Merz, Otto

cybersdorf · 7 Jan 2003, 00:00 (Ref:465855)

My main interest being in postwar racing, I only recently came across this name - sounds like he must have had quite a life till that fateful day in 1933 when he perished on the Avus. He won the inaugural race on the Nürburgring, and 13 years before that, was the chauffeur - or at least one of the chauffeurs - of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand (who appropriately was shot in his car).
Can anybody tell me more about this man, or refer me to useful other sources?

Karolingerheinz · 1 Sep 2003, 20:34 (Ref:705082)

Hallo,
in der Angelegenheit "Otto Merz" könnten Sie sich an das Archiv der Daimler-Benz AG wenden. Dort gibt es Ordner auch über Rennfahrer der 20er- und 30er Jahre. Vielleicht können Ihnen die Herrschaften dort weiterhelfen.
Mit freundlichem Gruß

paulzinho · 1 Sep 2003, 23:52 (Ref:705216)

You couldn't possibly translate that into English could you? My German is somewhat lacking!!

Karolingerheinz · 2 Sep 2003, 13:37 (Ref:705699)

Hello,
Translation is no problem!
Otto Merz was a famous driver in the Golden Twenties of the last century. He drove very often Mercedes-Benz and therefore one can write to the archive of Daimler-Benz at Stuttgart-Untertürkheim. In the archive they have material about every famous racing-driver, who drove racing-cars of Mercedes-Benz.
But it can take a lot of time till the answer will come. You know: Much work, less people to do the work!
Another possibility would be to go personally into the archive. But one must have a registration from the people in the archive.
You can phone or e-mail or you can write.
Best wishes to you

paulzinho · 2 Sep 2003, 18:45 (Ref:705942)

Thanks for your efforts!