Karl Recktenwald

Karl Recktenwald (23 April 1931 - 19 July 1964) was a German professional Grand Prix motorcycle racer. He competed in the 500cc class in the motorcycle world championship between 1960 and 1964, and died following an accident at the 1964 West German Grand Prix at Solitudering in Stuttgart. He was nicknamed "the fastest police officer in Europe".

Biography

Recktenwald was born the only son of Rosa and Walter Recktenwald in Winterbach in the territory of the Saar Basin. After finishing school, he completed an apprenticeship as a bricklayer and then joined the Saarland police force, where he served as a motorcycle policeman. Alongside his job, he began competing in his first motorcycle races and set up a restaurant, the ‘Gaststätte Waldeck’, in his parents’ house.

Motorcycle racing career

From the late 1950s onwards, Recktenwald began to rack up his first victories and podium finishes at local motorcycle racing events, which led him to turn professional in motor racing and be given the nickname "fastest police officer in Europe". He achieved his best race finish at St. Wendel in 1964, when he finished second at the Internationaler Preis Saarlandes after leading for a majority of the race and engaging in a battle with Jack Ahearn.

Between 1960 and 1964, Recktenwald competed in seven World Championship races without scoring any championship points. His best Grand Prix result was tenth place in the 500cc race at the Dutch TT in Assen, which saw him finish 44th overall (out of 89) in the 1964 championship.

Death

On 19 July 1964, at the 1964 West German Grand Prix at Solitudering in Stuttgart, Recktenwald had moved up to seventh place by lap 2 and was battling with fellow privateer racer Walter Scheimann. On lap 17, Scheimann’s rear wheel locked up at the end of the Hedersbach bend, a tight right-hand corner, and Recktenwald, who was behind him at the time, collided with the rear wheel. Scheimann sustained minor injuries from the crash, whilst Recktenwald was taken to hospital in Leonberg with a diagnosed broken lower leg. He was diagnosed with severe internal injuries and died at around 5:30 pm that day from complications, at the age of 33.

Recktenwald was buried at the cemetery of his birthplace Winterbach, and a memorial of him was erected at the Hedersbach bend by the Motorsport club Allerburg Saar.

Grand Prix motorcycle racing results

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos Pts
1960 500cc Norton FRA MAN HOL BEL GER
19		 ULS NAC 60th 0
1961 500cc Norton GER
Ret		 FRA MAN HOL BEL DDR ULS NAC SWE ARG - 0
1962 500cc Norton MAN HOL
14		 BEL ULS
14		 DDR NAC FIN ARG 57th 0
1963 500cc Norton MAN HOL
11		 BEL ULS DDR FIN NAC ARG 44th 0
1964 500cc Norton USA MAN HOL
10		 BEL GER
Ret		 DDR ULS FIN NAC 45th 0

References

  1. 1 2 Staub, Günter (21 July 2014). "Als ein Dorf in Trauer versank". Saarbrücker Zeitung. pp. C4.
  2. 1 2 Kleer, Günter (21 August 1964). "Ritter in einer technisierten Welt. Heute wird der tote Rennfahrer überführt".
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Motorsport Memorial -". www.motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Programme of the West German Grand Prix 1964". Pro Solitude. 18 July 1964. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2026.