Book: Nature and Technology - Motorsport in the Eifel

Book:

Nature and Technology - Motorsport in the Eifel

Authors: Michael Behrndt / Jörg-Thomas Födisch / Rainer Roßbach / Nils Ruwisch

• Language: German
• Year of publication: 2023
• Publisher: Prova Edition, Linz/Rhine
• Format: bound / hardcover
• ISBN: 978-3-9825637-0-1
• Number of pages: 180 / with 370 color and black and white photos
• Dimensions: approx. 24 x 24 x 2 cm

Motorsport in the Eifel

“Nature and Technology” is the title of the latest book by the author team Michael Behrndt, Jörg-Thomas Födisch, Nils Ruwisch and Rainer Rossbach. After their bestseller “Nürburgring Album”, which was awarded the German Motorsport Literature Prize in May 2023, the well-known “Nürburgring literature specialists” are now following up with an illustrated book that presents the North and South Loops and the region around the legendary Eifel circuit in fascinating photos from its opening in 1927 to the present day. 

Apart from a few motifs, the postcard publisher Klein in Adenau, which was founded in 1865, provided the photographic material used. As the Klein family business has been involved with the Nürburgring for five generations since the early years, an archive has been created that traces the history of the world-famous race track almost seamlessly.

Over the past 95 years, countless visitors to the Nürburgring have sent greetings to friends and relatives during their stay in the Eifel. They bought the corresponding postcards from the numerous vendor's tray sellers directly at the Nürburgring, at one of the many kiosks in Adenau or at the start and finish. Today, these postcards have become sought-after collector's items for which many times their original price is often paid. These little treasures usually bear the words “Aufnahme und Verlag J. Klein, Adenau” on the back.

Johann Alexander and Friedrich Klein experienced the pre-war period and captured it in pictures. Friedrich, and since the end of the 1950s Paul Klein, also documented the period up to August 1, 1976, when the last Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix was held on the Nordschleife.

In addition to the racing action, the postcards and photos from Klein also show the beauty of the Eifel. The magnificent natural surroundings of the Eifel circuit are captured in a multitude of fascinating images, throughout all seasons.

The combination of nature and technology, which impresses many visitors to the Nürburgring, is captured again and again in the motifs of the Klein family. The representative cross-section of their family archive is impressively conveyed in this book. In addition to the events on the race track and the charm of the Eifel landscape away from it, all the Klein motifs illustrate one thing above all: the respective owners of the Klein publishing house were and are passionate photographers and artists with a camera.