Ernst Degner

[Kiltie]

I listened to a radio programme through the week about Ernst Degner and it was fascinating.

He rode for MZ who's team manager, Walter Kaaden, had perfected how expansion chambers could be optimised to vastly improve two stroke performance. MZ apparently dominated the smaller capacity classes for a few years as the Japanese looked on scratching their heads.

Anyway, Ernst Degner essentially threw away the 1961 125cc world title at the Swedish Grand Prix to defect to the west.

IIRC, he and his family then moved to Japan courtesy of Suzuki.

Some background here.

The radio programme is also still available on BBC iPlayer ... click.

It's 30mins long but well worth a listen IMHO.

Cheers,

Eric

[deadslow]

Yes, also listened to the R4 programme and it was indeed very interesting. A great character.

[Turn7]

Also, see Matt Oxleys "Stealing Speed"......

[MGJohn]

I'm old enough to have seen those MZs racing. IIRC, Mike Hailwood rode one in East Germany and was soon clear of the rest. Different class. I believe disc valve technology also played a huge part in the phenonmenal tw0-stroke power outputs. Degner took that technology to Japan and soon after, those two stroke Suzukis were something else. In the days when you could stand much closer to the "Motor Rcaing is Dangerous" tracksides, to have a Suzuki square four GP Machine go by at racing speeds was some experience..... to the ears.

Great days gorn forever.

Honda struggled on with 4-stroke technology and even they had to throw the towel in and go two stroke to keep up ... which they did quite well.
.

[Nicholas Blair]

Hence 'Degner' curve at Suzuka?

[Eric Mc]

Yes.

[Life Saab Itch]

Nicholas Blair said:

Hence 'Degner' curve at Suzuka?

He crashed there in 1963 iirc. He had very bad burns but won GPs the next year before retirement from racing.


His death seems to have been rather mysterious though.

[Kiltie]

Turn7 said:

Also, see Matt Oxleys "Stealing Speed"......

Thanks for that ... delivered today ... and already my current favourite reading material in the lavvy.

Cheers,

Eric

[hidetheelephants]

Great rider, but I'm not a fan; he shafted Kaaden good and proper, stole his 2-stroke innovations and gave it all to Suzuki. Another good book that covers the subject was 'MZ - the racers' written by Jan Leek.

Edited by hidetheelephants on Friday 2nd March 12:16

[BigBen]

Kiltie said:

Turn7 said:

Also, see Matt Oxleys "Stealing Speed"......

Thanks for that ... delivered today ... and already my current favourite reading material in the lavvy.

Cheers,

Eric

Another recommendation for that book, a great read that would seem far fetched if you didn't know it to be a true storey.

[cragswinter]

Turn7 said:

Also, see Matt Oxleys "Stealing Speed"......

Bought dad this when it came out & need to get it borrowed I think