Florian Camathias
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox motorcycle rider
|image = File:Florian Camathias kneeler.JPG
|caption = Camathias demonstrating the kneeling riding position on an unfinished race-replica, a road-version BMW pushrod-engined motorcycle and sidecar configuration, known as kneeler, which he was famously associated with in 500 cc Grand Prix racing using the BMW RS54 Rennsport overhead camshaft competition engine.
|name = Florian Camathias
|nationality = {{flagicon|Switzerland}} Swiss
| birth_date = {{birth date|1924|3|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = San Gallo
| death_date = {{death date and age|1965|10|10|1924|3|23|df=yes}}
| death_place = Brands Hatch, Kent, England
|GP Active years = 1953 - 1965
|GP Teams =
|GP Race Starts =
|GP Championships =
|GP Race Wins =
|GP Podiums =
|GP Total Points =
|GP Poles =
|GP Fastest laps =
|GP First race =
|GP First win = 1958 Dutch TT
|GP Last win =
|GP Last race =
| TT Contested = 9, 1957-1965
| TT Wins = 1
| TT First win = 1963
| TT Last win = 1963
| TT Podiums = 4, 1957, third place
1958, second place
1959, second place
}}
Florian Camathias (23 March 1924 – 10 October 1965) was a Swiss professional Grand Prix motorcycle and sidecar racer.{{cite web|url=http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/competitors.aspx?ride_id=1821 |title=Florian Camathias biography |publisher=iomtt.com |accessdate=12 December 2015}}
Born in Wittenbach, St. Gallen in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland, Camathias owned a garage Veytaux, near Montreux.
Race career
He began his motorcycle racing career in 1945. Camathias placed fifth in the World Sidecar Championship in 1956. In 1957, he entered his first Isle of Man TT, finishing in ninth place in the Lightweight 250 event on an NSU solo motorcycle, and in third place in the Sidecar TT driving a BMW.{{cite web|url=http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Events/Races.aspx?meet_code=ALL&ride_id=1821 |title=Florian Camathias Isle of Man TT Results |publisher=iomtt.com |accessdate=12 December 2015}}
File:Zijspanrace (nr 1 CamathiasFöll) (nr 10 HarrisCampbell), Bestanddeelnr 911-3669.jpg]]
Camathias won his first Grand Prix victory in the 1958 Dutch TT at Assen. He also finished as runner-up position in the British Sidecar Championship. Repeating the achievements in 1959, he was Swiss and British Champion in 1960 and once again finished fifth in the World Championship.
Camathias crashed in the 1962 Sidecar TT,TT '78, The Isle of Man TT Story, p.13 Accessed 16 December 2015 a race won by English racer Chris Vincent with a BSA-engined outfit.Sixty Years of Speed, 1967, p.35 Accessed 16 December 2015 Camathias won his one and only TT at the 1963 races.
Camathias was a renowned engine builder associated with the desirable BMW RS54 Rennsport overhead camshaft competition engine, and began an association with English sidecar racer Colin Seeley, who used Camathias' engine for the 1964 Sidecar TT, placing third on a machine he dubbed as FCSB — Florian Camathias Special 'B',Sixty Years of Speed, 1967, p.57 Accessed 16 December 2015 whilst Camathias finished 15th in the same race using a Gilera engine.[http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Events/Races.aspx?meet_code=TT64&race_seq=2 1964 Sidecar TT Results] IoM TT database. Retrieved 15 December 2015
Death
He died after crashing during a race at Brands Hatch, Kent, England, on 10 October 1965.{{cite web|url=http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ms&n=2143 |title=Florian Camathias memorial |publisher=motorsportmemorial.org |accessdate=12 December 2015}}[http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/search/results?firstname=florian&lastname=camathias&yearofdeath=1965&yearofdeath_offset=0&keyword=kent&sourcecategory=births%252c%2bmarriages%2b%2526%2bdeaths England and Wales death records] Retrieved 12 December 2015 Camathias' passenger, Franz Ducret, was injured but recovered in West Hill Hospital, Dartford, Kent.Motor Cycle, 28 October 1965. p.627. Making good progress Accessed 12 December 2015
An inquest, presided over by Coroner for North Kent, Col. W.H. Harris, found that the crash was caused by welding failure where a front-fork tube had broken-away, and recorded a verdict of misadventure. Around 1,000 people attended the funeral with many from the motorcycle and car racing fraternity.Motor Cycle, 28 October 1965. p.633. Welding failure Accessed 12 December 2015
Legacy
A European sidecar classic racing series was established named Camathias Cup Championship with classes for two engine capacities, under 750 cc and over 750 cc, with winners decided on the overall highest points score in each class. In 2015, 45 teams participated achieving full grids in five countries, including a 2-race short road-course event on the Billown Circuit at the Pre-TT races,[http://www.southern100.com/index.php/race-meetings/pre-tt-classic Pre-TT Classic Road races] Southern 100 Motorcycle Racing. Retrieved 13 December 2015 part the Isle of Man race festival.[http://www.camathiascup.com/#!news-and-results/c1x9v Camathias Cup News and Results 2015]. Retrieved 12 December 2015
Family connections
Florian was the uncle to Romeo Camathias, a car racer born in 1947, whose son Joël Camathias is also a car racer.[http://www.joelcamathias.com/_ENG/family/family.cfm The Family (connections)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222093913/http://www.joelcamathias.com/_ENG/family/family.cfm |date=22 December 2015 }} Joel Camathias.com Retrieved 13 December 2015
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20151222095530/http://www.joelcamathias.com/_ENG/family/family_zio.cfm Florian Camathias] Family connection at Joël Camathias' website
- [http://www.camathiascup.com/ Camathias Cup homepage]
- {{Find a Grave|12938563}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Camathias, Florian}}
Category:Sportspeople from the canton of St. Gallen
Category:Swiss motorcycle racers
Category:250cc World Championship riders
Category:Isle of Man TT riders