First published on curbs-magazin.com
Originally published on curbs-magazin.com – now part of slickpix.de.
More than just a museum!
Exclusively for CURBS, Marco Werner visited the „autobau“ museum in Romanshorn, Switzerland, and shares his impressions.
At the end of 2007, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of a spectacular museum on a disused industrial site in Romanshorn. The builder and initiator of this project was Fredy Lienhard, who for years owned and successfully managed Lista, a company known for its motorsport sponsorship. But it wasn't just his company Lista that became known for its quality tool cabinets; the owner himself, Fredy Lienhard, also gained recognition beyond Switzerland's borders in international racing. After all, he managed to win one of the world's greatest endurance classics! In 2002, he stood on the top step of the podium with Didier Theys, Max Papis, and Mauro Baldi at the 24 Hours of Daytona.
He began his career as a young boy in soapbox cars. Later, he launched his motorsport career in Formula Vee, raced successfully in Formula 2, and later in the fastest sports cars. Many motorsport professionals sell their race cars to acquire something new for the next season. However, Fredy Lienhard kept almost all of his vehicles – from the soapbox cars to his last racing car, a Porsche LMP2. The wish of a school class to visit his cars one day gave him the idea to build a museum for the public.
Today, you can view all the vehicles from Lienhard's career in the „autobau“ and follow the trail of Swiss motorsport history. But anyone who thinks that a few Porsche 911s, two Formula Vee cars, a few Formula 2 cars and around half a dozen sports prototypes were reason enough for Fredy Lienhard to build a museum is mistaken. His own racing cars form only part of the collection, which have found their place in the so-called „steel tank“ on one level and amaze motorsport fans. Before you reach this level, your eyes light up on level one. The first thing that catches your eye as you enter is Alain Prost's Formula 1 Renault. As if you were standing in the front row of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of various eras, Nick Heidfeld's Sauber BMW is on the other side - the heart of the Formula 1 fan beats faster here. On this level, there are several other cars from Swiss racing history - mainly from Swiss talents who were actively supported by Lienhard and whose careers would probably have ended prematurely without the help of sportsman Fredy Lienhard. In the middle of the „tank“ is an Indycar, while around the outside there are cars from various eras and classes from the entire world of motorsport.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Marco Werner
Photos: Marco Werner
