyi street and other roads nearby"), the Budapest mayor's office did some roadwork and provided extra personnel for free.

Start in 1920

As it looked in 1998

With that background 55 cars and 13 motorcycles lined up on the morning of 24th of October, 1920. Antal Hartmann was the fastest. Riding a Henderson motorcycle, he managed to complete the course in 5 minutes, 15:2 seconds.

When the last Schwabenberg race was run in September, 1930 it was a part of the European championship and featured many prominent racers. Rudolf Caracciola won the last event, with a time of 3 minutes, 21:13 seconds on the modified route. Though financial records have yet to appear, but looking at contemporary press reports, it seems the race was very expensive. A few sponsors showed up, but the Club just couldn't get enough money - especially during the 1929-1933 financial crisis (The Depression), which destroyed the Hungarian auto market.

Between 1920-1930 dozens of brands and racers showed up and raced up on the hill.

The finish line in 1924

As it looked in 1998

The best Hungarian drivers of the era, including (in Hungarian naming order, so last name shown first) Feledy Pál, Delmár Walter, Delmár Walterné (Walter's wife), count Zichy Tivadar, Kaszala Károly, Heteés Sándor, Balázs László, Erdélyi Ferenc, Szini János, Szmick Viktor, Urbach László, Baron Wolfner András, Wolfner László, Zamecsnik Tivadar were there.

Count Ulrich Kinsky in his Steyr

International teams from Steyr, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes appeared from time to time. It meant that not just respected Austrian drivers, like Fritz von Zsolnay, count Arco Zinnenberg, or Count Ulrich Kinsky visited the Schwabenberg hill, but the spectators were able to marvel at the talent of Rudolf Caracciola, Hans Stuck, Baconin Borzacchini or Ernst Günther von Wentzel-Mosau.

The Schwabenberg race was THE event to showcase a new car or motorcycle so over the years hundreds of brands appeared on the list of entries. Some examples:

Motorcycles: AJS, BSA, DKW, Wanderer, Matchless, Monet-Goyon, Sunbeam, Harley-Davidson, Enfield, Henderson, James, Indian etc.

Automobiles: Alfa Romeo, Amilcar, Salmson, Mercedes, Steyr, Austro-Daimler, Delage, Cadillac, Ford, Gräf&Stift, Fiat, Opel ven Pierce-Arrow and many more!

Hungarian brands:

Motorcycles: Méray, Nova, EMMAG, Paulini , Samum, Suno, DFK, F.P.

Automobiles: MÁG, Weiss Manfréd, Rába and one-off specials (Simó, HA, F-Car)

If you are interested in further details, please check out the yearly reports below (new photos, details are planned to be added so check back frequently)

Comments are welcomed at this forum