Wilhelm Herz

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Wilhelm Herz (1912 – 1998) was a motorbike racer and world-record holder. He was born in Lampertheim, Germany and started his career in 1932 with DKW and went over to NSU in 1939. He ran races on national and international courses like the Berlin AVUS, Grenzlandring, Helsinki, Hockenheimring, Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Isle of Man, Monza, Nürburgring, Schleizer Dreieck, Schottenring and Solitude. He gained his international reputation through numerous world records on two- und four-wheeled vehicles. The outstanding world records were the absolute world records of 1951 on the motorway Munich - Ingolstadt and the ones on the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah/USA in 1956. In this instance he was the first person, who rode a motorbike over to 200mph.

From 1954 until 1992 he was manager of the Hockenheimring which he led to international importance, especially because of the Grand Prix for motorbikes und Formula 1. Wilhelm Herz was honoured for his merits in the field of motorsports by former German President Theodor Heuss who presented him the Silbernen Lorbeer in 1952 and in 1972 he received the Order of Merit by former Chancellor Dr. Helmut Kohl. The city of Hockenheim honoured his merits concerning the Hockenheimring by presenting him with the Goldene Verdienstmedaille.

In 2006 presented Heinz Herz, son of Wilhelm Herz, a replica of the Delphin III, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the world record 1956 in the course of the International Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB, sanctioned by the FIM and the AMA, on the Bonneville Salt Flats.